England Golf Chooses Quinta Do Lago As New Winter Training Base
11 September 2014
Quinta do Lago’s reputation as a driving force in helping to develop golf’s stars of the future has received major recognition after the prestigious resort was selected as the new winter training base for England Golf’s national squads.
Regarded as Europe’s number one family destination, Quinta do Lago is home to the Telegraph BMW Junior Championship and has now agreed an exclusive four-year deal with England Golf to host its men’s, ladies, boys and girls elite squads during two months of the close season.
Featuring three 18-hole championship courses – including its eagerly-awaited number one North Course – outstanding practice facilities at its Paul McGinley Academy, a new TaylorMade Fitting Center and extensive leisure amenities, Quinta do Lago has everything needed to guarantee a first-class golf experience.
John Dywer, chief executive at Quinta do Lago, said: “Quinta do Lago is delighted to be partnering with England Golf on this new project and we’re looking forward to welcoming England’s new crop of stars to the resort over the next four years.
“We have undertaken a significant upgrade of our golf course and teaching facilities over the last five years and this new association is a ringing endorsement for all the hard work that has taken place to make the resort one of Europe’s top sports and leisure destinations.”
Under the terms of the new agreement, England Golf squads will stay at Quinta do Lago and use its driving range and practice facilities as well as having access to both the South and North courses.
In addition, each group will also utilise the swing analysis with a launch monitor, biomechanics golf fitness training sessions whilst being fully catered for with a daily breakfast and lunch also provided.
David Joy, chief executive of England Golf, said: “We are delighted to have Quinta do Lago as our partner. Their facilities are outstanding and having access to these during the winter period will bring real benefits to our performance programme and I am sure be appreciated by our players.
“This relationship will make a great contribution to the identification and development of our most talented golfers and our ambition to achieve even more international success for English players.”
The England Golf National Performance Programme supports around 50 of the best amateur players within the England national squads and a further talented 160 players within boys and girls regional squads. This programme aims to support players to break into the top 10 of the World Amateur World Golf Rankings and to transition into the professional ranks, following in the footsteps of successful amateurs such as Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Justin Rose and Charlie Hull.
Set amongst 2,000 acres of the picturesque Ria Formosa Natural Park, Quinta do Lago is one of the most highly regarded golf and residential developments in the Algarve since opening in 1972. Located just 15 minutes from Faro airport, the resort offers residents and guests an unparalleled location benefiting from a year-round temperate climate, a variety of lifestyle pursuits and a strong sense of community.
From the outset, Quinta do Lago has been a leader for golf in the Algarve with three 18-hole championship courses – Quinta do Lago North and South courses and Laranjal – and a range of cutting edge practice facilities.
And with a commitment to keeping the resort at the forefront of European golf, Quinta do Lago will be further enhancing its offering this autumn with the opening of its totally revamped North Course, part of a €29m total investment in its facilities which has been undertaken by the resort since 2009.
Redesigned by renowned American architect Beau Welling in close collaboration with European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley, the revamped layout has been built to the highest specifications and is in line to become the new number one course at the prestigious family resort.
The new layout has been redeveloped with the emphasis firmly on precision and strategy. While many modern-day developments tend to focus on length, Welling and McGinley have been keen to design a golfing experience where accuracy and course management are the key factors and a course that is playable and fun for golfers of all abilities, and complements the first-class overall golf experience that Quinta do Lago has to offer.
Away from the fairways, Quinta do Lago’s extensive leisure facilities guarantee there is plenty to keep everyone occupied, with events, tennis, cycling and watersports just some of the activities available.
For further information on Quinta do Lago and its facilities, phone + 351 289 390 700 or visit www.quintadolago.com
Ends
Information for journalists
Issued by The Azalea Group.
For more information on Quinta do Lago or images contact Daniel Chidley on +44 (0) 1730 711920, or email daniel@theazaleagroup.comQuinta do Lago
Since its inception in 1972, Quinta do Lago has been at the forefront of international golf, hosting eight Portuguese Opens as well as numerous other international tournaments. Home to three world-class golf courses, the resort also boasts a wealth of cutting-edge practice facilities.
- Quinta do Lago North Course – Opening in October 2014, the totally revamped North Course has been redeveloped by renowned American golf architect Beau Well in close collaboration with 2014 European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley and is set to become one of the new stars of European golf. The new layout has been built to the highest specifications with a €9.6m investment programme and has been redeveloped with the emphasis firmly on precision and strategy. While many modern-day developments tend to focus on length, Welling and McGinley have been keen to design a golfing experience where accuracy and course management are the key factors, and a course that is playable and fun for golfers of all abilities.
- Quinta do Lago South Course – A favourite among European Tour professionals, the South Course calls for accurate drives and precise shots, but rewards players for their efforts with the stunning backdrop of the Ria Formosa Natural Park. Regularly included in Golf World magazine’s ‘Top 100 Golf Courses in Europe’, the par-72 layout has received widespread praise for its strategically-placed hazards and varying difficulty across the 18 holes. Having hosted the Portuguese Open on no fewer than eight occasions, the South Course is regarded as one of Portugal’s premier golfing venues.
- Laranjal – Designed in the grounds of an orange grove, the par-72 course was named as Portugal’s Best Golf Course 2011 at the Portuguese Travel Awards, and poses serious tests for players of all abilities. Opened in 2008, Laranjal offers a pure golfing experience right next to the Quinta do Lago estate and features fairways sown with Bermuda grass, providing a challenging playing environment in a picture-perfect setting.
- Paul McGinley Academy – Quinta do Lago is home to the only Paul McGinley Academy in the world, founded in October 2011 by Europe’s 2014 Ryder Cup captain. With a strong involvement from McGinley himself, who is a regular visitor to the resort, the academy aims to cultivate and improve golfers’ play by providing them with the tools and techniques used on the professional Tours. The academy focuses especially on younger players, working in collaboration with local schools and is the perfect way to follow in the footsteps of the pros.
- TaylorMade Fitting Center – Quinta do Lago’s TaylorMade Fitting Centre is the only facility of its kind in Portugal and is located on the resort’s expansive driving range. Opened in May 2013, the centre is operated by trained TaylorMade technicians, offering golfers a custom-fitting experience testing hundreds of club and iron options, ensuring the best combination for every player’s swing. It also has a fully-equipped Tour standard workshop and utilises FlightScope X2 radar technology to measure the entire flight of the ball from impact to landing whilst displaying its 3D trajectory in real time.
Set amongst 2,000 acres of the picturesque Ria Formosa Natural Park and located just 15 minutes from Faro airport, Quinta do Lago offers residents and guests an unparalleled location benefiting from a year-round temperate climate, a variety of lifestyle pursuits and a strong sense of community.
For more information on Quinta do Lago and its facilities, call + 351 289 390 700 or visit www.quintadolago.com
Contact:
Daniel Chidley
Email: daniel@theazaleagroup.com
Fonte IAGTO