Dateline:	4th February 2015
	Source:	Desert Springs Golf Club
	Subject:	Darren Clarke Golf School
	Title:	Darren Clarke Golf School Complete Their Annual Golf Winter Training Camp At Desert Springs Resort

Two Darren Clarke Golf School PGA Instructors accompanied twenty four students aged between 15 - 21 years for 4-days of warm weather winter training at the Desert Springs Resort between 27th and 31st January.

The Darren Clarke Golf School, based at Greenmount Campus close to Antrim, Northern Ireland, is a centre of excellence in the development of young golfers, offering state of the art facilities, a unique golf training programme, combined with a robust education through the BTEC Extended National Diploma in Sport, which is delivered by Northern Regional College at the School.

Nineteen-year-old student Stephen Young remarked;

“The Indiana course was an unbelievable test of golf, it is the best course I have ever played in my life. The staff were sensational and this training camp was an unforgettable experience!

Fantastic golf facilities, very friendly staff and excellent food, it was a fabulous experience.

The Indiana course was in immaculate condition and the practice facilities were out of this world. This has to be the best course I have ever played.

The accommodation and food were fantastic and the staff were wonderful, friendly and very polite.

In my opinion make Desert Springs your next golfing holiday destination without a doubt!”

Those are the verdicts of 16-year-old Harry McGeary and 21-year-old Alfie Neenan, two full time students from the Darren Clarke Golf School.

The training camp utilized the excellent practice facilities at the Desert Springs Golf Academy where the PGA Instructors were able provide one-to-one tuition and take advantage of the use of the Desert Springs short game academy prior to the students embarking on their rounds on The Indiana course.

The students and officials were accommodated in some of the privately owned apartments normally reserved for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs and the resort’s executive chef was on hand to cater for the special dietary requirements of individual players dining each evening in the ‘El Torrente’ Restaurant.

Andy Peoples: Head of Operations & PGA Instructor at the Darren Clarke Golf School remarked:

“This is now our fifth return visit to Desert Springs Resort to complete our annual winter training camp.

Desert Springs is a fantastic resort, which we always look forward to returning to. The short game and practice facilities at the Golf Academy are superior, along with a golf course, which is different by its nature and challenging for everyone.

Many thanks to all of the staff, it has been a pleasure to be back once again at Desert Springs Resort.”

For further information on the Darren Clarke Golf School visit their official website.

Alfonso Castiñeira
Tel. +34 670 613 900
E-mail: acm@almanzora.com

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	Dateline:	29th January 2014
	Source:	Desert Springs Golf Club
	Subject:	Darren Clarke Golf School
	Title:	Darren Clarke Golf School Complete Their Annual Winter Training Camp At Desert Springs Resort

The Darren Clarke Golf School, based at Greenmount Campus close to Antrim, Northern Ireland, is a centre of excellence in the development of young golfers, offering state of the art facilities, a unique golf training programme, combined with a robust education through the BTEC Extended National Diploma in Sport, which is delivered by Northern Regional College at the School.

Nineteen-year-old student Paddy Casar remarked; “This has been a superb training camp and is the best place we have ever played golf!”

“A great place to practice and play and a really enjoyable training camp.”

“Desert Springs provides both great practice facilities and a great course, it was just a shame about my golf!”

Those are the verdicts of 19-year-old Jamie Foley and 18-year-old Max Thallo, two full time students from the Darren Clarke Golf School.

The students and officials were accommodated in some of the privately owned apartments normally reserved for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs and the resort’s executive chef was on hand to cater for the special dietary requirements of individual players dining each evening in the ‘El Torrente’ Restaurant.

During their time at the resort the players utilized the excellent practice facilities at the Golf Academy and played the Indiana golf course.

Jack Murgatroyd, Darren Clarke Golf School PGA Instructor remarked:

“This is now our fourth return visit to Desert Springs Resort to host our winter training camp and it has been another superb break, enjoyed by all of our students and the resort staff were, as always, fantastic.”

Andy Peoples, Darren Clarke Golf School PGA Instructor remarked:

“It has been a pleasure to be back once again at Desert Springs. The Indiana course and practice facilities were once again excellent.

We are made to feel extremely welcome by the resort staff who are all great and friendly.”

For further information on the Darren Clarke Golf School visit their official website.

Martin Brannstrom
Tel. +34 670 613 900
E-mail: mb@almanzora.com

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	Dateline:	29th January 2014
	Source:	The Almanzora Group
	Subject:	Darren Clarke Golf School
	Title:	Darren Clarke Golf School Complete Their Annual Winter Training Camp At Desert Springs Resort

Three Darren Clarke Golf School PGA Instructors accompanied twenty boys aged between 15 - 19 years for 4-days of warm weather winter training at the Desert Springs Resort, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course in the Almanzora region of Almeria in south-east Spain between 21st & 25th January.

“This has been a superb training camp and is the best place we have ever played golf!”

That is the verdict of 19-year old student Paddy Carser.

The training camp utilised the excellent practice facilities at the Desert Springs Golf Academy where the PGA Instructors were able provide one-to-one tuition and take advantage of the use of the Desert Springs short game academy.

“A great place to practice and play and a really enjoyable training camp.”

“Desert Springs provides both great practice facilities and a great course, it was just a shame about my golf!”

Those are the verdicts of 19 year old Jamie Foley and 18 year old Max Thallo, two students from the Darren Clarke Golf School based at Greenmount Campus, Northern Ireland, who have returned from their visit to the Desert Springs Resort for a 4-day intensive winter training programme to develop their individual golfing skills.

Andy Peoples, Darren Clarke Golf School PGA Instructor commented:

“It has been a pleasure to be back once again at Desert Springs. The Indiana course and practice facilities were once again excellent.

We are made to feel extremely welcome by the resort staff who are all great and friendly.”

Jack Murgatroyd, Darren Clarke Golf School PGA Instructor commented:

“This is now our fourth return visit to Desert Springs Resort to host our winter training camp and it has been another superb break enjoyed by all of our students and the resort staff were, as always, fantastic.”

• For details of Golf & Sports Training Camps, Corporate Golf Events and Meetings at Desert Springs call 01242 680 116 or visit the website.

Additional background Information

Warm weather winter training camps at Desert Springs

Desert Springs, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course, is proving to be one of the most popular destinations for warm weather winter training camps among the growing number of schools with their own golf academies and teams, currently estimated at around 90 in the UK. In addition to Darren Clarke Golf School students, visiting groups have included golfing pupils from, Lee Westwood Golf School, Millfield School, Reading Blue Coat School at Sonning-on-Thames, King Edward’s School in Bath and Loretto School at Musselburgh near Edinburgh.

All school golf trips to Desert Springs are bespoke. If desired, the programme can include time away from the golf course for some local sightseeing in what many regard as ‘the real Spain.’

During their stay pupils have opportunities to swim, play tennis, football and use the gymnasium, trim trail, jogging tracks, paddle tennis and beach volley ball courts.

Desert Springs is easy to reach from the UK, thanks to three international airports. They are: Almeria Airport, around 40 minutes away by road; Murcia Airport, 80 minutes by car, and Alicante Airport which is a drive of less than two hours. Airlines currently flying to the region from the UK include easyJet, Monarch, Ryanair, Jet2, Jetair Fly and Thomas Cook.

Already well known as a resort specialising in family holidays, Desert Springs is gaining popularity as a centre for warm-weather training for cricketers and footballers, as well as golfers.

Accommodation is provided in the apartments and villas available for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs. Meals are served in the resort’s Croc Restaurant, part of the family-friendly Crocodile Club that is geared up for a wide variety of leisure activities and the award winning El Torrente Restaurant at the Club House.

A spokesman for Desert Springs said that, depending on the size of the group and its requirements, the total cost of a four-day trip for warm weather training, including flights, would work out at between £350 and £400 per person.

The Desert Springs Resort & Golf Club

Facilities already completed and in use at Desert Springs include:

• a par 72 -18-hole USGA Indiana golf course designed by former Great Britain and Ireland
  Golf Team Captain Peter McEvoy who was inspired by the desert courses of Arizona and California.
• a golf academy whose PGA qualified teaching professionals cater for several international
  teams, for the women’s elite squads of the Golf Union of Wales and for many of the English County Union’s elite squads; PGA European Tour and LET players.
• two hard tennis courts, two paddle courts, beach volley ball and two football pitches - one is a
  full-size grass pitch; the other is designed for five-a-side games;
• a Cricket Academy with facilities that comprise; a six bay grass wicket and run up with nets, a
  two bay artificial wicket with nets, a full length artificial grass wicket, a Professional Bola Bowling Machine with 28 ball feeder, a slip catch cradle and a specific hard standing area, which provides outside space for facilities such as a free weights gym, stretching mats and a medical area
• a Spanish colonial style Golf Club House with a lounge, bar, restaurant, locker rooms, TV and
  reading rooms, and a Ralph Lauren Golf Boutique;
• The Crocodile Club which provides family fun at the heart of the resort with pools, equipped
  sand play areas, a kid’s battery powered John Deere Gator circuit and a games room as well as a Jacuzzi, sun lawns and a pool bar;
• a health and fitness club and spa.

Awards

In 2005 Desert Springs won the Daily Mail Best Almeria Award and the Bentley International Property Awards for the Best Spain Development and Best Architecture. In 2006, it was awarded the Spanish National Madera Verde Prize for Environmentally Sensitive Development. In 2007, the El Torrente Restaurant received the New Millennium International Gastronomy Award for the Tourist, Hotel and Catering Industry. This award was created by the Trade Leaders Club with the aim of distinguishing companies from all countries, for the outstanding quality of their products or services.

The climate of the Almanzora coastal region

Desert Springs takes it name from the region’s desert microclimate, which is unique in Europe. It has the warmest winter weather on the continent with an annual average of more than nine hours of daily sunshine and maximum daily temperatures of between 16°C (60°F) and 30°C (86°F) throughout the year. Annual rainfall is less than 200 mm. The Almanzora’s coastal waters are among the cleanest and warmest in Europe, attracting both fish and diving enthusiasts.

Reader enquiries:
NOTE: High Resolution Images available upon request.
Simon Coaker
The Almanzora Group Ltd
The Manor, Boddington, Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire GL51 0TJ
Tel: +44 (0) 1242 680116
Email: tag@almanzora.com

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	Dateline:	15th January 2013
	Source:	The Almanzora Group
	Subject:	Darren Clarke Golf School
	Title:	Darren Clarke Golf School Second Winter Training Camp At Desert Springs A Resounding Success!

Darren Clarke Golf School Second Winter Training Camp At Desert Springs A Resounding Success!

“I love the golf course, the condition, the greens the fairways, its just perfect for us to practice on!”

That is the verdict of 17-year-old Natalie Goodhall, one of 27 full time students from the Darren Clarke Golf School based at Greenmount Campus, Northern Ireland, who have returned from their second visit to the Desert Springs Resort for a 4-day intensive winter training programme to develop their individual golfing skills.

Darren Clarke Golf School PGA Instructors Jack Murgatroyd and Graham Mackay accompanied twenty five boys and two girls aged from 15 to 18 years for 4 days of warm weather winter training at the resort between 8th & 12th January, while experiencing a golf course, which offers a challenge to players at all levels.

The training camp utilised the excellent practice facilities at the Desert Springs Golf Academy where Jack Murgatroyd and Graham Mackay were able provide one-to-one tuition for the students.

Jack Murgatroyd, Darren Clarke Golf Instructor said;
“As with our inaugural training camp, once again, we had a great training week. The students certainly benefitted from the superb practice facilities which they utilized to the full with hard hours of practice put in to prepare them for the test provided by the Indiana course, which unsurprisingly they found to be very enjoyable.”

Student Adam Kerr, 17 years of age, remarked of the Indiana course;
“The course is fantastic and the greens were excellent; we don’t get the chance to play courses in this perfect a condition very often!”

Graham Mackay, Darren Clarke Golf Instructor commented:
“The lay out of the excellent accommodation and the secure nature of the whole resort is perfect for a group of youngsters like ours.”

The Darren Clarke Golf School return to Desert Springs between 22nd – 29th January 2013 with 8 transition students and their coach Jack Murgatroyd for a seven day winter training camp.

Andy Peoples, Head of Operations at the Darren Clarke Golf School said:
“We have had a very productive time at Desert Springs, the facilities were exactly what we needed and of the highest quality enabling the students to get some really good valuable work done.”

• For details of Golf & Sports Training Camps, Corporate Golf Events and Meetings at Desert Springs call 01242 680 116 or visit the website.

Additional background Information

Warm weather winter training camps at Desert Springs

Desert Springs, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course, is proving to be one of the most popular destinations for warm weather winter training camps among the growing number of schools with their own golf academies and teams, currently estimated at around 90 in the UK. In addition to Darren Clarke Golf School pupils, visiting groups have included golfing pupils from, Millfield School, Reading Blue Coat School at Sonning-on-Thames, King Edward’s School in Bath and Loretto School at Musselburgh near Edinburgh.

All school golf trips to Desert Springs are bespoke. If desired, the programme can include time away from the golf course for some local sightseeing in what many regard as ‘the real Spain.’
During their stay pupils have opportunities to swim, play tennis and use the gymnasium, trim trail, jogging tracks, paddle tennis and beach volley ball courts.

Desert Springs is easy to reach from the UK, thanks to three international airports. They are: Almeria Airport, around 40 minutes away by road; Murcia Airport, 80 minutes by car, and Alicante Airport which is a drive of less than two hours. Airlines currently flying to the region from the UK include easyJet, Monarch, Ryanair, Jet2, Jetair Fly and Thomas Cook.

Already well known as a resort specialising in family holidays, Desert Springs is gaining popularity as a centre for warm-weather training for cricketers and footballers, as well as golfers.

Accommodation is provided in the apartments and villas available for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs. Meals are served in the resort’s Croc Restaurant, part of the family-friendly Crocodile Club that is geared up for a wide variety of leisure activities and the award winning El Torrente Restaurant at the Club House.

A spokesman for Desert Springs said that, depending on the size of the group and its requirements, the total cost of a four-day trip for warm weather training, including flights, would work out at between £350 and £400 per person.

The Desert Springs Resort & Golf Club

Facilities already completed and in use at Desert Springs include:

• a 72 par 18-hole USGA Indiana golf course designed by former Great Britain and Ireland Golf Team Captain Peter McEvoy who was inspired by the desert courses of Arizona and California;
• a golf academy whose PGA qualified teaching professionals cater for several international teams, for the women’s elite squads of the Golf Union of Wales and for many of the English County Union’s elite squads; PGA European Tour and LET players.
• two hard tennis courts, two paddle courts, beach volley ball and two football pitches - one is a full-size grass pitch; the other is designed for five-a-side games;
• a Spanish colonial style Golf Club House with a lounge, bar, restaurant, locker rooms, TV and reading rooms, and a Ralph Lauren Golf Boutique;
• The Crocodile Club which provides family fun at the heart of the resort with pools, equipped sand play areas, a kid’s battery powered John Deere Gator circuit and a games room as well as a jacuzzi, sun lawns and a pool bar;
• a health and fitness club and spa.

Awards

In 2005 Desert Springs won the Daily Mail Best Almeria Award and the Bentley International Property Awards for the Best Spain Development and Best Architecture. In 2006, it was awarded the Spanish National Madera Verde Prize for Environmentally Sensitive Development.

In 2007, the El Torrente Restaurant received the New Millennium International Gastronomy Award for the Tourist, Hotel and Catering Industry. This award was created by the Trade Leaders Club with the aim of distinguishing companies from all countries, for the outstanding quality of their products or services.

The climate of the Almanzora coastal region

Desert Springs takes it name from the region’s desert microclimate, which is unique in Europe. It has the warmest winter weather on the continent with an annual average of more than nine hours of daily sunshine and maximum daily temperatures of between 16°C (60°F) and 30°C (86°F) throughout the year. Annual rainfall is less than 200 mm. The Almanzora’s coastal waters are among the cleanest and warmest in Europe, attracting both fish and diving enthusiasts.

Reader enquiries

Simon Coaker
The Almanzora Group Ltd
The Manor, Boddington,
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL51 0TJ
Tel: +44 (0) 1242 680116
Email: tag@almanzora.com

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	Dateline:	13th December 2012
	Source:	The Almanzora Group
	Subject:	Darren Clarke Golf School
	Title:	Inaugural Darren Clarke Golf School Winter Training Camp At Desert Springs A Resounding Success!

“I really love the challenge of the golf course, I’ve never played a course like it, and the greens were fantastic”

That is the verdict of 16-year-old Michael Ryan, one of 8 transition students from the Darren Clarke Golf School based at Greenmount Campus, Northern Ireland, who have returned from their first visit to the Desert Springs Resort for a week long intensive winter training programme to develop their individual golfing skills.

Darren Clarke Golf School PGA Instructor Jack Murgatroyd accompanied five boys aged 16 years and three girls aged from 15 to 17 years for 7 days of warm weather winter training at the resort between 27th November & 4th December, while experiencing a golf course, which offers a challenge to players at all levels.

The training camp utilised the excellent practice facilities at the Desert Springs Golf Academy where Jack Murgatroyd was able provide one-to-one tuition and take advantage of the use of the GASP Academy Studio to analysis each of the students’ swings.

Amy Condon aged 15 remarked of the Academy facilities:
"Having practice balls there and waiting in a pyramid reserved for me was cool”

Sophie Harrison aged 17 said:
“Our apartment was great, and the chance to use the gym in the evenings helped us to get the most out of our training”

Jack Murgatroyd Darren Clarke Golf Instructor commented;
“The standard of the accommodation was excellent and met our needs perfectly. We utilized a combination of self-catering and meals from the Clubhouse restaurant which was excellent.

The facilities at the Golf Academy were brilliant and met all of our requirements; we particularly liked the fact that all the practice facilities were contained in one area, which made management of our time very easy.

The golf course was a stern test for several of our young players and was presented in perfect condition.”

On returning to Ireland, Jack Murgatroyd reported back to his senior staff saying that:
“The resort was fantastic and served our every purpose, the staff were very helpful and couldn’t do enough for us.”

The Darren Clarke Golf School return to Desert Springs between 8th – 12th January 2013 with 28 full time students and 3 professional staff for a four day winter training camp, with a further one week training camp scheduled for 7 transition students and their coach between 22nd – 29th January 2013.

Andy Peoples, Head of Operations at the Darren Clarke Golf School said:
“The warm weather training opportunity at Desert Springs provides the students with the opportunity to practice and bond together in an environment that allows quality practice and golf performance.”

• For details of Golf & Sports Training Camps, Corporate Golf Events and Meetings at Desert Springs call 01242 680 116 or visit the website.

Additional background Information

Warm weather winter training camps at Desert Springs

Desert Springs, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course, is proving to be one of the most popular destinations for warm weather winter training camps among the growing number of schools with their own golf academies and teams, currently estimated at around 90 in the UK. In addition to Darren Clarke Golf School pupils, visiting groups have included golfing pupils from, Millfield School, Reading Blue Coat School at Sonning-on-Thames, King Edward’s School in Bath and Loretto School at Musselburgh near Edinburgh.

All school golf trips to Desert Springs are bespoke. If desired, the programme can include time away from the golf course for some local sightseeing in what many regard as ‘the real Spain.’

During their stay pupils have opportunities to swim, play tennis and use the gymnasium, trim trail, jogging tracks, paddle tennis and beach volley ball courts.

Desert Springs is easy to reach from the UK, thanks to three international airports. They are: Almeria Airport, around 40 minutes away by road; Murcia Airport, 80 minutes by car, and Alicante Airport which is a drive of less than two hours. Airlines currently flying to the region from the UK include easyJet, Monarch, Ryanair, Jet2, Jetair Fly and Thomas Cook.

Already well known as a resort specialising in family holidays, Desert Springs is gaining popularity as a centre for warm-weather training for cricketers and footballers, as well as golfers.

Accommodation is provided in the apartments and villas available for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs. Meals are served in the resort’s Croc Restaurant, part of the family-friendly Crocodile Club that is geared up for a wide variety of leisure activities and the award winning El Torrente Restaurant at the Club House.

A spokesman for Desert Springs said that, depending on the size of the group and its requirements, the total cost of a four-day trip for warm weather training, including flights, would work out at between £350 and £400 per person.

The Desert Springs Resort & Golf Club

Facilities already completed and in use at Desert Springs include:

• a 72 par 18-hole USGA Indiana golf course designed by former Great Britain and Ireland Golf Team Captain Peter McEvoy who was inspired by the desert courses of Arizona and California;
• a golf academy whose PGA qualified teaching professionals cater for several international teams, for the women’s elite squads of the Golf Union of Wales and for many of the English County Union’s elite squads; PGA European Tour and LET players.
• two hard tennis courts, two paddle courts, beach volley ball and two football pitches - one is a full-size grass pitch; the other is designed for five-a-side games;
• a Spanish colonial style Golf Club House with a lounge, bar, restaurant, locker rooms, TV and reading rooms, and a Ralph Lauren Golf Boutique;
• The Crocodile Club which provides family fun at the heart of the resort with pools, equipped sand play areas, a kid’s battery powered John Deere Gator circuit and a games room as well as a jacuzzi, sun lawns and a pool bar;
• a health and fitness club and spa.

Awards

In 2005 Desert Springs won the Daily Mail Best Almeria Award and the Bentley International Property Awards for the Best Spain Development and Best Architecture. In 2006, it was awarded the Spanish National Madera Verde Prize for Environmentally Sensitive Development.

In 2007, the El Torrente Restaurant received the New Millennium International Gastronomy Award for the Tourist, Hotel and Catering Industry. This award was created by the Trade Leaders Club with the aim of distinguishing companies from all countries, for the outstanding quality of their products or services.

The climate of the Almanzora coastal region

Desert Springs takes it name from the region’s desert microclimate, which is unique in Europe. It has the warmest winter weather on the continent with an annual average of more than nine hours of daily sunshine and maximum daily temperatures of between 16°C (60°F) and 30°C (86°F) throughout the year. Annual rainfall is less than 200 mm. The Almanzora’s coastal waters are among the cleanest and warmest in Europe, attracting both fish and diving enthusiasts.

Reader enquiries

Simon Coaker
The Almanzora Group Ltd
The Manor, Boddington,
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL51 0TJ
Tel: +44 (0) 1242 680116
Email: tag@almanzora.com

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	Dateline:	23rd November 2012
	Source:	Desert Springs Golf Club
	Subject:	Darren Clarke Golf School
	Title:	Darren Clarke Golf School Selects Desert Springs As Its Winter Training Base for 2012/13

The Darren Clarke Golf School based at Greenmount Campus close to Antrim, Northern Ireland, has named the Desert Springs Resort and Golf Club as their overseas winter training base for the winter season of 2012/13.

The Darren Clarke Golf School is a centre of excellence in the development of young golfers, offering state of the art facilities, a unique golf training programme, combined with a robust education through the BTEC Extended National Diploma in Sport, which is delivered by Northern Regional College at the School.

Working in partnership with NRC, the School provides a two-year full-time programme, specifically designed to ensure aspiring 16 year olds and over, maximise their potential, both on and off the golf course. NRC management and tutors work alongside the Darren Clarke Golf School, PGA golf coaches and advisers in nutrition, personal strength and conditioning, to ensure that these young golfers gain maximum benefit from the programme.

Between 27th November – 4th December, 8 transition students and their coach will be the first to make their visit to the resort for a week long intensive training programme to develop their individual golfing skills in warm weather while experiencing a golf course which offers a challenge to players at all levels.

Between 8th – 12th January 2013, 28 full time students and 3 professional staff visit the resort for a four day training camp, with a further one week training camp scheduled for 7 transition students and their coach between 22nd – 29th January 2013.

During their time at the resort the players will utilise the excellent practice facilities at the Golf Academy and play the Indiana Championship golf course.

The students and officials will be accommodated in some of the privately owned apartments normally reserved for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs and the resort’s executive chef will be on hand to cater for the special dietary requirements of individual players dining in the award-winning El Torrente Restaurant.

Andy Peoples head of Operations at the Darren Clarke Golf School said:
“The warm weather training opportunity at Desert Springs provides the students with the opportunity to practice and bond together in an environment that allows quality practice and golf performance.”

For further information on the Darren Clarke Golf School visit their official website.

For further information contact: José Ignacio Olea
Email: jioz@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34 670 613 900

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