News

Cloudless skies, idyllic Mediterranean temperatures and the historic bay of Navarino provided the perfect setting for more record-breaking action as the Legends Tour made a successful return to Costa Navarino. Former Major winners Paul Lawrie and Michael Campbell headlined an international line-up for the 54-hole tournament in Greece. Last year’s inaugural event featured a number of low-scoring performances and two course records and this year’s tournament followed a similar path, with 1999 Open champion Lawrie carding a superb record ten-under 62 on The Hills Course in the second round to take a one-stroke lead into the last day ahead of Peter Baker. Lawrie started well on the International Olympic Academy Golf  Course with a birdie on the first hole, but Baker took over the lead on the fourth hole, cruising to an eventual six-shot victory from Germany’s Thomas Gögele and James Kingston from South Africa. Baker said: “I’m absolutely delighted. It was a tough day and we had to adapt and I managed to do that early on. I played nicely and putted nicely. It was just one of those days when you try not to make any mistakes, and I didn’t drop a shot all week, which is a massive thing, really. “I want to contend for the Order of Merit again. I want to try and play well throughout the year and win tournaments. “It was fantastic to be back in Greece at Costa Navarino. I visited for the first time last year and everything is just as good as I remember. The courses are in great condition, the hotels and hospitality are first class, and the people are so friendly. It’s a great place to play golf.” This year’s tournament was played over two of the four courses at Costa Navarino, with the first and third rounds taking place on the International Olympic Academy Golf Course and the second on The Hills Course, with both layouts designed by José María Olazábal. Players and guests chose for their stay one of the destination’s five-star resorts: The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort, W Costa Navarino, Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino, enjoying genuine hospitality and a rich offering of authentic local experiences. Joakim Haeggman, one of seven former Ryder Cup players who were in the line-up of 60 players from 16 different countries, commented on the destination following another memorable week. The Swede said: “The weather was superb, and the golf courses were once again in immaculate condition. A lot of players bring their families here and they do so for one good reason; this is probably the best place that we come to through all the summer.” Defending champion Clark Dennis added: “I’d never been to Greece before last year. We spent a couple days in Athens, which was great, with the history and so much to see. Then we came to Costa Navarino and it’s incredible here. Great hotels and four absolutely sensational golf courses. The restaurants are great and there’s a real

 La Hacienda Links Golf Resort provided a stellar stage for the Gasol Foundation Golf Invitational as star golfers and passionate amateurs including tennis legend Rafael Nadal united against the threats posed by childhood obesity. Taking place from June 19-22, the tournament saw players tee off on both of the resort’s championship courses – the Links and the Heathland – and bask in the luxury of the five-star Fairmont La Hacienda Costa del Sol Hotel, which opened earlier in 2025. Among the stars lining up alongside Gasol – a six-time NBA All-Star and one of the greatest European basketball players of all time – were tennis great Nadal, winner of 22 Grand Slam titles, and of top Spanish golfers Ángel Hidalgo, Ángel Ayora, Andrea Revuelta and Paula Martín. Spanish footballers past and present including Alvaro Morata, Marcos Alonso and Artiz Aduriz were among the other star names to support the hugely successful event, which began with a ceremonial shot hit from a historic bunker dating back to World War Two and concluded with a glittering gala dinner and prize auction which raised €116,000 for charity. A keen golfer, Gasol and his team of Revuelta, Adri Arnaus and Rudy Fernández were in contention to take the top prize throughout before eventually having to settle for second place behind the winning quartet of Hidalgo, César Penalva, Pablo Masilla and Juan Delgado. Providing the setting for the action was La Hacienda Links Golf Resort, one of the rising stars of European golf which has gone from strength to strength in recent years thanks to a significant period of investment. The venue’s flagship Links course, which offers unique views of the Mediterranean, Gibraltar and Africa was elevated by architect Kurtis Bowman in a major redesign three years ago; the neighbouring Heathland layout has benefitted from a renovation of its own in recent years to create one of Europe’s greatest 36-hole golf venues. In 2024, one of the resort’s most eye-catching additions – an opulent new halfway house – was named the industry’s best at the annual World Golf Awards. Gasol said: “With this team, we’ve set the bar very high for our first edition. I’m very excited that this event will become a benchmark for continuing to grow in promoting healthy habits and giving that opportunity to children who don’t currently have it.” Nadal, a keen golfer, added: “Those of us who have been fortunate enough to have a privileged life are obligated not only to contribute to our foundations, but also to motivate and inspire others to do their part and make this world a better place. “My passion for golf began because it was the only sport I could play without risking injury, but it’s a sport that has something unique about it. Today we played with two incredible players, Paula and Andrea. They can’t be compared to us, but we can have a good time despite the difference in skill level; that doesn’t happen in any other sport.” Javier Jimenez Casquet, director

Opened in 2008, this 27-hole championship golf complex was created by Robert Trent Jones II. Situated on 450 acres of rolling countryside in the Djursland region of Denmark, the course consists of three 9-hole loops – Sand, Sky and Forest. Each course offers a different experience, with challenges ranging from water hazards to bunkers to undulating greens. When it first opened it earned the title of ‘best new golf course in the world’ from Golf Magazine, and has since remained one of the best in Europe, with Top100golfcourses.com ranking it as the 42nd best in Continental Europe. Carl Aage Nielsen, owner of Lübker Golf Resort, said: “Following the hosting of the DP World Tour’s Danish Golf Championship in 2024, we are looking forward to strengthening our links with the European Tour Group and building a golf legacy at the resort.” “2024 was a very exciting year for us as in addition to hosting a DP World tournament, we were also very pleased to receive a World Golf Award for being Denmark’s Best Golf Course. Whilst the 2024 tournament was the first major competition at Lübker, the venue has hosted several other tournaments and events, including the Nordic Golf League and the European Challenge Tour.” “The resort, on-site accommodation and private real estate ensure there is a vibrant community feel within the resort. Ask any golfer to name a golf course in Denmark and Lübker will be the first thing they say. We work hard at ensuring our guests have an enjoyable experience and leave wanting to return.” Ian Knox, Head of European Tour Destinations, added: “We look forward to working closely with Carl Aage and his team to capitalise on the benefits of Lübker Golf Resort hosting the DP World Tour Danish Golf Championship 2024 and continuing to elevate the venue as one of Europe’s top destinations.” Hear from Hans Knudsen, the resort’s General Manager, who explains the decision…

In the luxury real estate market, first impressions matter – but second, third and fourth impressions help close deals. Here, Sandra Ruttle, Real Estate Consultant for European Tour Destinations, demonstrates how retargeting can help venues increase conversion rates of up to 150% . Targeting strategies aren’t new to real estate marketing. So, what added value does retargeting deliver? Targeting methods and techniques seek to identify and reach your most relevant audiences, with the right message, at the right time. However, in today’s busy and congested digital space, potential buyers very rarely convert on the first ad they see or the initial exploratory look at your website. Real estate agents therefore need to re-engage these potential clients in order to drive qualified traffic back to exclusive listings and increase conversion rates. By retargeting individuals who have previously interacted with your website or your social accounts but have not yet converted, you significantly enhance brand recall, nurture warm leads and boost opportunities for return on investment. How does retargeting work? From personalised, data-driven ad strategies to tracking pixels and automation, retargeting offers a discreet yet powerful way to stay top-of-mind with discerning clients. An example of retargeting is when you look at a car online, then subsequently see digital ads for that same brand appear whenever you’re online. In real estate, this can translate into a potential seller making a home valuation on your website. With a Meta Pixel installed, you can capture valuable data into the visitor’s activity on your website and leverage that information to retarget tailored Facebook and/or Instagram ads to that user. Since the potential seller visits Facebook daily, they now start to see your retargeting ads promoting your real estate services more frequently, keeping your brand top-of-mind and driving conversions as they move through the sales funnel. And, for venues that are part of the European Tour Destinations network, they can benefit from additional retargeting opportunities, namely through our own social media channels, via our website, newsletters, etc. increasing the potential to reach appropriate audiences. What is the success rate of retargeting? Retargeting consistently outperforms standard display ads: ● Retargeted customers are three times more likely to click on ads than new prospects ● Prospects engaged through retargeting are 70% more likely to convert ● Retargeting ads have an average CPC (cost per click) of half that of search ads However, just being seen again and repeating the same message to an audience that has already shown interest is not enough. You need to say the right thing the second – and third and fourth – time around. So, developing personalised and compelling ad content that resonates with the potential buyers is crucial for the success of retargeting campaigns. It is about deepening the emotional connection at every touchpoint and aligning with the potential buyer’s intent and their position in the sales funnel. For example, a visitor who viewed a luxury villa overlooking a golf course could be served a video walkthrough in the retargeting ad, while

The collection and analysis of data has also gathered pace. However, it has been the use of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, which centralise this information, help streamline teams and processes, and ultimately allow for improved customer service, that is transforming how venues operate and engage with their customers. The assumption that CRM systems are for big destinations with substantial IT budgets is a myth. Simple CRM is beneficial for any venue, allowing it to track interactions with customers, automate email and SMS outreach and provide valuable insights into member behaviour. The opportunity these systems present to deliver a seamless, personalised customer journey is huge – and destinations embracing CRM are powering ahead of their competitors. Personalisation at scale The objective is to ensure convenience, personalisation and efficiency at every touchpoint for a venue’s members and guests. From the moment they visit a website to book a stay or a tee time, to the time they leave, their journey should be seamless. Good CRM can provide information such as a guest’s preferred tee time, their favourite post-round drink and their playing history. Not only can this information help offer a more tailored experience, it can also enable you to segment customer profiles and then create bespoke marketing campaigns and offers that feel curated just for them. The possibilities for automation within CRM systems are also endless. For example, venues could introduce automated engagement triggers, such as an email to a member who has not booked a tee time in the last 30 days, or create a sales funnel that syncs with the CRM system to keep all data in one place. Measuring satisfaction In the past, measuring customer satisfaction was more often than not left to chance – a conversation here or an email there – and reacting to it was inconsistent. These days it is a critically important element in optimising the experience at your venue – and it’s something that can also be incorporated into a CRM system. For example, a club might send an automated survey to someone after a visit, asking them to rate course condition, customer service and facilities, as well as how likely they are to recommend the venue to a friend. This data can be added to CRM data, allowing you to then tag or segment members or visitors based on their feedback, and triggering specific actions. So, a low satisfaction score could notify a staff member to follow up personally, while a high score could trigger a thank you message and a referral reward. Data and tournaments It is not just clubs and resorts who are using data and technology to elevate their offering. The DP World Tour’s new business model and strategic plan for tournaments relies on data and insights to inform event decision-making and improve outcomes for host venues, sponsors and stakeholders alike. Analysing data – such as ticket sales or the cost of staging an event – removes guesswork and emotion from the decision-making process and helps identify patterns