Clean Beach Operation Starts in Albufeira

Clean Beach Operation Starts in Albufeira

Clean Beach Operation Starts in Albufeira

Albufeira, Silves and Lagoa. The initiative of Zoomarine, the “Clean Beach Operation 2019”, will simultaneously involve these municipalities with the aim of sensitizing the population to the importance of the sustainability of marine ecosystems. The action takes place on May 12 in Albufeira and will feature the Salgados and Galé – Oeste beaches.

The “Clean Beach Operation” began in 2017, in conjunction with the “Operation Green Mountain” and is part of the “Together We Protect” environmental responsibility initiative. It aims to remove, over several kilometers and at the level of the coastal strip and seabed, debris resulting from human action, increasingly present on our beaches.

With about 30 kilometers of coastline, cut by beautiful beaches, all with blue flag, the maximum symbol of environmental quality, the Municipality of Albufeira did not want to miss “associate with this initiative, of particular significance when the bathing season is about to begin with.”

In Albufeira, the action will take place on Salgados and Galé – Oeste beach, where dozens of volunteers are expected in the morning, between 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 a.m., in which many friendly hands are expected to release the sand of plastic, cigarette stubs, cans, remnants of fishing gear, parts of vessels, pieces of appliances, among other hazardous wastes. The company Águas do Algarve also joined the initiative, similar to the “ODS Alliance” – Objectives for the Sustainable Development of Portugal.

Clean Beach Operation Starts in Albufeira. Beach with Blue Flag

Beach with Blue Flag

This year, the initiative triples its action, since it now includes the beaches of three Algarve counties, Silves, Albufeira and Lagoa. Volunteers interested in participating in the “Clean Beach Operation” should register online at http://weprotect.zoomarine.pt/en/, between April 8 and May 10, with the first 150 participants officially marking the presence in each county will be entitled to a commemorative t-shirt. All participants will also have the right to a morning snack, a digital diploma and, above all, the happy memories of an action that fills our hearts while emptying the beaches of waste that should never have arrived there.

With the awareness of environmental responsibilities and with the urge to be the best place to live for its residents and the best destination for holidaymakers, Algarve is committed to introducing effective measures aimed to protect the environment. reducing the amount of non-reusable plastic is just one of them. For this end, most of the hotels in the area are decided at reducing the use of plastic objects by their customers. One of the initiatives is the elimination of plastic straws and the introduction of an ecological paper option. Another measure concerns the replacement of disposable plastic cups, reusable cups or paper cups. Also, additional measures are being implemented in the accommodation areas, like placing of liquid soap, shower gel and shampoo dispensers in the bathrooms instead of small bottles, in order to substantially reduce the plastic used. Finally, awareness-raising actions will be developed for customers to always return the keys to the rooms and solutions will be developed that allow the digital opening of the doors instead of the current plastic cards.

Clean Beach Operation Starts in Albufeira.

Clean Beach Operation

Golf Courses near by: Salgados, Silves, Vale da Pinta, Gramacho
Hotels near by : Nau Hotels, Vila Galé Náutico, Pestana Levante, Vila Vita Park

Portuguese & Spanish golf courses Featured on Tours 2018

Both Portuguese Spanish golf courses are steeped in golfing history and play an integral part in the European golf tours every year.

Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Club - Portuguese Spanish golf courses

Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Club

You need only look at the players in recent history who have come from both regions, and the golf courses that you can find there, to realize why it’s such an admired part of Europe. With Sergio García winning The Masters in 2017, and Jon Rahm surging through the ranks on the PGA Tour, 2018 is sure to be an exciting year for Spanish golf fans.

Portuguese Spanish golf courses

We’ve put together a list of the golf courses that will be hosting the professional tour or qualifying school tournaments in Spain and Portugal over the coming months. Although some are yet to be announced, the following are confirmed.

European Tour

Portugal Masters

The biggest golfing event in Portugal returns in 2018 to its home course, Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Club, in Vilamoura. The event, which will run between 20th-23rd September will as always host come of the tours biggest names – something the region is familiar with! The golf course was designed by none other than golfing legend, Arnold Palmer, and since 2007 it has been the proud home of the annual Portuguese Masters.

Real Club Valderrama - Portuguese Spanish golf courses

Real Club Valderrama

The Par-72 Championship layout, measuring 6.651 meters (7,273 yards), makes use of the natural wetlands and the typical vegetation of carob, olive and almond trees in the area. Lakes form a formidable hazard throughout the course – even for the skilled professional – hence why it has remained a popular test on the tour for over ten years. The course is also known for its contrasting front and back nine – with each side of the course offering its own type of challenge.

The 2017 edition of the event was won by Lucas Bjerregaard who carded a blistering final round 65 to finish on 20-under par, four clear of his nearest competitor – Marc Warren.

Andalucia Valderrama Masters

The Real Club Valderrama in Sotogrande will host the 2018 Andalucia Valderrama Masters on the 18th-21st October. The tournament was first played here in 2010, and it previously hosted the Volvo Masters.

Gramacho Golf Club - Portuguese Spanish golf courses

Gramacho Golf Club

After being canceled in 2012, the event returned to the region last year when it was hosted by local hero and 2011 champion Sergio García. García went on to win the event last year, and it will return in 2018 for what is set to be an amazing four days.

Valderrama is renowned as a tough Tour course that trails its way through the Sotogrande hills and meanders in between tightly clustered umbrella pine trees which makes for a tight, unforgiving test. Rather than being overly long, or having thick rough, Valderrama focuses on making sure that each shot a golfer takes has to be thought through meticulously – for some this is both the attraction and the fear when they play here.

Staysure Tour (Seniors Tour)

Qualifying School 2018

For the 18th consecutive year, the European Seniors Tour Qualifying School returns to the Pestana Golf Resort on Portugal’s Algarve.

Vale Pinta Golf Course - Portuguese Spanish golf courses

Vale Pinta Golf Course

Taking place over three venues, the 2018 Qualifying School will include the first stage being conducted for 36 holes on Silves Golf Club and Gramacho Golf Club. After that, the Finals will be played over 72 holes of stroke play on the Pinta Course at Pestana Golf Resort.

Silves is a par 70 course nestled into the foot of the Monchique mountains, while Gramacho, a par 72 course co-designed by former World Number One Nick Price, has previously hosted the Portuguese Ladies Open.

Challenge Tour

Challenge de España

Details yet to be confirmed by the Tour. This tournament featured here in 2017 and was won by Victor Perez who claimed a maiden European Challenge Tour title in some style, shooting an impressive 24-under par over the four days and winning by three shots.

Silves Golf Club - Portuguese Spanish golf courses

Silves Golf Club

Andalucía Costa del Sol Match Play 9

Details yet to be confirmed by the Tour. This tournament featured here in 2017 and was won by Aaron Rai who secured his second European Challenge Tour victory of the 2017 season by beating Ireland’s Gavin Moynihan 2&1 in the final match.

Portugal Golf – Pestana Silves Golf Course

 Silves Golf Course
Silves golf course opened in 2006 and is located in
a serene spot below the Monchique mountain range in the countryside inland from the coastal resort of Armaçao de Pera.

Finding it can prove difficult the first time you play as I was informed many of the road signs disappear from time to time. However, finding it is well worth while.

Many holes offer spectacular mountain views as well as overlooking palm trees and olive groves and the surrounding cork and citrus farms generate a true feeling of authentic Portuguese golf. Whilst the course is certainly not ‘a walk in the park’, you do get a feeling of peace and tranquillity, and even the rumble of a passing train will not disturb this ambience.

It is a course for all standards of players. Low handicappers will find it a serious challenge to come in under par. But high handicaps will always be able to enjoy their round.

And so it was on Saturday, despite the chill in the wind towards the end of our round. Scoring from the 13 players was not quite as good as normal, but perhaps that wind was a factor.

Once it had been pointed out to your organiser that he had misinterpreted one of the cards, we eventually found out who had won the prizes! The winner was never in doubt – that was our leader Carlos Ferreira (11 handicap) with 32 points. In 2nd place after a back 9 countback was Tony McInerney (22) with 30 points. Also on 30 were Ron McLachlan and David Exley.

 Ladies winner was Mary Moran (28) with 26 points. Mary also won the nearest the pin with a fine tee shot at the 16th.

 Post match refreshments and analysis of where we all went wrong was again at Chez Carlos restaurant . Another very pleasant Saturday.

 Ron McLachlan