CHANCE TO STAY AT LA MANGA AND PLAY IN SEVE CHARITY STABLEFORD

NEWS RELEASE FROM LA MANGA CLUB

Severiano Ballesteros had a long-standing association with the five-star La Manga Club and the Spanish resort is set to stage a new annual charity tournament next month in honour of the golfing legend.

Taking place on Sunday, June 16, the Severiano Ballesteros Foundation Challenge is an 18-hole individual Stableford competition that will be played over La Manga Club’s famed South Course in aid of the charity named after the star, who lost his fight against cancer two years ago at the age of 54.

Raising money for research into brain cancer, the event costs €50 to enter, while golfers can enjoy a relaxing two-night stay at the award-winning venue including entry fee from €140 per person – based on two people sharing a room.

Ballesteros made his European Tour debut as a 17-year-old at La Manga Club in the 1974 Spanish Open – one of five successive years the resort held the prestigious tournament.

Gary Silcock, La Manga Club’s director of golf, said: “Seve Ballesteros played a major role in helping La Manga Club establish its name across Europe and it’s important the resort remembers somebody who was a legend not just in Spain but across the world.

“This new event offers golfers the chance to not only honour one of golf’s truly great players at a venue that he loved, but also raise money into valuable research against cancer and we are sure that everyone – whether they are members, locals or visitors – will get fully behind what promises to be a great day.”

With facilities including three 18-hole championship courses and a nine-hole academy course, and having hosted the Spanish Open five times, La Manga Club is regarded as one of Europe’s foremost sports destinations.

Under the guidance of Silcock, the resort, in Murcia, south-east Spain, has enjoyed an impressive start to 2013 which has included seeing its golf bookings from the UK rise by more than a third on the corresponding period last year.

In addition to staging the Spanish International Amateur Championship and Ladies Golf Cup, La Manga Club also hosted the ECCO Tour’s Nordic League Winter Series for a fourth time this spring, while next month will see some of football’s top names, both past and present, including Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish head to Spain to compete in the 17^th edition of the popular Addison Lee Footballers’ Classic.

La Manga Club boasts unrivalled facilities as a sport and leisure venue including three championship golf courses, a 28-court tennis academy and a 2,000m² spa and fitness centre. It also offers the choice of a five-star hotel, four-star serviced apartments and townhouses, more than 20 bars and restaurants and great fun for families.

For more information or to book call 00 34 968 17 5577, email reserve@lamangaclub.com or go to www.lamangaclub.com.