Quinta do Lago offered England Golf’s elite training squads some welcome respite from Storm Dennis as its players headed to Portugal for some warm-weather training at the top Algarve resort this month.

The country’s top amateur women and girls and the elite boys’ squad swapped the wind and rain of the UK for some welcome sun on their backs and the chance to enjoy the resort’s array of five-star golf and leisure facilities during two recent winter training camps.

The primary focus of the warm-weather breaks was for the players to work on England Golf’s five ‘Pillars of Performance’ – world-class holing out, outstanding short game, precise wedge play, ball-flight control and strategy/tactical awareness.

Among the leading names taking part at Quinta do Lago were GB & Ireland Walker Cup star Conor Gough – who won the 2019 English Men’s Amateur title aged just 17 – Curtis Cup player and European number two Lily May Humphreys; reigning Women’s Amateur champion Emily Toy; and Mimi Rhodes, who won the prestigious Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship at the resort in November.

Jennifer Henderson, assistant performance manager for the England Women’s and Girls’ squads, said: “For me, not only are the practice facilities world class in design and condition, but having exclusive use of every type within close proximity, means we can greater individualise group training sessions and easily adapt to the needs of the players.

“Having a choice of championship golf courses also means our national coaches have numerous opportunities to continue player development in increasingly challenging scenarios.”

A long-term partner of England Golf, Quinta do Lago’s facilities include three 18-hole championship golf courses – the North, South and Laranjal – a Paul McGinley Golf Academy, a TaylorMade Performance Centre and extensive leisure activities and facilities.

Away from the fairways, the players had the opportunity to work on their strength and conditioning at the resort’s state-of-the-art performance centre The Campus – a world-class sports hub designed for professionals and amateurs alike to keep fit – as well as enjoying the choice of 13 first-class bars and restaurants and accommodation at the recently-acquired boutique The Magnolia Hotel.

Stephen Burnett, performance manager for men’s golf, said: “For me it's the opportunity to practice and compete at such a top-quality facility with fabulous playing surfaces, which just aren't available to us back in the UK at this time of year.

“Quinta do Lago’s director of golf, Brian Evans, and his staff took care of our every need, both this week and on previous visits; it’s just a top-class venue.

“One thing I would highlight this year are the putting surfaces. They are as good or better than they've ever been. This has been just an ideal opportunity for the boys to work with the team and put in the hours to make them better players heading into the start of a busy season.

“Of course, the Portuguese sunshine helps the cause too!”

The England Golf players who visited Quinta do Lago were:

• England Women’s and Girls’ Squad:
  Lily May Humphreys (Stoke by Nayland GC, Essex), Mimi Rhodes (Burnham & Berrow GC, Somerset), Emily Toy (Carlyon Bay GC, Cornwall), Jess Baker (Gosforth Park Ladies GC, Northumberland), Rafiah Banday (Royal Mid Surrey GC, Surrey), Rosie Belsham (Whitley Bay GC, Northumberland), Rachel Gourley (Arcot Hall GC, Northumberland), Caitlin Whitehead (Carus Green GC, Cumbria) and Lottie Woad (Farnham GC, Surrey).
• England Boys’ Squad:
  Jack Bigham (Harpenden GC, Herts), Oscar Doran (Delamere Forest GC, Cheshire), Conor Gough (Stoke Park GC), Max Hopkins (Bishops Stortford GC, Herts) Remy Miller (Prestbury GC, Cheshire), Craig Passmore (Torquay GC, Devon), Jack Ingham (Eindhovensche GC, Holland) and Josh Berry (Doncaster GC, South Yorkshire)

ENDS

About Quinta do Lago
Since its inception in 1972, Quinta do Lago has been at the forefront of international golf, hosting eight Portuguese Opens as well as numerous other international tournaments. Home to three world-class golf courses, the resort also boasts a wealth of cutting-edge practice facilities.

• Quinta do Lago North Course – Opening in October 2014, the totally revamped North Course has been redeveloped by renowned American golf architect Beau Welling in close collaboration with 2014 European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley and is set to become one of the new stars of European golf. The new layout has been built to the highest specifications with a €9.6m investment programme and has been redeveloped with the emphasis firmly on precision and strategy. While many modern-day developments tend to focus on length, Welling and McGinley have been keen to design a golfing experience where accuracy and course management are the key factors, and a course that is playable and fun for golfers of all abilities.
• Quinta do Lago South Course – A favourite among European Tour professionals, the South Course calls for accurate drives and precise shots, but rewards players for their efforts with the stunning backdrop of the Ria Formosa Natural Park. Regularly included in Golf World magazine’s ‘Top 100 Golf Courses in Europe’, the par-72 layout has received widespread praise for its strategically-placed hazards and varying difficulty across the 18 holes. Having hosted the Portuguese Open on no fewer than eight occasions, the South Course is regarded as one of Portugal’s premier golfing venues. 
• Laranjal – Designed by Jorge Santana da Silva in the grounds of an orange grove, the par-72 course was named as Portugal’s Best Golf Course 2011 at the Portuguese Travel Awards, and poses serious tests for players of all abilities. Opened in 2008, Laranjal offers a pure golfing experience right next to the Quinta do Lago estate and features fairways sown with Bermuda grass, providing a challenging playing environment in a picture-perfect setting.
• Paul McGinley Academy – Quinta do Lago is home to the only Paul McGinley Academy in the world, founded in October 2011 by Europe’s 2014 Ryder Cup captain. With a strong involvement from McGinley himself, who is a regular visitor to the resort, the academy aims to cultivate and improve golfers’ play by providing them with the tools and techniques used on the professional Tours. The academy focuses especially on younger players, working in collaboration with local schools and is the perfect way to follow in the footsteps of the pros.
• TaylorMade Performance Center – Quinta do Lago’s TaylorMade Performance Centre is the only facility of its kind in Portugal and is located on the resort’s expansive driving range. Opened in May 2013, the centre is operated by trained TaylorMade technicians, offering golfers a custom-fitting experience testing hundreds of club and iron options, ensuring the best combination for every player’s swing. It also has a fully-equipped Tour standard workshop and utilises FlightScope X2 radar technology to measure the entire flight of the ball from impact to landing whilst displaying its 3D trajectory in real time.

Set amongst 2,000 acres of the picturesque Ria Formosa Natural Park and located just 15 minutes from Faro airport, Quinta do Lago offers residents and guests an unparalleled location benefiting from a year-round temperate climate, a variety of lifestyle pursuits and a strong sense of community.

For more information on Quinta do Lago and its facilities, call + 351 289 390 700 or visit www.quintadolago.com