QUINTA DO LAGO UNVEILS NEW €7M GOLF INVESTMENT
Quinta do Lago’s South Course is to be given a modern makeover as part of a new €7m golf course investment programme taking place at the luxury Portuguese resort this summer.
The upgrade of the iconic layout, an eight-time host of the Portuguese Open, forms the centrepiece of a multi-million euro golf improvement plan announced by the top Algarve destination resort, with all the work due to be completed by September 1.
As part of the South Course’s major overhaul, all fairways, bunkers, tees and green surrounds will be revamped as well as subtle changes being made to a number of holes to enhance the playing experience. The improvements will be carried out with sustainable goals in mind and the resort team will work with the Golf Environment Organisation (GEO) Foundation to further enhance its environmental stewardship.
In addition, Quinta do Lago’s other two 18-hole championship courses – the North Course and Laranjal – will also undergo significant maintenance improvements, the resort has invested in a new fleet of state-of-the-art electric golf buggies and golfers can look forward to the reopening of the main clubhouse this summer following an extensive refurbishment.
Sean Moriarty, CEO at Quinta do Lago, said: “It gives me enormous pleasure to announce this significant new investment in our golf courses.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has been challenging for everyone, but while the world is in shutdown, here at Quinta do Lago we are using this time to invest in and improve the facilities and unrivalled experience we offer to our residents and guests as Europe’s premier luxury golf and lifestyle resort.
“The South Course has played an integral part in the history of the resort and holds a special place in the hearts of so many of our residents and guests. As an eight-time host of the Portuguese Open, it is truly an iconic golfing venue and the enhancement programme that we’ve devised will help to ensure that it strengthens its position at the forefront of European golf. We are looking forward to welcoming golfers back to Quinta do Lago very soon.”
A favourite among European Tour professionals, Quinta do Lago’s South Course is regularly ranked among Europe’s top 100 golf courses. The par-72 layout is regarded as one of Portugal’s premier golfing venues and the improvement programme – which will be overseen by golf course superintendent Mark Tupling – has been designed to enhance its reputation even further.
Among the work to take place, and to help provide a consistent playing experience, all the fairways, approaches, greens collars and tees will be resurfaced with a hybrid type of Bermudagrass.
All 48 bunkers on the course will be trimmed to their original size, with new drainage and sand added and compacted, while several bunkers currently within the pine tree canopy will be adjusted to give access to the green and two bunkers relocated to favour the modern game.
In addition, the lakes on the third and 17th holes will be upgraded with new retaining walls giving a sharp modern look consistent with the other lakes on the course; the fairway on the eighth hole will be softened and a number of pine trees relocated to allow greater access to the green; and the 16th hole is to be improved by bringing the lake into play behind the green, adding drama to the closing holes.
Away from the South Course, Quinta do Lago is investing heavily in improving the naturalised cart parts at Laranjal as well as carrying out extensive drainage work to the par-five 16th hole to capture and divert natural spring water to be reused as irrigation.
Both Laranjal and the North Course – which underwent a €9.6m renovation in October 2014 – will also be given their annual aeration work early so that the resort can ensure that they will remain open and in pristine condition for the remainder of the year.
And in line with Quinta do Lago’s recently updated eco-strategy, all the work will be carried out with a strict commitment to preserving the environment.
The installation of state-of-the-art pumps in the lake around the 16th green of the South Course will maximise resort efficiency and reduce power output by 20 per cent. New irrigation installed around the greens will give more control of irrigation water, allowing the promotion of drought-tolerant grass species in the roughs and, ultimately, reducing the use of non-renewable resources and pesticides.
A planting scheme of native species adopted across the course will also increase the biodiversity of flora and fauna, while other features of the multi-million investment will include a new fleet of Club Car ‘Tempo’ electric buggies and the reopening of the main golf clubhouse following a modern and sophisticated makeover.
Set amongst 2,000 acres of the picturesque Ria Formosa Natural Park and just a 15-minute drive from Faro airport, Quinta do Lago has been at the forefront of Europe’s elite golf, sports and family destinations for nearly five decades and features a combination of world-class golf and lifestyle facilities.
As well as three 18-hole championship golf courses and outstanding practice facilities, guests can enjoy an array of sports at the state-of-the-art performance centre The Campus, a world-class sports hub designed for professionals and amateurs alike to train and live well.
Complementing the golf is a choice of 12 first-class bars and restaurants that deliver a range of delicious local and international cuisines, with accommodation on offer at the resort’s recently-acquired boutique hotel, The Magnolia Hotel.
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Issued by Azalea. For more information on Quinta do Lago or images contact Pete Simm on 01730 711920, or email petes@theazaleagroup.com
Quinta 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 Welling 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 by Jorge Santana da Silva 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 Performance Center – Quinta do Lago’s TaylorMade Performance 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
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