It's famous for its sun, sea, sand and golf but Ken Bennett found there is much more to La Manga. I DOUBT heritage comics Jimmy Tarbuck and Ronnie Corbett would have raised a smile at my antics near the immaculate golf courses at the £100 million sunshine resort.

In fact, I reckon I could have been the only handicap to them enjoying a gentle amble at this Spanish holiday playground for the seriously funny and very famous.

And with its haute couture boutiques, I mused it's hardly the place to buy a T-shirt with a corny slogan. If you could, mine would read: "I went to La Manga and DIDN'T play golf." Because here, the greens are so incredibly green and their velvet lushness reminds you of deep, rolling carpets you only see in Royal palaces: look but don't touch.

But I soon found far more on offer than just swinging a club at this sprawling 1,220-acre leisure complex with its stylish 1,675 whitewashed villas and apartments.

The sublime facilities include a state of the art health spa complete with 25 metre, six lane indoor pool, saunas, gym and 13 luxury treatment rooms. There's horse riding and invigorating walks with views of the tranquil Mar Menor, Europe's largest saltwater lagoon spread over at 170 square kilometres on the Costa Calida.

A short drive away, there is a wealth of sights and places of interest with the typically Spanish holiday resort of San Pedro del Pinatar becoming increasingly popular with inquisitive Brits.

Here you can bathe in the mineralised waters of the Mar Menor after plastering yourself in the mud. Now that really would have given Jimmy and Ronnie a good laugh! It is claimed to have astonishing therapeutic qualities for all types of problems including rheumatism, arthritis, gout and muscle ailments - ideal for those who burn the candle at both ends at the resort.

Fully refreshed, you can then spend a relaxing 90 minutes wandering the newly-constructed boardwalk through the protected salt flats on the outskirts watching pink flamingoes, royal herons and avocets.

Much nearer is the quaint coastal village of Cabo de Palos with its suntrap harbourside cafes and restaurants giving you chance to unwind watching local fishermen unloading their nets, floats and creels.

Offshore, the seabed offers divers a dream chance to explore remains of shipwrecks and fading traces of vessels from bygone times.

And you can hop on small boats from several coastal towns to try a succulent sardine lunch on the island of la Perdiguera.

For just a fiver a head it has to be one of the best bargain feasts on the Costas! The La Manga strip - it means the sleeve in Spanish - is home to hotels, apartments, leisure centres, bars and discos hustling for a space in the sun.

In some places you can stroll from the Med to the Menor in a couple of minutes - I counted 171 paces from one beach with its crashing waves to the other as still as a millpond.

If you enjoy the atmosphere of historic cities, travel an hour inland to Murcia and Cartagena.

However, both have traffic problems but you do get the chance to shop at El Cortes Ingles - Spain's largest department store. In Cartagena though, it's worth parking near the port and paying one Euro for the lift to the Castilla de la Conception.

There you can marvel at the magnificent views across the city, wander in the grounds among peacocks and trace its history through an audio-visual display although expect competition from crowds of noisy schoolchildren.

In Murcia the stunning 14th century cathedral with its awe-inspiring Chapel of Los Velez surrounded by a chain carved in stone is a 'must' see. And, although it's morbid, a sepulchre in the main altar stores the entrails of King Alfonso X.

Budget airlines are increasingly opening up the region through Alicante, an hour's drive away, or the much nearer Murcia airport which gives you an idea what it used to be like to fly to Spain 30 years ago.

The area is nothing like the Costas del Sol and Blanca although the steady development of new sites indicate it is better to plan a visit sooner rather than later to enjoy the laid-back lifestyle so much appreciated by Spaniards.

If you have a healthy budget, then the five-star Hyatt Regency Hotel, centrepiece of La Manga, is definitely the place to stay.

The pristine lawns and perfectly shaped palm trees give the uncanny impression you could be in California or the Caribbean. Or maybe, dare I say it, even Stepford...? Eat in the immaculate Amapola restaurant and you might find the rich Scottish accent from the next table belongs to Sir Sean Connery.

Take a noggin in trendy Spike's Bar and you could rub shoulders with Formula One ace David Coulthard.

Relax at one of the 18th greens and who knows, you may see Ronnie and Jimmy putting out. Or stroll to tennis centre to study Greg Rusedski perfecting his backhand.

Yes, this resort is all about style, which is only what you would expect when the owner is the flamboyant Hungarian billionaire financier George Soros.

He is reputed to have once requested the cook at his Kensington home to "flavour" his goulash with a £500 bottle of Chateau Lafite.

So don't expect a cheap deal. Double occupancy rooms cost up to £232 a night depending on season with the Royal Suite available at £818. However, depending on availability, there is a promotional rate of £107, which has to be one of the great bargains.

Self-catering deals vary from a studio for two in low season, costing £42 a night to a three-bed apartment, sleeping six, with gorgeous views, kicking in at £265 a night during peak periods.

Club residents playing golf pay £52 for 18 holes but the fee leaps to £125 for day visitors. And if there's anyone for tennis expect to pay £35 to hire a court for an hour. Me? I did a lot of walking - and that comes for free. Now that really was something to smile about ...

FACTFILE

l For information on La Manga click on: www.lamanga.regency.hyatt.com; www.lamangaclub.com

l MyTravelLite operate flights to Murcia from Birmingham from £39 one way including taxes. Contact: www.mytravellite.com; They also offer return flights to Alicante from Manchester for £99. Contact www.mytravel.com

l A car can be hired from £12 a day. Contact www.auto-europe.co.uk