IT’S coming up to 50 years since the package holiday really took off – and in that time millions of us have jetted into Girona and on to the Costa Brava.

High rise hotels from the French border down to Blanes, just north of Barcelona, attest to the appetite (of the British especially) for sun, sea, sand and sangria.

Former sleepy fishing villages have been transformed into thriving resorts, such as Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar – but there’s more to the Costa Brava (“rugged coast” in Catalan) than simply soaking up the rays.

It’s an area rich in history and steeped in culture (Salvador Dali came from these parts). It’s famous for its architecture, food, festivals and nature parks.

Plus it boasts several quality golf courses for players looking to escape the cold, wet British winter.

For example, there’s PGA Golf de Catalunya, acknowledged as one of the top courses in Europe.

But on our flying visit to the area (from Gatwick, although Ryanair does operate a service from Bournemouth), we played three other courses:

Costa Brava, not far from Girona, the provincial capital, and just inland from Platja d’Aro. Designed by Hamilton Stutt, and opened in the 1960s (Sean Connery played in the inaugural competition), it meanders through cork and pine trees before returning to the elevated final green, overlooked by the impressive clubhouse, a converted 19th century Catalan farm.

Golf d’Aro-Mas Nou, rising sharply to nearly 1,000ft above sea level, with magnificent views of the Montseny mountain range on one side and the coast on the other.

It’s worth negotiating the steep, winding road for the warmth of the welcome alone – then, out on the course, lies a real treat, particularly around the turn, with the lush Selva valley waiting to swallow up any errant approach shots.

Emporda, a resort with two loops of 18 holes – links-style and forest. Renowned American designer Robert von Hagge did a great job of integrating these courses among two large lakes, pines, dunes (some covered with heavy rough) and occasionally huge bunkers.

Like d’Aro-Mas Nou, Emporda dates back just 20 years, but has a more mature feel. The mild climate (annual average 17 degrees C, or mid-60s in old money) and high standard of maintenance mean the course is likely to be in tip-top shape whenever you’re there.

Emporda’s four-star hotel’s 87 guestrooms have large windows and balconies overlooking the courses and distinctive mountain range, beyond which is the small seaside town of L’Estartit.

The Costa Brava has 10 courses in total, and, in 2000, was voted best emerging golf destination.

It’s cheaper to play here than in some of the more traditional golf resorts further south, and, as I found, you can pack in a lot of sport in a relatively short time.

Factfile

• For more information on the area, go to costabrava.org

• For more about golf in the Girona area, visit golfincostabrava.org

• Useful websites – golfcostabrava.com, golfdaro.com, empordagolf.com

• Staying there – Silken Park Hotel San Jorge, Platja d’Aro, is handy for most courses in Costa Brava – visit parkhotelsanjorge.com

• Getting there – go to ryanair.com or bournemouthairport.com

• If you’re flying from Gatwick, you can pre-book a week’s airport parking with Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) from £42.40 – visit aph.com or call 01342 859 515