Palmares resort pockets another top title

A little more than a year after its opening by designer Robert Trent Jones Jnr, Onyria Palmares Golf continues to rack up the awards, with the latest ‘gong’ bestowed by Turismo de Portugal, the Portuguese national tourist board.

Turismo de Portugal’s prestigious annual ‘Best of Tourism’ prizes are designed to “recognise, distinguish and promote the best tourist projects” and 150 candidates contested eight categories.

But it was Palmares which took top spot in the category of best ‘Private Rehabilitation Project’, owing to “the development of tourism through the rehabilitation of an emblematic golf course, which is prepared to host major tournaments…”.

Palmares’ operations general director, António Pinto Coelho, was at the awards ceremony at Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo de Lisboa – attended by Secretary of State for Tourism, Cecilia Meireles – to accept the award.

He said: “It is always gratifying to receive recognition for what we are achieving but especially so when it comes from a national authority such as this. We are delighted that Onyria Palmares is being acclaimed for its contribution to tourism in Portugal and we will continue to strive to achieve only the very best for our clients.”

Palmares launched to some acclaim in June 2011 following a €10m redesign of Frank Pennink’s original – and popular – layout, and the course was, ultimately, voted Portugal’s second-best course by readers of Today’s Golfer magazine just six months after its opening.

And it also ended 2011 as a remarkable new entry at 26th in Golf World’s poll of Top 100 European Golf Courses.

To complete a trio of magazine accolades, Onyria Palmares was also listed as the third best course in Portugal by Golf Digest, the number one distributed sports title in the United States with more than 6.5m readers. Another outstanding honour, all gained within a year of opening.

The three loops of nine holes – the Alvor, Lagos and Praia courses – enjoy expansive panoramic views across the Bay of Lagos, with each lay-out offering a different kind of golfing challenge in a glorious and natural environment.

The 27-hole resort has been heralded as one of the best courses in Portugal by many respected pundits.

While the Alvor course plays through pine tree-lined corridors with the majority of holes ascending hillsides or descending through intimate valleys, the Lagos course is a mixture of parkland and links features, and the Praia is set on classic seaside dunes-land exposed to the elements.

The 27-hole set-up is part of the Onyria Palmares Beach & Golf Resort which will see a total investment of €300m by the time it is completed.

Following Onyria’s traditional business model, there is a plan for a five-star hotel, while the complex will also include a selection of plots for villas which have just been released on to the property market.

In addition, guests can take advantage of a wide range of facilities including a golf driving range with two training centres, a panoramic clubhouse and an array of different sports and leisure activities, while residents will be able to enjoy an impressive shopping area as well as exclusive access to a beach club.

With breathtaking views, the classy resort offers a unique location in the Algarve with dazzling views to the Ria de Alvor, Meia-Praia and to the town of Lagos, TripAdvisor’s ‘best holiday destination in the world’ for 2012.