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Europe Travel

Camiral Golf & Wellness: Spain’s No.1 among World’s Top 20 Golf Resorts

Stadium Course at Camiral Golf & Wellness (Photo: Jacob Sjöman)
Stadium Course at Camiral Golf & Wellness (Photo: Jacob Sjöman)

As it prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2024, Camiral Golf & Wellness has continued its reign as Spain’s No.1 Golf Resort in the new World Top 100 Golf Resorts, published by Golf World. Part of the European Tour Destinations network, the resort formerly known as PGA Catalunya, has risen in the new listing, placing 17th, reinforcing its position as a must-visit destination for discerning international golf travellers.

The Camiral Golf & Wellness at the gates of Girona

Golf World’s Top 100 Resorts editor, Chris Bertram, said: “Camiral Golf & Wellness has been one of Europe’s leading golf destinations for over two decades, but it is now so much more than ‘just’ one of the best places on the continent to play the game. Its two world-class golf courses and the two onsite hotels – the uber-stylish and luxurious Hotel Camiral and the beautiful LAVIDA – and the amenities they boast, have turned it into a first-class contemporary leisure and wellness resort that is attracting an ever-increasing number of international customers.”

Tour Course at Camiral Golf & Wellness. (Photo: Jacob Sjöman)

A recent investment in sustainability, which will help reduce water consumption on both the Stadium and Tour courses by 35%, includes the implementation of a more drought-and heat-resistant turf variety, a reduction in irrigated areas, and a study to update the resort’s irrigation system with the latest water-saving technology.

It is the latest action that has helped Camiral Golf & Wellness also earn a place in the inaugural ‘Green 100’ listing by Today’s Golfer magazine, in association with GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf, recognising the most sustainable golf venues in Europe.

Commenting on this latest global accolade, David Plana, Camiral Golf & Wellness CEO, said: “For more than two decades, we have sought to offer guests and residents the finest resort experience in Spain, and this has been duly confirmed by the new World Top 100 Golf Resorts listing. As we welcome our landmark 25-year milestone, we continue to invest to elevate the visitor, resident and member experience. During 2024, projects will include the renovation of our Clubhouse at the beginning of the year, the implementation of a Trackman range in our Golf Hub, as well as continued work around the resort to ensure that we are operating sustainably – all demonstrating our long-term commitment to being a leading international golf and wellness destination.”

The 5* Hotel Camiral at Camiral Golf & Wellness. (Photo: Jacob Sjöman)

Beyond the fairways, Camiral Golf & Wellness offers many sport and leisure facilities, a wide range of dining experiences and luxurious wellbeing treatments at the state-of-the-art Wellness Centre, where guests indulge in treatments from whole-body cryotherapy to holistic massages.

Located just outside the gastronomic city of Girona and just one hour from Barcelona, Camiral Golf & Wellness is a world-class retreat for golfers, sports enthusiasts, wellness retreat seekers and their families.

Text: Camiral Golf & Wellness

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Uncategorized

Fails of 2023: From horror laps to miserable bunkers

The bunkers of the Royal Liverpool created nightmares this year. A look back at the fails of the 2023. (Source: Getty)
The bunkers of the Royal Liverpool created nightmares this year. A look back at the fails of the 2023. (Source: Getty)

Not everything went smoothly in golf year 2023. Julien Brun battled his way through an unforgettable round of horror, while the wicked bunkers at Royal Liverpool presented even experienced players with unforeseen challenges.

Two big disasters at the Players Championship

There were two major mishaps at the Players Championship in March. Firstly, Aaron Wise experienced a real debacle on hole 18 at the TPC Sawgrass and only narrowly escaped the highest score on the last hole at the Players Championship. The 26-year-old started on hole 18 with two over par – a sextuple bogey almost resulted in the worst score on this hole. His tee shots landed in the water three times in a row. Wise finished the last hole with ten strokes and slipped to penultimate place on the leaderboard (T141).

On Sunday in the final, there was another disaster that cost Taylor Montgomery 1.4 million dollars. At the Players Championship, the 28-year-old was on the verge of collecting the biggest cheque of his career to date. At ten under par, he was in the top five with four holes to go and with four pars he would have finished third and, like Tom Hoge and Viktor Hovland, would have collected 1.475 million US dollars in prize money. But no Players Championship without drama on the 17th! One of the most iconic and famous holes in the world of golf cost Montgomery four strokes after he had already had to accept a bogey and a double bogey. First, he sank his tee shot into the water on the short par-3, which is particularly nerve-wracking but always unpredictable due to the unpredictable wind. Then, after the drop, his second attempt was also too long and also ended up in the water.

Bunker Fails 2023

Bunkers are among the most unpleasant obstacles on golf courses. Amateur players in particular have their difficulties with the sand holes in the middle of their favourite golf courses. One amateur was particularly unlucky this year when, after a few air shots, he only made it off the edge of the bunker on the ninth shot.

This year, however, even the pros had their problems. At the British Open at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, the dreaded pot bunkers spoilt many a player’s top placing. On the very first day, the bunkers threw a spanner in the works for Lucas Herbert. Herbert misjudged his tee shot with the gap wedge slightly to the left and landed in one of the brutal pot bunkers. This was followed by an uncomfortable shot with a leg outside the bunker. This fell short and rolled back into the bunker. This was followed by shot number 4 and then two putts for a triple bogey.

Memorable rule errors

Golf is a complicated game. Even the pros sometimes lose track of the many rules. This was the case for Julien Brun, who incurred two penalty strokes at the DS Automobiles Italian Open. The Frenchman had apparently forgotten a rule change that prohibited players from picking up and cleaning their own ball on the fairway at the weekend – this was still permitted in the first two rounds. This rule had obviously completely passed Brun by, or he had simply forgotten it. Because on the very first hole of his third round, he picked up his ball to clean it and promptly conceded a penalty stroke. The result: a bogey. Anyone thinking that the man had learnt from his mistake was wrong. Because he made the exact same mistake again on the sixth hole. Again it was penalty stroke and bogey. Brun took it with humour.

It was even more bitter for Curtis Luck on the Korn Ferry Tour. Within the extensive rules of golf, there are numerous reasons to be disqualified during the round. Only very few manage to be disqualified before the round. Curtis Luck made this annoying faux pas this year. He arrived too late for his tee-off and his eligibility to start was ruined. According to the rules, anyone who arrives late will be disqualified.

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Professionals

World Golf Ranking: Scottie Scheffler Ends the Year at the Top

As 2023 wraps up, Scottie Scheffler secures the top spot in global golf, leading the World Golf Ranking. (Photo: Getty)
As 2023 wraps up, Scottie Scheffler secures the top spot in global golf, leading the World Golf Ranking. (Photo: Getty)

Scottie Scheffler remains firmly at the top of the current world golf ranking, solidifying his position as the highest-ranked American golfer. Scheffler’s consistent and stellar performances on the golf course have allowed him to clinch the top spot, underscoring his status as a dominant force in the sport. Accompanying him in the rankings, Patrick Cantlay secures his elite standing by holding onto the fifth position, showcasing the enduring excellence of American golfers.

Click here for the full world golf ranking

Consistent Performances: Leading American Golfers in World Ranking

Among the leading American players, Xander Schauffele holds sixth place, closely followed by Max Homa in seventh. The players have maintained their positions from the previous week, placing them firmly in the top ten. Brian Harman and Wyndham Clark bring up the rear in ninth and tenth place, respectively, concluding the group of leading American talents in the World Golf Rankings.

Scottie Scheffler is followed in the world rankings in second and third place by Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Jon Rahm of Spain. Further into the top ten is the steadfast fourth-place standing of Norway’s Viktor Hovland, indicative of a sustained level of performance and unchanged from the previous week. This consistency among the upper reaches of the rankings indicates a consistency in performances throughout the sport over the last couple of weeks. Focusing on the rest of the top ten, England’s Matt Fitzpatrick remains in eighth place. The presence of several nationalities in this segment of the world rankings highlights the global nature of competitive golf. Notably absent since the last ranking update is any change in the top ten, suggesting a temporary pause in the typically dynamic shifts towards the end of the year.

This text was created with the help ofAI.

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Panorama

Euro 2024: Three Lions will stay at luxury golf resort in East Germany

three-lions-euro-2024
The Three Lions and their captain Harry Kana are heading to the Weimarer Land Spa & GolfResort in May to prepare for the European Championship 2024. (Photo: Getty/Instagram(@golfweimarerland))

Gareth Southgate, boss of the Three Lions, confirmed that the team around Harry Kayne will have their training base at the state of Thuringia during the 2024 European Championships next summer. At the Spa and GolfResort Weimarer Land in Blankenhain, the team want to forget the result of the last Euro and make it better this time. The spacious hotel complex around 30 kilometres from Erfurt, Thuringia’s state capital, will lay the foundations for success at the European Championships. It’s not just Southgates’ team that will be guests in Thuringia next year.

Three Lions: Perfect place for Harry Kane?

The Three Lions and Bayern player Harry Kane are staying at the golfresort during the tournament (14.06 – 14.07). For Kane, a keen golfer on the team, this should be good place to calm down between the games. The top-ranked english team is regarded as one of the top favourites for the tournament. They lost to Italy on penalties in the home final of the 2021 European Football Championship at Wembley Stadium. Now they want to do better. At the gates of the historic city of Weimar, the extensive course offers two 18-hole courses. One of the two is the hilly Goethe Course, which is dedicated to Johann Wolfgang Goethe, the famous poet and face of the city of Weimar. The hotel opened in May 2013 and offers 94 rooms and suites.

EM 2024: German Team of Julian Nagelsmann is also a guest

The Three Lions and their captain Harry Kane, are part of Group C including Slovenia, Denmark and Serbia. The host of the Euro 2024 will also be a guest in Thuringia. But the German national team and their coach Julian Nagelsmann will only stay for a few days at the end of May to prepare for the tournament at home. The opening match of the European Championship will take place on June 14th in Munich between Germany and Scotland. Ten stadiums in total, such as the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, will be part of the Euro 2024 in Germany.

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Professionals

World Golf Ranking: McIlroy ends the year in second place

With the year 2023 coming to an end the World Golf Ranking shows its final standings - McIlroy finishes second. (Photo: Getty)
With the year 2023 coming to an end the World Golf Ranking shows its final standings - McIlroy finishes second. (Photo: Getty)

In the latest update of the World Golf Ranking, prominent British, Scottish, and Welsh players maintain significant positions. With the Christmas break and the upcoming New Year, this year’s World Golf Ranking also comes to an end. The UK pros head into the winter break without any noticeable changes.

To the complete World Golf Ranking

Rory McIlroy finishes second – Four UK stars in the Top 15

The year ends with four UK players in the Top 15 of the World Golf Ranking. While Rory McIlroy secures an impressive second place, Matt Fitzpatrick overwinters in eighth place. The other two players are outside the top ten. Tyrrell Hatton ends the year in 12th place, Tommy Fleetwood in 14th.

Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, ranking at 57, together with England’s Justin Rose and Aaron Rai at ranks 37 and 65 respectively, round out the esteemed group of UK golf professionals in the World Golf Ranking.

The Top Ten of the World Golf Ranking at the end of the year

Focusing on the pinnacle of the World Golf Ranking, the top three positions are held by Scottie Scheffler from the USA, Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland, and Jon Rahm from Spain, all maintaining their standings from the previous week, with Scheffler clinching the top spot. In the World Golf Ranking, ranks 4 through 10 reflect a continuation of status for golfers Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Max Homa, Brian Harman, and Wyndham Clark. This overview of the World Golf Ranking not only highlights the steadfast dominance of specific athletes but also showcases the dynamic nature of professional golf where even slight changes can be indicative of emerging trends and potential shifts in the competitive landscape.

The text was created with the help of AI

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Equipment

Equipment: Ludvig Aberg signs with Titleist

Ludvig Aberg signs his first sponsorship deal with TItleist. (Photo: Getty)
Ludvig Aberg signs his first sponsorship deal with TItleist. (Photo: Getty)

Ludvig Aberg, one of the rising stars of the 2023 golf season, made an impressive debut as a Titleist staff player just before the year-end. Participating in the Grant Thornton Invitational, Aberg showcased his skills with the new T100 irons from Titleist’s 2023 series, simultaneously confirming his fresh sponsorship deal with the equipment provider.

Ludvig Aberg enthusiastic about the Titleist irons

Having previously used the 2018-19 T100 irons, Aberg expressed his excitement about the transition, stating, “I’ve used the 2018-19 T100 before, but I really like the way these (2023 T100) lie, and they can enhance my game.” During the tournament, he highlighted his preference for the 2023 version, not just because of the new design. “One of the reasons I switched is that they (the 2023 set) are very similar to the 2019 version,” he added, revealing his plan to tee off with the blades from 4-iron to 9-iron. Aberg emphasized his inclination to avoid frequent equipment changes, especially with clubs, stating, “I’m not a big fan of changing too much, especially not with the irons, and I like figuring it out for myself.”

Now taking the next step in his professional career, the young tour star has signed with the company that has been a part of his golf bag since his amateur days. Reflecting on the smooth transition, Aberg mentioned, “The switch was very easy, and I feel like this week was a good time to get used to it, having a few weeks off and being ready for the next year.”

Aberg’s bag already features the TSR2 Driver and a 718 T-MB 2-iron from Titleist. His trust in Titleist extends to the greens, where he has been using the Titleist Vokey Spin Milled 9 Wedges from 2022 for an extended period. Completing his setup is the Pro V1x Golfball, showcasing Aberg’s commitment to Titleist across his entire equipment arsenal.

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Highlights Tours

World Golf Ranking: Scottie Scheffler maintains lead

Scottie Scheffler holds the top spot in the world golf ranking for another week. (Source: Getty)
Scottie Scheffler holds the top spot in the world golf ranking for another week. (Source: Getty)

In the latest World Golf Ranking, Scottie Scheffler retains the number one spot, underscoring his continued dominance in the sport. His compatriot, Patrick Cantlay, likewise holds his ground at fifth position. These top-performing American players reflect a consistent stronghold within the upper echelon of the rankings.

Click here for the full world golf rankings

Six american golfers in the top 10 of the world golf ranking

Further down the list, other American golfers, Xander Schauffele (6th), Max Homa (7th), and Brian Harman (9th), maintain their previous week’s rankings. Wyndham Clark rounds out the top five Americans by claiming the 10th spot this week. Apart from performances by US players, the top three of the World Golf Ranking sees no movement, with Rory McIlroy (NIR) and Jon Rahm (ESP) remaining in the second and third spots respectively. Turning to players ranked fourth through tenth, Viktor Hovland (NOR) keeps his 4th rank, while English golfer, Matt Fitzpatrick, remains at 8th. This variation attests to the diverse talent present in today’s golf spectrum. Collin Morikawa (USA) marks a notable advancement as he climbs to the 13th position, a move that is an affirmation of his upward trajectory in the golfing landscape. In summary, the World Golf Ranking offers a reflective lens on the current standings and shifts within the professional golfing community, highlighting both stability and notable changes among the top contenders.

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Highlights Tours

World Golf Ranking: Matthew Fitzpatrick Best of Britain

Matthew Fitzpatrick is the best rated english player in the world golf ranking. (Source: Getty)
Matthew Fitzpatrick is the best rated english player in the world golf ranking. (Source: Getty)

In the latest World Golf Ranking, Matt Fitzpatrick of England holds the highest spot among British, Welsh, and Scottish golfers, remaining steady at 8th position. Conversely, Tyrrell Hatton, also from England, experienced a drop from 11th to 12th place.

Click here for the full world golf rankings

Few changes in the world golf rankings

In the recent World Golf Ranking, the next three British, Welsh, and Scottish players have seen varied fortunes. Tommy Fleetwood fell one spot to 14th, while fellow Englishman Justin Rose made a leap from 39th to 37th. Robert MacIntyre of Scotland maintained his 57th rank, indicating stability in his performance amidst fluctuating standings. Delving into the top positions of the World Golf Ranking, we witness Scottie Scheffler from the United States securing the number 1 ranking for another week. Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland follows at second, closing ranks with consistent excellence, and Jon Rahm of Spain remains a fixture at third, despite his move to LIV Golf. The remainder of the World Golf Ranking’s top 10 sees considerable movement. With Collin Morikawa of the USA advancing to 13th and Sepp Straka of Austria improving from 20th to 18th. Conversely, Cameron Young from the USA experienced a notable slip, descending from 18th to 21st, a change which could potentially motivate a resurgence in upcoming tournaments.

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Uncategorized

Confirmed: Jon Rahm joins LIV Golf

Jon Rahm joins LIV Golf. (Photo: LIV Golf)
Jon Rahm joins LIV Golf. (Photo: LIV Golf)

After weeks of rumours, it is now officially confirmed: Jon Rahm will play at LIV Golf from the coming season. This means that the reigning Masters champion and world number three will be joining the tour, which was launched in 2022.

Jon Rahm: “I am officially joining LIV Golf”

“As you can see now it’s official. This is me finally saying after all the rumours, some of them were true, and I am officially joining LIV Golf,” Rahm said in an interiew with Fox News. “It’s not an easy decision. I’ve had a very successful career and I’m happy. There are a lot of things that LIV Golf have to offer which were very enticing, starting with team golf.” The Spaniard will even have his own LIV Golf team, but details of this will be announced at a later date.

In an interview with Fox News, the 29-year-old did not want to confirm any concrete information about the sum that Jon Rahm will ultimately receive for his transfer, but sums of between 300 and 600 million dollars were rumoured in advance. However, Jon Rahm reiterated his position that he is not interested in the money. “I play golf for the love of the game and for the love of golf. I’m an ambitious person but I’m not a greedy one.” As a husband and father, however, he said it was still important to him to provide his family with as many opportunities and as many resources as possible.

Rahm: “I can make it something very special.”

However, the main reason for his decision was: “The love of the game and wanting to grow it in a global market. Being part of the team. Being a captain. Hopefully being a leader to team-mates. It makes me want to work harder than I have done now to actually prove myself.”

“Hopefully some time in the future some kids in Spain will want to be part of this team that I am going to build. Hopefully it’s something that I am related to for a very long time. Hopefully until the day I die. And I can make it something very special.”

Jon Rahm is the next high-calibre golf star to join LIV Golf, after players such as Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau have joined LIV Golf in recent years.

Rahm had originally ruled out a switch, showing no interest in the format and pledging his allegiance to the PGA Tour. However, some time has passed since then and there have been a number of changes in the golf landscape, most notably the co-operation between the PGA and DP World Tour and the PIF. Rahm was also scheduled to be a member of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TGL, but withdrew from the project before its postponement to 2025 was announced. As things stand, his move to LIV will cost him his PGA Tour membership and could jeopardise future Ryder Cup appearances.

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Professionals

World Golf Ranking: Only slight changes for UK Players – Tiger Woods climbs

While there are hardly any changes to the UK players in the World Golf Ranking, Tiger Woods climbs back into the top 1000 after his comeback. (Photos: Getty)
While there are hardly any changes to the UK players in the World Golf Ranking, Tiger Woods climbs back into the top 1000 after his comeback. (Photos: Getty)

Due to the lack of tournaments played The Top 10 remains unchanged, aswell as most of the UK Players’ positions. On a sidenote Tiger Woods climbs back into the Top 1000 after making his comeback at the Hero World Challenge.

Hardly any changes among the UK Players

The World Golf Ranking this week sees the top British, Welsh, and Scottish players striving to improve their global positions. While Rory McIlroy remains in second place, Matt Fitzpatrick retains his position at number 8, maintaining a stronghold within the top 10. Not far behind them is Tyrrell Hatton, who also remains consistent at number 12. He is closely followed by Tommy Fleetwood steady at number 13. Further down Irish golder Shane Lowry falls down from 36th to 37th.

The complete World Golf Ranking

The Top 10 of the World Golf Ranking

Taking a closer look into the Top-10 of the World Golf Ranking, Scottie Scheffler from the USA remains at the helm, retaining the number one position. Close on his heels is Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy at second and Spain’s Jon Rahm at third, both securing their placements from the prior week. Meanwhile, Viktor Hovland from Norway continues to occupy the fourth place, followed by the USA’s Patrick Cantlay in fifth. A detailed overview of the Top-10 shows Xander Schauffele, Max Homa, and Brian Harman remain steady in the sixth, seventh, and ninth spots, respectively, with the USA’s Wyndham Clark rounding out the tenth position, also holding steady in the World Golf Ranking. The pursuit of excellence in golf is relentlessly reflected through the World Golf Ranking, with players across the globe vying for supremacy on the leaderboard.

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