A question – what springs to mind when you think about Tunisia? Perhaps Carthage and Hannibal.
The city that dared to fight the might of Rome, with its vestiges of the Punic and Roman empires, baths, dwellings, temples, shrines and the fabulous naval port of the Carthaginians.
The town of Carthage was founded by Princess Elissa-Dido in the 8th century BC and is a storehouse of history.
The former cathedral of Saint Louis, which crowns the hill, is now a cultural centre and the nearby national museum of Carthage holds an impressive collection of Punic statues, steles and urns.
Or, could it be the 1,500 kilometres of sun-drenched beaches that are lapped by the warm Mediterranean Sea?
That’s all well and good.
But I’m thinking verdant fairways, soft sandy bunkers and tricky undulating greens. I’m thinking golf, so I took a look at what Tunisia has to offer.
Tunisia and golf may be unusual bedfellows - the whole country boasts just ten golf clubs and only 600 registered players - but this land steeped with ancient history has a vision.
It is hoped that the country’s ten clubs will be doubled in their 20-20 vision to attract golfers to their North African shores by the year 2020.
Ambitious maybe, but work is nearly completed on the new Jack Nicklaus-designed Tahadi Golf Course at Yasmine Valley Golf Resort and Spa in Hammamet, due to open in October.
The Tahadi Golf Course, the first Nicklaus Design course in Tunisia, will roll up and down the Yasmine Valley and is set to be arguably the best challenging par-68 course in the north of the continent.
On completion, the Nicklaus team will move on to a redesign of the Classic Course at the Valley, which was opened in 1990.
The result will bring the Classic in line with modern standards with a par-72,6,600 metre championship course with breathtaking views over the resort of Hammamet.
Nestled alongside Yasmine Valley is Golf Citrus, comprising of two par-72s, La Foret and Les Oliviers.
I took on the challenge of La Foret, a winding, rolling affair set among a forest of pines interspersed with steep hills and water hazards.
The course layout means many of the holes are played blind, and designer Ronald Fream frustrates the handicap golfer with a series of bunkers and water traps guarding undulating greens. A true test.
On the Les Oliviers a very different challenge awaits.
Wide fairways dotted with olive trees and sand traps with an omnipresent breeze that whips across raised greens guarded by a myriad of bunkers that penalise every bad stroke.
Maybe a little easier than La Foret but still not for the faint hearted.
Hammamet has a wide selection of places to stay, The Alhambra Thalasso offers that special luxurious feel and is in easy reach of Yasmine Valley and close to the beach resort.
On the south of the Bay of Hammamet is Sousse, home of one of the country’s most beautiful clubs, El Kantaoui, again housing two courses designed by Fream.
The Sea Course offers a chance to shoot a good score as the 6,250 metre par-73 weaves around the golf resort’s villas and hotel before heading towards the mediterranean.
The open fairways are laced with sand but the yardage allows for wayward shots to be recovered.
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The Panorama Course does what it says on the tin, at just over 6,000 metres you climb way up into the hills to look down on the bay and white-washed town below.
Again this course is nice and forgiving but cleverly-placed bunkers make the approach shots difficult.
A little further south in Monastir is the Palm Links Golf Club, a seaside course that combines a flat design amid a palm oasis.
Although the fairways are a little sparse they are wide, and the greens are even and true.
With three links-style holes that border on the sea, this course is flat and easy on the legs, but far from pleasant on the eye as the many of the holes are dwarfed by an industrial area.
Heading back to the capital of Tunis you can find the country’s oldest club at Golf Carthage, opened in 1927 and renovated in 1991.
It is a small compact course shaded by pine, cypress, palm, olive and orange trees and 100-year-old eucalyptus trees and hidden in the backstreets of Tunis itself, it is a handicap golfer’s dream.
Speaking of dreaming, when I woke up at The Residence, 20 kilometres from Tunis, I knew I was about to play Tunisia’s present pride and joy.
Designed by Robert Trent Jones II, the course is part of a complex, home to The Residence Hotel, a member of ‘The Leading Hotels of the World’.
The hotel is superb and the course, which stands in the heart of a nature reserve, is just two-years-old and still needs time to mature a little.
On saying that, it has a truly European feel about the place as it meandersaround the villa development.
Set between the sea and salt lakes it features fantastic view points and links around the edges of 14 lakes. At 6,500 metres, par-72, it’s long and tough,the stretch along salt lake line exposes any faults in your game.
It’s not one for the high and not so high handicappers, I found this out by the amount of balls I got through.
The Residence is a wonderful place to both stay and play.
With Tunisia being a two-and-a-half hour flight away it is a real alternative to the European golf resorts that normally spring to mind.
So to answer my own question. Yes, Tunisia is a perfect choice to laze on the beach, take in the history, enjoy the sun and also spend time on the fairway.
ANDY HANDLEY
Getting there
Tunisair operate four flights per week from London Heathrow to Tunis, pricesstart from £170 (inc taxes).
For reservations call 020 7734 7644 or go to www.tunisair.com
Where to stay
Alhambra Thalasso, Yasmine Hammamet
This five-star Hotel offers great value for money and is ideally situated nearthe golf courses in the Yasmine complex. Double Rooms start from £34 pernight. For more information or to book go to www.alhambra-thalasso.com.
The Residence Hotel, Gammarth
This five-star hotel is one of the most chic and glamorous resorts in theMediterranean. Double Garden View Rooms start from 293 euros pernight. For more information or to book go to www.theresidence.com.
For further details of travel and for information on what’s happening in Tunisiago to www.cometotunisia.co.uk
