The Pendulum Swings Back in favour of the Costa del Sol.
Our observation of traffic trends over the last few years is that there has recently been a slight shift in favour of the Algarve versus the Costa del Sol. Increased Green-fees on the Costa del Sol made the Algarve seem like good value. However the opposite trend now seems to be prevailing with courses on the Costa reducing green-fees by extending low seasons including buggy deals and other incentives. These incentives are given to us the Tour Operators and we in turn pass these on to you the golf holiday-maker through our added-value packages.
In particular some of the high end courses are competing aggressively against the middle range courses which results in great value at courses such as Almenara, Finca Cortesin, and both San Roque Courses.
On the other hand with some courses on the Algarve still charging over €60 to hire a buggy the swaying golfer is beginning to return to the Costa del Sol. It must be said that with the arrival of so many new courses on the Costa in recent years there is now real downward pressure in prices.
We see it as our primary function to identify the value on offer and pass it on to our clients. This ensures better value for money for you offering real value.
Real Club de Golf Sotogrande reopens after major redevelopment work on its greens.
Major maintenance work on the greens at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande has meant that the course had 9 holes closed for most of the. The iconic course has been closed to visitors and will remain so until September (with the exception of July).
Flamingos New. Gran Flamingos
We are getting excellent feedback from clients regarding the new 18 holes at Flamingos. Two distinctively different nines – the first nine being tight and long and the second open and very spectacular. The greens are certainly among the best on the Costa.
We would also like to take this opportunity to inform you of the opening of their third course and Driving Range, which will be running in the Autumn 2008. The third course is a par 68 executive course.
Finca Cortesin Golf CLub – Revamped Volvo World Match-play Championship comes to Finca Cortesin News.
We have just learned that Volvo will sponsor a new tour event at Finca Cortesin from 2009 for 3 years.. This event, the Volvo World Match Play Competition, will see the 20 players taking part in the Match-play event with the winner receiving prize-money of £1m.
On the other hand the Volvo Masters as we know it is moving from Valderrama to Dubai from 2009. This means that 2008 will be the last opportunity for clients to see some of the world’s best golfers competing in this world famous course.
Full press release concerning the Volvo World Match play championship can be seen by clicking on this link.
Finca Cortesin has finally removed the electricity pylons which were an eyesore – blotting what is otherwise very picturesque and challenging course.
Ivobank PGA EuroPro Tour to visit La Cala Resort
The Ivobank PGA EuroPro Tour is delighted to announce that the Ladbrokescasino.com Masters will take place at La Cala Resort. The world’s leading developmental Tour will take place at the resort from 21-25 September as the curtain comes down on an exciting year. The event will be held on Campo Asia, one of three 18-hole courses in the complex.
Summer Car Rental and Malaga Airport.
Whether you are a regular car-renter with us or just once a year and intend travelling during the June – September period we would ask that you book your car as soon as you have confirmed your flights.
People carriers and station-wagons will, as usual be in short supply this summer.
Malaga Airport Developments
Malaga Airport’s major redevelopment continues a pace. Work is set to finish in 2010.
While queuing for car hire at the discount desks is getting longer we are happy to say that the excellent service offered by our main supplier “Espacar” continues. You will be met by the smiling Antonio or Dominic who will whisk you to your awaiting car. Once you have used this service you will never look back.
Club Hire cost analysis.
With the ever increasing cost and hassle of taking golf clubs on flights we would ask client coming for shorter periods and perhaps only playing twice or three times to consider renting sets of clubs.
We can have the latest models delivered to you prior to your first game and collected after your last round for approximately the same cost as most airlines charge for transporting a set.
Holiday rentals
If you are looking for a holiday apartment or Villa for the summer period we have a wide variety of accommodations for rental.
These range from 2 bedroom apartments to 8 bedroom villas.
Air Transport News
Ryanair have announced a new service between Birmingham and Malaga starting this October.
Delta Air lines have commenced their non-stop New York JFK to Malaga service and have already increased the frequency to 4 rotations per week. This would indicate the service is experiencing heavy load factors.
Spanish Open
Congratulations to Dubliner Peter Lawrie on his victory in the Spanish Open held at the Real Club de Golf Seville. This was Peter’s first tour victory in 175 attempts.
Young Golfers
For any of you with aspiring young sons or daughters taking an interest in the game you might show then this video clip. It’s quite amazing the how much natural talent a kid can have. What’s encouraging is that the parents don’t even have to be golfers!
http://www.sonnyradio.com/kylelograsso.htm
Algarve News
Oceanica Group is due to open their 2 latest courses in Amendoeira, about a 40 minute drive inland from the Algarve’s coast.
The Faldo course in The Algarve
Designed by Nick Faldo with strategic play in mind this 6,604 meters par-72 championship course demands careful positioning to score well.
Nick said: “The land at Amendoeira is dramatic and the project has the potential to be a real talking point in the Algarve. With so many courses in the region, that’s no mean feat,” pointed out Faldo, who will be non-playing captain of the European Ryder Cup team in 2008.
Nick said: “This is a very exciting project, which gives me a great opportunity to exploit my passion for design the same way I exploited my passion for playing. You have incredible views, beautiful undulating land and any time you get natural terrain like this, it is great fun to work with.”
“I like my courses to be challenging to whoever plays them. There might be easy holes in some places, but they are a challenge because you have to think about them, and that is what I am after. The best compliment you can get in the design business is when players come off the course and say ‘wow, that was a challenge,’ and that’s just what I am planning here at Amendoeira.”
Perfectly complementing the Faldo Course, whilst taking advantage of the rich valley soil in contrast to the arid hillside, Christy O’Connor Jnr’s course at Amendoeira offers no less of a challenge.
Large areas of water demand accurate play and creative shot making, and these lakes and streams are to be maintained as a wildlife sanctuary.
He explained: ‘I wanted one hole where it was just oranges—the whole of this part of the Algarve is blessed with thousands of acres of orange groves and I wanted to bring some inside the course as well.
‘I have managed to create such a hole, the fifth, which has orange groves left and right and should be a real beauty to play. There is also a huge orange grove off to the left on the fourth hole.’
Christy smiled: ‘The course also has my version of the Amen Corner, starting at the seventh. We have a lake which runs from the 9th, through the 8th and into the 7th, so it is a kind of a chain reaction and the 7th will be the first of it.
‘The 9th is a real, real key hole of the golf course, the lake running not only to the right off the tee, but also to the left of the second shot. It is almost a two-part golf hole.’
Christy says the 12th hole is steeped in modern history.
‘This hole is guarded by the same lake that runs along the 8th hole, sitting on the lake with the water this time on the right, just to give a bit of variety,’ he explained.
‘It is very, very playable and steeped in history because the main buildings for the green keepers will be here and they were the home of a famous equestrian family who won, I think, two Olympic gold medals for show jumping.
‘I just imagine myself driving down there with the buildings on the left, knowing the history, and going onto a really nice green with the river sitting at the back of it.’
But Christy plans that the history surrounding the following hole, the 13th, will reflect back over the centuries, to the time of Moorish rule in this part of Europe, which ended in 1250.
‘The 13th will again have those famous buildings on the left but I am going to try and incorporate Moorish-type walls into the green, building something that reflects the Moorish heritage of what the Arabs once called Al-Garbe, and which became the Algarve.’
Christy’s 18th hole brings the course to a fantastic finish, a gentle climb with the river running along the right hand side.
‘This hole is a humdinger,’ he smiled. ‘And once you get up here and look down on the golf course, you will feel you have been blessed.’