Over the past 5 years, Shadow Wood has organized and operated 6 member golf trips to some of the most prestigious golf
destinations in the world. These trips are very well received among members and attendance and interest continues to grow each year. This September, 86 Shadow Wood members along with our Director of Instruction, Mark Moffatt and his wife Tracy,
experienced the trip of a lifetime in one of the most beautiful countries in Europe: Spain! The group was divided into 2 trips, with 40 on the first trip and 46 on the second. The 12-day trip itinerary was extremely well organized and chalk full of extravagant golf
excursions, sightseeing tours, dining, and more. The itinerary catered to the needs of both the golfers and non-golfers attending the trip.
Landing in Malaga, Spain, the members traveled to their first accommodation, Hotel Almenara in Sotogrande, an elegant,
Mediterranean-inspired 4-star golf resort, where they were greeted with a Welcome Reception Dinner. The reception, held on the terrace, had gorgeous views of mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. The group was served a delectable assortment of traditional Spanish tapas and refreshing cocktails, while they mingled with their fellow travelers. Some of the members traveling together did not know each other prior to this trip and grew very close throughout the journey. Traveling with people and experiencing new things together truly creates a uniquely special bond.
Golfing excursions were at the best of the best in the Southern Spain region, including Finca Cortesin Golf Club, Valderrama, LaReserva at Sotogrande, Real Sotogrande Golf Club and San Rouge Golf Club. The golfing in Spain was very unique compared to what our members are used to in Southwest Florida. The regions were very mountainous, with a lot of elevation changes on the courses. Mark noted that it was challenging, but very rewarding. He said the members embraced the challenge and truly had an
exceptional time playing these world class courses.
Their sightseeing tours took them all around Southern Spain, across the Strait of Gibraltar, and even to Tangiers, Morocco at the Northwestern tip of Africa for an exotic day trip. When in Tangiers, their local guides toured the members around the city, teaching them hands-on about Moroccan history while experiencing the rush of being in such a lively, exciting destination. They haggled their way through markets and bazaars for handcrafted Moroccan goods (rugs, leather, and pottery, oh my!), encountered snake charmers on the streets, rode camels through a park and on the beach, and enjoyed a traditional Moroccan lunch accompanied by live music and belly dancers.
As all good things must come to an end, this extraordinary journey ended with a Farewell Dinner back in Malaga consisting of an elaborate five course meal, and traditional flamenco dance performance. At the dinner, the members received a handmade gift- a gorgeous terracea box with the Shadow Wood logo and “Spain Trip 2019” engraved on the top. Everyone had a wonderful time,
reminiscing on all the once-in-a-lifetime memories they were able to share together and bring back to Shadow Wood.
Mark has received truly wonderful feedback from those who experienced this trip. “Wow! What an adventure.” said Mary Kunza, Shadow Wood Member. “It was far beyond our expectations not only with the golf and grand excursions but also the unbelievable
organization in its entirety. My mere words cannot explain this experience. Priceless.” Shadow Wood Member Tod Wilcock added, “What a great trip! From the golf, to the Barbary monkeys in Gibraltar, to the markets in Tangiers, it was all insightful and incredible.”
If you’re interested in experiencing one of these fabulous trips for yourself, the Shadow Wood Golf Travel Committee has an amazing trip planned for Summer 2020 to Whistling Straits and The American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin. This trip offers the unique
opportunity to play up to four of Kohler’s well revered and nationally ranked courses. The highlight will be the Whistling Straits Course, which one month later will host Steve Stricker’s American team taking on Padraig Harrington’s European squad in the 2020 Ryder Cup. Team USA and Team Europe will be walking in SWCC Members' footsteps! To join fellow members and one of our Pros for what will prove to be a memorable trip, please email our Director of Golf, Andy Scrivner at [email protected].
