Spain: Lumine Golf Club appoint new Chief Business Officer Agustin Garcia Pascual

April 2020: Mediterránea Beach & Golf Community has appointed Agustín García Pascual as the company’s new Chief Business Officer, replacing Calle Carlsson, who is moving on after 10 years at the resort. He joins the company with a dedicated passion for golf and real estate having worked in the industry for over 20 years, managing some of Spain’s finest golf and leisure facilities.

His appointment coincides with a change of direction for the company as they look to focus on the overall growth and integrated management of the resort, with a commercial approach for the new residential development that is currently under construction.

Having started his professional career in golf management as General Manager of PGA Golf Catalunya in 1999 after a professional football career at Racing Santander, he was responsible for positioning the resort at the forefront of the industry by securing numerous European Tour events and several Spanish Opens during his 11-year tenure.

In 2009, he was appointed General Director at Real Golf de Pedreña, a historic club founded in 1928 and was responsible, along with five other historic golf courses, for the creation of what is now the Royal Spanish Golf Federation.

In his most recent position, Agustín García has served as Director of the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, dedicated to promoting the fight and clinical research of brain tumours, preserving the legacy and transmitting the values of its founder, as well as supporting children and young people without resources in the development of their careers in the sport of golf.

Speaking upon the company’s announcement of his new position, Augustin Garcia Pascual, General Manager, Mediterránea Beach & Golf Community, commented: “I am excited to be a part of this wonderful resort, it is an exciting challenge for me, and I am keen to help the company reach new heights. I am eager to meet all the staff and help them excel in the roles that each one of them play in order to drive the team to the next level”

Mediterránea Beach & Golf Community is a company owned by Criteria Caixa, the business holding company that manages the assets of “La Caixa”. The resort - located on the Costa Daurada, Spain’s Golden Coast - includes Lumine Golf Club, with 45 holes distributed across 3 golf courses (Lakes, Ruins and Hills), totalling almost 15,000 meters of fairways, and a beach club.

Lumine Golf Club is one of Spain’s finest golf clubs and is renowned for being at the heart of the European Tour’s Q-School since 2012, previously hosting the second stage of the competition on five previous instances. Lumine Golf was also been named ‘Europe’s Best Golf Venue’ at the World Golf Awards 2019 making it a perfect venue to host the new wave of upcoming talent.

The club has also recently undergone a vast refurbishment of both of its clubhouses, the Lakes and the Hills, as well as building a Toptracer range that uses the same technology as that used on televised golf tournaments and now allows guests to compete against friends, play virtual courses, and receive instant shot feedback on interactive game screens to help take their game to the next level.

The Los Cabos Tourism Board has created an online toolkit for its tourism partners.

 

Los Cabos has taken a proactive stance on the coronavirus, implementing containment measures through all sectors of its tourism industry, said Rodrigo Esponda, managing director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board. “Our No. 1 priority is to keep the community and visitors safe.”

 

Several weeks ago, screening procedures were implemented at the San José International Airport, including containment measures for travelers with high temperatures or other symptoms of the virus. Arriving passengers are required to fill out a questionnaire, which, among others things, asks them to divulge where they have traveled in the past 14 days.

 

Currently, there are 40 flights to Los Cabos from the U.S. and Canada, Esponda said.

 

The Ministry of Health of Baja California Sur has put into place a protocol with the hotel and timeshare association, business chamber of commerce and destination management companies to assess and report potential risks or cases.

 

“We’ve also implemented cleaning protocols [at restaurants and hotels],” Esponda said. “Restaurants are limiting the number of guests and are putting more distance between tables.”

Although visitors numbers have dropped dramatically in the aftermath of the U.S. government’s restrictions on non-essential travel across the U.S.-Mexican border, “there has been a commitment from the private sector to keep hotels open,” Esponda said, adding that virtually the entire Los Cabos population is reliant on the tourism industry, and that the destination is committed to keeping people employed. “Our most important asset is our people.”

Meanwhile, travelers are, in fact, still traveling to Los Cabos, albeit in much smaller numbers. “We have a different dynamic than other destinations,” Esponda said. “There are many Americans who own homes in the destination [and] arrive by private plane” and also stay in hotels.

 

 

In other developments, the Los Cabos Tourism Board has created an information campaign for its tourism partners, including consortia, travel advisors and tour operators, to keep them abreast of the latest developments regarding the destination.

 

An online toolkit designed provides Los Cabos’ partners with information and advice at industry.visitloscabos.travel/coronavirus. It is updated daily, with real-time reports

 

 

The tourism board has also assembled a team of experts who are able to communicate the latest information on the coronavirus and how it relates to Los Cabos.

Abu Dhabi’s Troon managed clubs look to cement their green footprint by going plastic free across all three venues

Abu Dhabi’s trio of golf clubs, Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and Yas Links Abu Dhabi, all of which are owned by Aldar Properties, have eliminated all single-use plastic bottles from its premises as of February 2020, underlining their commitment to environmental sustainability.

A combined total of over 300,000 plastic water bottles are consumed by golfers across Troon Abu Dhabi properties on a yearly basis. Joining the global movement to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics and conserve the environment, Troon Abu Dhabi’s goal to reduce this figure by 40% this year. Members and guests will be encouraged to use and refill their own reusable water bottles from the water coolers throughout their round. This follows the lead by the R&A who removed single-use plastic bottles at the 2019 Open Championship.

 

Commenting on the new sustainable initiative Francisco de Lancastre David, Cluster General Manager at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and Yas Links Abu Dhabi, commented “As plastic waste and pollution increases, we should all be making a conscious effort to do our part. I’m proud to have all three golf clubs onboard with this new sustainable initiative, which will reduce our carbon footprint significantly and hoping that our members and visitors will encourage this when visiting the course.”

 

All three golf clubs are committed to preserving the environment and promoting environmental best practices. With that in mind, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club is actively participating in the Audubon certification process to become a certified sanctuary. The International Audubon Society is dedicated to protecting diversity in bird species. The programs include habitat protection, green energy development, and the management of protected areas while encouraging the public to become a part of the birding community. The emphasis is on conserving urban habitats by promoting planting trees and dedicating time to creating bird friendly environment.

 

The golf club is home to over 180 bird species, families of Mountain Gazelle and is also a natural nesting area for the Hawksbill turtles, all these elements create an unparalleled experience which should be taken good care of. The program is designed with sensitivity to the surrounding natural environment and in compliance with strict environmental guidelines.

To further cement their green footprint and dedication to making a difference, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club are already accredited for a number of certifications; such as Environmental Planning, Water Conservation, Water Quality Management and Chemical use Reduction and Safety.

The move to eliminate single-use plastic from all three golf clubs is in line with the clubs’ owner, Aldar Properties’ sustainability strategy which is built around the key pillars of economy, community, people and environment. In December 2019, Aldar launched its first sustainability report which outlines its strategy and initiatives in detail.

An array of tropical courses, lodging venues, and an eclectic spectrum of eateries make traveler friendly Puerto Rico an island oasis where everyone’s tastes and preferences are welcomed and satisfied.

Arriving in Puerto Rico is a relative breeze. Air hub of the Caribbean, it is particularly appreciated by American citizens who don’t require a passport to enter the bilingual Island where the U.S. dollar is its currency. Further enhancing travel convenience, Puerto Rico features numerous non-stop flights from major cities in North America, particularly along the Eastern Seaboard.

Lodging choices proliferate, from boutique resorts (Royal Isabela) and first-class hospitality brands – Hyatt, Wyndham Grand, St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton Reserve – to hundreds of Airbnb locales, all located near one or more of the Island’s 17 golf courses. Choices range from romantic suites or sumptuous private villas, to a variety of amenity-rich hotels that cater to families, business travelers, or groups.

Golf choices include something for every level of player. For trophy hunters who want to play where the pros play, The Resort at Coco Beach, a Hyatt affiliated hotel with two 18-hole courses, is a top pick. The PGA TOUR’s Puerto Rico Open is played there annually in February on the Championship Course, which features both mountain and ocean views. Located near San Juan, Coco Beach is one of many ocean view golf resorts on the Island. Others include TPC Dorado Beach, Royal Isabela, St. Regis Bahia Beach, Palmas Athletic Club, Costa Caribe Golf & Country Club, and Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Golf and Beach Resort.

Those who enjoy going to places outside of metro areas, or non-resort venues, have several popular choices. Punta Borinquen Golf Club sits stunningly on a promontory overlooking the sea in western Puerto Rico near where world surf championships have been held frequently. The courses at Rio Bayamon, El Legado, Club Deportivo del Oeste, and Caguas Real provide a set of playing selections that exude authentic Puerto Rican culture and diverse after-golf leisure attractions.

Puerto Rico gratifies food and beverage aficionados. Gastronomic delights accentuate stay-and-golf experiences in Puerto Rico, which is renowned for its flavors and food fusions. From Puerto Rican Street Food Tours to multi-course meals at five-star restaurants, everyone can find their culinary sweet spot. Birthplace of the Pina Colada, the Island’s Bacardi factory is a popular stop for tropical libations.

Late summer and fall are laden with travel value in Puerto Rico, where high season begins after Thanksgiving. It’s a prime time to enjoy special rates at lodging venues and the 17 public-access golf courses, which span from luxury resort to municipal, spread across all four sides of the Island and inland. Ocean front views, omnipresent palm trees, and mountain and rainforest vistas define their settings. Price points, terrain, layout style, and related amenities are varied and complementary.

Teams from Nine Countries Competed on Waterville Golf Links in 29th-Annual Event

Carr Golf  – Ireland, England and Scotland’s premier provider of unforgettable golf experiences – announces Biff and Edward O’Reilly won the 29th-annual World Invitational Father & Son Tournament held Aug. 8 – 12 on acclaimed Waterville Golf Links in County Kerry.

Carr Golf hosted 98 teams from nine countries: U.S., Scotland, Bermuda, Ireland, Spain, England, the Bahamas, Wales and Barbados. The exceptional event featured four rounds on Waterville Golf Links, four nights’ accommodations, daily full Irish breakfast and lunch, welcome drinks reception, long drive competition, tournament sponsors gift pack, transfers within Waterville, nightly entertainment, gala dinner, prize ceremony and tournament concierge.

Participants additionally enjoyed a special treat on Friday evening as viral internet sensation and golf impersonator Conor Moore provided the entertainment.   

Playing out of New York’s Winged Foot Golf Club and Westchester Country Club, respectively, Biff and Edward O’Reilly finished with a 125-point total in the three-day Stableford scoring competition to win the championship division by a decisive 10 points over the second-place team of Daniel and Oscar Masters from Scotland’s Murrayfield Golf Club.

With a three-day total of 104, Steven Lee and Steven Lee Jr. of Westchester Country Club won the Gross Division by a single point over John and Michael Anthony from Indiana’s Morris Park Country Club. The elder Lee previously won the gross division of the Father & Daughter Tournament with his daughter Kaitlyn in 2016. 

The Adopted Division was also decided by one point as Chris Filasky (Encinitas Ranch Golf Course) and Wes Lyon (Country Club of Charleston) edged out Brett (Wisley Golf Club) and Derry Desmond (Elm Park Golf Club) for the title. The winning team finished with a 119-point total.  View the final tournament leaderboards here.

“Once again, our father and son tournament was an incredible success filled with competition and camaraderie,” says Marty Carr, tournament host. “It’s amazing to see the friendships that have formed and flourished over the past 29 years as a result of this joyous event.”

Photos of the tournament may be accessed here. For information about next year’s 30th Anniversary World Invitational Father & Son Tournament to be held Aug. 7 – 11 on Waterville Golf Links, click here.

To celebrate the milestone, Carr Golf will also be hosting a special one-off Father & Son event at Pebble Beach Resorts on May 5 – 8, 2019. 

 

 

Organisers of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters have confirmed that the 21st edition of the popular European Tour golf event will be held at Doha Golf Club from 22 – 25 February 2018.

 

The highly-anticipated event is organised by The Qatar Golf Association (QGA), the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), Doha Golf Club and long-term title sponsor, Commercial Bank. The tournament is considered Qatar’s annual ‘must-attend’ sporting and social event, first held in 1998 and widely known for bringing together the world’s best golf talent; the likes of Branden Grace, Sergio Garcia, Rory Mcllroy, Justin Rose, Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Henrik Stenson have all competed in past years.

The Commercial Bank Qatar Masters was attended by over 20,000 spectators in 2017 and broadcast to a global TV audience of over 400 million viewers. For the 21st edition of the event, all eyes will be on Doha as the biggest names in the sport vie for the Mother of Pearl Trophy on one of the most challenging courses on the Tour.

 

“The Commercial Bank Qatar Masters is a leading fixture on Qatar’s sporting calendar. Since its inception, the event has complemented the growth of golf in the country. The tournament also continues to contribute to encouraging young Qataris to take up the sport and learn from the European Tour stars,” said Hassan Al Naimi, President of QGA.

 

“Preparations for the next tournament are well underway, together with our partners who have played a vital role in enhancing the event experience for both players and spectators each year. We look forward to welcoming the players, golf fans and our valued sponsors to Doha Golf Club for another edition of world-class golf in February 2018,” added Al Naimi.

 

Joseph Abraham, Group CEO of Commercial Bank, added: “The Commercial Bank Qatar Masters is one of Qatar’s most popular annual sporting events and offers something for everyone – players, golf fans and families. Golf fans can watch the world’s best golfers in action and families can enjoy a weekend outdoors socialising in the family zone, public village and shopping boulevard. The event is also a huge opportunity for some of Qatar’s promising young golfers to play alongside the best players in the world. We are proud to be working with the QGA, QOC and Doha Golf Club again, to stage one of the leading golfing events in the region.”