Cheltenham School Cricket Squad pictured during pre-season training at Desert Springs in south – east Spain

 

Cheltenham School Training at Desert Springs

 

A cricket squad of 27 players aged between 10 – 13 years, accompanied by seven officials from Cheltenham College Junior School – enjoyed their seventh cricket pre-season training camp at the facilities of the Cricket Academy established at the Desert Springs Resort between Saturday 7th – Wednesday 11th April.

During their four-night stay, the Cheltenham School players 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 in the resort’s award-winning El Torrente restaurant.

I met with Kim Parsley, Director of the Cheltenham College Cricket Team, and one of the attending students Will Hardie, for an informal interview to receive their feed-back on the whole experience at Desert Springs Resort.

Interview with Kim Parsley:

(Jose) This is now your seventh cricket pre-season training camp held at Desert Springs, how would you rate this years visit?

(Kim) Being back at Desert Springs is always a pleasure. I can rest assured that the facilities and service are always great. Because we schedule various training sessions each day, we get a lot done and the work becomes very effective.

(Jose) In previous years the Team was accommodated in a Hotel, how would you compare that with the apartments that the team now stay in on the Desert Springs Resort?

(Kim) Accommodation has never been an issue on our trips. I must say that staying at Desert Springs has been far better than any other choice; I have realised that the time saved in commuting in and out of the Resort every day can be used to program our training more effectively.

(Jose) At Desert Springs we aim to provide schools and clubs with “value for money” packages, coupled with the highest standards of quality for both service and facilities. I´m aware that your son has attended the Pre-Season Training Camp before; as a father, how would you rate the cost of the trip for your son?

(Kim) On a value for money ranking, it´s definitely a 10/10. The service is great, facilities are awesome and the cricket pitch together with mild temperatures are all we can ask for. The quality of the food was brilliant and always on time.

Interview with Will Hardie:

(Jose) It must be lovely to train in short sleeves whilst it´s raining at home in the UK, and I´m aware that some of you have used the swimming pools located in Las Sierras.

(Will) That’s correct. The weather has been fantastic throughout the camp and we have also enjoyed the swimming pool in the evenings. Water was a bit cold, but still great compared to the UK!
(Jose) As other activities on top of cricket, you have had an “Introduction to Golf” session at the Golf Academy and also a night out at the nearby village Garrucha.

(Will) I´m happy that we did those. Golf was loads of fun and all the boys loved it; actually next year there could be more golf sessions added to the Camp or an optional golf round. Also, I liked the visit to the spanish village whilst we were here in Spain.

(Jose) Talking about cricket, this is your second year attending the Cheltenham College Training Camp at Desert Springs. Why do you think that it´s so important to attend in order to improve your cricket skills?

(Will) In the UK we only get about 2 hours of proper cricket training per week and sometimes we have to do indoor training due to the weather. However, here we have 2 full sessions per day and the intensive training scheduled in 4 days equals the training of months at home!

Click here to find out about Cheltenham College Junior School:

Neil Pullen reporting on his group of 8 golfers stay in the Colonial Apartments at the Desert Springs Resort with golf on The Indiana course between 4th – 8th April, 2012.

Hi Sandra,

Thanks for your e-mail.

I am very pleased to say we all had a wonderful time at Desert Springs. We were very pleased with the accommodation which was close enough to all the facilities. The golf course is in exceptional condition and we thoroughly enjoyed it. I would like to make special mention of your staff who were extremely helpful and accommodating in all areas of the resort. A special mention to young Michael and Dimetri who looked after us especially well.

Our group travel regularly in Europe and are booked later this year for a golfing trip to Portugal but we will be looking at your offers for short breaks during this year and next so we will definitely be back.

I very much look forward to our return.

Many thanks

Neil

I met with Patricia Heath (Warwick, UK), student from the Neil Evans International Golf School, for an informal interview to receive her feed-back on the whole experience at Desert Springs Resort and how she felt the Golf School Training Camp at Desert Springs held between Friday 30th – Wednesday 4th April, 2012 had gone.

Neil Evans Golf Scool at Desert Springs

(Jose) How would you rate the overall experience at the Resort?
(Patricia) Definitely it is an experience to repeat. I would recommend a Golf Camp at Desert Springs to anyone as this is my second year and I´m looking forward to coming back.

(Jose) The relationship with our clientele is important for us at Desert Springs, has the staff service been appropriate so far?
(Patricia) Service is excellent, with special attention to the Caddy Masters as they were always very helpful and nice.

(Jose) I’m aware that you have used one of the Colonial Apartments located in Las Sierras.
(Patricia) That is correct. I know that the Apartment where I have been allocated is privately owned and it is very well furnished.

Las Sierras luxury colonial apartments at Desert Springs.

(Jose) Is there anything else that you would like to comment?
(Patricia) I have been on Golf Camps to other destinations such as Portugal, and I find that Desert Springs is as good as any other venues I could possibly visit.

Find out more about:

The Belfry Training Camp

Alistar Davies returned to the Desert Springs Resort for the second consecutive year with a squad of 10 pupils for a warm weather pre-season training camp between 26th – 29th March 2012.

The group were accommodated in luxury colonial apartments at Desert Springs.

Desert Springs Golf Operations Manager, José Ignacio Olea met with Alistair Davies to receive his feed back on how the training camp had gone. 

Alistair remarked:
“Once again, as last year, the whole Desert Springs experience was very good, the staff throughout are all very helpful; everyone is always willing to assist us and make our stay one of convenience.

I selected to return once again to Desert Springs mainly due to the level of service we are provided with and the quality of the practice facilities at the Golf Academy and the course itself which provide a great place for a training camp.

Furthermore, the resort is not concentrated on volume traffic but rather quality, and this provides the perfect training environment for us to benefit from.”

Find out more about:

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Email of thanks following the Tri Dynamic Joe Friel Andalucia Training Camp.

Hi Carmen and Daniel,

I hope you are both well. We have come back to a heat wave in the UK which is a nice surprise! Just to say thank you to you both for helping us have our most enjoyable and successful event to date. You and your team were amazing and helpful and both myself and Joe Friel were very impressed with the set up at Desert Springs and would like to come back.

Joe Friel (left) is an endurance sports coach best known as an elite triathlon and cycling coach as well as the author of The Triathlete’s Training Bible, The Cyclist’s Training Bible, The Mountain Biker’s Training Bible, Going Long: Training for Ironman-Distance Triathlons, and Your First Triathlon.

Kind regards,
Martin Boddie
Director
Tri Dynamic Ltd
Find out more about Tri Dynamic:

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Reporting on the visit of Bryne Fotballklubb for their official Warm Weather Winter Training Camp.

Bryne Football Club Team Manager Tommy Bergersen, five coaches and his squad of 23 players– which currently competes in the first division of the Norwegian Football League, returned to the Desert Springs Football Academy established at the Desert Springs Resort in Almeria, south east Spain for their fourth consecutive year, to complete their 4 daywarm weather winter training programme between Tuesday 06th – Saturday 10th March.

Pictured during warm weather football training at the Desert Springs Football Academy are players from Norway’s first division Bryne Fotballklubb.

Tommy Bergersen, Bryne Fotballklubb (Football) Manager

I met with Bryne Football Club Manager, Tommy Bergersen, for an informal meeting to receive his views and opinion on how he felt the visit to Desert Springs Resort had gone.

Speaking of the teams experience at Desert Springs, Tommy Bergersen remarked:

“As always, the resort accommodation was excellent and very comfortable, the quality of the food was perfect and special thanks for the “Special Dinner Menu” on our final evening and also the special attention given for the two birthdays that were celebrated during our stay!

The quality of the football pitch was as we have come to expect, excellent, and the introduction of the new portable goal was very useful.

The new layout of the gym facilities at the Sierra Sports Club is a great improvement as it has allowed us more space for floor exercises for the players.

The Resort staff were all very friendly and helpful. Two of us had required medication whilst we have been here and a member of staff has been to the chemist, picked it up and delivered it to us. This is the kind of service that makes Desert Springs so special, and that’s why we come back every year.

We definitely would like to return next year and we will be in contact with you towards the end of the year for a quotation. I am also aware that Carmen has contacted a number of other teams in Norway and they have been in contact with me personally asking my opinion on the Resort and facilities. I believe that you will have enquiries from them for 2013 Training Camps!”

Apartments at Las Sierras used for accommodating Bryne Football Club.

The Bryne players 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 in the resort’s tworestaurants – the award-winning El Torrente and the Croc Restaurant, part of the family-friendly Crocodile Club.

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Neil Evans, Director of the Neil Evans International Golf School, commenting on his group of 10 golfers golf break at Desert Springs Resort & Golf Club between 19th – 24th February, 2012.

We have run many holidays to another resort and this was our first to Desert Springs. We were nervous but had no need to be. Our customers have loved being here and so have we – Here is to many more successful trips!


Neil Evans

Phil McCormick’s views on his families golfing holiday in a three bedroom Country Villa at the Desert Springs Resort & Golf Club between 19th – 26th February, 2012.

Hi Sandra

We had a great stay at Desert Springs and we all enjoyed our golf holiday.

All the staff were great with us during our short stay. The Villa was very well equipped and we found everything excellent as regards to cleanliness and servicing of the villa.

The golf course itself is a seriously hard test of golf and we had used the week as a pre season warm up session for our son who plays off plus 2 handicap and is hoping to join the professional ranks at the end of this year. He managed a 5 under par round of 66 during the week so it’s a good start to the season for him.

Thanks to everyone at Desert Springs, we will see you next year.

Kind Regards

Phil, Ann and James McCormick

Ricky Willison, Director of Golf at Ealing Golf Club, commenting on his group of 11 golfers golf break at Desert Springs Resort & Golf Club between 23rd – 26th February, 2012.

Hi Sandra

It was excellent!

Carmen & the rest of the reception staff, the Bar staff & the Caddie store staff, are without doubt, the best I have come across in 35 years in golf!

Ricky Willinson on The Indiana course at Desert Springs

The Golf course is always in great condition, so credit to Anthony and his team.

You should be very proud & we will be back soon.

Many thanks

Ricky Willison
Director of Golf
Ealing Golf Club

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Les Kennady reporting on his group of 3 golfers stay in a two bedroom Colonial Apartment at the Desert Springs Resort which included 6 rounds on The Indiana course between 6th – 13th February, 2012.

Hi Jennie,

I would just like to say thanks to everyone at Almanzora for our recent break at Desert Springs, as always we thoroughly enjoyed it.

We’re planning another trip for October this year and I would like to get some costs together if possible.  

Your recent letter referring to the 5% discount for return visits served as a timely reminder!

Kind regards,

Les Kennady

I met with Jeremy Bennet, Golf Instructor of the Golf Union of Wales, for an informal meeting to receive his feed-back on how he felt the Golf Union of Wales female squad warm weather winter training camp at Desert Springs held between Tuesday 14th – Tuesday 21st February, 2012 had gone.

Golf Union of Wales Female Squad Winter Training Camp at Desert Springs

(Jose) How did you find Desert Springs after your last visit?  
(Jeremy) Excellent as before. Desert Springs is very well known for maintaining top standards year round.

(Jose) Were the practice facilities / golf course / staff service appropriate?
(Jeremy) The golf course was in great condition, and the practice facilities were superb as always. The staff couldn´t be more helpful, they were simply excellent!

(Jose) How could we improve your experience?
(Jeremy) Nothing to add really.

(Jose) Why is Desert Springs the selected venue for your Squad?
(Jeremy) During several years in the golf industry I have tried and tested various venues. Desert Springs has all the ingredients that we need for a proper Training Camp.

(Jose) Would you recommend Desert Springs to others?
(Jeremy) No doubt. Anyone coming to Desert Springs for Golf Training would be pleased with his/her selection.

Jeremy Bennet
Golf Coach, Golf Union of Wales
Find out more about the Golf Union of Wales:

David Wheeler reporting on the Hampshire PGA visit on the 6th February, 2012.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I wanted to thank everyone at Desert Springs for the warm and attentive welcome extended to the Hampshire PGA party on Monday 6th February.

Everyone enjoyed the day and I hope that our Overseas Pro-Am will return to Desert Springs in the near future.

Many thanks once again.

David Wheeler
Secretary
Hampshire PGA

Paul Clarke reporting on his group of 4 golfers stay in a four bedroom Country Cottage at the Desert Springs Resort & Golf Club which included 7 rounds on The Indiana course and their experience between 27th January, 2011 – 4th February, 2012.

Hi Sandra

Thanks for the email.

We all thought that the staff made our vacation (and of-course the golf course).

They all made us feel very welcome and gave the right level of attention.

The food was very nice too!

I look forward to the day when I’m driving past the orange trees on my way to the resort.

Hope to see you again soon.

Paul

Email of thanks from El Pueblito de Alfaix for a Lunch attended by a party of their guests in ‘El Torrente’ Restaurant at the Desert Springs Resort.

Hi Ellie,

Many thanks for providing such a lovely welcome and meal for our guests.

They thoroughly enjoyed it and have asked that we include Desert Springs on the itinerary for next year’s visit.

The bondholders were here on the site enjoying a Bridge theme week and will be returning next year in March time.

Many thanks once again,

Tracey
El Pueblito de Alfaix

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Tanja Slater, former Triathlete and GB Team cyclist, brought her Up & Active holiday group to Desert Springs over the New Year holidays.

Hi Daniel,

I would like to thank you for your help with our stay at Desert Springs over New Year; we were the cycling group.  Thanks for helping us with the Internet connection over the week and we all really enjoyed the stay and New Year at the Crocodile Club.  The group had a great time and a fun and relaxing stay with sport of course! We hope to bring a bigger group next year as we had such a good time.

I just wanted to pass on that Dimitry really made our week. We have a great most nights in the Crocodile club and he was always friendly, looked after us and made sure we had everything we needed. He would talk with us but also left us to talk with ourselves as well.

Ellie also looked after us at the restaurant and made us welcome and managed to fit us in late when the restaurant was full.

Hope to see you again as I am back in February.

Tanja Slater
Founder of Up & Active Training Camps

Find out more about Up & Active.com:

Following the “Bubbles & Bubbles” Day Spa break during the Golf 4 Women Winter Golf Festival, November 14th-19th, 2011

Dear Karen,

We had a great ‘Bubbles & Bubbles’ day at the Spa, chatting in the hot tub, drinking champagne in the warm sunny secluded garden talking through the previous days rounds of golf and then Karen massaging away the aches and pains. We enjoyed the pampering time so much that we have already booked our day when we return to Desert Springs in November.

Lynne Taylor – Captain of the Silverettes Golf Team

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Following a Bubble & Bubbles Christmas Pamper at the Day Spa with her daughters Victoria & Charlotte (a Christmas gift from Denise to her daughters).

Hello Karen,

Happy New year!

Just wanted to thank you for our lovely Bubbles and Bubbles Experience! We so enjoyed it…

It was my second visit to the Spa as having enjoyed the experience with my elder daughter in April, we decided to spoil ourselves again at Christmas after the festivities, bringing my other Daughter too.

I believe that this is going to become a family ritual when the girls come to stay!

It is such good value for money in lovely surroundings, how could we not wish to relive the experience!

Thank you again and see you soon!

Best regards, Denise Cooley, Albox

Email of thanks from Robin & Loraine Martin who attended the Christmas Day Lunch at ‘El Torrente’ restaurant at the Desert Springs Resort.

Dear Ellie

Thanks very much for your warm wishes and the great Christmas day you gave us at El Torrente, we and our guests enjoyed our meal and the great atmosphere you and your staff created.

We look forward to visiting Desert Springs again very soon.

Warm Regards

Robin and Loraine Martin

Email of thanks from Robert & Nicky Holmes who attended the New Years Eve Dinner at ‘El Torrente’ restaurant at the Desert Springs Resort.

Dear Ellie

Many thanks for your email … It was great to see you as always.

Nicky and I had a great time thanks to you and the wonderful team that looked after us on New Years eve !

We thought you did a fab job as usual … It makes it all worthwhile for us to
visit Desert Springs as often as possible.

Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Rob and Nicky x

Email of thanks from Gary Phillips who attended the New Years Eve Dinner at ‘El Torrente’ restaurant at the Desert Springs Resort.

Ellie

The thanks are due to you and the team for making our visit so much fun ..it was really great.

The whole family really appreciated all your efforts.

Happy 2012 to you too.

By the way do you have to call me Mr Phillips ? I much prefer Gary !

Regards,

Gary Phillips