Catalonia Teams Up With Elevate Golf 2026 As Spain’s Golf Tourism Hub Prepares For Ryder Cup 2031
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In 2026, Catalonia will participate as a Premium Partner at Elevate Golf to promote its golf tourism to the international market. Prior to hosting the Ryder Cup at Monte Baranco Golf, Catalonia will have the opportunity to promote itself as one of the top golf destinations in the world. Monte Baranco Golf, located near Girona, will host prestigious golf events, starting with the Ryder Cup, and subsequently with other equally important tournaments. Catalonia has a wide variety of golf courses and other offerings, as well as cultural and gastronomical offerings.
The partnership will provide Catalonia with a significant presence at the invitation-only business and networking event, scheduled from October 25 to 30 across Northern Ireland and St Andrews. The region will connect with leading golf tour operators from key international markets, presenting its diverse golf tourism opportunities to the global travel trade.
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As part of the programme, Catalonia will deliver an exclusive presentation at the Fairmont St Andrews auditorium on Thursday, October 29. The session will showcase the region’s extensive golf infrastructure and explore the opportunities created by Camiral near Girona, Costa Brava, becoming the host venue for the 2031 Ryder Cup between Europe and the United States.
Catalonia offers a diverse golf landscape with 40 courses spread across coastal, mountain and countryside settings. The region’s golf tourism portfolio combines championship courses, luxury resorts, Mediterranean beaches, vineyards, cultural attractions and renowned gastronomy, allowing travellers to experience golf alongside the wider heritage and lifestyle of Catalonia.
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The region’s golf offering is divided into four key areas: Costa Brava-Girona, Costa Barcelona, Costa Daurada-Tarragona, and the Pyrenees and Terres de Lleida. Each destination provides a unique experience, from seaside courses overlooking the Mediterranean to mountain golf surrounded by forests, vineyards and dramatic landscapes.
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Beyond golf, Catalonia attracts visitors through its rich cultural identity and heritage. The region is home to six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the architectural works of Antoni Gaudí, Roman and Romanesque landmarks, and historic cultural treasures that reflect centuries of artistic and historical development.
The arrival of the Ryder Cup in 2031 will place Catalonia firmly in the international golf spotlight. The prestigious tournament is expected to create new opportunities for the region to promote its golf facilities, attract international visitors and showcase the variety of experiences available beyond the championship venue.
The Costa Brava remains one of Catalonia’s leading golf regions, offering a strong concentration of renowned courses. The area includes Camiral, Empordà Golf Resort, Golf de Pals, Peralada Golf, TorreMirona Golf Club and Club de Golf d’Aro Mas Nou, combining high-quality golf with coastal scenery, luxury accommodation and cultural attractions.
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Golf experiences around Barcelona provide another distinctive combination of sport, city life and gastronomy. Visitors can enjoy world-class architecture, cultural attractions and restaurants in the Catalan capital while exploring nearby vineyards in Penedès and Alella. Leading courses in the area include Real Club de Golf El Prat, Club de Golf Barcelona, Club de Golf Vallromanes, Golf Montanyà and Club de Golf Llavaneras.
Further south, Costa Daurada offers a blend of golf, Mediterranean resorts, history and wine tourism. The region features courses such as Infinitum and Golf Costa Daurada, while visitors can also explore the Roman heritage of Tarragona and internationally recognised wine regions including DOQ Priorat, DO Montsant and DO Conca de Barberà.
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The inland areas of the Pyrenees and Terres de Lleida provide a contrasting golf experience surrounded by mountains, forests, vineyards and open landscapes. Courses including Aravell Golf, Fontanals Golf Club and Golf Lleida & Country Club allow travellers to combine outdoor adventure with premium golf experiences.
Through its presence at Elevate Golf 2026, Catalonia aims to strengthen relationships with international golf operators and demonstrate how the region combines exceptional golf facilities with culture, nature, cuisine and unique travel experiences. With the 2031 Ryder Cup approaching, Catalonia is preparing to welcome a new generation of golf travellers from around the world.
Arantxa Calvera, director of the Catalan Tourist Board, said: “Elevate Golf brings together many of the tour operators and golf travel specialists with whom we want to develop long-term relationships, making this Premium Partnership an important opportunity for Catalonia.
“The 2031 Ryder Cup at Camiral will bring considerable international attention to the region, but the story we want to tell extends across the whole of Catalonia. We have 40 courses in very different settings, supported by an outstanding cultural, gastronomic and accommodation offering.”
Leanne Thorpe, Director of Elevate Golf, said: “Catalonia is a significant addition to our Premium Partner line-up and we are delighted that the destination will have such a visible presence at Elevate Golf 2026.
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“The Ryder Cup will place Catalonia at the centre of the golfing world in 2031, while the region already has the courses, resorts, accessibility and wider visitor appeal required to support a strong international golf tourism proposition.”
Elevate Golf 2026 will gather a selected network of global golf tour operators alongside 230 leading golf courses, resorts and accommodation providers, creating a dedicated platform for business connections and destination promotion within the international golf travel sector.
The event will open with an exclusive familiarisation programme in Northern Ireland, allowing delegates to explore the destination’s golf experiences and tourism offerings. Following the visit, participants will travel by private aircraft to St Andrews, where they will take part in two days of organised business meetings, industry presentations and networking sessions at Fairmont St Andrews.
Catalonia will join a distinguished group of Elevate Golf partners supporting the third edition of the event. The upcoming edition has already achieved a major milestone, reaching full capacity seven months before the event begins, reflecting strong demand and growing interest from the global golf tourism industry.
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