View of Las Colinas Golf & Country Club, in Alicante, Spain
Las Colinas Golf & Country Club continues to make a name for itself as one of the continent’s most sought-after golf destinations after being voted as ‘Spain’s Best Golf Course’ and ‘World’s Leading Golf & Villa Resort’ at the 2021 World Golf Awards.
Building on the recent success for Las Colinas at the World Travel Awards, this marks Las Colinas Golf & Country Club’s fifth successive year being nominated for the honour of ‘Spain’s Best Golf Course’ and their second win as ‘World’s Leading Golf & Villas Resort’.
Las Colinas Golf & Country Club’s latest successes at the World Golf Awards highlights their goal to offer the best service and amenities, so every guest can enjoy a unique golfing experience.
View from hole 18th at Las Colinas Golf & Country Club, Alicante, Spain.
Las Colinas blows the candles wishing for more years of development.
As the Resort is celebrating its 10th anniversary, in 2021, Las Colinas has unveiled multiple new and improved five-star facilities this year, including an enhanced golf course, with an emphasis on sustainability.
Javier Rodriguez, head of operations, said: “We are very proud to receive this recognition once again, coinciding with the celebration of our 10th anniversary. It is truly an honour to receive this award, a symbol of the effort and hard work of each member of the Las Colinas team.”
The World Golf Awards serves to celebrate and reward excellence in golf tourism, world-class courses and golf destinations. Votes are made by professionals working within the golf travel and tourism industry and golf tourism consumers.
Chris Frost, vice president of the World Golf Awards, said: “Las Colinas Golf & Country Club has done an exceptional job of renovating their championship golf course this year and we feel it has really enhanced the golfers experience. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Las Colinas, to see the steps they have taken to improve their golf course and overall sustainability.”
Overview of Las Colinas Golf & Country Club, Alicante, SpainLas Colinas Golf & Country Club Resort, Alicante, Spain
Las Colinas Golf & Country Club is regarded as one of Europe’s premier golf and real estate resorts where private homes and the 18-hole championship golf course blend harmoniously into natural surroundings, between rolling hills and the glittering Mediterranean Sea.
Designed by acclaimed American architect Cabell B. Robinson, Las Colinas’ 18-hole championship golf course offers wide fairways and extensive undulating greens, with the numerous tees at each hole giving the course great versatility.
Enjoying more than 300 days’ sunshine a year, Las Colinas Golf & Country Club is surrounded by a natural park of up to 10,000 hectares, only six kilometres from the coast. Along with these two awards as Spain’s Best Golf Course and World’s Leading Golf & Villas Resort, Las Colinas Golf & Country Club was crowned ‘Spain’s Leading Villa Resort’ and ‘Europe’s Leading Resort Villas’ at the 2021 World Travel Awards.
One of Europe’s top golfing destinations, Verdura Resort in Sicily, has returned to 45 holes with the reopening of the spectacular new-look East Course following a major redesign.
Globally acclaimed golf architect Kyle Phillips returned to the site of his original creation to upgrade the 18-hole championship layout and has spent the last three years reworking his magic at Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte Hotel. The much-anticipated revamped course was unveiled to the golfing world earlier this month.
The premium layout to all visitors
The extensive renovation has seen a number of new features added and modifications made to the routing of the East Course and the neighbouring West Course. The reordering of hole numbers has allowed for the restoration of former favourite holes and brings exciting new additions, while the planting of fescue grasses throughout the course gives the layout added definition.
Phillips said: “We have certainly made the most of the terrain available to us. The drama of the coastline has been improved and we’re proud of what has been achieved. It is new and fresh, the result is great and I think it will be really well received. It has definitely reached the level we were striving for.
“One of the big differences is with the routing. With the previous layout, you would cross the other course and they would weave through each other a little at times. Now they are more clearly defined.
“The course now starts near the practice range on an existing hole, has 14 new holes in between and then finishes on three existing holes back to the clubhouse. This will make the East Course a par-73 course and the West a par-70.
“They will both be good challenges. Naturally, with any new course, it takes time to take shape and we’re expecting it to continually improve throughout the winter months so that golfers will enjoy even better playing conditions in 2022.”
How the new East Course brings joy to the community.
The reopening of the new East Course adds to the extensive selection of exceptional facilities available at Verdura Resort. Home of the European Tour’s Rocco Forte Sicilian Open, Verdura is nestled in 230 hectares of stunning Mediterranean landscape on Sicily’s southern coast. The courses and facilities combined have established Verdura as one of the world’s elite golf and lifestyle destinations.
A member of the exclusive European Tour Destinations network, the resort is famous for offering guests an unforgettable five-star golf experience in one of the most beautiful settings in world. Verdura Resort was recently named as a recipient of Golf Digest magazine’s coveted ‘2021 Editors’ Choice Award for the Best Resorts in Continental Europe’ for the sixth successive year.
Dundonald Links has entered an exciting new era with the opening of 18 luxury lodges, the latest phase of a £25m investment transforming the esteemed Scottish venue into one of the UK’s most modern new golf resorts.
Investing in the full golfing experience, Dundonald Links is becoming the dreamt golf destination.
The collection of two, four and six-bedroom lodges opened to widespread acclaim in August and have been custom-designed with golfers in mind, with bag storage and drying areas, en-suite bathrooms, large living spaces and fully equipped kitchen and dining facilities.
Darwin Escapes has already invested £1m in upgrading Dundonald Links’ Kyle Phillips-designed 18-hole championship course, including the addition of a new halfway house, and more is set to follow this autumn with the imminent opening of a new clubhouse and 22 hotel rooms.
Ian Ferguson, club manager, said: “The opening of the new lodges is the start of an exciting new chapter for Dundonald Links, and we’re thrilled with the initial feedback that we have received from guests.
Dundonald Links meets every need for the golfers and their loved ones.
“It’s been wonderful to see all the investment plans come to fruition over the last year and even more is to come in the next few months. With the opening of the new clubhouse and hotel rooms, not only will the resort boast some of the finest golf accommodation facilities in the UK, but it will also become the perfect base for golfers and their families to experience everything that this famous part of Scotland has to offer.”
Golf influencer Peter Finch, who has more than 400,000 followers on YouTube and who recently stayed in the lodges, said: “The biggest compliment I could pay is that I would love to live there!”
Boasting a striking contemporary design, the new two-storey clubhouse will feature large balconies overlooking the course and panoramic views to the Isle of Arran. Facilities within the clubhouse will include a pro shop, restaurant, bar, whisky tasting room and outdoor dining terrace, as well as a gym, sauna, steam room and extensive changing facilities.
Set amongst the picturesque Ayrshire countryside, the clubhouse has been created from natural materials and finished with local whinstone and a grass roof. This not only helps it to blend seamlessly with the rugged landscape and surroundings but also reinforces Dundonald’s long-term commitment to sustainability, conservation and nature.
In addition, the resort is also set to cut the ribbon in the coming months on a range of new hotel rooms, which are situated beside the clubhouse for ease of access to the restaurant and club facilities.
Already a well-respected test for bucket-list golfers from across the world, Dundonald Links has hosted many major professional golf events since 2008 – including the Ladies’ Scottish Open in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in 2017.
The resort is one of three golf venues operated by Darwin Escapes, in addition to The Springs Resort & Golf Club in Oxfordshire and Kilnwick Percy in East Yorkshire. For more details and to book a golf break at Dundonald Links, please visit dundonaldlinks.com
Golfing on the Balearic island is possible almost all year round and the perfect escape from a chilly Autumn. A must-see island with beautiful sunsets, Mallorca can boast itself as a premiere golf destination. For golfers who are looking to enjoy a complete golf holiday in Mallorca check out the top 5 places to tee off according to Golf Post.
Golf Son Termens: 5/5
Golf Post Overview:
Golf Son Termens is located only about 10 kilometers outside the island’s capital Palma de Mallorca. There, the 18-hole par 70 course with 5,313 meters and a slope of 135 stretches at the foot of the Tramuntana Mountains (World Heritage Site). Correspondingly hilly to steep, the 18 holes stretch along and into the mountains. The first 9 holes are quite close together, so be careful with the slices and hooks. Golf Son Termens is the highest situated golf course in Mallorca. It is especially recommended for very sporty golfers. To enjoy the magnificent mountain scenery it is recommended to rent a golf cart.
Arabella Golf Son Quint: 4.67/5
Golf Post Overview:
On January 9th, 2007 the Arabella Golf Son Quint made its grand opening and is therefore one of the newer courses of the Arabella Group. At 5,929 meters of yellow, par 72 and a slope of 136, it offers everything you would expect from a resort course, including the fact that some holes are quite close together. Son Quint does not have a driving range, so if you want to tee off beforehand, you’ll have to do so at the nearby Son Muntaner course. Despite that, it offers a modern clubhouse that meets all requirements regarding pro-shop, showers and restearaunts. The upscale clubhouse offers a resort style pool where you can cool off after your games.
T-Golf & Country Club Poniente 4.67/5
Golf Post Overview:
The T Golf & Country Club Poniente is a 72-par course and 6,426 meters long from the white tee – making it one of the longer courses on the island. Ladies may tee off here from a handicap of -36 and men from a handicap of -28. This course was constructed in 1978 by John Harris and integrated into the existing environment in a scenic way. One of the most beautiful clubhouses in Mallorca awaits the golfer with a fantastic view of the Tramuntana Mountains and the 15th hole, which runs slightly uphill in front of the clubhouse. The green fee for 18 holes at the Club de Golf Poniente is 90 euros. The course, which is particularly popular with Englishmen, is not too far from the stronghold of Magaluf in the Calvia region. Six lakes and numerous bunkers demand a precise game, especially on the back nine.
Golf Santa Ponsa I: 4.5/5
Golf Post Overview:
Golf Santa Ponsa I opened in 1977, becoming the first golf course in the municipality of Calvià and the second in Mallorca. It is the one of the 3 golf courses of the resort in Mallorca that is open to the public. The par 72 parkland course is 6,106 meters long with a slope of 123, and the par 5 10th hole measures an impressive 560 meters. Santa Ponsa I has hosted the Balearic Open six times, where the greats of international golf have played, such as Ballesteros, Olazabal, Langer, Jimenez, Parnevik, Westwood, Montgomerie, Woosnam and Singh. As well as the course, the player has at his disposal some of the best facilities to improve his game with a driving range of 250 meters in length and 50 positions on grass (covered and open), chipping area and two putting greens.
Arabella Golf Son Vida: 4.5/5
Golf Post Overview
Arabella Golf Son Vida is not only the most traditional course in Mallorca, but also one of the most beautiful and challenging courses on the island. The course is part of the Arabella golf courses, which also include Arabella Golf Son Quint and Arabella Golf Son Muntaner. All three courses are located near the Arabella hotel complex and are particularly easy to reach from there. Arabella Golf Son Vida – Venue of the European Tour. Since its opening in 1964, the course has twice hosted a European Tour event. The golf legend Severiano Ballsteros won the Open Renault de Baleares here in 1990 and also the Briton Barry Lane brought home his fourth European Tour victory in 1994 at the in the meantime renamed Turespana Open de Baleares.
Son Vida is the only golf club on the island that has ever been selected as a venue for the European Tour. No wonder, because the course is considered particularly difficult. It demands an intelligent game strategy from the players due to the technical design of the course, the fast greens and the constant obstacles. A special treat before finishing each round is the 18th, a par-5 where the second shot goes over water.
ORIZONTE NEW INVESTMENT ELEVATES AROEIRA GOLFING EXPERIENCE
ORIZONTE – Lisbon Golf has taken its investment to new heights by unveiling an array of new facilities at Aroeira Golf Resort – a two-time host of the Portuguese Open.
Fresh from the rebranding this spring of its two 18-hole championship courses – Aroeira Pines Classic and Aroeira Challenge – Portugal’s leading golf management company has continued its spending by upgrading the golf leisure facilities at the resort.
Among the renovations made, the clubhouse for Aroeira Pines Classic, host venue of the 1996 and 1997 Portuguese Open, has been given a fresh new look with a modern contemporary décor inside and outside the restaurant, new kitchen facilities and refurbished changing rooms.
In addition, the resort’s swimming pool area has been refurbished with a new bar and décor while the Kids’ Club has also received a makeover, making it the ideal place for parents to leave their children while they’re playing golf or enjoying a relaxing meal in the clubhouse restaurant.
Nestled amid tranquil natural pine forest, Aroeira Golf Resort – 25km south of Lisbon – is rated among Europe’s top 50 golf resorts and has been dubbed the ‘Wentworth of Lisbon’ by many observers.
Among the many attractions on the stunning Aroeira estate is the Aroeira Lisbon Hotel. Providing the ultimate in chic modern design, the hotel includes 68 bedrooms and suites, an outdoor pool, a spa and a choice of five bars and restaurants, and offers easy access to the many golden sandy beaches in the Costa Azul region.
Alternatively, golfers can enjoy a staycation break in one of Aroeira’s choice of villas and apartments with stay-and-play packages, while a short drive from Aroeira, Ribagolfe boasts two of the finest layouts in the Lisbon region – Ribagolfe I and II.
As part of ORIZONTE’s golf maintenance programme, both courses were the subject of an upgrade at the start of the golf season while a new hotel partner for 2021, the Four Points by Sheraton Sesimbra, offers the ideal base to play the club known as the ‘Valderrama of Portugal’.
ORIZONTE provides golfers with the opportunity to play four of the leading courses in close proximity to Lisbon in the stunning Costa Azul, together with exceptional value for money on a wide range of accommodation options.
Infinitum golf course at Costa Daurada. (Image: Getty)
Costa Daurada, 28th June 2021: The resort known as Lumine has officially unveiled a new chapter in its history with the birth of INFINITUM, a new resort facing the immensity of the Mediterranean Sea and boasting high-end facilities and services. A place that has everything and that is summed up in its “Welcome to everything”.
The resort surfaces as one of Europe’s most highly-sought after lifestyle and leisure experiences, with world-class golf, modern gastronomy, off-course activities, and a contemporary beach club featuring state-of-the-art facilities, including 8 swimming pools, a Tapas Bar, and one of Costa Daurada’s best restaurants.
Infinitum is home to three outstanding golf courses, each with their own distinct design and layout. Named ‘Europe’s Best Golf Venue’ for two consecutive years, its award-winning facilities play host to the European Tour’s Final Qualifying Stage, delivering unquestionable conditions, across its rolling fairways and undulating greens. Each course, complemented by ocean views of the Mediterranean, challenges the advanced or beginner golfer, with strategic natural and man-made hazards.
Located only 10 minutes from Tarragona, the resort offers direct access to the beach with stunning front-line views of the Mediterranean Sea. Surrounded also by pine forests, and Olive fields, infinitum is located amongst one of the region’s most important ecosystems: the Sequia Major, a wetland made of reeds, poplars, and willows, meandering around the lakes, that houses one of the best-preserved populations in Catalonia of European Galapagos and Fartet Fish, one of the most endangered species of the Iberian Peninsula.
Burrowed in the natural landscape, the Infinitum Beach Club presents a unique experience with spectacular views of the Mediterranean, a tranquil and peaceful environment to spend an hour or a day. 100 feet above the ocean, perched amongst spectacular Pines, this is one of the finest beach experiences that can be found in Europe.
Infinitum also arrives with a new, premium gastronomy offering; four high-quality choices – Flamma, Gusto, The Lakehouse, and Terra – all offering a tranquil environment, with outstanding service, showcasing the finest fresh local produce, expertly developed by top-quality chefs.
Flamma, the premium gastronomic offering at the Infinitum Beach Club, presents informal sharing plates, with fresh and local products at the heart of each dish; Gusto, the home to Mediterranean Tapas, a more casual alternative at the Beach Club; The Lakehouse, an ideal setting for golfers and non-golfers alike to sample healthy and traditional dishes overlooking the golf courses from a panoramic terrace, while Terra, a brand-new gourmet shop, opening in the autumn, will exhibit a selection of local, high-quality products, fresh and non-perishable.
A Sustainable Project
Infinitum is one of Europe’s most sustainable golf resorts, going above and beyond to protect nature and its surroundings. The resort is committed to leading the way in sustainable practices for golf clubs in Europe, with a host of awards and accolades, including its GEO Certification for the second time. Sequences of olive trees, natural bodies of water, historic ruins, and protected species all form an integral part of the unique experience at the resort. While the resort has created an ‘eco-first’ strategy, the Lakes golf course is recognized for its conservation work as a certified Golf Audubon International Signature Sanctuary.
Speaking upon the launch of INFINITUM, Agustin Garcia Pascual,Chief Business Officer – Infinitum, said:
“Today marks an exciting day in our history. Infinitum brings an entire new lifestyle and experience and will become a leading name in Europe. We are excited to begin this journey and create an experience for guests that is unlike any other. A new lifestyle to aspire to will be created with first-class food, beverage and services, whilst the golf courses will continue to renowned as two of Europe’s finest, hosting some of professional and amateur golfs best events.
“Over the next few years, we want to make Infinitum the preferred destination for Europe’s leading golfers, a destination that will provide a peaceful and relaxing environment that plays a significant role in the positive well-being of our members and guests.”
The Marco Simone Golf & County Club in Rome, where the Ryder Cup will be held next year. (Photo: Marco Simone Golf & Country Club)
Plenty of adrenalin early in the morning
Around eight o’clock in the morning, we start out of town in our rental car near the famous Villa Borghese. The extremely fast, offensive driving style of the Roman road users takes some getting used to for us, but after a short time it works fine. If you wait, you will not reach your destination in time. We get the impression that traffic signs and traffic lights are seen more as a recommendation. Unharmed and happy, we reach the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club on the north-eastern outskirts of the Italian metropolis a good half hour later.
Thumbs up (Photo Jürgen Linnenbürger)
Here in Guidonia Montecelio, the 44th edition of the Europe : USA golf competition will take place in September 2023, one year late. After 1997 in Valderrama and 2018 in Paris, it will be only the third Ryder Cup on continental European soil.
The biggest green skirt ever designed
World-renowned fashion and perfume designer Laura Biagiotti and her daughter Lavinia Biagiotti Cigna, thanks to the Italian Golf Federation, the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) and to the support of national and local institutions, brought the Ryder Cup to her club in 2015, which she founded in 1971. Since her death in 2017, Lavinia Biagiotti Cigna has continued the project and now heads the club as President.
Lavinia quotes her mother as saying “My mother used to say this is the biggest green skirt I have ever designed”.
Originally designed by Jim Fazio, the course has been completely redesigned as of 2018. This task was successfully taken on by European Golf Design, together with Jim’s son Tom Fazio II.
On an area of 150 hectares, a par-72 stadium course has been created, which is perfectly integrated into the open, partly quite hilly terrain. It is a course designed not only for players but also for the up to fifty thousand spectators expected daily. On both sides of the fairways, the terrain often rises, so that from these elevated places, the game action can be followed not only on one fairway, but on several at once.
Plenty of space on the course (Photo Marco Simone Golf & Country Club)
The paths are very well maintained and asphalted, the distances between greens and tees are pleasantly short. The course is fair and a pleasure to play. It is a real match play course and allows a good score for all HCP classes, provided you hit the right spots on the greens. If you do not, you get penalised.
The tee-offs are less challenging. But the ones into the green are, some of which can be hit blind.
We particularly like the two par-5s at the end of the front nine and the 16, a 322 m long par-4. For us, it is the most beautiful hole on the course. If you do not resist the temptation to attack the green with your steep descent tee shot here, you run the risk of experiencing your damp miracle. We are already curious to see how many balls will disappear here in 2023 during the Ryder Cup.
Fantastic 16th hole (Photo Marco Simone Golf & Country Club)
Construction of the new driving range has already begun. The clubhouse will also be renovated before the Ryder Cup.
A successful creation
I take up Laura Biagiotti’s comparison of the course with a skirt and describe it as if it were such a garment: We really like the motifs on the green skirt. On its front, the 11th-century Marco Simone Castle, now Lavinia’s home, attracts our gaze. Also the astronomer Galileo Galilei used to live here.
Marco Simone Castle is omnipresent (Photo Jürgen Linnenbürger)
On the back of the skirt, the hill town of Sant’Angelo Romana catches the eye, as does Rome’s silhouette with St. Peter’s Basilica in the distance.
Cleverly placed are its 18 mostly not too big, wavy and smooth green buttons. Real eye-catchers are the four large blue dots of colour, two on each side, and the blue zips that snake over part of the back.
The skirt comes in two versions. We are introduced to the spring version, where the green fringes located on its sides are kept short and blend seamlessly into the colour of the skirt. In the autumn version, these are much longer and denser, so that it is easy to get caught in them. Their shiny golden-brown colour is the ideal contrast to the otherwise rich green and another visual highlight.
Golden-brown deep rough in autumn (Photo Marco Simone Golf & Country Club)
The bright white linings of the numerous pockets are velvety soft. Their edges are perfectly finished. You can get out of them easily, even if they get wet. A special textile layer ensures that.
Perfect bunker conditions (Photo Marco Simone Golf & Country Club)
The smooth surface is very elastic and its material handles even large amounts of rain very well. There is nothing to complain about in terms of its high-quality workmanship. We particularly like the fact that great importance is attached to sustainability in its production.
The stylish unisex mini is available in four sizes for men and three for women. The XXL version is only 6.373 meters long. Usually it is not too tightly cut and offers plenty of freedom of movement in all variants. However, it can be made tighter for special occasions.
The brand and the high quality come at a price. For the use of the designer piece, one pays €180 on site. If you book online, you get a ten percent discount.
18th green in front of the clubhouse (Photo Jürgen Linnenbürger)
Sporty charming
With the 78th Italian Open being held in September 2021, the course has passed its sporting baptism of fire in the best possible way. The Dane Nicolai Hojgaard won with 13 under par and thus won his first tournament on today’s DP World Tour.
Stay and Play
Various hotels, including those outside Rome, offer attractive stay and play packages or green fee discounts. This also applies to the multiple award-winning, five-star Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort in Porto Ercole in the Maremma in southern Tuscany, where we will spend the next few days. I report on this in a separate article. Jürgen Linnenbürger April 2022
European Tour Destinations is delighted to announce that its two most northern venues in Finland and Estonia, Linna Golf and Estonian Golf & Country Club respectively, have extended their long-running affiliation with the network.
Located 100km from the Finnish capital Helsinki and ranked 60th in the Top 100 Resorts in Continental Europe in the recent Golf World rankings, Linna Golf is home to a spectacular 18-hole Championship golf course with a clubhouse, superb practice facilities and a host of other outdoor pursuits which can be enjoyed throughout the long summer days. There are three restaurants at the venue alongside the Vanajanlinna Hotel & Club Rooms, which offers atmospheric rooms in the main building and modern suites in the golf club area.
Esa Honkalehto, CEO of Linna Golf, said: “Linna Golf has been a member of the European Tour Destinations network since 2005 and renewing our partnership is testament to both the work they do and support they provide. As we enter another phase of our relationship, we look forward to continuing to grow Linna Golf and showcasing our venue on a global scale by being part of the European Tour family.”
Estonian Golf & Country Club is situated 25km from the capital Tallinn in a rural, coastal environment beside the Baltic Sea. Home to the 18-hole Championship centerpiece, the Sea course, and its sister, the 9-hole Stone course, the venue has been a constant in the European Tour Destinations network for over a decade.
Estonian Golf & Country Club, Estonia (Image: European Tour)
The Sea course meanders more than 7,000 yards through virgin forest which reaches out to the beach and along the Jägala River, while the Stone course lies on a limestone plain between junipers, restored stone fences and a protected national heritage site. During the winter season when the golf courses are closed, a 5.3km ski trail which weaves through the Sea course opens to guests.
There is also a variety of exclusive and distinct real estate opportunities available at the resort, with each development divided into ‘villages’, where a different architect has designed a unique property cluster.
Hanno Kross, CEO at Estonian Golf & Country Club, said: “For a young golfing nation like Estonia, we are very happy and proud to be part of the European Tour Destinations network. Estonian Golf & Country Club has hosted the World Cup qualifiers twice plus multiple individual and team European Championships, and working with the European Tour has given us the chance to get the knowledge and expertise required to achieve our goals.
“The new contract to extend our relationship is another great point in our 15-year history which allows us to continue our development and service delivery that we pride ourselves on in northern Europe.”
Ian Knox, Head of European Tour Destinations, said “We are delighted to start off 2021 with Linna Golf and Estonian Golf & Country Club both renewing their membership with European Tour Destinations. Having our two northern European venues extend their long association with us shows the value they place in affiliation with golf’s global brand and maintains the quality of the network. We look forward to supporting them achieve their goals in the years ahead.”
Many of us are looking forward to the prospect of travelling again this year (Image: Getty)
Enjoy savings of 21% on stays of two nights or more
After all the stresses of the Covid pandemic, who isn’t dreaming of their next summer holiday and Quinta do Lago is teeing up a treat for golfers and families in 2021, including savings of 21 per cent on breaks of two nights or more at the luxury Portuguese resort this year.
Europe’s premier golf, leisure and lifestyle family resort is offering an array of discounts when staying at its boutique The Magnolia Hotel over the coming months including Easter and summer, with reductions of more than a fifth on short-term stays.
Savings of up to 30 per cent on holidays of two weeks or more are also available while guests will have complete peace of mind when they book, with Quinta do Lago’s ‘Flexi-booking’ option offering guests the opportunity to change their booking to another date within a 12-month period without any charge.
Taking time out to relax in natural surroundings has never been more important following an extended period of lockdowns. Nestled within the privacy and security of the Algarve’s Ria Formosa Nature Reserve, Quinta do Lago is the ideal place to unwind, with its five-star facilities including three 18-hole championship golf courses, a premier sports hub, a golden sandy beach and a plethora of first-class bars and restaurants.
The resort’s relaxed vibe extends to its boutique Magnolia Hotel, with facilities including a saltwater pool, colourful restaurant and cocktail bar, cinema, gym and spa, plus a schedule of iconic poolside events to keep guests of all ages entertained.
Bed-and-breakfast breaks of two nights or more start from €77 per night for a double room while the resort’s extended holiday packages, which are perfect for families and are bookable throughout 2021 except July and August, cost from €68 per night staying in one of The Magnolia Hotel’s vintage-cabin style cottages.
A range of attractive three, five and seven-night golf stay-and-play packages are also available at the Magnolia Hotel, which also feature the resort’s ‘Flexi-booking’ option.
Located just 15 minutes away from Faro airport, Quinta do Lago is regarded as Europe’s premier golf and lifestyle resort and was one of the first to be awarded Clean & Safe approval by the Portugal Tourist Board after the Covid-19 lockdown.
The award-winning venue boasts a combination of world-class golf and lifestyle facilities and has invested a further €7m in a recent golf-course improvement programme, including a major overhaul of its famous South Course and the reopening of its main golf clubhouse following a modern and sophisticated makeover.
As well as three renowned golf courses – the North, South and Laranjal – and outstanding practice facilities, guests can stay in shape at The Campus, a world-class sports hub designed for professionals and amateurs alike to keep fit.
Complementing the facilities is a choice of 12 first-class bars and restaurants that deliver a range of delicious world cuisines, including the acclaimed Bovino Steakhouse and recently-opened Dano’s Sports Bar & Restaurant, and accommodation at the boutique The Magnolia Hotel.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 13: A general view of the 17th green is seen after the cancellation of the The PLAYERS Championship and consecutive PGA Tour events through April 5th,2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic as seen at The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 13, 2020 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
With the Novel Coronavirus taking the world by storm, The United States included, many are left wondering what the current status of golf is. With nearly 5,000 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the USA and with schools, government subsidies, sports leagues and more shutting down nationwide the of access to golf courses might surprise some people.
Coronavirus in America: What are the options for playing a round of golf?
With nearly 5,000 confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus in the United States across 49 of the 50 states and nation-wide closures of bars, restaurants, government buildings, parks and more, the majority of people would safely assume that there is no chance to get out for a round of golf. The answer is surprisingly quite the contrary, as the majority of golf courses in the United States remain open for public play despite the rapidly spreading Coronavirus. Adding to the surprising level of public golf courses remaining open is the recent suspension of PGA events for the foreseeable future including arguably the most popular of the year, The 2020 Masters Tournament. It is a logical question to ask oneself if the most popular professional golf event in the world has been canceled, why on earth would courses remain open for amateur golfers? The answer more than likely lies within the fact that professional golf events hosts thousands upon thousands of spectators whereas a personal round of golf is limited to extremely small group sizes. Perhaps the answer lies within the game of golf itself given that it is played outdoors on a massively scaled area of play with groups typically being a maximum of four players.
United States Forbidding Large Gatherings
The common theme in the United States currently is forbidding gatherings of more than 50 people, especially in indoor close contact settings such as bars and restaurants, quite the opposite of a large outdoor area where only four people will come into contact with each other. It is important to note however that despite the majority of courses remaining open, government officials are still urging individuals to withhold from playing golf despite the lower risk. A main controversial topic surrounding the current status of golf courses across the country is the average age of the player. By now it has become common knowledge that the Coronavirus is much more of a danger to older individuals than younger individuals and as most people in the golf industry know, the age of the average golfer is typically on the older side.
Golf Courses: Non-Essential Businesses
Golf courses fall under what the United States are calling “non-essential” businesses, simply meaning that they are not necessary for everyday life unlike hospitals, supermarkets, post offices and more. Having said that, the majority of states are only “calling” for the closure of golf courses rather than strictly enforcing it, essentially meaning that it is the recommendation of the government to close but it is ultimately up to the individual course to make the final decision. Municipal golf courses in states such as Pennsylvania and California remain open with many courses implementing special installments to slow the spread of the virus. For example, golfers are allowed to play the 12 municipal golf courses throughout Los Angeles with the ability to ride solo in carts without an additional fee. Additionally, workers have installed barriers up to six-feet in order to minimize contact among players.
While the health and safety of citizens is paramount to playing a round of golf, some individuals who can’t help but want to play a round of golf are not so lucky in states such as Michigan. The governor of Michigan has since signed an executive order placing restrictions on “places of public accommodation” that applies to golf courses and country clubs alike.
Most Notable Club Closures
Perhaps the
most notable closing of all golf clubs in the United States is the closing of
Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia in which chairman Fred Ridley sent a
notice to members yesterday announcing the closure of the club. The average
golfer must take this news with a grain of salt however since most know the
extreme difficulty of getting the opportunity to play the most elusive club in
the world. On the other side of the situation, the TPC network of golf clubs
across the country, including TPC Sawgrass, will remain open and continue
normal operations.
Please remember when making the decision to play golf or not that the health and safety of yourself and your family are much more important than playing golf. The golf courses will not go anywhere anytime soon and it is not worth it to put yourself and others at risk. Please follow the advisories of your local and state governments in regards to the best practices.
Continued Coronavirus Updates
Live updates regarding the Coronavirus worldwide can be found via the World Health Organization updates page here.
