Espiche Golf inaugurated a new short game area on June 30, completing the new Driving Range at the golf course which has represented a significant investment to make this area one of reference for golfing in the Algarve. The investment has also included the purchase of artificial “Huxley Golf” mats in the Driving Range to allow for year round use of the area regardless of weather conditions.

The inauguration of the new short game area is to be supported by the Espiche Golf Professional, Ethan Shaw and Steven Bainbridge of Elite Golf Academies, which has recently opened a second Academy in the Algarve at Espiche Golf.

Following 14 years on the European Golf Tour, Steven Bainbridge opened the first Academy in the UK in 2015 to work with all golfers from beginners to advanced, focusing on multiple areas of golf including psychology, nutrition and fitness.

The newly formed partnership between Elite Golf Academies and Espiche Golf has been forged to further support the development of the professional team at the club.

According to Luís Rocha, the general manager at Espiche Golf, the inauguration of the new short play area to compliment the Driving Range is the “culmination of a programme of continued investment in play conditions and to improve the experience of golfers of all handicaps on the course”.

Over the year, Espiche Golf has completed several improvements to the fairways and bunkers throughout the course, as well as constructing a barrier to prevent course damage from wild boars, the widening of buggy paths to protect the tees and greens and the creation of a new car park to accommodate the growing demand from members and visitors to the course.

In a year which has seen Espiche Golf celebrate its third anniversary, the club has also been recognised as the only golf club to be featured as a finalist in the 2016 Real Estate Oscars for the best development in the tourism category as organised by Magazine Imobiliário.

The announcement comes only a year after Espiche Golf gained worldwide recognition following it becoming the only golf club outside of the United States to win a prominent position in the “Clubhouse of the Year” awards promoted by the prestigious Golf Inc. Magazine. The Portuguese club was ranked third in the “New Construction and Remodelling”.

Efficiency, aesthetics and the overall design concept of the Clubhouse were evaluated by the judges who came from a background in architecture, design and golf. The Espiche Golf Clubhouse, which opened in 2014, stood out among hundreds of applications from around the world for its innovative design, sustainability and creativity.

ENDS