Quinta Do Lago North Course Ready to Host 2014 Telegraph BMW Junior Golf Championship

The UK’s new generation of up-and-coming golf stars are set for a treat at Quinta do Lago next month after it was confirmed that the 2014 Telegraph BMW Junior Golf Championship will take place on the resort’s eagerly-awaited redeveloped North Course.

The 21 finalists will be among the first golfers to play the €9.6m new layout when the 54-hole strokeplay event is held at the prestigious Algarve resort for the second year in a row from October 8-10.

The highly-regarded event is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, with the field of 12 boys and nine girls competing for the chance to succeed 2013 champions Ashton Turner and Alice Hewson.

The totally revamped North Course has been redesigned by renowned American architect Beau Welling in close collaboration with Paul McGinley, and the 2014 European Ryder Cup captain will be on hand to officially open the new development just 24 hours before the tournament starts.

John Dwyer, chief executive of Quinta do Lago, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the final for the second successive year in what is a very important year both for the event and our resort.

“The redeveloped North Course is part of a significant investment programme that is being undertaken at Quinta do Lago and I think the juniors will be blown away by what they see. The course is very different but very playable and is a real challenge, and we’re looking forward to welcoming the finalists next month.”

The two Telegraph winners in Portugal will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of former finalists who, in previous years, have included the likes of 2013 US Open champions Justin Rose, Tom Lewis, Tommy Fleetwood, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Melissa Reid, Hayley Davis and Carly Booth.

Hundreds of qualifying rounds have been staged at clubs across the UK throughout the summer, with this year’s group of finalists including the winners of a new under-14 nett competition for boys and girls.

One of the most talked about development projects in Europe in 2014, Quinta do Lago’s North Course has been built to the highest specifications with a major investment programme and is in line to become the new number one course at the prestigious family resort.

The layout has been revamped with the emphasis firmly on precision and strategy. While many modern-day developments tend to focus on length, Welling and McGinley have been keen to design a golfing experience where accuracy and course management are the key factors, and a course that is playable and fun for golfers of all abilities.

Among the changes introduced on the par-72, 6,776-yard course, which has been closed since last December, all greens, tees, bunkers, irrigation, drainage systems and cart paths have been rebuilt using the latest state-of-the-art technology, with four sets of tees introduced on each hole to accommodate players of all levels. 

McGinley said: “This has been a very exciting project to be involved in and Beau and I are very proud of what we have created.

“I’ve been coming to Quinta do Lago with my family for many years now and it keeps getting better and better. The new design will test golfers in many different ways and I believe this is a great addition to Europe’s leading destination.”

Set amongst 2,000 acres of the picturesque Ria Formosa Natural Park, Quinta do Lago is one of the most highly regarded golf and residential developments in Europe since opening in 1972.

From the outset, the resort has been at the forefront of European golf with three 18-hole championship courses matched by outstanding practice facilities including a Paul McGinley Golf Academy and new TaylorMade Fitting Center. Away from the fairways, there is plenty to keep everyone occupied, with events, tennis, cycling and watersports just some of the extensive leisure activities available.

For further information on Quinta do Lago and its facilities, phone + 351 289 390 700 or visit www.quintadolago.com.