Golf

Portugal bidding to host 2018 Ryder Cup

Friday, 26 February 2010 16:04

Portugal is bidding to host the 2018 Ryder Cup, when it  takes place for the second time in history outside the British Isles.  The Portuguese Golf Federation, at the invitation of the European Tour, is currently working on the official Bid which will be presented to Ryder Cup Europe LLP on the 30th of April 2010. Portugal is a country with unique features regarding the conditions to play Golf, it has established itself as one of the best Golf destinations in the world. Golf has been selected as one of the top 10 key tourism products to develop in the next few years and currently generates revenues of € 1.8 billion through 1.4 million rounds of golf sold annually. The Ryder Cup, the biennial match which confronts the best players in Europe against USA, is the third largest sporting event in the world and has guaranteed media coverage of 2,000 journalists, photographers and broadcasts to over 500 million homes in over 180 countries. It is estimated that the number of spectators can reach 300,000 over the five days of the event.

The Ryder Cup is a national project and will serve, not only to promote the region that will host the Ryder Cup, but all regions that have Golf as a tourism product. The annual investment required by Ryder Cup Europe LLP will be approximately €12 Million which will be invested in professional tournaments of the European, Senior and Challenge Tours and in the promotion of Golf.

"Shadow Caddy" at Vale do Lobo in the Algarve

Friday, 26 February 2010 00:00

Vale do Lobo Golf Club has just announced it is now offering the new Shadow Caddy which is available for rental at its reception. This latest piece of equipment is the first autonomous robotic vehicle of its kind. Operated by a transmitter clipped to the belt, the new Shadow Caddy is hands-free and does what the name suggests by following golfers around the course with their clubs. Twice host venue of the Portuguese Open, Vale do Lobo is home to two championship courses – Royal and Ocean - both based on original concepts created by Sir Henry Cotton and re-developed by Rocky Roquemore.

The Estoril Open de Portugal returns to the Penha Longa Hotel

Wednesday, 24 February 2010 00:00

The Estoril Open de Portugal will return to the Penha Longa Hotel Spa & Golf Resort from April 1-4, 2010 following a €2 million refurbishment that made the resort’s Atlantic Course the choice for The European Tour to host Portugal’s national open. Set amid the landscape of the Sintra Hills, with the Atlantic ocean in the distance, the Penha Longa Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, which is operated by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, hosted the Open de Portugal in 1994 and 1995. Europe’s top players will return to find a fresh and contemporary Robert Trent Jones Jr. layout at Penha Longa after the completion of refurbishments with the best possible turf, bunkers and irrigation along with the world class practice and hotel facilities on site.

Golf 365 Days a Year

Thursday, 04 February 2010 16:20

Close to the sea and with excellent weather, Portugal attracts some of the most discerning golfers in the world, who come to enjoy courses that vary in both design and difficulty. That's why...

Golf with sea air - Around half an hour from Lisbon, many of these golf courses also capitalize on the beauty of their natural surroundings. Try the Tróia course, located on the narrow peninsula separating the Sado...

The perfect swing - From the western tip right over to the eastern border, the range of golf courses across the Algarve is highly varied. With internationally established reputations, the academies are there to help...

Algarve Golf Offering to Double - The number of golf courses in eh Algarve will double with new courses under way in Loulé, Silves, Castro Marim, Vila Real de Santo António, Portimão, Olhão e Lagos, and others. Today there are 31 golf course in eh Algarve, or more than half al the “holes” in Portugal. That .055 of the world total, and 5 % of the total for Europe, and right now more than 3.300 round are paled each month at the respective courses.

In the first 2 months of 2003 158.897 round were played in the Algarve, an increase of  4.512 in relation to the same period last year. Portugal is one of Europe's top golfing destinations. In the Algarve's mild climate, golf is played year-round between red cliffs and sea views.

There are more than 30 golf courses in the Algarve, many designed by the best know names in golf. Several courses rated in the finest in Europe, with luxury clubhouses, manicured greens and flawless fairways. All courses are open to visitors.