Scottish Golf Union Boys & Girls International Squad members during their annual 5-day intensive winter training camp 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, Andalucía in south-east Spain.
Five officials from the Scottish Golf Union accompanied eight boys and nine girls for their annual 5 days of warm weather winter training at the Desert Springs Resort between Monday 10th – Friday 14th February.
“Great facilities that were in excellent condition.
Desert Springs Resort is a great venue to practice your golf all year round!”
That is the verdict of 14-year-old Hazel MacGarvie, one of the Scottish Girls International Squad members.
From Left to Right – Scottish Ladies National Coach Kevin Craggs, Laura Carey, Scottish Golf Union National Performance Coach, Neil Marr & Scottish Performance Development Manager Kevin Cademy Taylor.
The training camp utilised the excellent practice facilities at the Desert Springs Golf Academy where the Scottish Golf Union Coaches were able provide one-to-one tuition and take advantage of the use of the Desert Springs short game academy.
Scottish Golf Union Squad members work on their putting technique at the Short Game Academy.
Scottish Golf Union Squad members work on their chipping technique at the Short Game Academy.
Kevin Craggs, Scottish Golf Union Ladies National Coach commented:
“The SLGA National Coaching Programme is aimed at providing a supporting role that contributes towards the development of team and individual skills, deemed necessary to boost performance standards. This can only be achieved when the learning environment facilitates players and support staff needs. The Desert Springs facility is of high professional and commercial standards, giving players the ideal opportunity and environment to develop their skills.”
A Scottish Golf Union Girls National Squad member plays their Tee shot on Hole 2 “Gulch” on the Indiana course at Desert Springs, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course in the Almanzora region of Almeria, Andalucía in south-east Spain.
Murray Naysmith, 16-year-old Scottish Golf Union Boys Squad member remarked of his experience at Desert Springs:
“I really enjoyed playing the Indiana course and using the golf academy practice facilities at Desert Springs because they were both in excellent condition!”
A Scottish Golf Union Boys National Squad member plays their approach shot on Hole 15 “Abyss” on the Indiana course at Desert Springs, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course in the Almanzora region of Almeria, Andalucía in south-east Spain.
A Scottish Golf Union Boys National Squad member plays their Tee shot on Hole 4 “Cinch” on the Indiana course at Desert Springs, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course in the Almanzora region of Almeria, Andalucía in south-east Spain.
Kevin Cademy Taylor – Scottish Golf Union Performance Development Manager remarked:
“Our Scottish Golf Performance Camp at Desert Springs provided us with access to a top class golf course and facilities we required for an effective delivery of all aspects of Performance Golf. All facilities were in super condition with professional staff on hand at all times with no request being a problem. Their support during the camp really enhanced our experience. I would defiantly return back to Desert Springs, many thanks again for everything.”
Accommodation for the Scottish Golf Union players and coaches was provided in the Apartments available at Desert Springs.
- For details of Golf & Sports Training Camps, Corporate Golf Events and Meetings at Desert Springs call 01242 680 116 or visit the website, www.almanzora.com
- To find out more about the Scottish Golf Union visit the website www.scottishgolf.org/
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 National Teams and Schools with their own golf academies and teams, currently estimated at around 90 in the UK. In addition to the Scottish Golf Union International Boys & Girls squad members, visiting groups have included the National Squad of the Golf Union of Wales, Irish Ladies Golf Union, golfing pupils from Hartpury College Golf School, Lee Westwood Golf Academy, Darren Clarke 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 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, townhouses 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;
- Cricket Academy training facilities 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
e: tag@almanzora.co.uk
