There’s been a church here since the beginning of the 17th century and although there are a lot of fine churches around Tenerife, this one has the added bonus of a mature drago tree to add to its appealling good looks, something that should act as a clue to help identification…but only if you’ve been here.

This baroque building is located deep in farming country where potatoes and tomatoes are the main crops…but where on Tenerife is it?

Win a Week at Hotel Las Águilas and Experience North Tenerife.

Combine luxurious comfort with the rural charms of North Tenerife during a one week half board stay for two people at the four star Hotel Las Águilas on the edge of Puerto de la Cruz.
That’s the latest great prize from tenerifemagazine.com and all we ask of you is to answer a simple question.

What a great way to start the New Year, the natural beauty of Mount Teide’s national park , the wine growing regions around the La Orotava valley and even the designer shops of capital city Santa Cruz are all in easy reach of your hotel pools, tennis courts and restaurants.

The prize will be drawn on Tuesday 31st January and can be taken, subject to availability, within the next year. The prize is not transferable and must be claimed within 2 weeks of the draw or it will be re-drawn.

Keep your fingers crossed and think of that wonderful prize, and in the meantime keep up with all the wonders of Tenerife through tenerifemagazine.com

Good Luck.

The first is of a small coastal village on Tenerife that is home to about 300 inhabitants. Its numbers are boosted significantly in summer months as people from hillside areas with holiday apartments in the village descend on the place.

This photo wasn’t taken in summer which is why the neat, cobbled sunbathing decks are empty of people…even though the temperature would have had British visitors stripping off deliriously.

It’s small bay provides natural shelter for a small fleet of fishing boats and it’s claimed that the town is named after a crab that is common to the area…but where on Tenerife is it?

In the shimmering heat of a Tenerife October, Tenerife Magazine checked into the Hotel Spa Villalba in Vilaflor to find out what the winner of our holiday competition has in store.

A mountain retreat
Arriving in the charismatic spa town of Vilaflor late morning, I take the steep turn in the village that winds up past the Ermita de San Roque until it reaches the Hotel Spa Villalba. Leaving the stifling heat of the day, I step into the Canarian patio-styled lobby of the hotel where my eye is immediately drawn to the expanse of polished wood which forms the floor and sweeps upwards in a wide curved staircase to a walkway across the galleried space beneath a hand made, wrought iron decorative chandelier.

A roof to floor window occupies one side of the lobby, its margins sending rainbows of light from their stained glass patterns dancing around the aubergine walls. The lobby floor plays host to a garden of potted plants and an elegant sculptural water feature where the sound of running water completes the feng shui balance.

Opening the door onto room number 203 I’m immediately struck by the expanse of floor space, the elegant décor, the extensive presence of beautiful wood and the bed that occupies the far wall and is big enough to justify grid references. I flick the light switch to the en suite and enter the most cavernous bathroom I have ever seen in an hotel. Decorated in exquisite Victorian tiles in teal and white, twin ornate sinks take centre stage below the mirror. A bath with overhead shower lies to one side and the ‘usual facilities’ to the other, across an expanse of vintage, maize-coloured tiled floor.

I’m already grinning like a fool when I step out onto the grand balcony and am caught completely off guard by the endless, fragrant pine forest in what feels like touching distance. Birdsong and the rustle of the breeze in distant tree tops is all I can hear as I inhale the mountain air and try to take in the full extent of the beauty that surrounds me. I’ve only been here five minutes, my case is still unpacked and my car keys are still in my hand yet already my shoulders have relaxed, my breathing is deeper and the Hotel Spa Villalba has thrown me a curve ball by revealing the truly unique beauty of its location.

I may never leave.

The Essentials

Location: Nestling above the alpine, spa town of Vilaflor looking like it’s waiting for the Von Trapp family to move in, the Hotel Spa Villalba lies on the cusp of a ravine in the pine forest with panoramic views over the town to the south east coast from the front of the hotel and over the fragrant forest from the rear. Designed to maximise its rustic setting, everything in the hotel is geared towards the enjoyment of your surroundings, from the seats dotted around the garden and the hotel viewpoint with its telescope, to the glass covered swimming pool edged by pine trees which is opened in summer and cosily closed over in winter.

Rooms: As generously bountiful as nature herself, bedrooms are big on space and minimal on fuss. Oatmeal décor teamed with soft plaid furnishings complement the highly polished hard wood flooring beautifully while prints of pencil drawings and oil canvases showcase flowers and rural scenes. A large, wooden terrace overlooks the gardens and forest while bedside, shuttered windows bring the pine romance inside. Free WiFi brings modern convenience to rustic charm and the practicalities also score highly with lots of wardrobe space, a shower so powerful it hurts your head; coat hangers galore, TV, mini bar and in-room safe.

Service: I have always found Vilaflor to be one of the friendliest towns on this Tenerife amable island and the staff of the Hotel Spa Villalba outshine even my former experience. From the Hotel Director Julio, to Marta on reception, the La Vendimia dining room staff and the chambermaids, everyone welcomes guests as if they were into their own home. The guests’ comfort and relaxation appear to be paramount and once experienced, the service keeps the guests returning. I spoke with an elderly lady who was in her fourth week at the hotel and has been a regular guest for many years.

Food: The La Vendimia Restaurant is the venue for a fresh and beautifully presented continental breakfast buffet with fruit, cereals, home made breads, cheeses, cold meats, pastries, juices and wonderful coffee. Eggs are available for those who like a hot start to the day. In the evening the restaurant morphs into a candle lit romantic dining venue where fresh produce from the hotel’s garden is imaginatively and beautifully prepared. A la carte choices include a good selection of vegetarian, fish and meat options and the set half board menu was a nightly decision dilemma with three delicious options for every course vying to be picked. An extensive wine menu includes very quaffable organic wines from the owners’ own label as well as a good selection of Tenerife produced wines.

Entertainment: The moon shining through the pine trees and Vilaflor’s trademark, star-studded firmament provide all the entertainment that’s needed in this country idyll. A TV room and a games room provide an indoor alternative to Nature. But as I don’t have a section for it, I’ll take this opportunity to mention the splendid spa and gym facilities that come as standard for guests. Set within spacious and elegant relaxation areas are a Jacuzzi, sauna, sunarium, Turkish Bath, plunge pool, showers and a dark relaxation lounge with water beds and coloured ceiling lights to lull you comatose. Downstairs, a gym equipped with ranks of state of the art equipment is flanked by a room with a full sized climbing wall.

Overall: An idyllic, romantic Alpine mountain getaway where sublime comfort, healing spas and treatments, relaxation, good food and tranquil surroundings relieve you of stress and leave you feeling renewed and energised. This is the perfect hotel for tired executives, romantic couples, athletes, nature lovers, hikers and anyone seeking a real ‘away from it all’ experience.

Hotel Spa Villalba; 4 Star; Carraterra San Roque s/n, Vilaflor; (0034) 922 70 99 30; email hotelvillalba@hotelesreveron.com

The Tenerife and La Gomera Golf Circuit likes to broaden the horizons of their players and Buenavista Golf certainly meets that aim. It was the sixth round of the 2011 competition, now in it’s fifth year, on Saturday 17 September and 119 enthusiasts gathered to test the Isla Baja course.

Players and businesses alike have embraced the tournament’s mix of nationalities and levels of play. This round’s main sponsor was Calzados MBT but they were strongly backed by Turismo de Tenerife, Federación Canaria de Golf, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, Heineken y Zumos Pago, Feledi Bodas y Eventos, Caroli Health Club from Sheraton La Caleta, C.C Gran Sur, Lexus Canarias, Cadena Ser, Canarias.com, Fred Olsen y Jardín Tecina, MBT calzado fisiológico, Hotel Jardin Tropical, Abama Golf & Spa Resort, Spring Hoteles, Hotel Sandos San Blas, VIK hotels group, Coca Cola, Fonteide, Holiday Golf S.L., Kalise, Hotel Spa Villalba, Ideal Joyeros, Carpas Atlántico, Axa Seguros, Tenerife Magazine, electrodomésticos Max Mark y la web especializada en golf mipuntuación.com.

The players showed their charitable side raising funds for San Lazaro childrens project during the day’s play and the trophies added another reason to try just that bit harder. Nearest the flag at the 4^th hole went to David Ian Pritchard, the best senior player was Fco. González Suárez with 39 points and the scratch player award was won by Jose Luis García Estrada with 34 points. In the longest drive section at the 18^th hole Monica Martinez powered to victory for the women and Rodrigo Hernández Díaz was the men’s winner.

LADIES  SECTION

First Category:
1st. Maria Dolores Sebares Urbano with 30 points
2nd. Francisca Reyes Martin Colchero with 28 points
3rd. Maria Luisa Forniés with 27 points

Second Category:
1st. Dulce Ramón Sosa with 37 points
2nd. Miriam Muro with 36 points
3rd. Maria Isabel Cabrera with 35 points

MENS SECTION
First category
1st. Francisco Gonzalez Suárez with 39 points
2nd. Jose Luis García Estrada with 36 points
3rd. José Manuel Hernández Martí with 35 points

Second Category:
1st. John Samuel with 43 points
2nd. Roberto Fiorini with 40 points
3rd. Eduardo Julvez with 39 points

Third category
1st. Werner Schwebke with 36 points
2nd. Rafael Castañeda with 35 points
3rd. Roberto Martin with 33 points

The 2011 Circuit is reaching its climax, there are seven tournaments at Golf Costa Adeje, Golf del Sur, Tecina Golf, Abama Golf, Golf Las Américas, Buenavista Golf and the grand final la gran final at Golf del Sur. For more information go to the web page for the Asociación de Campos de Golf de Tenerife www.isladegolf.com or email to circuito@isladegolf.com

Full results and standings are here Ver todos los resultados and a great range of photos can be found here Ver todas las fotos

Even for non golf fans day two of the Tenerife Ladies Match Play tournament proved a gripping cliffhanger with Becky Brewerton and Laura Davies, two of Britain’s top golfers, tied after 18 holes and onlookers holding their breath as they waited to see who would prevail.

For 2011, this prestigious addition to the Ladies European Tour moved from last year’s course at Buenavista Golf, beautiful but remote, to the stunning greens of Golf Las Américas where a birdie on the course could just as well mean a swan or an emu as much as playing a hole in one under par.

The Tenerife Ladies Match Play teed off on Thursday with a pro-am tournament which, apart from being fun, allowed the 32 professional golfers to get a lay of the land. Their comments should have Golf Las Américas preening proud as peacocks.

‘I like the course. You can hit a lot of drivers out there and there are tiny greens, which I love, because that’s good for the better players,’ commented one of the tournament favourites Becky Brewerton whilst Beth Allen remarked: ‘It’s in really good condition, so I’m impressed. I like it.’

The pro-am tournament was won by England’s Danielle Montgomery. We won’t mention what position Tenerife Magazine’s John Beckley, playing in Spring Hoteles colours, ended up.

Day one of the Match Play tournament saw last year’s winner Trish Johnson knocked out in the unforgiving but exciting matchplay format which sees golfers go head to head in a winner takes all competition. The knock out format was generally given the thumbs up by Europe’s lady golfers who seemed to think it as exciting as us onlookers.

Day 2 of the event drew a juicy head to head battle between Becky Brewerton and Laura Davies, both of whom were tipped as having a good chance of winning the competition. It was a pairing that didn’t disappoint as the 18th hole came and went with both players all square. The exciting play off saw Becky Brewerton show nerves of steel as she pulled off a 12 foot birdie to progress to the next round.

On the final day of the Tenerife Ladies Match Play tournament the eight remaining players – Becky Brewerton (Wales), Carlota Ciganda (Spain), Nikki Garrett (Australia), Rebecca Hudson (England), Lydia Hall (Wales), Lee-Ann Pace (South Africa), Frances Bondad (Australia) and Danielle Montgomery (England) – took to the greens on a beautifully sunny Las Américas morning to compete for the glory and €40,000 first place reward.

Becky Brewerton continued to show the form that had taken her through to the final by leading the field by hitting an impressive 3 under after 7 holes with Spain’s young prodigy Carlota Ciganda (in her first pro tournament), Lydia Hall and Nikki Garrett hot on her heels at 1 under par.

By the 17th hole the tension reached nail biting levels with Becky still holding onto the lead at 3 under but with both Rebecca Hudson and Nikki Garrett breathing down her neck at 2 under par.

With the pressure on, Becky kept her cool to hole a birdie on the 18th and finish 4 under. After that all she could do was watch from the sidelines as Nicky Garrett and Carlota Ciganda closed the gap by going 3 under at the 16th and 17th respectively to set up the tensest of finishes to what had been an outstanding tournament.

However, Ciganda putting a ball into the water at the 18th ended the young Spanish player’s chances of catching Becky, leaving Australia’s Nicky Garrett as the only serious threat.
But the birdie required to tie the match proved too elusive resulting in Becky Brewerton being the deserved winner of the Tenerife Ladies Match Play tournament.

Congratulations to Becky and everyone involved with what has been an outstanding tournament in every way.

It’s a glorious day here at Golf las Americas and the sun is beating down onto the greens from a cloudless blue sky. The opening day of the Tenerife Ladies Match Play is kicking off with the pro-am competition which features three amateur players teeing off alongside each pro player.

Wandering the course, I watch Emma Cabrera-Bello sink her putt at the 10^th before going onto the hole that all the pro players hope will be lucky for them. The first pro player to get a hole-in-one at the 11this in line for a shiny, red Stingray SX sports boat with 260 HP of sleek, sexy promise waiting.

Cabrera didn’t get it. I’m tempted to hang around and witness the joyous event but it’s going to be quite some time before all the players reach the 11th, and what if no-one gets it? Across the fairway I spot John Beckley and Sir Old Golfer who are partnering the Slovakian Zuzana Kamasova.

It doesn’t seem to be going too well for them. They’re leaving the 10^th and heading to the 11^th. Somehow I think the Stingray’s probably safe for the time being.

I’m John Debnam and I’ve been the tennis coach at the Los Gigantes Tennis Centre since 1986.
Tenerife has one of the best, year round climates in Europe for tennis players coming here on holiday and for those who live here.

For a small island the tennis here is pretty good and although we are in Spain, the variety of nationalities playing here is amazing. For example, our club in Los Gigantes is comprised of players from Spain, England, Germany, Belgium, South Africa, Italy, Uruguay and Argentina.

No matter where you live on the island, there will be a club and a coach near you and over the coming weeks I’m going to be reporting on:

• upcoming tournaments
• tips to help improve your game
• where to find your nearest Tenerife tennis club

But to finish today I thought this may be of interest to any of you from the Costa Del Silencio area.
Last weekend was the Palacio De Isora Alcalá tennis competition and the losing finalist in the over 50/55 competition was Michel Cleemput who runs the Happy Days Tennis and Bowls Club.

I spoke to Michel after the presentation and he told me that after being on Tenerife for some time now, this was his first singles tennis trophy, at the age of 61.
Well done Michel, and I think you give us all a bit of hope, whatever our ages.

Have fun!
JTC

Strolling past the elegant palm trees and soft, white turrets that guard the entrance to the Hotel Jardín Tropical, I pass beneath the straw thatched roof and leave the glare of sunlight to enter the portal to a dream world. Combining the principles of Feng Shui with shades of North African, Moorish and Colonial design, the architect Melvin Villaroel has created a space filled with hidden, tranquil corners where light, air and nature combine in perfect harmony.

Velvety white corridors weave below mirrored ceilings to shady courtyards at the foot of tiered minarets and bougainvillea draped terraces. Falling in gentle tiers from the hotel’s reception, brick paved terraces embedded with turquoise and ruby ceramic tiles lead past carved pine settees and over wooden foot bridges to water cascades and a sapphire pool that meanders around scented garden jungles.

The check-in welcome is accompanied by a chilled glass of cava while Joaquín explains the Alice in Wonderland principle of a ground floor which is in fact on the fifth floor and points me towards my room. Minus the aid of a White Rabbit, I follow the warren of corridors, my eyes wide at the eclectic beauty of my surroundings, until I arrive at room 457.

Don’t you just love it when you walk into your hotel room and the first thing that comes out of your mouth is “Wow”? A corridor of fitted wardrobes with wooden latticed doors leads to a cavernous room where crimson, colour washed walls lend a rich warmth to the beautifully cool interior. Centre stage, a bed the size of a small land mass is draped in the same rich, flower print drapes that cover the windows. French impressionist paintings join forces with the  period furniture to give the room a classic, timeless elegance. I open the curtains and step onto the intimate balcony which peeks out through Kentia palm fronds at the giant strelitzias and towering palm trees that lend the gardens and pools the environment so richly deserving of the name Jardín Tropical.

I relax into one of the cane chairs, savouring the short time I have before my dinner reservation at the hotel’s award winning restaurant of Las Rocas. Birds are chatting noisily as they make last minute preparations for their sundown bed time, the last of the day’s sunbathers are heading back to their rooms while other couples are already dressed for the evening, strolling hand in hand towards a sunset cocktail at the Beach Club before dinner.
Three words are foremost in my mind – symmetry, serenity, serendipity.

The Essentials
Location: One of the first hotels to be built in Tenerife’s newest resort of Costa Adeje, the Hotel Jardín Tropical has seen many bigger and more flashy hotels springing up all around it  while this tropical paradise has quietly taken root and flourished. Sited on a picturesque headland of Costa Adeje with Playa Bobo a few minutes stroll  to the south and Puerto Colón to the west.

Rooms: Completely refurbished in 2010 and featuring LCD satellite TV, mini bar and safe, rooms are beautifully designed and appointed to maximise the quality of light, coupling the hotel’s trademark white with rich turquoise soft furnishings. Suites raise the floor space quota from generous to oodles and the decor to individually styled. The walk-in shower was powerful enough to double as an aqua massage and the bath was big enough to lie full length in. 26 interconnecting family rooms offer microwave, baby alarm and Playstation – essential ingredients of a family holiday.

Service: From the moment I arrived at reception, I was made to feel welcome by multi-lingual, professional staff. Service in the buffet restaurant and the bars was exceptionally good while at restaurant Las Rocas, the delightful Julio fussed over my every whim with a warm smile, professionalism and buckets of personality.

Food: Hotel Jardín Tropical has a deserved reputation for excellence in dining. The El Patio restaurant is reputed to serve the best steak tartare in Tenerife from its heavenly garden setting, while the romantic headland setting of Las Rocas is the venue for excellent gourmet cuisine. Breakfast in the Las Mimosas restaurant was a sumptuous choice of fresh fruit, continental and cooked dishes, all prepared and presented with aplomb in the stylish dining room and garden patio.

Entertainment: I followed the sound of laughter and applause to the bar lounge where families were being entertained by contemporary clowns, acrobats and breakdancers until it was time for the youngest of drooping eyelids to be carried to their beds. Night people will find themselves within sandal strolling distance of the iconic Faro Chill Art at Puerto Colón.

Overall: A  fabulously stylish and chic four star hotel with five star design and aspirations where the good things in life – consummate service, fine dining, luxurious comfort and impeccable taste – are placed at the top of the agenda. Perfect for couples, honeymooners, families and anyone with an eye for quality and selectivity. As official host to players at the upcoming Tenerife Ladies Match Play Golf competition, it’s also the perfect year-round base for Tenerife golfers.

Hotel Jardín Tropical; 4 Star; Calle Gran Bretagña, Costa Adeje; (0034) 902 25 02 51; email: hotel@jardin-tropical.com

2011 is an exciting year for Tenerife’s golf scene and for Tenerife Magazine as we are proud to be one of the official media partners for the Tenerife Ladies Match Play to be played from the 9th -12th June 2011 on the prestigious Golf Las Américas course in Playa de Las Américas.

Sponsored by Turismo de Tenerife, this year’scompetition will take a brand new match play format  in which just 30 of  Europe’s top ranking professionals and two invited players will pursue the title.
Day One (June 9th) will tee the event off with an exciting Pro-Am competition and then the tournament will begin with two days of match play eliminators. After the knockout rounds the remaining 8 players in the competition will play 18 holes stroke play on June 12th to decide the title.

TenerifeMagazine.com will be joining the players and organisers before, during and after the event to keep fans up to date with the state of play, conditions, the leader board and all the glamour and buzz both on and off the course.

With Golf Las Américas as our base, the new Match Play format and the weather set fair for June, it promises to be an exciting start to the summer for Tenerife golf.