Here’s some of the World Golf Awards winners
By Alistair Dunsmuir
The Belfry, Royal Dornoch, Trump Turnberry and José María Olazábal have all been recognised at the World Golf Awards, which was dominated by Covid-19.
The Belfry Hotel & Resort claimed four awards.
It was awarded for its high quality facilities and exceptionally high standard of service, as the resort retained its position as the World’s Best Golf Hotel, Europe’s Best Golf Hotel, and England’s Best Golf Hotel categories at the 2020 awards which celebrate excellence in golf tourism, courses and golf destinations.
The Belfry’s iconic Brabazon course, which has hosted The Ryder Cup four times – more than any other venue in the world, was once again awarded England’s Best Golf Course.
James Macbeth Stewart, resort director, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have received four awards at the World Golf Awards 2020, once again placing The Belfry amongst the world’s elite. It has been a challenging year for the golf tourism and the hospitality industry due to ongoing restrictions however, the team at The Belfry has excelled in continuing to ensure the standards across all of our golfing facilities are world class. I am incredibly proud of every team member, each of whom is critical to delivering the excellent experience for which we’re renowned.
The Belfry won four awards
“Our three golf courses, including The Brabazon and The PGA National, are world renowned having previously hosted The Ryder Cup four times and 17 European Tour events, including the ISPS HANDA UK Championship this summer, producing some of the most dramatic moments in the history of golf.”
Following the resort’s victories, Angus Macleod, director of golf courses and estates at The Belfry said: “The team and I pride ourselves in delivering a first-class golfing experience and an outstanding level of service to all our guests. We are devoted to offering everyone a memorable golf experience and I am so proud that the resort has been recognised in four categories, upholding The Belfry’s reputation as a world-class golfing resort.”
Royal Dornoch was crowned ‘Scotland’s Best Golf Course 2020’.
“We are delighted to win this award,” said Neil Hampton, general manager at Royal Dornoch. “It was a nice surprise to learn of our success and it is a real positive for everyone associated with the club during this difficult year.
“We work hard to maintain the quality of the Championship Course at Royal Dornoch, as well as our Struie Course, and look forward to welcoming more visitors back to our links in the months ahead.”
The Slieve Donard Resort & Spa was named Northern Ireland’s Best Golf Hotel.
Michael Weston, general manager, said: “The resort is renowned with golfers around the world which is no surprise given our proximity to the province’s leading golf courses, our first-class facilities and service and breath-taking surroundings with views overlooking the Mourne Mountains. Congratulations to our neighbour, Royal County Down Golf Club, which picked up the award for Northern Ireland’s ‘Best Golf Course’.”
Adare Manor
Colm Hannon, CEO of Adare Manor, said: “In what has been a challenging time for many in our industry and for golf courses around the world, this is a wonderful recognition of our team’s tremendous efforts. They have gone above and beyond to welcome guests with remarkable diligence and passion throughout the year, when it was safe to do so; and none more so than over these recent months.
Lumine Golf Club in Spain was announced as ‘Europe’s Best Golf Venue’ for the second consecutive year.
Lumine Golf Club
Agustin Garcia Pascual, chief business officer at Lumine said: “We are honoured to have been recognised as ‘Europe’s Best Golf Venue’ for the second consecutive year. It has been a difficult year for everyone in the industry, but over the last 12 months we have made it one of our main aims at Lumine to retain this award. This award is testament to all the hard work, resilience and determination our team have shown throughout the last year, and our goal is now to improve and offer our members and guests an even more premium golfing experience.”
Antognolla Golf is celebrating being recognised as ‘Italy’s Best Golf Course 2020’.
The award rounds off two extremely busy years, which have seen a significant renovation of the golf course and investment in the team.
Accepting the award on behalf of the owners and entire team of Antognolla Golf, golf director César Burguière stated: “Everyone connected with Antognolla Golf is absolutely thrilled to be voted as ‘Italy’s Best Golf Course’ for 2020. We can see it, and our members and guests know it, but it is just amazing to receive such recognition from the World Golf Awards for all the team’s hard work and commitment. We would like to thank everyone who voted for us and we look forward to welcoming more guests and players to Antognolla Golf in the future.”
César Burguière
César added: “Italy has many fantastic golf courses and the re-emergence of Antognolla Golf is another reason for golfers to pick Italy as their chosen golf destination.
“With the Ryder Cup now in 2023, we hope to see Italy at the forefront of European golf over the next few years.”
Trump Turnberry’s iconic lighthouse is glowing with pride after it was named as the World’s Best Halfway House.
The restaurant and bar, King of Scots – situated between the 9th and 10th holes of Turnberry’s Ailsa and King Robert The Bruce courses – landed the coveted title at the ceremony hosted at the Park Hyatt in Dubai.
Trump Turnberry is the first to win this inaugural award, which honours the most outstanding mid-round refreshment locations.
Trump Turnberry
Standing at 24 metres tall, the Turnberry Lighthouse has marked the stretch of Ayrshire coastline for almost 150 year since it was built in 1873 and has become a halfway house unlike any other since 2016.
It is now a memorable spot to take stock with a drink and a light bite in a fabulous setting. It also offers some welcome respite to plot their assault on either back nine after building the foundations of a great round or, perhaps, to summon some inner strength for a stirring fightback.
It is a structure steeped in history as the foundations stand in what was the moat of Turnberry Castle, thought to be the birthplace of Robert the Bruce in 1274.
Costa Navarino received the honour of the ‘World’s Best New Golf Development’.
On track to be fully operational in spring 2022, Navarino Hills stretches over 500 hectares of rugged natural terrain overlooking Navarino Bay and will feature two new 18-hole golf courses.
Costa Navarino
The courses will complement Costa Navarino’s signature layouts at The Dunes Course and The Bay Course and, when completed, will boost the destination’s position as one of the world’s most comprehensive – and environmentally-friendly – golfing venues.
In addition, Costa Navarino’s Dunes Course was voted as ‘Greece’s Best Golf Course’, whilst The Westin Costa Navarino was recognised as ‘Greece’s Best Golf Hotel’.
Stephanos Theodorides, managing director, said: “We are honoured to receive such a wave of accolades, while we continue to work very hard to make sure every guest that visits us is treated to a truly memorable experience.
“It’s particularly gratifying to receive these awards at a time when Costa Navarino is expanding. With two new courses opening at Navarino Hills and two new resorts coming in 2022, it’s encouraging to receive recognition for both the new developments and the existing facilities and services the destination provides.”
And The Dunes Course and The Bay Course designer, two-time Major champion José María Olazábal, and his golf course design studio, Olazabal Design, were named Golf Course Designer of the Year.
José María Olazábal
Olazabal has been involved in golf course design for nearly 30 years since the 1990s with his first design being at La Sella Golf in Spain. To date, he has designed and opened 21 golf courses around the world.
Among them are several award-winning courses that have hosted top international competitions over the years. These include courses such as the Royal Sevilla Golf Club in Spain, the Olazabal Course in Mission Hills, China, and most recently the brand-new Education City Golf Club in Doha that received highest acclaim as a European Tour venue earlier this year.
José María Olazábal said: “It is a privilege to be named Designer of the Year and I am happy to accept this honour on behalf of our team. Let me dedicate this award to my late friend and long-time manager Sergio Gomez who sadly passed away earlier this year and who I know would be very proud today.”
Golf Saudi won the Vision Award, in light of its national endeavour and commitment to the world’s first national golf sustainability initiative.
Golf Saudi
His Excellency Yasir O. Al-Rumayyan, chairman of the Saudi Golf Federation and Golf Saudi, said: “To be recognised by the World Golf Awards is a great honour and provides a valuable boost to the progress of the game in Saudi Arabia. Thanks to the support of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, deputy prime minister and minister of defence and in line with Vision 2030, we have made great efforts to ensure our strategy for developing the sport is as progressive as it is inclusive. Whilst we are still in the formative stages of our national golf plans, progress has been considerable, giving us great confidence that our direction and commitment to sustainability will stand us in the best stead for the years to come.”
Spanish destination La Finca Resort was recognised as ‘Spain’s Best Golf Hotel’ for the second consecutive year.
General manager of La Finca Resort, Brendan Dwyer, said: “It is an honour to be recognised with these prestigious awards for the second year in a row. This achievement pays testament to the incredible work that has taken place at the resort over the last 18 months and the hard work that has been put in by all staff members.
La Finca Resort
“We are extremely pleased with the results of our redevelopment. Since completion, the venue has moved from strength to strength and we are constantly striving towards improvement to solidify La Finca Resort’s position at the forefront of golf and gastronomic excellence in Spain.”
The PGA National Czech Republic at Oaks Prague won two awards, including ‘Europe’s Best Golf Course 2020’.
The Kyle Phillips-designed course, located to the south-east of Prague, was also named the ‘Czech Republic’s Best Golf Course 2020‘, just months after its official opening in the summer.
The PGA National Czech Republic at Oaks Prague
Paul Dennis, director of golf at PGA National Czech Republic, commented: “The PGA National Czech Republic is a culmination of the dedication shown by the Oaks Prague team in producing a world class facility, and their desire to deliver the extraordinary Troon Experience on a daily basis. Jordan Fairweather and his team have worked tirelessly to produce course conditions worthy of the wonderful Kyle Phillips design, which sits perfectly in the beautiful Czech landscape just outside of the historic city of Prague. It’s been a privilege to be part of the team to bring the Club to life over the last year, setting a new standard in the region, and we are very proud to have the facility recognised on a global scale with these two awards. We are positive that as the club continues to develop into a high-end destination it will receive further accolades and international recognition.”
Sentosa Golf Club was named ‘World’s Best Eco-Friendly Golf Facility’ and ‘Singapore’s Best Golf Course’.
Sentosa Golf Club
Commenting, Sentosa Development Corporation CEO, Thien Kwee Eng, said: “It is a great honour for Sentosa Golf Club to receive two awards at this year’s World Golf Awards. We are extremely proud of the work our team has put in throughout the year, not only expanding its environmental credentials, but also continuously maintaining the top-quality conditions of its two championship courses. By doing so, the club has attracted some of Asia’s most prestigious events and helped showcase Sentosa as one of the world’s top global tourist destinations.”
The Stratford-upon-Avon based golf holiday and events company, Golf to a Tee was voted as ‘England’s Best Outbound Golf Tour Operator’.
Terry Rawding, managing director, said: “We are thrilled to accept this award; it has been a culmination of a lot of hard work. We have always sought to put our clients at the heart of what we do, and this award goes some way towards vindicating this ethos. We are a golf tour operator run by golfers, for golfers and this personalised approach clearly rings true with thousands of people that have experienced GTAT events – each tailored to their needs.
Other winners included Oceania’s Best Golf Course & Australia’s Best Golf Course – Brookwater Golf & Country Club; UAE’s Best Golf Course & Abu Dhabi’s Best Golf Course – Yas Links Abu Dhabi; Middle East’s Best 9 Hole Golf Course – The Track Meydan Golf; Dubai’s Best Golf Hotel – Address Montgomerie; Saudi Arabia’s Best Golf Course – Royal Greens Golf & Country Club; Bahrain’s Best Golf Course – Royal Golf Club; Egypt’s Best Golf Course – The Allegria Golf Club; Spain’s Best Golf Course – Las Colinas Golf & Country Club; Cambodia’s Best Golf Course – Vattanac Golf Resort; Malaysia’s Best Golf Course – Els Club Desaru Coast – Valley; Sri Lanka’s Best Golf Couse – Victoria Golf & Country Resort; India’s Best Golf Course – Prestige Golfshire Club; Cyprus’ Best Golf Course – Secret Valley Golf Resort; and Russia’s Best Golf Course – Agalarov Golf & Country Club.
Launched in 2014, the World Golf Awards have quickly risen to be regarded as one of the most prestigious awards programmes in the golf tourism industry.
Voted for by leading golf tourism professionals in addition to thousands of golf consumers worldwide, the World Golf Awards serves to recognise and celebrate commitment to excellence in golf tourism, world-class courses and golfing destinations.
By Alistair Dunsmuir
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Congrats Lumine Golf!!!