Watch the birdies in Tenerife

Contrary to popular belief, the Canaries aren't named after the eponymous bird, it's actually the wild dogs that once inhabited these Spanish islands off the coast of Africa that gave them their name.

That said, it's doubtful the founders of the islands realised a similar description could be levelled at some of the thousands of women who invade every year looking for alcoholinduced sexual adventures. But that may be soon change.

For us Brits, the most famous person to be associated with the Canaries was Admiral Lord Nelson, who tried to conquer the capital of Tenerife, Santa Cruz, in 1797 and sloped off home after defeat, losing an arm in the process. But, thanks to Tenerife's increasing popularity as a golfing haven, you can add the names of Jose Maria Olazabal, Seve Ballesteros, and Ernie Els to the list.

The island has a spring-like climate, and an annual average temperature of 23°C means golfers can enjoy playing the six excellent courses all year round. Planning and construction currently under way will see the total rise to ten over the next five years.

Another plus is the fact that all the courses are in close proximity, meaning you never have to travel more than 60 miles to find another one. A round in the morning at the island's northerly Royal Tenerife Golf Club, a leisurely lunch and an afternoon round at one of the southern courses anyone? In the South, you can take your pick from the five: Golf Del Sur, Amarillo Golf, Los Palos, Costa Adeje and Las Americas.

Promotion of the island as a golf destination is down to the imaginatively titled Tenerife Golf, which thankfully has put more thought into the package trips on offer, combining the six courses with 19 four and five star hotels. I stayed at the Hotel Gardenias de Nivaria on the Costa Adeje beachfront - a stylish hotel that has a putting green by the swimming pool. A golfer's heaven.

My first round was at Las Americas, where not having my own clubs didn't lead to a single batted eyelid from the staff as we were soon kitted out with a decent set and buggies to get us around.

I managed to card my best round in years and the course was very much what I expected. Easy fairways, little rough and few bunkers make for a feelgood round for the holiday golfer.

The next day I visited Tenerife's newest course, the Costa Adeje, designed by renowned golf architect Pepe Gancedo, who has used the natural terrain as an integral part of the layout. With black sanded bunkers (Tenerife is volcanic) and surrounded by palm trees, there's a distinct Apocalypse Now feel to the course. Which is quite apt as a dose of sunburn from the previous day made me play my worst round in years. Twelve lost balls? The shame of it.

I spent the final two days of my trip finding out what attracts other holidaymakers to the island. A night out on the tiles led me to see why Tenerife is so popular: cheap alcohol, dance music and hordes of British youngsters with only one thing on their mind. And I'm not talking about golf.

Perhaps though, with 250,000 green fees sold in 2001, Tenerife's image may change. At least they'll have to stop playing Who Let The Dogs Out?

Matthew travelled to Tenerife courtesy of Tenerife Golf. Visit www.tenerifegolf.es for more information.