Ballesteros and Christy Jnr to introduce Olazábal and O’Connor

 

Spanish legend Seve Ballesteros will introduce his good friend and compatriot José María Olazábal via a video message at the World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in November.

 

Olazábal has asked Ballesteros, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999, to introduce him but the 52 year old will unable to be there in person because of health reasons, having spent the past year battling a brain tumour.

 

Christy O’Connor Jnr, Jim Nantz and Arnold Palmer will be in attendance to present 2009 Inductees Christy O’Connor, Lanny Wadkins and the late Dwight D. Eisenhower, respectively, on November 2.

 

Ballesteros said: “It is fantastic knowing that José María will become a member of the Hall of Fame. He deserves it for all he has done and is still doing for golf. I am very happy for him as a professional but it makes me happier for him as a person. He really deserves to be there. He means a lot to me. He is one of my best friends and I have had the honor of sharing with him many different moments in our lives.

 

“He has been by my side in the good times and in the not so very good times and I will always be there for him. Provided I am unable to be physically there [at the ceremony], believe me that my heart and thoughts will be with you all. José María, welcome to the Hall of Fame my friend.”

 

O’Connor will be presented by his nephew, fellow Irish golfer O’Connor, Jnr., who said: “It will be an absolute privilege to recognise my uncle’s scores of achievements in golf as he is inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. He has been a great representative of Irish golf for so many years and it will be a magnificent night for him, our extended family and Ireland as a whole.”

 

Nantz, who shared broadcast responsibilities with Wadkins from 2002 to 2006, will welcome his former colleague and friend.  Nantz said: “I am thrilled to present my dear friend at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Lanny was a champion golfer at every stage of his distinguished career.  What always impressed me the most was the way he represented the game with the utmost class and dignity.  He is long deserving of this recognition and I consider it a deep honor to tell his story on November 2nd.”

 

Palmer, who will speak on behalf of the late President Eisenhower, said: “I couldn’t be more proud of anything than having the honor of presenting President Eisenhower at this year’s Induction Ceremony. He was a great American whom I admired very much and was fortunate enough to have as a close friend. I think it’s wonderful that he is being recognised on this level for the many contributions he made to the game. President Eisenhower received many honors in his life, but I think he would have really enjoyed this one.”

 

Jack Peter, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Hall of Fame, said: “Each year’s induction class represents stories in the game of golf that are both powerful and captivating.  The guests who attend the ceremony and those who watch the international broadcast will enjoy hearing the personal stories and irreplaceable anecdotes that invariably surface during the evening.  It’s a special time in golf and surely for the 2009 Class.” 

 

The Induction Ceremony will take place at the World Golf Hall of Fame at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida, USA and will air the same night on the Golf Channel (US) at 2200 ET.

Penha Longa Spa and Golf Resort re-launches Golf Courses

Sintra, Portugal, 15 July 2009 – Following a €2 million investment program, Penha Longa Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort is proud to unveil two newly renovated golf courses. All 27 holes—the 18 hole, par 72 championship course Atlantico and the nine-hole, par 35 Monastery course—offer unparalleled golf experiences in the serene and lush environment of the Serra da Sintra, just 30 minutes from Lisbon.

 

The renovation also included the preservation of the natural beauty, the protection of wildlife habitat and a sustainable water and resource conservation management. Penha Longa’s efforts  to obtain sanctuary status on its courses has just been recognized for Environmental Stewardship by Audubon International. Penha Longa is the 1st course in Portugal and the 711th in the world to receive the honor to be a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary".

 

"Penha Longa has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program. They are to be commended for their efforts to provide a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property," said Jim Sluiter, Staff Ecologist for the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Programs. "To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas," explained Sluiter. These categories include: Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management.

 

Designed by Robert Trend Jones, Jr., the drainage and irrigation systems of both courses have been improved, using new technology and a more eco-friendly use of valuable water resources, including a computer-controlled sprinkler system, allowing the immediate adaption of actual wind and water need conditions.

 

All tees and greens underwent a full ventilation, environmentally friendly fertilization and top dressing to improve the root growth, overall quality of the plant, and the general condition of the surfaces.  All bunkers were reshaped to increase protection from wind and water erosion, equipped with new white silica sand, and a more Floridian-style design has been adopted so the bunkers’ aesthetic appeal enhances the overall presentation of the golf courses thus providing maximum playability.

 

In an effort to improve the length of the course, new tees were added to the nine-hole Monastery course thus allowing golfers to explore the historical and palatial buildings of Penha Longa. Lakes play a major role in golf course design; they may be hazards for golfers and make a course more challenging. However, they also serve as water reservoirs which add to the landscaping while blending in harmoniously to the course. Thus, a new lake has been crafted on the Monastery course.

 

The new Faldo Academy will cater to new and existing golfers to develop and improve their golf skills. The academy includes a practice facility, indoor teaching school, driving range, and short game area.

 

The first phase of the 12 month-long renovation marked the summer 2008 opening of the Golf House’s new Arola restaurant by Spanish Master Chef Sergi Arola. It is the second partnership with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company following the success of his eponymous Arola at the Hotel Arts, Barcelona. The venture brings a new level of culinary delights, design and ambience to the Sintra region. Innovative, fashionable and defiantly cool, Arola is a relaxed and stylish restaurant featuring unobstructed views onto the greens of Atlantico while enjoying the soothing music by the resident DJ during the summer months. The menu offers a creative and contemporary twist to Portuguese cuisine, mixing tradition and heritage with the chef’s inimitable modern approach.

 

La Cala Golf

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01-Jan-2009 to 31-Dec-2009

HARRINGTON AND ELS RETURN TO BARCLAYS SINGAPORE OPEN

HARRINGTON AND ELS RETURN TO BARCLAYS SINGAPORE OPEN

Major champions Padraig Harrington from Ireland and South African Ernie Els will return to play in this year’s Barclays Singapore Open, where they both finished runner-up last season.

The Barclays Singapore Open will be played on The Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club from October 29 to November 1 and will boast prize money of US$5million - once again making it the richest national Open in Asia.

Korea’s K.J Choi and Darren Clarke from Northern Ireland will add further star appeal to the tournament, which for the first time is being joint-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

Harrington and Els are ranked ninth and 20th in the world, respectively, and finished tied for second place last weekend at The Barclays tournament in New York. They both missed makeable birdie putts on the final hole of the 2008 Barclays Singapore Open that would have forced a play-off with champion Jeev Milkha Singh from India.

The duo, who have both claimed three Majors Championships during their illustrious careers, will be looking to finish one place better this year.

Els also finished second in the 2006 Barclays Singapore Open when Australian Adam Scott beat him in a gripping three-hole play-off.

More marquee names will be announced in the coming weeks with players from all over the world eager to tee it up in the 46th edition of the event.

"The co-sanctioning of the Barclays Singapore Open will further enhance what has already become the flagship tournament in Asia. We look forward to an even more successful championship, both for the players and the spectators," said Robert Morrice, Chairman and Chief Executive of Barclays Asia.

As a full field event of 156 players, the Barclays Singapore Open will comprise 65 players from each Tour with a further 10 places available through a local qualifying event on the Sunday and Monday before the tournament starts. There will be nine invitations, four amateurs and three Singaporean professionals.

“The Barclays Singapore Open has not only put Singapore on the golfing map, it has announced Sentosa’s arrival on the world stage as a premier lifestyle destination and a playground for all leisure activities and sporting events.” said Low Teo Ping, Board Member, Sentosa Development Corporation and Vice Captain, Sentosa Golf Club.

Singapore’s national Open was not played between 2002 and 2004, but returned to the Asian Tour schedule in 2005 thanks to the support of Sentosa and efforts of the event promoter World Sport Group. Scott triumphed in 2005 and 2006 before Angel Cabrera of Argentina claimed the spoils in 2007.

This year’s Barclays Singapore Open will once again be broadcast live for all four days on the ESPN Star Sports network.

“The Barclays Singapore Open is the highlight of the year on the Asian golf calendar and World Sport Group are proud to promote the tournament for the fifth year in a row. We have over 10 years of experience in running golf tournaments in Asia and we have been able to use successfully use this knowledge to make the Barclays Singapore Open an event that is second to none in the region,” said Chris Jordan, Senior Vice President – Golf, World Sport Group.