European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley will bring a busy few months to a memorable end when he opens his latest design project – North Course at Portugal’s Quinta do Lago resort in October.
European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley will bring a busy few months to a memorable end in October when he officially opens his latest golf course design project – the eagerly-awaited redeveloped North Course at Portugal’s prestigious Quinta do Lago resort.
McGinley will be on hand to perform the official opening ceremony of the €9.6m new layout on Tuesday, October 7, just a week after leading the European team in the Ryder Cup.
The popular Irishman has redesigned the layout in close collaboration with renowned American architect Beau Welling. The course redevelopment is part of a €29m investment programme undertaken by Quinta do Lago since 2009, with a further €21m planned to be spent on improving its facilities in the next three years.
A frequent visitor to Quinta do Lago for more than 20 years, the North Course is the latest major project that McGinley has been involved in at Europe’s leading family destination after opening his Paul McGinley Golf Academy in 2011 and launching a new state-of-the-art TaylorMade Fitting Center last year.
McGinley said: “This has been a very exciting project to be involved in and Beau and I are very proud of what we have created.
“I’ve been coming to Quinta do Lago with my family for many years now and it keeps getting better and better. The new design will test golfers in many different ways and I believe this is a great addition to Europe’s leading destination.”
One of the most talked about development projects in Europe in 2014, Quinta do Lago’s revamped North Course has been built to the highest specifications with a major investment programme and is in line to become the new number one course at the prestigious family resort.
The layout has been revamped with the emphasis firmly on precision and strategy. While many modern-day developments tend to focus on length, Welling and McGinley have been keen to design a golfing experience where accuracy and course management are the key factors, and a course that is playable and fun for all abilities.
The renovation has also allowed Quinta do Lago to further reduce the impact on the environment by using recycled water and solar energy to maintain the course. The reduction of grassed areas will lessen the impact on the environment and the new design will include the creation of some new animal and plant habitats.
Set amongst 2,000 acres of the picturesque Ria Formosa Natural Park, Quinta do Lago is one of the most highly regarded golf and residential developments in the Algarve since opening in 1972. Located just 15 minutes from Faro airport, the resort offers residents and guests an unparalleled location benefiting from a year-round temperate climate, a variety of lifestyle pursuits and a strong sense of community.
Since its inception, Quinta do Lago has been at the forefront of European golf with three 18-hole championship courses – Quinta do Lago North and South courses and Laranjal – matched by outstanding practice facilities at the Paul McGinley Academy and the new TaylorMade Fitting Center, which gives golfers the chance to enjoy the ultimate club-fitting experience.
Away from the fairways, the resort’s extensive leisure facilities guarantee there is plenty to keep everyone occupied, with events, tennis, cycling and watersports just some of the activities available.
Quinta do Lago’s stunning location by the beach offers the perfect place to relax and unwind while the resort’s wide array of restaurants, both formal and informal, take advantage of the fresh Mediterranean produce that the resort has become famous for.
