As part of the introduction to this new design project the students studied two golf courses in Portugal, Montado Hotel & Golf Resort and Ribagolfe. Located just outside Lisbon both are modern resort courses featuring hotel and/or residential development and gave the students the opportunity to learn more about the master planning of golf on sites where various different development goals need to be achieved.
The 18 hole golf course at Montado Hotel & Golf Resort is located in the Costa Azul region, near the Castle of Palmel, about 30 minutes’ drive from Lisbon. EIGCA Senior Member Jorge Santana da Silva oversaw a major renovation of the golf course in 2006 and the students were provided with an enlightening tour of the golf facilities by Marco Andrade, the Director of Golf at Montado.
Ribagolfe has 36 holes set within mature cork oak forest and will once again be hosting the European Tour Qualifying Stage in 2014. The courses lie 40km to the east of Lisbon and were designed by Ross McMurray, a Senior Member of the EIGCA, in association with former Ryder Cup players Michael King and Peter Townsend. During their visit the students were briefed on the history of the development by project administrator Manuel Leal da Costa who explained the challenges of combining golf course and urban design. Manuel outlined the key masterplanning decisions, the impact of environmental issues and discussed the potential of golf to raise the value of real estate.
Ken Moodie, Past EIGCA President and member of the EIGCA Education Committee, accompanied the students on their tour. “I’d like to thank the representatives at Montado and Ribagolfe for being so generous with their time and for passing on their knowledge and experience. The trip was invaluable to our students’ education, allowing them to understand more about the development of residential and resort golf and the particular challenges and opportunities that occur. I would especially like to thank Marco Andrade at Montado, and Manuel Leal da Costa and Pedro de Mello Breyner at Ribagolfe for their time and hospitality. It was very much appreciated.”
“The students are now undertaking a design project where they are required to integrate golf and real estate which will allow them to demonstrate what they have learned, both in the classroom and importantly during this visit.”
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