Teeing off on a golfing cruise

GO NICHE:TORN BETWEEN a golf holiday and a cruise? Why not do both.

There are a range of cruise companies now that pride themselves on golfing facilities, from on board simulators and resident golf pros to biodegradable balls you just whack out to sea.

Then there is Kalos Golf, the specialist golf cruise company that reckons it invented the concept, way back in 1994.

Since then it has taken thousands of golfers round some of the world’s best courses, retiring nightly to the 19th aboard its beautiful sailing ships.

Its Riviera Cruise begins with traditional tours of Cannes, Monte Carlo and St Tropez but includes games at three of the region’s top clubs, including Monte Carlo Golf Club.

From there, travel to Sardinia’s Pevero Golf Club and Corsica’s Golf de Sperone before sailing on to Rome. Finish up there or take a tour extension, including a short flight to Milan, for a round of golf at Villa d’Este, at Lake Como.

The golfing really is only half the fun here as your vessel, the Sea Cloud II, is like something from a Patrick O'Brian novel. It's gorgeous. And as it only accommodates 94 passengers, it's as far from a factory cruise ship as you'll find.

Cabins are spacious and elegant and, if you pay top dollar, even have four-poster beds.

Just to mix it up, not all nights are spent on board, however. In some cases you’ll stay in five-star hotels too.

The cruise runs from Sepetmber 17th to 27th and prices start at $7,975 (€5,543) plus $2,975 (€2,067) for the Lake Como extension.

For the golfer who loves cruises, it’s a hole in one.

* kalosgolf.com