PGA Golf Catalunya voted No.3 in Top 20 European Courses

(Girona, Spain … March 3, 2009) PGA Golf Catalunya, the acclaimed 36-hole golf resort near Barcelona and host to the 2009 Spanish Open, April 30-May 3, has been confirmed as one of Europe’s top golfing venues in a new course rankings survey.

The UK’s Golf Monthly announced this week that PGA Golf Catalunya ranked 3rd in its inaugural Top 20 European Courses, voted for by the magazine’s senior staff, contributors and a panel of readers.

The accolade was awarded to the resort’s Stadium Course (formerly known as The Green Course), originally developed by the European Tour to host the 1997 Ryder Cup, but whose construction was delayed, eventually opening in 1999 in time to host the Sarazen World Open won by Thomas Bjorn.

The estate, which is under the same ownership as Portugal’s Quinta do Lago, and which will soon privately release its first phase of exclusive residences, has caught the eye of the golfing world in recent months.

In November 2008, following filming of the European Tour’s Qualifying School Final Stage, European Tour Productions Senior Producer Tim Lacy said in an e-mail to European Ryder Cup Director Richard Hills that PGA Golf Catalunya was “the most photogenic golf course” he and his team of experienced cameramen had ever filmed.

Those comments followed the publication earlier last year of the influential Peugeot Golf Guide in which PGA Golf Catalunya was awarded a rating of 18 out of 20 for the Stadium Course, equal second highest ranking among all Spanish golf courses, with the Tour Course, which co-hosted Q School Final Stage, securing a place among the Top 1,000 Courses in Europe.

Juan del Río, CEO of PGA Golf de Catalunya, said: “Since it opened 10 years ago, the Stadium Course has consistently ranked among the top 10 courses in Europe. Along with the Tour Course, we are very proud of our golf courses and the first class experience we deliver for every visitor.

“We are making some significant enhancements to PGA Golf Catalunya in 2009, including the construction of a limited number of luxury dwellings. Combined with our new clubhouse, which has just opened, we feel we are well on the way to achieving our goal of making this the finest golfing estate in Europe.”

PGA Golf Catalunya, with its outstanding, stylish hotel, also commands a fantastic location. The resort is just an hour north of Barcelona, 20 minutes’ drive from the glorious sandy beaches and rocky coves of the Costa Brava, and 90 minutes’ drive from the nearest Pyrenees ski resort.

What’s more, Barcelona Girona Airport is just 10 minutes from the resort, with Barcelona International Airport (55 minutes) also providing easy access from across Europe, ensuring golfers from the UK and Ireland, Germany, Scandinavia, The Netherlands, France and Italy can enjoy one of Europe’s finest golf venues. (See details below for golf packages.)

• For information, offers and tee time bookings, visit: www.pgacatalunya.com