Popular TV show Golf’s Greatest Holes is set for the premiere of its second season on April 11 on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, featuring 26 different courses, as well as numerous cultural and historical sites throughout Portugal.
Filming of the seven-part series was conducted at a collection of leading golf courses in the country, with hosts Paul McGinley and Chris Hollins playing iconic holes at Quinta do Lago among many of the country’s other famous golfing destinations.
The former Ryder Cup captain and TV presenter travelled from the Algarve to Cascais and Porto, to play exceptional courses such as Monte Rei, San Lorenzo, Vale do Lobo and Oitavos Dunes. The pair were reunited following the critical success of Season One in which they visited Paul’s native Ireland and neighbouring Northern Ireland.
“After the success of Season One, we couldn’t wait to get back out on the road together,” said Paul. “Portugal is a country close to my heart, so to be able to show off the fantastic array of courses here is a real privilege. This country has been somewhat a second home for me over the years, so being able to follow up Ireland with another destination I hold dear is really very special. We were greeted with clear blue skies and bright sunshine for the duration of our trip, which made filming that much more enjoyable.”
The headline sponsor of the second series is One Green Way Residences, a luxury golf residential development at Quinta do Lago, and asset management firm SPX Capital which has partnered with property developer Green Jacket Partners.
“One Green Way Residences is delighted to be involved with the series and we can’t wait to see Paul and Chris play Quinta do Lago when the show is broadcast,” said Daniel Schneider, founder of SPX Capital. “It is a great opportunity for golfers to see what a spectacular location and experience it is, and we look forward to welcoming visitors from around the world who want to enjoy everything that the Algarve has to offer,” he added.
With additional sponsors TaylorMade and AVIS on board, as well as returning sponsors Motocaddy and Fairway & Greene, Paul and Chris were fitted out with state-of-the-art clubs, electric trolleys, bags, and apparel, for their Portuguese adventure.
The first episode of the seven-part series will see Paul and Chris using the Motcaddy’s M5 GPS and M7 REMOTE electric trolleys to navigate the fairways, while the Pro-Series cart bag and HydroFLEX stand bag come into play on a variety of Portugal most famous courses, including Oitavos Dunes, West Cliffs and many more.
Boasting the greatest density of quality championship courses in Continental Europe, Portugal was an obvious choice for Season Two thanks to its diverse offering of first-class golf courses, from the sun-soaked coastal playground of the Algarve to the more rugged mountainous regions of Porto and the North.
“There is a reason Portugal is one of the most visited golf destinations in the world,” said Chris Hollins. “It offers absolutely everything you could want for a memorable trip, and frankly, I never wanted to leave. When we filmed Season One, the shoot itself was challenging due to lockdown restrictions. This time, we were able to fully experience everything the country had to offer and embrace the local culture, which I think really shines through in the final edit.”
In partnership with VisitAlgarve, an 11-person film crew lead by Director Jeff Emerson were met with beautiful sunny weather throughout the shoot, allowing them to utilise a variety of 4K super high-definition cameras and drones to capture breathtakingly beautiful footage that shows off the great variety of architectural golfing landscapes Portugal has to offer.
Since its launch last year, the first series of Golf’s Greatest Holes has reached an estimated 1bn non-unique households in 189 countries, thanks to repeated screenings by 35 broadcasters and many airlines around the world. Over the next four years, the widely acclaimed show is expected to reach more than 50 million digital viewers, as well as significant social media audiences.
More details about the series can be found at www.golfsgreatestholes.com.