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

Algarve Events – February

The 45th Tour of the Algarve by Bicycle. Algarve Events - February

Algarve Events – February

Algarve Events: The February edition of Guia Algarve is covered with cycling, ballet, and Algarvia’s juicy orange. Guia Algarve is a publication which suggests more than 100 events covering February; the shortest month of the year in the region.

The guide of the Tourism Region of Algarve stated: “Among the music, theater, exhibitions sports fair and dance and suggestions of the program; 365 Algarve, any cultural excuse is good to go from door to door, among the friends or even alone.”

The 45th Tour of the Algarve by bicycle” is the most prominent item, from 20th to 24th of February, which fills the roads with the winners of the 2018 world, European, and Portuguese rankings tournaments.

On Saturday, 2nd Feb. The Ballet Carmen will be staged on Teatro das Figuras in Faro. Carmen’s music is composed by Georges Bizet and Español de Murcia will interpret it. This story describes the relationship between a sergeant Don Jose and a Gypsy Carmen.
Faro nearby golf courses: Quinta do Lago North, South & Laranjal

Orange Capital, Silves, makes the Algarve’s protagonist. It will be the 3rd municipality exhibition. It will last between 15 to 17 February on the famous points of the city. Along with musical entertainment by Cuca Rosetta (15th Feb. at 21:30), António Zambujo (16th Feb. at 21:30) and Fole’Percussion (17th Feb. at 16:30), there will be exhibitions from people from different fields like citriculture, agriculture, confectionery, gastronomy, and handicrafts.
Silves nearby golf courses: Silves

Cuca Roseta

Cuca Rosetta

The month starts with ”Confessions Tour” by singer Aurea, On 1st of Feb, at 9:30 pm, in the municipal auditorium of Lagoa.
Lagoa nearby golf courses: Gramacho, Vale da Pinta.

Kátia Guerreiro, a fado singer will also perform live on her new album named ”Semper” on Saturday, 2nd Feb, at the Cultural Center of Lagos, at 9:30 pm.
Lagos nearby golf courses: Palmares, Penina Championship, Morgado, Alamos.

The month follows with other records, in other tones, for different musical tastes. First of all, with the performance of Daniel Kemish at the Lethes Theater in Faro (2nd Feb, 9:30 p.m.), with the V International Festival of Baroque Music in Faro, from 2 to 23 February in various places of the county (beginning at 21: 30), with the Chinese opera “The Generals of the Yang Family”, will be performed on 11th of Feb. at 9:30 pm, at the Arade Congress Center (Lagoa), with the 18th Al-Mutamid Music Festival, 8-23 Silves, Loulé, Lagos, Albufeira and Olhão, at 21:30.

On the stage of the performance, drama ”Waning Room” brings together seven characters united by a common stalemate: the desire for change without however changing for fear of the new. Will be held at - Teatro Municipal de Portimão on Saturday, 2 at 9:30 p.m.
Hotels in Portimão: Tivoli Marina Portimão, Penina Hotel Golf & Resort, Pestana Alvor Atlântico.

Among the 15 exhibitions, attention turned to ”Symbolus” by Sofia Baptista, in the municipal gallery João Bailote, in Albufeira, in which the artist traverses the symbols of values and personal origins through painting.
Hotels in Albufeira: Real Bellavista Hotel & Spa, NAU Salgados Palace Hotel, Muthu Oura Praia.
Golf Courses nerby Albufeira: Salgados, Pine Cliffs

Symbolus by Sofia Baptista

“Symbolus” by Sofia Baptista

On the other hand, from February 9 to 17, the Chocolate Week takes place in the Municipal Market of Loulé, to sweeten the gourmand visitors of the Algarve.
Hotels nearby Loulé, in Vilamoura: Dom Pedro Vilamoura, Tivoli Marina Vilamoura, Vila Galé Ampalius, Crowne Plaza Vilamoura, Hilton Vilamoura Hotel.
Golf Courses nerby: Pinhal, Laguna, Millennium, Victoria, Old Course, Vila Sol.

And for lovers of outdoor activities, the «Guia Algarve» highlights the Biennial of Nature Tourism, from 22nd to 24th February, in the Multipurpose Hall of Aljezur, with the motto of sustainable tourism.

Time for the unique experiences of the cultural program «365 Algarve», with several premieres to mention. On the first day of the month, the DeVIR Meetings begin, with the international collective exhibition «Le Dessin de Presse dans Tous ses États (Part 1)», in the former Town Hall of Lagos.

On the 5th of February, at 9:30 pm, Cine-Teatro Louletano “Elastic” will open a crossroads of theater and music from a collection of poems by Algarvian authors that mix with the text of Sarah Lemmonnier and João de Brito.

And, the signature of 365 Algarve, the International Piano Festival of the Algarve will take Antonio Rosado to play “West Side Story” (9th Feb. at 9:30 pm) and Pedro Burmester to revisit the Fantasia Choral Fantasia for piano, choir and Beethoven’s Orchestra (16th Feb. at 9:30 pm, at the Teatro das Figuras in Faro).

Martim Baptista and Jessica Adams Champions of the blood moon Oceânico World Kids Golf

All winners at the 10th Oceânico World Kids Golf, photo by Carla Guerreiro-MR

Oceânico World Kids Golf

Martim Baptista won the most important title of his young career by winning the U-18 tournament of Oceânico World Kids Golf, whose 10th edition took place at the Oceânico Faldo and at the Oceânico O’Connor, the two courses at the Amendoeira Golf Resort, in Silves, Algarve.

After a first half of the 2018 season which he himself considered to have fallen short of the desired, the player from the Vale de Janelas Club regained his temper at Oceânico World Kids Golf, the most important and historic junior golf tournament in Portugal.

He will have his first points at the R&A Amateur World Ranking, as the girls U-18 champion, the Englishwoman Jessica Adams, who played the tournament for the first time, exactly in search of “world ranking points, which are not that easy to get.”

Martim Baptista with the champions trophy, please credit Ramiro de Jesus

Martim Baptista with the champions trophy, please credit Ramiro de Jesus

The difference is that the boys tournament winner had another special prize – an invitation from the PGA of Portugal to play the Amendoeira Classic, a Portugal Pro Golf Tour event, an international tournament for professionals, with a prize Money of €10,000, to be held in 2019.

“I am completely interested in playing the tournament. It’s not normal for us to have this opportunity, to play in a tournament with the professionals,” said Martim Baptista, who scored 230 strokes, 14 over Par of the Oceânico Faldo Course, after rounds of 75, 83 and 72, 2 ‘shots’ better than the big favorite, Gonçalo Teodoro, a member of the Portuguese Golf Federation National squad, and the Dutchman Floris Steunenberg.

«This tournament was very motivating. My best finish this year in the Drive Tour tournaments (the main portuguese junior tour) was a top-5. It’s my first win of the year in na official event and maybe it’s one of my best wins ever. This last round, from the white tees, was my best ever result, but I was also playing for the first time in the U-18s,” added the player coached by Luís Barroso.

Jessica Adams was also, of course, “very pleased to have won the tournament with a good last round on such a hot day, after having struggled in the first two rounds.” The Englishwoman, who left behind by 11 shots the runner up, the Portuguese Inês Pereira, scores 241 strokes, 25 over Par of the Oceanic O’Connor Course, delivering cards of 85, 82 and 74. “It was already worth coming”, said the Briton who wants to become a professional.

Mark Lichtenhein, the LET Chairman gave the prize to Filipa Capelo, the U-16 champion, credit Ramiro de Jesus

Mark Lichtenhein, the LET Chairman gave the prize to Filipa Capelo, the U-16 champion, credit Ramiro de Jesus

One of the highlights of the 10th edition of Oceânico World Kids Golf was the presence of Ladies European Tour (LET) delegation, with the English ‘pro’ Rebecca Hudson, winner of five professional titles, four of which in the LET, and the LET Chairman, Mark Lichtenhein.

Since last year the LET has paid special attention to the junior tournament at the Amendoeira Golf Resort and in this year’s speech Mark Lichtenhein praised the increase in the girs participantion department, but stressed that “we need more girls to play.” The LET’s Chairman is talking with Oceânico, and who knows, maybe one day the girls champion will have an invitation to a professional tournament, as it happened this year in the boys tournament.

Good news for Portuguese young players who shine every year at Oceânico World Kids Golf.

This year, Filipa Capelo won the U16s, after last year being runner-up; Ana da Costa Rodrigues and Inês Belchior were runners-up respectively in the U-14 and U-12, one year after they won in the lower age events; and Maria Francisca Salgado became champion in the U-9.

n the men’s section, besides Martim Baptista becoming the first Portuguese U-18 champion since Cristiano Marcela in 2015, there were two more Portuguese winners: Daniel Sardo in the U-10s and João Iglésias in the U-14s.

The South African Calvin Holmes, who triumphed in the U-16 with a tournament record of a 63 (-9) second round, continues his process of Portuguese citizenship and maintains the desire “to play one day for the Portuguese national team.”

Oliver and John Robertson won the Child & Parent Contest, credit Ramiro de Jesus

Oliver and John Robertson won the Child & Parent Contest, credit Ramiro de Jesus

The full list of champions of the 10th Oceânico World Kids Golf is as follows:

U-9 – Jack Dirkin (England), 61 stableford gross points (22 + 21 + 18), 7 under Par of the O’Connor Course; and Maria Francisca Salgado (Portugal), 14 (4 + 5 + 5), +51;

U-10 – Gabriel Sardo (Portugal) 100 points stableford gross (33 + 31 + 36), 8 over Par of the O’Connor Course;

U-12 – Kostka Horno (Spain), 117 points stableford gross (40 + 38 + 39), 9 under Par of the O’Connor Course, and Leanne Kokolay (England), 55 (16 + 20), +55;

U-14 – João Iglésias (Portugal), 217 strokes (71 + 71 + 75), 1 over Par of the Faldo Course, and Emilie von Finckenstein (Germany), 233 (75 + 74 + 74), 7 over Par of the O’Connor Course;

U-16 – Calvin Holmes (South Africa), 213 strokes (76 + 63 + 74), 3 under Par of the Faldo Course, and Filipa Capelo (Portugal) 226 strokes (76 + 74 + 76), 10 over Par of the O’Connor Course;

U-18, Martim Baptista (Portugal), 230 strokes (75 + 83 + 72), 14 over Par of the Faldo Course, and Jessica Adams (England), 241 strokes (85 + 82 + 74) 25 over Par of the O’Connor Course.

All champions won for the first time at the Oceânico World Kids Golf, but Leanne Kokolay, from the Lakes District, was the net champion in 2017 and this time got the gross, and Emilie von Finckenstein was runner-up last year and went one better in 2018, as it happend with Calvin Holmes: “after being second for so many times, it was about time to win.”

The 10th Oceânico World Kids Golf atracted 147 players from 17 countries and the Child & Parent 9 holes Par-3 Contest was won by Oliver and John Robertson, from England.

Calvin Holmes had a tournament record and gave a speach next to Ela Clark from the World Golf Awards, credit Ramiro de Jesus

Calvin Holmes had a tournament record and gave a speach next to Ela Clark from the World Golf Awards, credit Ramiro de Jesus

Ela Clark, from the World Golf Awards, presented the prize giving ceremony, there were more than 100 prizes to be distributed, and the historic 10th edition concluded with a unique red blood moon lunar eclipse and fireworks during the final gala diner. A week to remember.

Hugo Ribeiro / Tee Times Golf