Golf Breaks in Spain: The Best Destinations

Spain is a golfer’s paradise, with 497 courses in total. Add to the number of courses, a great climate, delicious food and plenty of things to do and see off the fairways and it’s no wonder that Spain is one of the world’s top destinations for golf holidays.

But Spain is a very big country – more than double the size of the UK in fact, so where in Spain should you look for your next golf holiday?

Golf Breaks in Spain: Best Destinations

There are a number of regions with a high density of golf courses in Spain. They are often popular with tourists throughout the year too, so they have the facilities you need for a golf break.

Andalucia is the area of Spain with the most golf clubs. It has 104 golf clubs, as well as wonderful beaches, warm weather and lots of vacation rentals and hotels for you to stay in.

Catalonia is the next biggest area for golf breaks in Spain with 53 golf clubs, followed by the Valencian community with 34, Castile and Leon with 33, Madrid with 28, the Balearic Islands with 24 and the Canary Islands with 23.

Let’s drill down a little further into the most popular destinations for golf breaks in Spain and what else these areas have to offer visitors.

Golf Breaks in Costa del Sol

The Costa del Sol is also known as the Costa del Golf and this area accounts for a large proportion of Andalucia’s 104 golf clubs. This area stretches from the city of Malaga and its international airport to the area of Manilva and includes tourist hotspots such as Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Marbella, Benahavis and Estepona. Contrary to popular belief, Sotogrande isn’t in the Costa del Sol, but is in Cadiz province, which is known as the Costa del la Luz – more on that later!

There are golf clubs all the way along the Costa del Sol, and they are of excellent quality. We’ve reviewed our favourite golf courses on the Costa del Sol on our website, to help you choose where you want to play on your next golf holiday and we also have a list of golf shops in Marbella if you need extra kit. There are also excellent academies and golf pros, and taking golf classes on the Costa del Sol during your holiday is a great way to really boost your skills and enjoy the courses to the full.

With golf courses dotted all around the Costa del Sol, you can choose your favourite town and easily travel to the courses you like the best. Alternatively, if you’re looking to be in the centre of the golfing action, the area with the highest density is Nueva Andalucia. This is nicknamed Golf Valley, because of having five golf courses along the valley just behind Puerto Banus. All five courses are very highly regarded and have great club houses and training facilities.

We recommend it because it’s very close to Marbella and Puerto Banus, so it ticks all the boxes for golf, restaurants, bars, beaches, history, culture and awesome nightlife. There’s no wonder this is one of the very best golf destinations in Spain. Browse vacation rentals in Nueva Andalucia.

Golf Breaks in Almería

Another area of Andalucia which is well known for its golf is Almeria. This is less visited than the Costa del Sol, but you may have seen it on the silver screen, as many Westerns were filmed in the Cabo de Gata natural park. It’s also known as Europe’s greenhouse and produces millions of tons of vegetables for export.

There are several popular tourist resorts in this area, including; Roquetas de Mar, Aguadulce, El Ejido, Mojacar, Vera and Cabo de Gata. Thanks to tourism and a great climate, 11 golf courses were built in this area. The Almerimar Golf resort is one of the oldest courses in Spain, designed by Gary Player and Rob Kirby and opened in 1976, which still attracts many golfers from around the world. There’s also Europe’s first and second desert course in Almeria – Desert Springs Golf Club and Golf Valle Del Este. Many of the golf resorts in Almeria also feature hotels and spas with fitness and wellness facilities to appeal to non-golfers too.

Golf Breaks in Murcia

The Murcia region has 17 golf clubs boasting 19 courses and a total of 348 holes between them. Golf in Murcia began with the La Manga Club being built by golfer and businessman Gregory Peters in 1972. This was a pioneering resort, based around golf, with two courses, which was unheard of in Spain at that time. It has since developed into a resort with lots of sports facilities and accommodation including an excellent tennis centre. Since then, more and more courses have been built, including Alhama Signature, designed by Jack Nicklaus, El Valle Golf, which has hosted many world-class competitions, and Dave Thomas’ Golf Altorreal. The golf resorts in the area, plus the beaches and calm waters of the Mar Menor, make this a great golf destination.

Golf Breaks in Costa Blanca

The stunning beaches of Spain’s “white coast” in the Alicante province stretches from Denia to Pilar de la Horada and contains many holiday hotspots, including Benidorm and Alicante. There are over 20 golf courses in the Costa Blanca. The area is split into the North and South region, with 10 in the North (Javea to Alicante) and 10 in the South (Alicante to Torrevieja). Las Colinas Golf Club is an outstanding course designed by Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Font del Llop, the Club de Golf Jávea and the historic Villamartín Golf are all highly recommended. As well as golf and beaches, you can also climb in the Costa Blanca, as part of an active holiday and the city of Alicante is stunning.

Golf Breaks in Costa de la Luz

Sotogrande is the pinnacle of golf in Spain, and although it’s close to the Costa del Sol, it is in fact in an area known as the Costa de la Luz in the Cadiz province. It is home to what’s considered the best course in Spain and one of the very best courses in Europe – Valderrama. This legendary course has played host to the Volvo Masters and the Ryder Cup and is a must play for many golfers. But there’s more on offer for golfers in Sotogrande, a total of seven golf courses in a very small area. The area is also known for its white sand beaches, yachting, polo and gastronomy, as well as beautiful countryside.

There isn’t much of a hub for nightlife in Sotogrande, particularly during the winter months. Many travellers base themselves at a holiday rental in Estepona, a vibrant and cultural town with great restaurants and several good golf courses of its own. This town sits between Marbella and Sotogrande, so can be a great base for both.

Golf Breaks in Costa Brava

We already mentioned that Catalonia has 53 golf courses, and the Costa Brava is one of the most important tourist areas in this region. It stretches from the town of Blanes, 60 km northeast of Barcelona to the French border and has been a very popular tourist destination since the 1950s. Golf in Costa Brava is very well developed, with 8 golf clubs and 11 golf courses and it has a long history, with the first course Golf de Pals opening in 1966. PGA Catalunya is ranked one of the top ten courses in Europe and the Real Club Golf El Prat hosted 10 editions of the European Tour Spanish Open. You can enjoy the beaches and towns and of course fit in a visit to the amazing city of Barcelona during a golf break on the Costa Brava.

Golf Breaks in Mallorca

Although it’s a relatively small island, Mallorca is big on golf! There are 24 golf courses in total, with 21 open for non-members to play. The top courses are the Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed Alcanada and Son Gual, which are highly regarded, but there are many more to enjoy and the travel time is low due to the island’s size. As well as the golf, you have the wonderful, historic city of Palma to enjoy, the party hotspot of Magaluf and wonderful ports such as Andratx. It’s also a hotspot for sailing, with lovely ports and coves dotted around the coastline.

Golf Breaks in the Canary Islands

There are 23 courses in the Canary Islands, most of which can be found on the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria. It’s a favourite winter golf destination as the temperatures don’t dip below 15°C and there’s very low rainfall. Gran Canaria is home to the oldest golf club in Spain, the Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas, which has been offering golf since 1891. There are wonderful courses designed by leading golf course architects including Anfi Tauro Golf Course on Gran Canaria and the Dave Thomas designed Abama Golf in Tenerife. Off the golf course, you can visit the volcanoes, enjoy amazing hiking, enjoy art, culture, wines and nightlife, soak up the sun on beautiful beaches and even spot dolphins and whales too.

Why book a golf holiday to Spain?

As you can see, Spain is an amazing golf destination, with a huge range of golf courses, in beautiful places. There are frequent and low-cost flights from the UK, Ireland and Europe, which makes it very easy to get here. Plus, as the golf season in Spain tends to be the low season for the rest of the holidaymakers, flights and accommodation are much better value and easier to come by too.

Andalucia offers the widest choice of courses and travel is easy between them. We’d recommend basing yourself in Marbella or Estepona for lots of great things to see and do, within very easy reach of a wide range of golf courses. Trust in the holiday experts and golf lovers at Vacation Marbella to help you plan the best golf holiday in Andalucia.

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            [post_content] => Golf is a really popular sport, which has been growing rapidly since 2020. According to Golf Monthly, there are around 68 million golfers playing worldwide in 2023, across 146 countries. There has also been a 15% rise in participation since 2020 and the numbers are expected to rise.

These passionate golfers love to play at home, but also want to take their favourite game abroad and pit their skills against some of the world’s best courses. In 2023, in the US alone, over 12 million golfers went on a golf holiday and golf tourism is big business. Golf tourism is expected to hit 27 billion dollars in revenue this year, and exceed a 65 billion US dollars by 2035, fuelled by a continued demand for luxury golf experiences.

Will you join the millions of golfers hitting the road for a golf holiday in 2025?

If you’re considering it, here are our favourite golf destinations to add to the list.


1. Marbella, Spain
You won’t be surprised to hear that Marbella is on the top of our list! We’re keen golfers at Vacation Marbella and have personally tried the majority of the 70 golf courses on the Costa del Sol. We can tell you first hand that the range and quality of these courses, as well as the proximity and ease of travelling between them, makes this area hard to beat. On top of the courses, the weather makes Marbella a very popular place to practice golf under sunny skies, and combine a round or two, with topping up your tan.

A large golf industry has sprung up around this high density of golf courses. This means that you can take golf classes in Marbella, with some top golf pros, and improve your game during your next golf holiday. You can also visit golf shops and pick up some new gear, as a memento of your trip.

Marbella is a fantastic holiday destination all year round, but still best known as a summer holiday destination. The golf season in Marbella is in the traditional off-peak season of spring and autumn. This means that the flights and accommodation prices are lower than during the summer months. But as a tourist hot spot, you still get all the amazing restaurants, bars, shops, tours and experiences to enjoy when you’re not on the golf course – with less people to share it with!! It’s a win-win.

Find out more about the Costa del Golf and all it has to offer on our website, or contact us to arrange a vacation rental in Marbella, which makes the perfect base for your next golf holiday.
2. Scotland
Scotland is known as the home of golf, and has the world’s oldest golf course, the aptly named Old Course in St Andrews, which has been in use for over 600 years. Scotland has the highest number of courses per head of population in the world, more than 550 golf courses in total. Many of the world’s best tournaments are played in Scotland as well, so you can combine playing with watching golf. Find out more about golf in Scotland.

In addition to the golf, the city of Edinburgh is a beautiful destination, and a comedy hot spot in August during its famous festival. The Scottish countryside is another big draw for visiting Scotland for a golf holiday.

The big downside to Scotland is the weather, which is often rainy and cold. So, a golf holiday to Scotland is for the hardy golfer! 
3. France
France has a long history of golf, and boasts the first golf course in Europe, which opened in 1856. There are over 600 courses in France and the nation is passionate about the game, with more than 400,000 members of golf courses in the country.

The countryside is beautiful, and varied, with a great range of courses adapting to the stunning landscape and you can follow in the footsteps of some of the world’s best golfers by playing the Le Golf National's L'Albatros course, which hosted the 2018 Ryder Cup.

A golf holiday in France is often combined with visiting the wine makers and enjoying the amazing French food, so it’s a good option if you like your food and wine, as well as your golf.
4. Florida
There’s more to Florida than Disney! It has over 1,200 courses and has been called the Golf Capital of the World. Some of the most famous courses in the world are found in Florida, and its home to The Players Championship, PGA Tour and Champions Tour. The warm climate is a big draw as well, with great conditions all year, and you can combine golf with visiting the beach and theme parks too.


5. Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland boasts over 90 golf courses and punches well above its weight when it comes to quality. Golf Digest’s World’s 100 Greatest Courses ranking names Royal County Down in Northern Ireland as the best course in the world and has four courses in the country in its top 100. Royal Portrush will be hosting The Open championship between the 13th and the 20th of July 2025, really shining a light on the great golf courses in Northern Ireland and seeing thousands of fans flocking to watch the best golfers in action. Find out more about golf in Northern Ireland.
6. England
England is fourth in the world for number of courses, with 2,270, according to Golf Monthly. It’s a good destination for a golf holiday because of the variety of landscapes, which give rise to a great mix of courses. In England you can play on links, heathland and parkland courses, including some of the best in the world. Golf Digest names Sunningdale Golf Club in Berkshire as the best course in England, followed by Royal Birkdale in Merseyside and Royal St. George’s in Kent in third place, which has been an Open Championship venue since 1894.

Of course, as well as golf, England boasts a wide range of historical and architectural places of interest, plus vibrant multicultural cities and an amazing theatre and arts scene. Despite the weather, this makes it a great destination for a golf holiday.
7. Northern California
California is probably best known as the home of Hollywood and the vibrant cities of LA and San Francisco, or perhaps for the natural delights of Yosemite National Park, but it’s also a fantastic place to visit on a golf holiday. Golf has been a feature of this part of the US since 1892 and has some amazing courses from the Golden Age of golf. It boasts over 900 golf courses in total, only beaten by Florida and New York in terms of numbers. Probably the best known is Pebble Beach, as the home of the US Open on six occasions, due to return there in 2027. It’s expected to increase in importance for golf breaks in the future, thanks to its excellent climate and wonderful landscape, amazing infrastructure and other things to visit.

We hope you enjoyed our run down of the 7 best golf destinations in 2025. Have an amazing golf holiday!

If Marbella is at the top of your list, you can trust in the golf holiday experts from Vacation Marbella.

Contact us and we’ll help you find the best accommodation and support you with everything from Green Fees to recommendations on where to go and what to do, to ensure you have the best time.  
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            [post_content] => Spain has a love affair with golf and has 486 golf courses in total! This puts it in sixth place in the world. So, there’s no wonder that one of the oldest golf tournaments is the Spanish Open Golf, which has been played since 1912. This has been an amazing event to showcase the talent of Spanish golfers, with homegrown talent winning 39 of the 96 titles.

This year it’s taking place in Madrid in October, just over 2 hours by train from Malaga. This makes it a great option for a golf holiday in Spain!

October is one of the best times to play golf in Andalucia, with blue skies, plenty of sunshine, but cooler temperatures, which make your round more comfortable. Imagine playing on some of the best golf courses in Marbella, visiting the wonderful city of Malaga and then zipping up to the nations capital to watch the world’s best golfers in action.

Here’s what you need to know to plan your visit.


ACCIONA Open de España presented by Madrid 2025
This year, the Spanish Open is taking place from the 9th to the 12th of October.

The best of the best will be flying into Madrid for three days of amazing golf action and you could be there too.

Tickets are not on sale yet, but you can register your interest to be the first to hear about tickets and packages.
Where is the Spanish Golf Open played?
Once again, the Villa de Madrid Country Club is hosting this year’s Spanish Open, as it has for the last five years.

The course was designed by Javier de Arana and opened in 1956. It is a par-71, 6,970-yard Black course, which tests the players off the tee and requires the very best driving accuracy. The greens are challenging and on the back nine the putting surface is more difficult, which could set up a dramatic finish if plenty of players are in with a shot at the title.

In addition to golf, you’ll find horse riding, tennis, padel, hockey, swimming pools, a gym and sauna at this great club.
What is the format of the tournament?
The format of the Open de Espana is a standard strokeplay event played over 72 holes with a cut after 36 holes (two rounds). The player with the lowest score over four rounds will win the tournament.

Players for this year will be announced on the European Tour website.

Last year it was won by Ángel Hidalgo – who will take the title in 2025?
Spanish Open Golf: History
The Spanish Open has a long history of exciting events, and is a favourite with some of the world’s best golfers. It started in 1912, and became part of the PGA European Tour in 1971 and it is actually the third oldest golf tournament in Europe.

It saw Sergio Garcia’s entry to professional golf, and the last win of the golf legend Seve Ballesteros.

Last year’s event saw an all-Spanish play-off, with Angel Hidalgo and Jon Rahm fighting it out for the win. Hidalgo took the victory and it was particularly special, as it was his first DP World Tour title.

Jon Rahm has won an impressive three times at the Spanish Open, Angel De La Torre won it five times and Mariano Provencio won it four times. Other winners include; Arnold Palmer, Severiano Ballesteros, Sergio García, Bernhard Langer and Nick Faldo.

Find out more about the history of the Spanish Golf Open.

Who will be next to lift the trophy?
Other golf tournaments in Spain
You can play in golf tournaments in Marbella throughout the year, if you want to see how your skills stack up to the rest.

There are also loads of great tournaments to watch this year on the Costa del Golf.

Liv Golf is coming to Andalucia once again in July, with three days of action taking place at Valderrama between the 11th and 13th of July.

You can also watch the Final of the Professional Andalucian Golf Circuit in August, in Alhaurin de la Torre on the 11th and 12th of August.

Check out our full list of golf tournaments in Andalucia and come and join the fun!
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            [post_content] => 2025 marks the 14th edition of Starlite Marbella, a music festival and amazing opportunity to party to live music and fantastic DJs, with delicious food and a great atmosphere. In this article, we’ll give you the low down on this epic live music event, who’s playing and where you can stay, so you can get planning a summer to remember.
The magic of Starlite Marbella Festival
Since 2012, the Starlite Festival has been bringing some of the best musical acts to Marbella every summer. The organizers call it the “best boutique festival in the world” and it is a coming together of music, culture and gastronomy.

There are four restaurants, and apart from the packed schedule of concerts, you can also dance the night away to DJs. You can book tickets to the after party following the concerts, even if you don’t want to see the main show, just look out for what they call Starlite Sessions.

This year, it’s running from the 13th of June to the 29th of August, and you can enjoy delicious food and a fantastic night out from Monday to Saturday from 8pm.


Starlite Marbella Festival 2025: line-up
The organizers look for a mix of acts, to ensure there’s something for all ages and musical tastes. Every year, there are many great Spanish artists, alongside international superstars and there’s always excitement ahead of the lineup announcement.

The headline act for Starlite Marbella 2025 is the Pet Shop Boys, performing their greatest hits live. Other amazing artists performing at this year’s Starlite Marbella include; Camila Cabello, Marc Anthony, Duran Duran, Seal, The Script and Will Smith.

For all concerts on the auditorium stage, doors open at 8pm and the event starts at 10pm. You can buy tickets for Starlite concerts on their website and from the many booths that you’ll see around Marbella during the summer.

There are 32 amazing acts for 2025, here’s the full line up of Starlite Marbella 2025!



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13/06
Emilia
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20/06
Nathy Peluso
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21/06
Camila Cabello
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27/06
Kool & The Gang
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02/07
Gente de Zona
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03/07
Marc Anthony
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04/07
Marc Anthony
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05/07
Raphael
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08/07
Europe
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09/07
Duran Duran
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10/07
Seal
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14/07
Fito Páez
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16/07
Pet Shop Boys
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18/07
Jhayco
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19/07
The Script
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21/07
Scorpions
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23/07
Bosé
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24/07
Bosé
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25/07
Il Divo
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26/07
Will Smith
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28/07
The Beach Boys
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29/07
Zaz
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31/07
Ana Belén
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01/08
Rels B
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03/08
Santana
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06/08
Clean Bandit
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07/08
Guitarricadelafuente
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08/08
Amaral
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12/08
Beret
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14/08
Los Secretos
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19/08
Siempre Así
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20/08
Alejandro Fernández
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28/08
Fangoria – Nancys Rubias
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29/08
Camilo
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How to get to the Starlite Festival Auditorium?
Starlite is held in a quarry in Marbella, which makes for a very impressive backdrop and great acoustics. It’s a residential area under 10 minutes by car from central Marbella and 15 minutes’ drive from Puerto Banus.

You can drive and park for free in the designated parking area, then be dropped off at the door with a shuttle service.

You can also take a taxi, or arrange for a private transfer to and from the venue, to avoid queuing for a taxi at the end of the night.
Starlite Gastro Experience
Foodies will love a visit to Starlite, as there are four amazing restaurants, plus a caviar bar, where you can enjoy delicious food and great shows.

There’s a Nikkei restaurant called Tanabata, which fuses Japanese and Peruvian cuisine.

Or how about trying their Mediterranean grill restaurant, Temazo? Here the talented chefs perfectly cook seasonal vegetables, fish and meat over fire, for drama and delicious chargrilled flavour.

You can also enjoy delicious Mexican food at Anima restaurant during your visit to Starlite Marbella. They promise authentic flavours and an awesome experience.

Last but not least, why not treat yourself to a luxury food experience at Sandra’s Caviar Bar. Dine on the very best ingredients selected by the creator of the festival Sandra García-Sanjuán, including of course caviar.

Find out more about these restaurants at Starlite on their website. Book your table early, to avoid disappointment.
Where to stay in Marbella to enjoy Starlite Festival?
We’d recommend Marbella’s prestigious Golden Mile as a prime location if you’re planning a holiday around Starlite. It’s the closest area to the festival, which also has some excellent restaurants and bars nearby, and is within easy reach of the beach. Check out our vacation rentals on the Golden Mile in Marbella.

However, anywhere in Marbella is close to Starlite, so if you prefer charm and history and want to be within walking distance of shops, bars and restaurants, then Marbella Old Town would make a good base. Browse vacation rentals in Marbella Old Town.

We can’t wait for Starlite Marbella 2025 - how about you? If you’re planning to come and see some of these amazing musicians live in concert this summer, remember that this is peak season in Marbella. So, we recommend booking flights and accommodation and booking your tickets well in advance, to avoid disappointment. We hope to see you there!
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