Excellent news for golfers who like to take their passion on holiday with them - new courses are opening and providing new layouts and challenges.

   In today's world one eye needs to be kept on the environmental impact golf courses have, and in particular the amount of water used to keep the greens - well, green.

   Since golf courses have been notorious in the past for their vast amounts of water consumption, the Confederacion Hidrografica del Segura, which is the governing body that manages water consumption in the region where most courses are set to open, naturally had concerns about the potential environmental impact on their rivers and surrounding areas.

   According to their Minister of the Environment, it appears that some type of agreement has been reached.

   The Confederacion is satisfied with the efforts made by potential developers to build courses which will be adapted to the natural environment.

   The vast majority of the new golf courses in the region will recycle their own water. This will greatly reduce chances of a negative impact upon the river and the areas around it.

   The result of this announcement is predicted to be a strong upward surge in the number of new golf courses that will be cropping up in the region. In fact, the Minister of Environment projects an increase to a factor of three in the next few years. In an area already marked on the map for its stunning courses and options for golfing holidays, the possibilities for the tourism industry are virtually limitless.

   Currently, there are 25 courses approved for construction, with an astounding 46 more in various stages of the approval process. This means a possible total of 71 world-class golf courses could be opening up in the next several years.

   As it stands presently, Murcia will receive the lion's share of the fairways, where a total of eighteen courses are being developed. So if you're hoping to book a golf holiday for this year or next, Murcia should definitely be part of your itinerary. Other stops you may want to include are Alicante, destined to reap the benefits of four new courses and Almeria, where three courses are being developed.

   Of course, you need not wait for the Segura courses, the Costa del Sol, which is known primarily for its abundant sunshine and dazzling beaches, already boasts more than 60 golf courses.

   If an island golf holiday appeals, consider the Mediterranean island of Menorca. It is home to the championship-quality Son Parc golf course. When you pause to putt, you will breathe in the beauty of the natural surroundings, which include gently rolling hills covered by a protected wet zone, home to a variety of tropical species of birds.

   If you prefer to watch golf rather than play, the island of Tenerife will once again host the Ladies Open Golf Championship in 2008. And as always, the PGA Mallorca Classic makes a hot ticket for any golfer's vacation. There is simply no shortage of ways to fill your time if golf ranks high on your list of passions, meaning that Spain is truly a golfer's paradise.