Vilamoura hosting Portugal Masters with a profusion of Word-Class Golf players

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Portugal Masters 2017

Portugal Masters 2017

The Portugal Masters, a European Tour golf tournament is set to begin in Vilamoura from 21st to 24th of September, 2017. A large group of Europe’s leading golfers has affirmed their interest in this great tournament which will happen in Victoria Golf Course.

Vilamoura is a resort in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. It’s known for its large marina, top quality golf courses, is casino, and for many sandy beachs.

Padraig Harrington – three-time Major Champion will return to Vilamoura and Victoria Golf Course, to safeguard his title alongside Andy Sullivan who took the title in 2015. On the other hand, Shown Lowry is coming back to the scene of his first European Tour as a professional.

Danny Willett, 2016 Masters Tournament Champion, will be also in Vilamoura, onboarding additional Major-winning expertise to the Victoria Golf Course, Portugal Masters occasion. He is joined by two energizing youthful gifts, Matt Fitzpatrick and Thomas Pieters – both multiple European Tour winners who won the 2016 Ryder Cup as team mates.

In a statement, Harrington expressed his delight in returning to Vilamoura for the Portugal Masters to defend his title. Harrington’s storied profession incorporates triumphs at The Open Championship in 2007 and 2008, the US PGA Title around the same time and six Ryder Cups appearances. The Irishman took the 2016 Portugal Masters on the Victoria Golf Course in noteworthy form, fixing his first European Visit title in eight years.

Vilamoura Victoria Golf Course

Vilamoura Victoria Golf Course

“Last year’s win was exceptionally fulfilling, and I was satisfied to add the title to my rundown of competition triumphs. I felt relaxed all week and awesome around the greens. It’s an occasion I’m particularly anticipating,” said Harrington, who has triumphed 15 times on the European Tour.

Lowry burst on to the scene in 2009, when he won the Irish Open as a novice, and his triumph in Vilamoura at Victoria Golf Course three years after secured his place in history as just the second player to win European Tour titles as both an amateur and a professional. He secured the greatest win of his career in 2015 at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

He further stated: “This will dependably be a unique occasion for me. I was over the moon to get my first professional win on such a lofty occasion, and I’m anticipating returning to Vilamoura this year.”

Sullivan stated: “I have some remarkable recollections of this occasion in Algarve, especially from 2015. To win any trophy is phenomenal yet to take a title in Europe, before such a significant number of loved ones, was something exceptional. I can hardly wait for the comeback in September.”

On the other hand, Sullivan is anticipating his 6th appearance in Victoria Golf Course at a competition where he has delighted in huge accomplishment as of late. The Englishman seized the title in 2015 – his third win of the season following the South African Open and the Joburg Open – before completing second behind a resurgent Harrington a year ago.

Willett also will be returning to Vilamoura for the Portugal Masters for the first time since 2014. He is the first English player since Sir Nick Faldo to won the Green Jacket when he triumphed at Augusta National last year.

The five-time European Tour victor has an incredible record in the competition, with three best ten completes in five appearances. “It’s been a couple of years since I’ve teed it up in Vilamoura and I’m anticipating it. It is a place where I’ve played well over the years, and so I’m hoping for a good week,” he stated.

In the interim, his comrade Fitzpatrick is making his Portugal Masters debut. The 22-year-old appreciated a stellar 2016 battle, adding more triumphs at the Nordea Masters and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai to his maiden title at the 2015 British Masters. He additionally joined fellow Ryder Cup debutants Pieters, Sullivan, and Willet at Hazeltine a year ago.

Fitzpatrick further expressed his delight: “I’m eager to be playing at the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura for the first time. It’s a competition that I’ve heard a lot about, and I’m anticipating an awesome week in Portugal.”

Pieters, a Belgian and a three-time European Tour winner, has been at the peak of his form this season, with three best ten completes on the European Tour – including fourth place at the Masters.

Pieters put a record at Hazeltine when he became the first European Ryder Cup rookie to scoop four points after playing every match.

Padriag Harrington - Winner 2016

Padriag Harrington – Winner 2016

“This will be the fourth year in succession for me in Vilamoura – Algarve, and it’s a place that I appreciate returning to. I’m pleased to be teeing it up at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course once more,” he stated.

Dom Pedro Golf offers five championship golf courses in the Algarve, Vilamoura´s renowned five – Victoria Golf Course (host of the World Cup in 2005 and Portugal Masters since 2007), The Old Course Golf Club, Pinhal Golf Course, Laguna Golf Course and Millennium Golf Course.

Tickets for the upcoming 2017 Portugal Masters, including hospitality bundles and packages, are accessible at europeantour.com/tickets.

Golf Resort PGA Catalunya Lays Vineyard to Provide unique Wines to Golfers

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P.G.A Catalunya - Wine Tasting

P.G.A Catalunya – Wine Tasting

Providing just rounds of golf no longer makes you a good golf resort these days; this becomes clear quickly when you view some of the extras most golf resorts are offering nowadays. Golf resort PGA Catalunya is getting the right idea though, because the resort recently debuted their new vineyard, which is meant to provide wines to golfers as well as residents in the local area.

Staying at the Leading European Golf Resort PGA Catalunya

Avid golfers already know that PGA Catalunya Resort is one of the leading European golf resorts. It would seem like the golf resort is not going to lose its European throne anytime soon though, especially with the introduction of their new vineyard – Celler Mas Hereu.

P.G.A Catalunya - Stadium Course

P.G.A Catalunya – Stadium Course

Excellent Wine Location

PGA Catalunya Resort has an excellent location for their vineyard, because they are surrounded by some of the best Spanish wine regions. Therefore, the golf resort is bound to benefit from a favourable wine climate and excellent soil for the wines they intend to produce.

At PGA Catalunya Various Grape Varieties Will Be Planted

To ensure some interesting wine choices for their clientele, PGA Catalunya golf Resort is planning to sow various grape varieties. The first is chardonnay. The second a well-known local grape variety called Xarel lo. There is also room for a nice red grape variety though, the Garnatxa Negra, also a local grape variety known for its outstanding aroma and ability to produce aged wines.

An Aim to Restore Catalan Tradition

In addition to making their resort stand out even more, PGA Catalunya golf Resort aims to restore Catalan tradition with the creation of their own wines. They wish to reinvigorate the concept of family wine production, more specifically by producing the most exquisite wines for locals and resort clients. With the creation of the new vineyard, it is bound to have an impact on the local wine industry as well as golf industry.

MONTE REI. The best golf courses in Portugal. Created by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 2007

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Monte Rei Golf & Country Club

Monte Rei Golf & Country Club

We (Carlos Ferreira, Tomas Carlota, Graca Vinhas Carter and yours truly Doug Smith) were there on Friday 28th. 2017, representing Tee Times Golf Agency, to help celebrate Monte Rei’s 10th anniversary.

It was an extremely hot day but from the moment of arrival at the assisted club drop to the warm welcome at reception by the Director of Golf, Darren Griffiths, the standards were impeccable.

Set in the picturesque foothills of the Eastern Algarve, with sweeping views of the Serra do Calderon mountains to the North and the Atlantic Ocean to the South, this is the perfect place to visit and to play golf.

The course measures 6567m from the championship tees but thankfully we were playing from the ‘gold’ tees (no yellows here). Each hole is cocooned in its own golfing wonderland and never another player in sight. My own favorites are the 13th and 14th holes. The par 4, 13th descends towards the stunning backdrop of a natural lake and then the lake borders the par 3 14th on the left. Truly wonderful. The whole course was in exceptional condition and the greens were receptive and immaculate. But this is no pushover. You need your very best game to score well on this course.

But, the wonderful golfing experience was not the end of it. After a fantastic shower and change of clothes in the luxurious changing facilities, it was onto the terrace to be greeted by champagne and music. The whole terrace, with stunning views over the golf course, was dotted with food stations and attentive staff with trays of snacks and drinks. A never-ending bar served drinks throughout the evening. And as the evening drew on, the live music gathered momentum and everyone was really enjoying themselves.

What a fantastic day. Thank you to Monte Rei and thank you to Carlos Ferreira owner and CEO of Tee Times Golf Agency, the best golf holiday organizer in Portugal.