PGA SETTING UP
TRAINING
ACADEMIES IN
MURCIA, SPAIN
The PGA has announced it is setting up its first
overseas branded academies in mainland
Europe.
The move follows a new partnership with Spanish
golf property developer Calidona and will see the
development of four academies plus two new PGA-
branded courses in the south-east of the country at
Roda, Corvera, Ballabona and Alhama.
The newly-opened and De Vere-managed Roda Golfand Beach Resort, which includes a Dave Thomas designed lay-out, will feature state of the art video and custom-fit golf technology, alongside its 150-room five-star complex (which has still to be built).
Future projects will see the development of a PGAs
of Europe Training Academy and PGA Golf Academy
at Corvera Golf & Country Club. An added attraction of
Corvera will be a Jose Maria Olazabal-designed
course.
Plans for Ballabona will incorporate both an academy
and PGA Golf Course while the resort will be renamed
The PGA of Almeria.
PGA OF MURCIA
Lastly, Alhama will also carry both a PGA golf academy
and course and be known as the PGA of Murcia.
Bruno Dureux, Calidona’s Managing Director, pictured
above with PGA chief executive Sandy Jones, said:
“Calidona is one of the most outstanding promoters of
residential golf complexes in unique locations. Our
privileged location, in the Region of Murcia, ten minutes
away from the airport of San Javier and five minutes
from the Mediterranean Sea, makes it possible,
for players from all of Europe, to enjoy the practice of
golf 365 days of the year.”
ONLY THE BEGINNING
He added: “We hope that this is only the beginning of
a long partnership with the PGA and that in the not too
distant future we can share other professional challenges
together.”
PGA Chief Executive Sandy Jones said: “We’re
delighted to be forging close links with Calidona and
seeing the development of these world-class golf facilities
which will not only help the PGAs of Europe train
the golf professionals of the future but provide excellent
coaching opportunities for golfers of all abilities
and ages from juniors through to elite golfers.”.