Most new-borns are still struggling to find their feet as they celebrate their first birthday but that is far from the case with The Campus at Quinta do Lago, with the multi-sports hub on its way to becoming Europe’s number one destination for elite performance training.

The exclusive state-of-the-art centre has enjoyed widespread acclaim since opening its doors last autumn, with some of the biggest names from the world of sport heading to the luxury Algarve resort to take advantage of its extensive facilities.

Great Britain triathlon star Jonny Brownlee, 2018 FIFA World Cup runners-up Croatia, Beijing Guam, Burnley, Rangers, Wolfsburg and Olympique Marseille are among the high-profile visitors to have used The Campus for warm-weather training breaks over the last year.

The Republic of Ireland national football and rugby union sides have also benefitted from Quinta do Lago’s impressive range of facilities, while children and adults have had the opportunity to improve their sporting skills at a variety of specialist camps hosted by top sporting celebrities including Rio Ferdinand, Jamie Redknapp, Brian O’Driscoll and Judy Murray.

And such has been The Campus’s immediate impact that Quinta do Lago has been shortlisted to win the ‘Best Sports Academies and Activities for Active Families’ category at this month’s 2019 Family Traveller Excellence Awards.

Set across a stunning 45,000 sq ft location and offering a world-class training experience for everyone, The Campus has been designed for professionals and amateurs alike to keep fit, with the centre providing world-class facilities to aid training, recovery and rehabilitation.

At the heart of its extensive amenities is a high-tech Desso Hybrid Grassmaster pitch – the world’s number one stadium surface – while the resort is home to 10 top-of-the-range acrylic and synthetic clay tennis and padel courts which cater for guests of all levels.

In addition, the Bike Shed – a social hub at the heart of the complex – provides the gateway to a host of scenic routes to suit recreational and competitive cyclists and triathletes while a high-performance gym and aquatic and hydrotherapy centre offer the ideal venues to help performance, recovery and rehabilitation.

Sean Moriarty, CEO at Quinta do Lago, said: “It has been a fantastic first 12 months for The Campus and we couldn’t be more pleased with how things have gone.

“It was a big decision for the resort to invest and create a world-class training facility to meet the needs of professional and amateur athletes aspiring to reach their full potential but it has been fully vindicated.

“We’re thrilled to have received such overwhelming positive feedback from our residents and guests, along with some of the most famous names in sport, and The Campus is well on its way to establishing itself as one of the premier venues for elite warm-weather training anywhere in the world.”

Located just 15 minutes away from Faro airport, Quinta do Lago’s world-class golf and lifestyle facilities make it the perfect choice for a professional or family sporting break.

As well as The Campus, the resort boasts a wealth of other world-class sports and leisure facilities for guests of all ages to enjoy including three 18-hole championship golf courses – the North, South and Laranjal.

Complementing the sports facilities is a choice of 13 first-class bars and restaurants that deliver a range of delicious local and international cuisines – including Dano’s Sports Bar & Restaurant, a recently-opened sports gastro pub which is part of The Campus complex – with accommodation on offer at resort’s boutique The Magnolia Hotel.

For more information on The Campus, phone +351 289 381 220 or go to www.quintadolago.com/en/the-campus

ENDS

About Quinta do Lago
Since its inception in 1972, Quinta do Lago has been at the forefront of international golf, hosting eight Portuguese Opens as well as numerous other international tournaments. Home to three world-class golf courses, the resort also boasts a wealth of cutting-edge practice facilities.

• Quinta do Lago North Course – Opening in October 2014, the totally revamped North Course has been redeveloped by renowned American golf architect Beau Welling in close collaboration with 2014 European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley and is set to become one of the new stars of European golf. The new layout has been built to the highest specifications with a €9.6m investment programme and has been redeveloped 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 golfers of all abilities.
• Quinta do Lago South Course – A favourite among European Tour professionals, the South Course calls for accurate drives and precise shots, but rewards players for their efforts with the stunning backdrop of the Ria Formosa Natural Park. Regularly included in Golf World magazine’s ‘Top 100 Golf Courses in Europe’, the par-72 layout has received widespread praise for its strategically-placed hazards and varying difficulty across the 18 holes. Having hosted the Portuguese Open on no fewer than eight occasions, the South Course is regarded as one of Portugal’s premier golfing venues. 
• Laranjal – Designed by Jorge Santana da Silva in the grounds of an orange grove, the par-72 course was named as Portugal’s Best Golf Course 2011 at the Portuguese Travel Awards, and poses serious tests for players of all abilities. Opened in 2008, Laranjal offers a pure golfing experience right next to the Quinta do Lago estate and features fairways sown with Bermuda grass, providing a challenging playing environment in a picture-perfect setting.
• Paul McGinley Academy – Quinta do Lago is home to the only Paul McGinley Academy in the world, founded in October 2011 by Europe’s 2014 Ryder Cup captain. With a strong involvement from McGinley himself, who is a regular visitor to the resort, the academy aims to cultivate and improve golfers’ play by providing them with the tools and techniques used on the professional Tours. The academy focuses especially on younger players, working in collaboration with local schools and is the perfect way to follow in the footsteps of the pros.
• TaylorMade Performance Center – Quinta do Lago’s TaylorMade Performance Centre is the only facility of its kind in Portugal and is located on the resort’s expansive driving range. Opened in May 2013, the centre is operated by trained TaylorMade technicians, offering golfers a custom-fitting experience testing hundreds of club and iron options, ensuring the best combination for every player’s swing. It also has a fully-equipped Tour standard workshop and utilises FlightScope X2 radar technology to measure the entire flight of the ball from impact to landing whilst displaying its 3D trajectory in real time.

Set amongst 2,000 acres of the picturesque Ria Formosa Natural Park and located just 15 minutes from Faro airport, Quinta do Lago 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.

For more information on Quinta do Lago and its facilities, call + 351 289 390 700 or visit www.quintadolago.com