Regarded as the authority on European golf courses and resorts, Golf World compiled a team of international experts to update its biennial ranking of continental Europe’s best layouts.
The highest-placed European Tour Properties course is the stunning Stadium layout at PGA Catalunya Resort, Girona, in north-eastern Spain, with a final positioning of 7th. Also making the top 20 are Dave Thomas’ beautiful Chateau design at Terre Blanche Hotel Spa & Golf Resort***** in the Provençal hills, near the French Riviera (15th) and Robert Trent Jones’ spectacular links-style layout at TROIA Resort, Lisbon, Portugal (17th).
David MacLaren, Head of European Tour Properties, commented:
2017 HNA Open de France host and 2018 Ryder Cup venue, L’Albatros course at Le Golf National, Paris – described by Golf World as “a thrill-a-minute modern course that guarantees a memorable experience” – is ranked 32nd. European Tour Properties’ latest addition, Spain’s Finca Cortesin, places at 42nd. The ever-popular and recently renovated Algarve duo of Quinta do Lago South and North are ranked 56th and 93rd respectively.
Kyle Phillips’ Sicilian masterpiece Verdura East, which successfully hosted May’s Rocco Forte Open, is 61st, with its sister West course, which donated nine holes to the tournament layout, highlighted as a Key Contender just missing the list. Tree-lined Linna Golf, Finland, is 96th, with Colin Montgomerie’s Maxx Royal, Belek, Turkey, praised as the second key contender.
European Tour Properties is a global collection of 25 elite golfing venues, each one chosen for its ability to deliver a tour-level experience to the visitor both on and off the course. “Whenever a panellist visits one of these venues they know they will be assessing a course and club of a certain calibre,” said Chris Bertram, editor of Golf World’s Continental European Top 100.
“The fact European Tour Properties members form almost a tenth of the entire Top 100 is testament to the quality of the venues. In what was a searingly competitive ranking this time, the fact there were two further courses that could easily have made the main list illustrates the strength in depth of the collection.”
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PGA Catalunya Resort - 7th
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Terre Blanche Hotel Spa and Golf Resort - 15th
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Troia Resort - 17th
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Finca Cortesin Hotel Spa and Golf - 42nd
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Quinta do Lago South - 56th
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Verdura Resort - 61st
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Quinta do Lago North - 93rd
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Linna Golf - 96th
To find out more about European Tour Properties, visit www.europeantourdestinations.com
To book a golf break to venues within the European Tour Properties network, visit The European Tour Travel Club website: http://www.golfbreaks.com/european-tour-properties/
