Victoria and Old Course Renovation

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Victoria and Old Course Renovation

Victoria and Old Course Renovation
After purchasing five courses and hotels in Vilamoura from the Dom Pedro Group, Arrow Global Portugal Group is now renovating two of the most famous courses in Europe, the Victoria Course and the Old Course.

The Victoria Golf Course, designed by American Arnold Palmer and widely regarded as one of the most difficult in Europe, closed for good on December 11, 2023, after nearly 20 years in operation. Its last tournament was the 35th Vilamoura Grand Trophy. The course, clubhouse, and their surroundings will all undergo extensive renovations as part of Victoria’s reopening in February 2025. Approximately 17 million euros have been set aside for this renovation.

The well-known South African professional Ernie Els, who is making his first appearance in Portugal, is creating the new course. Els and his architectural team recently designed the course’s makeover after spending a week in Vilamoura.

The former Victoria Golf Course has hosted the Portugal Masters sixteen times and the 2005 World Cup. The course closed in December, after operating for 19 and a half years. On February 20, 2025, it will reopen with a fresh layout.

At the same time, the Old Course, a golfing treasure in the Algarve, will be closed for about a month starting on December 11, 2023, and is expected to reopen in early January. The course’s design, fairways, and greens will be improved. The Old Course’s clubhouse is undergoing enhancements to better serve visitors.

Arrow Global Portugal Group is actively seeking to increase its presence in the Portuguese golfing market, as it has several courses throughout the country’s northern, central, and Algarve areas.

While the Victoria Course and the Old Course remain closed, other greens from the group remain available, such as Pinhal Golf Course, Laguna Golf Course, and Millenium Golf Course. You can book your green fee in Vilamoura directly with us here at Tee Times.

via Valdemar Afonso

35th Vilamoura Grand Trophy of Golf

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35th Vilamoura Grand Trophy of Golf
The 35th Vilamoura Grand Trophy of Golf is an esteemed annual amateur tournament held in southern Portugal. It was held during the first week of December, and it is considered a major golf tournament in the Algarve. The event includes three rounds on distinct worldly-famous courses: the Victoria Course, the Old Course, and the Pinhal Golf Course.

Currently overseen by the Arrow Global Portugal Group, which recently acquired the Vilamoura fields and hotel units Dom Pedro, the competition has numerous entities extending their support, including Solverde, Vista Alegre, D. Pedro Vilamoura, Hotel Hilton, and Hotel Vila Galé, among others.

As the last competition to be held on the Victoria course, this tournament has historical significance. This distinguished course has hosted some of Portugal’s most well-known international competitions, such as the Portugal Masters, which held its final edition in 2022, and the World Cup in 2005.

In its 35th year, the tournament attracted 300 competitors from 15 nations (including partners and companions; the number goes to 350). The weather during the event was flawless, with clear skies, mild temperatures (around 20 degrees), abundant sunshine, barely any wind, and consistently great temperatures. As the event ended, it felt like a summer day.

For some from colder climates—like the Nordic nations, UK, Ireland, and Germany—where snow and ice cover the ground in winter, playing golf in the Algarve under the bright sun allowed them to soak in the sun daily.

Per Nilsson, a Swede, earned the 35th Vilamoura Grand Trophy.

A successful event, without incident, was made possible by the reliably good weather throughout the competition, the quality of Vilamoura Golf Courses, and the competition organisation, the latter two of which you can attest to as well. Grab your chance here at Tee Times Golf Agency and enjoy a trophy-worthy golf holiday in Vilamoura. Soak up the year-round sun and the prime golf courses of the Algarve with us!

via Valdemar Afonso

Estepona Golf’s Hole 8 Renovation and Partnership

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Estepona Golf Hole 8 Renovation

Estepona Golf’s Hole 8 Renovation and Partnership 
Located on Spain’s beautiful Costa del Sol, the widely recognised Estepona Golf Course is undergoing a period of transformation that started with the extensive restoration of hole 8, marking the first step towards a successful venture.

This renovation project includes extensive earthmoving, a refined reshaping of the landscape, the implementation of an advanced drainage system, and an upgraded irrigation system. It is being carried out by GTM Golf, a well-known Spanish company with experience in building and renovating golf courses throughout Europe. The path has also been properly seeded with a layer of 10 centimetres of sand and a full layer of Bermuda Latitude36 grass.

Referring to current environmental measures in golf course management, such as cutting water usage, recycling materials, and utilising renewable resources, modifications like these provide a modern perspective on golf sustainability. 

The next step in the transformation is a planned overhaul of the course’s primary and secondary irrigation systems.

The Globalia Group has added Estepona Golf to its holdings, continuing a major initiative begun by Juan José Hidalgo, president of the group and the original visionary behind Air Europa, marking it as their entrance into golf in Spain. 

A large hotel, tourist apartments, a man-made lake with a beach, residential sections, and a sports zone with indoor and outdoor facilities are all part of this massive development. Notable features of the project include housing for a film crew and spacious recording facilities to accommodate the production of television series. 

In April of this year, Hidalgo spoke with Andalucía Golf about his thoughts on the acquisition, saying, “Twenty-two years ago, I acquired the renowned Herencia Nadal land, spanning a million and a half square metres, with the vision to develop a grand project. Golf wasn’t initially on the agenda, but a substantial sports area was. Estepona Golf seamlessly fits into our vision due to its adjacency, making it an ideal addition to the project. It’s a meticulously prepared course that resonates well with players, prompting many to return.”

At Tee Times Golf Agency, we understand the importance of offering golfers the opportunity to elevate their golf experience with modern courses while enjoying a golf holiday. Costa del Sol is part of this plan, and we invite you to explore the rejuvenated Estepona Golf and book your golf holiday in Spain with Tee Times Golf Agency. Discover the finest golf courses in Costa del Sol and embark on a golfing adventure that’s both rewarding and unforgettable.