Golf

Portugal Invest 15 Million to Attract More Professional Golf

Saturday, 24 October 2009 17:52

Turismo de Portugal has spent more than 15 million euros to attract international golf competitions over the past three years under its Gold Plan 2007-2009. Most of t was spent on the Portugal Masters, whose third addition was played at Vilamoura. The Open de Portugal, and the Ladies Open, also got funding. Support was given to European professional tours play in both Madeira the Azores both got support. In the past three years golf saw a 6% increase in Portugal, with 300,000 golfers playing some 1.4 million rounds at Portugal’s 80 golf courses, and that led to 1.1 million hotel nights.

Golf Stars in the Algarve

Sunday, 11 October 2009 18:22

The great weather, beautiful locale and access to a number of world-class golf courses have made the Algarve region in Southern Portugal one of the world’s top vacation spots for professional golfers. PGA.com recently reported that golfer Ernie Els took the family on a week-long vacation to the Quinta do Lago Resort after a dreary week at the British Open. Others are opting to stay even longer. Padraig Harrington purchased a villa in the posh resort town of Vilamoura in the Central Algarve, citing the abundance of world-class courses that will allow him to practice on a different layout every day. Other celebrity players, like Lee Westwood, Retief Goosen and Darren Clarke, have also purchased Algarve properties for their proximity to the region’s three dozen courses, many ranked among Europe's best. The PGA.com article also said that the beautiful beaches, great weather and natural beauty of the region make the Algarve a top spot not only for golfers, but their families as well. The soaring sandstone cliffs of the West and Central Algarve, interspersed with a necklace of enticing small coves, bays and inlets, fringed with brilliant white and gold sand beaches, make this a beach lover's delight,” the article said. “Constantly washed by the crashing surf of a gleaming blue Atlantic Ocean and blessed with more sunny, warm days than any other European coast, The Algarve is a true paradise found.”

Portugal hosts Golf, Surf, Motorsports and Adventure Race events this October and November

Thursday, 08 October 2009 17:35

Portugal will host four major sporting events this October. The Portugal Masters, one of the key tournaments of the European PGA Tour, as well as the Superbike Portugal GP, the World Enduro Championship, the Rip Curl Pro Search Surfing Championship and the ARWC World Championship will all take place with the support of Turismo de Portugal, the Portuguese National Tourist Office. The Portugal Masters is shaping up to be the best in the tournament’s history, with a host of European Tour stars heading to the Oceânico Victoria Golf Course in the Algarve from 15 – 18 October, 2009. Three-time champion Padraig Harrington, as well as Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Ross Fisher have all confirmed their participation in the event, which will be held in the Ocêanico Victoria Golf Course - an 18-hole 72-par course designed by golfing legend Arnold Palmer. The tournament promises to be an exciting fixture in the European golfing calendar, with some of the best players in the world aiming for the €3 million prize. Two major motorbike events will also be held in Portugal this year – the World Enduro Championship and the Superbike Portugal GP, which will take place respectively from 12-17 October in Figueira da Foz (Centro) and from 24-25 October in the Algarve. The Superbike Portugal GP will be hosted in the new Portimão Racetrack for the second time. The World Enduro Championship will see some of the major motocross riders form across the world come to Portugal for an adrenaline filled race. The Rip Curl Pro Search Surfing Championship will be held for the first time in Europe this year – and the organisers have chosen Portugal as one of the European countries offering surfers the best conditions to practice the sport. Top surfers such as Kelly Slater and Mick Fanning will be participating in the event, which will take place in Peniche (Lisbon) - chosen for its “European Pipeline”  - with waves as high as 4-5 metres. The longest ever adventure race - the Adventure Race World Championship (ARWC) - will take place from 8-13 November across various Portuguese regions, culminating in the Centro region of Portugal. The ARWC is an exciting race where teams from across the world compete in hiking, swimming, and mountain biking in extremely challenging conditions.

Portugal Masters with a star-studded field

Wednesday, 07 October 2009 16:30

The Portugal Masters field is shaping up to be the strongest in the tournament’s history with a host of European Tour stars being lured to the Oceânico Victoria Golf Course on the Algarve from October 15 – 18. Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Ross Fisher have all confirmed their places in the event, which was sponsored by the Portuguese Government and is part of its National Tourism Strategy. Turismo de Portugal has helped build the Portugal Masters into a world-class tournament, and its partnership with The European Tour has also brought the Estoril Open de Portugal to the International Schedule, in addition to Senior and Challenge Tour events. Two-time US Open winner Retief Goosen is another star name who will be descending on Vilamoura, joining defending champion Alvaro Quiros, three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington, former Open Champions Ben Curtis and Paul Lawrie and 2003 U.S. PGA Championship winner Shaun Micheel. Chris Wood will be keen to carry his good form to Oceânico Victoria, having won four and a half points from five at the Vivendi Trophy, under the superb captaincy of Paul McGinley, who will also be present in Portugal. For further information click here or email media@europeantour.com