Dom Pedro Hotels & Golf Collection has unveiled a new golf academy during a gala opening ahead of the Portugal Masters, as attendees were treated to an exclusive golf clinic with the 2017 champion Lucas Bjerregaard.
The top-of-the-range facility, which was built at a cost of £120,000, offers the latest equipment, including TrackMan 4, for lessons and custom fittings within the new Titleist Regional Fitting Centre. It will also be home to a dedicated Titleist Performance Institute Certified Instructor.
During the clinic, Bjerregaard, a two-time European Tour winner, said: “All amateur golfers should consider custom fitting, as small changes can make a big difference. Adding 15 yards to your tee shots or reducing strokes from your round, something as small as two grammes in weight can completely change your ball flight.”
Growing the game remains a key focus for Dom Pedro, and it has partnered with GolPhin to help drive participation in the region. Originally started in Scotland, the brand develops equipment designed specifically for beginners aged 3-12, which will be available onsite to help junior golfers get off to the best possible start with the right clubs and first-class tuition.
Golf lessons are available now and can be taken in small groups or individually. For those under 21, there will also be several weekly after-school classes as well as weekend tuition, in addition to a schedule of courses and programmes that will be run by the onsite professionals throughout the year.
The Dom Pedro Golf Academy will also be available to corporate groups and parties, where golf can be incorporated with instruction, tournaments and clinics.
Stefano Saviotti, chairman of Dom Pedro Hotels & Golf Collection, said: “This is a major step in our strategy for the future of Dom Pedro. We have established ourselves as one of Europe’s premier golf destinations for the calibre of our courses, but now we can offer first-class tuition too. Better still, we can now encourage juniors into the game, whether tourists or local kids. We cannot wait to get up and running – maybe we’ll even uncover a European Tour player of the future!”
The 18-hole, par 72 Pinhal Golf Course offers outstanding facilities for every standard of golfer and now, with the addition of the new academy, gives guests access to dedicated PGA professionals – with lessons also available at all four of Dom Pedro’s other venues in Vilamoura.
Simao da Cunha, Dom Pedro’s Head of Golf Operations, said: “We are committed to delivering a complete golf experience, no matter the standard of player and our new academy is the latest step in that journey. Not only is it one of the best in the region, we hope it will one day be considered one of the finest in Europe, delivering an expert junior programme that grows the game in the Algarve and becomes a hub for everyone in Portugal.”