by Dakota Diaz
PORTUGAL’S BEST
Golfers Invited To Take A Stroll With Nature At Quinta Do Lago This Summer
G
olfers and their families can take a walk on the wild side at Quinta do Lago this summer as part of a packed programme of events at the luxury Portuguese resort that embraces nature and a healthy outdoor lifestyle. Green golf clinics, guided nature walks and eco-driven sustainable events are just some of the activities being offered to guests between now and the end of the summer holidays, with Europe’s premier golf and lifestyle venue aware of the need for people to take time out in natural surroundings as a result of the Covid pandemic.
16 Golf Vacations • August 2021
Nestled within the privacy, tranquillity and security of the 2,000-acre Ria Formosa Natural Park, Quinta do Lago is the ideal place to unwind, with its five-star facilities including three 18-hole championship golf courses, a premier sports hub, a golden sandy beach and numerous first-class bars and restaurants. New for the summer, players can combine a golf academy clinic with a guided tour around the course to learn more about Quinta do Lago’s environmental initiatives, eco strategies and wildlife conservation efforts. Guided nature trails offering invaluable insight into the many species that inhabit the golf courses and Ria Formosa Nature Reserve can also be booked, while the resort’s ‘Release to the Wild’ event allows guests to share in the special moment when rescued wildlife including owls and turtles are returned to the wild after rehabilitation. Among the golf promotions available is the resort’s ‘Summer Golf Offer’, where players can enjoy 18 holes on either the pristine North and Laranjal championship golf courses including a shared golf buggy for just €99 per person. Boys and girls of all levels aged six to 15 have the chance to improve their golfing skills at one of the weekly junior academies run by the expert team of coaches at the Paul McGinley Academy. Designed to be engaging, exciting and, most importantly, lots of fun, the five-day academies – which are limited to groups of five children per coach and run until August 27 – take place from Monday to Friday with two sessions each morning from 09.00 to 10.30 and 10.45 to 12.15. The programme costs €200 per week or €65 per day, with every child receiving a gift pack and a €15 discount if two or more siblings are booked. Other highlights include TaylorMade Demo golf days, mini-golf family competitions and Quinta do Lago’s ever-popular ‘Movies in the Park’, with a giant 3D outdoor screen on the driving range. A summer of sport awaits fitness enthusiasts at The Campus high performance sports hub, with memberships, events and programmes for all, while guests can relax in style with a choice of dining experiences available at one of Quinta do Lago’s 13 impressive bars and restaurants. These include the resort’s acclaimed Bovino steakhouse and recently-opened Asian restaurant ’UMAMI’ – showcasing a variety of modern dishes from the sushi counter and the robata grill using locally sourced Algarve produce – with live music to help evenings go with an added swing. Just a 15-minute drive from Faro airport, Quinta do Lago has set the benchmark for Europe’s elite golf, sports and family destinations for nearly five decades. Complementing the golf and sports facilities is a selection of bars and restaurants that deliver a range of delicious local and international cuisines, with accommodation on offer at the resort’s boutique hotel, The Magnolia Hotel, and at an impressive collection of rental villas. Accommodation at The Magnolia Hotel starts from €120 per night for a standard double room and €216 per night for a family cottage (both on a bed-and-breakfast basis), while hotel guests can enjoy three nights for the price of two over the coming weeks as part of its special summer promotion.
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