Algarve Golf

Portugal Golf – Tomás Bessa wins the Order of Merit of the PT Tour

Posted on by

Tomás Bessa, winner of the PT Tour. Tomás Bessa won the PT Tour Order of Merit 2023

Tomás Bessa won the Order of Merit of PT Tour

The last event of the PT Tour, won by Jamie Savage, saw Tomás Bessa winning the circuit’s Order of Merit.

The PT Tour final tournament, Optilink Tour Championship, took place at Dom Pedro Laguna, in Vilamoura, and was won by the Scottish golfer Jamie Savage, in a play-off against Vítor Lopes and Tomás Bessa.

After the 3 rounds of the Optilink Tour Championship, these 3 players were tied for first place, with an aggregate of 206 strokes (-10).

Tomás Bessa was eliminated from the play-off in the first hole after he hit his ball into a palm tree. Savage and Lopes halved the hole and went back to the tee three more times before Savage finally triumphed with a birdie and won the prize of 3,500 euros.

“There was a time on the back nine when I was up by two strokes, but then I missed a short putt and started to lose my confidence. Gladly, I was able to manage my emotions in the play-off and win”, revealed Jamie Savage, who underlined: “The weather was excellent and the event was extremely well organised”.

“Losing the play-off left a sour taste in my mouth”, said Vítor Lopes. The native of the Algarve was awarded 2,000 euros in prize money.

Tomás Bessa, who got the 1,500 euros allotted to third place in this event, remarked: “I am really glad to have won this Order of Merit. Overall, I won two tournaments and lost twice in the play-off”.

“Everything went wrong in my final round; I missed easy putts, misjudged the wind, and failed to capitalise the four-stroke lead I had from the second round”, he continued.

Book your golf holidays in the Algarve with Tee Times Golf Agency and play on some of the best golf courses in Europe.

You can also read other posts about Golf in Portugal:
8th Madeira Golf Trophy registers record number of entries
Ben Schmidt wins on the PT Tour
Golf generated record revenues in Portugal in 2022

Portugal Golf – Golf generated record revenues in Portugal in 2022

Posted on by

Vale do Lobo Royal Golf Course. Golf generates record revenues in Portugal.

Green fees generated record revenues in Portugal last year

In counter cycle with the peaks in tourism demand, golf is preparing for its first high season of year, which starts in March and lasts until May. With the great revenues obtained in 2022 following the interregnum imposed by the pandemic, there is reason for confidence.

Revenues from golf in Portugal hit a record high of 154 million euros in 2022, a 6 percent rise from 2019, the last year before the pandemic, thanks to a total of 3 million rounds played. However, the actual effect of the sport on the Portuguese economy is expected to be far greater.

“The 154 million euros are only from green fees, not from any additional purchases made while at the golf course. rental of buggies, provision of meals, and teaching of related skills are only a few examples of the many businesses revolving around this sport”, says Frederico Brion Sanches, board member of the National Council of the Golf Industry (CNIG).

Foreign tourists are the main ones responsible for record revenues in the country, representing 80 percent of the rounds played last year. It is in the Algarve that the international market assumes greater weight (92 percent) with the British and Irish in the majority, followed by the Scandinavians and France.

“Playing four or five times throughout a week in Portugal is the norm for visitors from other countries. Non-Portuguese players are responsible for a significantly greater number of rounds compared to their Portuguese counterparts”, as Brion Sanches puts it.

Portugal has made the first step in establishing itself as a golf destination, and the country’s worldwide accolades enable it to compete with its key competitors, like Spain or Italy.

In 2019, for the sixth year in a row, Portugal has been named Europe’s Best Golf Destination by the World Golf Awards, and it has also been chosen as Europe’s Best Golf Destination by the World Travel Awards five times.

Frederico Brion Sanches thinks the industry has a lot to develop, but he cautions that more flights, more destinations, better air connections, and more convenient schedules are all essential, and defends an air bridge between Lisbon and the Algarve.

The lack of human resources, transversal to all areas of tourism, is another of the challenges pointed out by Brion Sanches, along with sustainability.

“Last but not least, we should expand our efforts to promote Portugal as a golf holiday destination. We are talking about more marketing campaigns and the constant promotion of Portugal as a golf destination”, he concludes.

Book your golf holidays in Portugal with Tee Times Golf Agency and enjoy some of the best golf courses in Europe.

You can also read other posts about Golf in Portugal:
Portuguese Vítor Lopes equals the world record for eagles in one golf round
Ángel Ayora wins the 93rd Portuguese International Amateur Golf Championship
Calendar of the World Corporate Golf Challenge Portugal 2023

Portugal Golf – Portuguese Vítor Lopes equals the world record for eagles in one golf round

Posted on by

Palmares Golf Course. Vitor Lopes equals world record with 4 eagles in one round.

Vitor Lopes equalled world record at Palmares

There are very few golfers who have ever recorded four eagles in a single round, and Vitor Lopes will go down in history as one of them, after a remarkable golf round at Palmares. Additionally, he had one eagle that was also a hole-in-one.

The 26-year-old Portuguese golfer from Vilamoura shot 61 (-11) on the outstanding Palmares golf course, in the Algarve, his best professional golf round. Vítor Lopes made eagles on holes 6 (Par-5), 11 (Par-5), 17 (Par-3), and 18 (Par-5).

As a result, he took over the Palmares Classic international tournament, with 10,000 euros in prize money, as part of the PT Tour, which brings together 74 players in Lagos.

Speaking to PT Tour organiser José Correia about his hole-in-one on the 17th hole, the Challenge Tour player stated, “It was my second hole-in-one, but in official tournaments, as a professional golfer, it was my first and I’m really thrilled”.

Vítor Lopes, the seventh best Portuguese in the world golf ranking, showed once again that he is not intimidated by the wind.

The record for most eagles in a single round of golf is 4, according to Guinness World Records, however there are many different regional golfing circuits across the world. In comparison, 4 is the most you’ll see on the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, or the PGA Tour of Australasia.

Palmares golf course is a popular golf holiday destination in Portugal and ranked 38th in the top 100 best European golf courses in 2022.

Book your golf holidays in the Algarve with Tee Times Golf Agency and enjoy some of the finest golf courses in Europe.

You can also read other posts about Golf in Portugal:
Ángel Ayora wins the 93rd Portuguese International Amateur Golf Champiosnhip
Calendar of the World Corporate Golf Challenge Portugal 2023
30th edition of the Portuguese Senior Ladies Golf Competition