Future European Tour stars will be learning valuable lessons as part of an extensive training camp at the Algarve’s Amendoeira Golf Resort
February 19, 2020
Students aged 18-21 have enrolled at Tournament Golf College (TGC), which is in its 11th year, and is a combination of academic studies and golf development. There are also a variety of academic degrees available as course studies, with a view to a range of careers in the international golf industry. In addition to developing aspiring golf club managers, or providing the knowledge and experience to embark on other types of career in the industry, TGC also presents a golden opportunity for those with dreams of a playing career – as TGC graduate and Challenge Tour player, Ben Stow can confirm. Stow is one of several graduates boasting top-level tournament experience, with others like Tyler Hogarty, Harry Konig (winner on the MENA Tour and now a regular on the European Tour), and Robbie Busher also among those to have followed a similar path to competing in prestigious Tour events.
As part of the group’s studies, the first 11 weeks commencing in September are located at St Mellion in Cornwall, England before the cohort heads to the beautiful Algarve for the second half of the course. The 12-week training camp incorporates various intensive programmes and makes full use of Amendoeira’s two Championship courses, The Faldo and The O’Connor Jr, as well as the floodlit par-three Academy course. The exceptional all-round practice facilities are also used extensively, and Alex Lindsay, TGC‘s head of college, recently explained why Amendoeira is the perfect training location: ”We have used other resorts in the past but are delighted we are now based at Amendoeira for our training programmes. It’s ideal for us with the range of facilities, the combination of the par-3, and short-game practice area, together with the quality of the courses. Aside from the golf, we also have classrooms on site as well as the accommodation and all additional facilities we need.”
Situated near Guia in the central Algarve, and 35 minutes from Faro airport, Amendoeira is just a few kilometres from the stunning beaches of the area. Taking full advantage of the Algarve’s year-round sunshine, the Amendoeira Golf Resort is brimming with leisure facilities, including tennis courts, running trails, swimming pools and gym facilities. Undoubtedly, however, the two outstanding Championship golf courses – The Faldo and The O’Connor Jr – are its biggest draws, while a superb par-3, nine-hole course is also available for floodlit golf when the Algarve sun has finally set.
Tiago Francisco, director of golf at Amendoeira Golf Resort, has underlined his delight at hosting the TGC: “It’s a pleasure to welcome TGC to Amendoeira and a privilege to see such young talent, both as players of real potential and for those who will go on to enjoy successful careers elsewhere in the golf industry. We are sure they will learn some vital skills with us.”
With the Algarve being chosen to host yet another stellar golfing event, the area’s position as a world-famous golfing location is reinforced, and Amendoeira, as well as the region‘s golf industry in general, can be proud of its well-deserved, exalted status.