Newsflash

The eighth annual election for members to choose a Vice-captain, Treasurer and two members each for the Club’s Handicap and Competition Committees, for the period 1st April 2012 through 31st March 2013, is announced.

Since April, 2005, Club Officers have been elected annually from and by Members to work with the management of the Club. It has enabled willing Members to participate to a greater extent in both golfing and Membership aspects of the club and to engage directly as elected representatives with its operators and owners. An important objective has been to provide an approachable, open and official channel of communications between Members and management and to provide a representative grouping of Members and management, where focussed and informed discussion of issues, proposals, possibilities and solutions could take place in a positive manner. This has worked well and has led to better understanding and improvements and enjoyment for all at Desert Springs.

Ultimately the representative structure of the membership depends on Members’ willingness to allow their names to go forward, to devote time to represent the views of others, as well as their own, and to work constructively with management where measured debate can flourish. Members have demonstrated this willingness previously with positive progress and we sincerely hope that the same will be true of these elections.

A ‘Desert Springs Golf Club Officials Election Nomination Form’ has been attached. They are also available at the Clubhouse reception and an e-mail form has been posted on our web site in the Owners section.

All completed nomination forms must be returned by hand, e-mail, fax or post to the Clubhouse reception to arrive no later than 18.00 hrs on February 28th. We shall be letting you know during this period the names of those nominated from time to time, as we believe that this will assist in the process and remove uncertainty as to whether anyone has been nominated for any particular role already.

Immediately after that date, each member will be sent a ‘Voting Form’ identifying those persons going forward for election to each position. This form will also be available at the Clubhouse reception and on the web site in the Owners section.

All completed voting forms must then be returned to Desert Springs by 18.00 hrs on March 31st, again by hand, e-mail, fax or post for the attention of the Clubhouse reception. Following the verification of the validity of the voting forms submitted and their counting, the number of votes received for each candidate will be published identifying the names of the successful candidates, elected by the membership.

For further information contact: Golf Clubhouse Reception
Email: golfreservations@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34 637 861 591/2

The Owners Point of Contact Schedule has recently been up dated and can be downloaded from the ‘Owner's Information’ section of our website by clicking here. It was originally issued with the following advice, which although circumstances have changed, still seems reasonably relevant and is therefore reproduced below for your information.

"On occasion uncertainty can arise as to whom property owners should contact concerning a particular issue, in part, because of our rapid development, involving new services, responsibilities and changing staff. Thus, where there were only Sales, Production and the Golf Club, we now also have Homebuyer Services (incorporating Sales, Options and Extras, Furnishings and Landscaping Services), Home Owner Services (incorporating Property Management, Letting, Insurance, Gardening and Pool Maintenance Services), as well as Resort Management and Community Administration departments. The roles of individuals and departments overlap in time and function, and this can create confusion as to who is responsible for what.

To alleviate this, we decided that each issue should be handled by one department and one person in that department at each stage, thus providing a single point of contact for the property owner. That person will then determine what other department may be involved, but shall remain responsible for co-ordination with the owner. We also wish thereby to provide a clear route for the expression of any dissatisfaction, so as to enable us to deal as rapidly as possible with anything that seems to have gone amiss.

These points of contact are identified on the Clients Point of Contact Schedule

Please, always be aware that any problem, query or doubt is best expressed in an e-mail or written note to the designated point of contact.

Our planned procedures can then go into effect, so that each issue is logged, copied in to all those directly responsible for action and to those in charge of them, so it can be monitored, followed through and brought to a proper conclusion.

We hope that you find that this guidance provides the key to getting the best out of the services available to you, as an Almanzora Bay client.

For further information contact: Julia Bonas
Email: jb@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34 950 467 104

Please be aware that the Crocodile Club will not be opening every Saturday and Sunday to show live sports as previously advertised. Live Sports will be screened every evening in the Clubhouse Sales Office, apart from the following dates, when the Crocodile Club will be open.

Once again, please be aware that these rules are vital for the coexistence and respect for all members and property owners at Desert Springs.

Bar Opening Hours:

Dec 24th to Jan 6th: 19.00hrs - 00.00hrs
Feb 11th to Feb 19th: 19.00hrs - 00.00hrs
Mar 31st to Apr 15th: 19.00hrs - 00.00hrs
Jun 2nd to Jun 10th: 19.00hrs - 00.00hrs
Jul 28th to Sep 2nd: 19.00hrs - 00.00hrs
Oct 20th to Nov 4th: 19.00hrs - 00.00hrs
Dec 22nd 2012 to Jan 9th 2013: 19.00hrs - 00.00hrs

Restaurant Opening Hours:

Jul 28th to Sep 2nd 2012: 19.00hrs - 23.00hrs

All schedules are subject to change for bank holidays and private bookings; please check.

For further information contact: Ellie Hunter
Email: hosteleria@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34 618 609 978

Dear Members / Property Owners,

Over summer and autumn we received reports of children playing in bunkers and families taking walks up the fairways during playing hours, persons walking dogs, on the leash and loose, on and fouling the course, cyclists riding on cart tracks, persons extracting balls from water features and gardens, golfers using the course for practice & starting rounds elsewhere than on the first tee etc. Of course the worst perpetrators are often the public. Rarely are they members or residents, however just sometimes they may be; familiarity can sometimes lead to forgetfulness of the usual form and courtesies.

The problems this can cause are obvious: There are real safety issues and serious risks involved in some of these activities, there is the gradual increase in disruption and prejudice to the golfing experience and from the point of view of the Club there is the subtle erosion of its control over its own major asset and its dedication and use for its intended purpose. Finally there are security concerns, about having anyone, known or unknown, wandering about the course after darkness.

Nevertheless, there is no desire to prevent members and residents enjoying the peace and quiet of the landscape and walking the cart paths after play or indeed during play, for example when following play. However, use of the tracks for walks during play is not encouraged as the prime purpose of the tracks is to enable the unimpeded and undisturbed passage of golf carts and golfers. If walking during play it must always be in the same direction as play so that golfers are aware of walkers passing through and in front of them.  Likewise the jogging track is laid out to be used strictly in the direction of play.  Note that whilst golfers are very much aware of players on the fairways and greens in front of them, it is not so easy to spot walkers on the paths, who may well be hidden and are almost certainly so, if walking at random and against the direction of play.

There are therefore some basic common sense rules to be observed in the interests of all parties. It should be understood that whereas some rules are specifically designed for the benefit of Golf Members, players and residents, other rules are equally specifically for the benefit of the Club itself.  All have to be observed and their reasonableness must be the test. Clarity and knowledge of them will enable members and residents to keep an eye open and recognize when members of the public are putting themselves in danger and/or otherwise up to no good!  

First and foremost therefore: 

• Non playing members of the public are not allowed on the course or tracks at any time except as a guest of a Club Member or accompanied by a member of staff. Club Members, Residents & their Guests may walk along cart tracks before and after playing hours as long as it is light and if necessary during playing hours but only in the direction of play. Young children of Club Members’, Residents’ and Guests’ must be accompanied on the course & tracks; play other than golf is not allowed.
• Access on to tees, fairways and greens is for golfers only.
• Use of the jogging track must always be in the direction of play and subject to the applicable rules laid down for its use
• Golf practice is not allowed on the course at any time; Members are of course able to use the practice area.
• All players must register at Golf Reception during opening hours before play begins, the night before if necessary. The starting tee is always the 1st, unless a different start point is agreed or designated by Golf Club staff.
  
• Privately owned golf buggies are only permitted on the course in accordance with the applicable rules
  
• Bicycles are not permitted on the cart tracks, but are welcome elsewhere around the resort and surrounding “caminos”.
• Pets permitted by their respective communities are allowed on the cart tracks only & must always be on a short leash; in the event of fouling pets on the course or in the bunkers this consent must be withdrawn. Pets are not allowed on other Club premises.
• Access to the course is not permitted after dark

Once again, please be aware that these rules are vital for the coexistence and respect for all members and property owners at Desert Springs.

For further information contact: José Ignacio Olea
Email: jioz@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34 637 861 591/2

Please find below the Calendar of Events being held at Desert Springs Resort over the Christmas and New Year period.

Friday the 23rd to Monday the 26th of December
Christmas Week at The Cave Bar, El Torrente Restaurant
& The Crocodile Club

Sunday the 18th, Thursday the 22nd & Friday the 23rd of December
Santa will be in residence at Santa’s Grotto in The Cave Bar

Sunday the 25th of December
Christmas Day Lunch at El Torrente Restaurant

Monday 26th December & Sunday 1st January
Cava Brunch at El Torrente Restaurant

Thursday the 29th of December to Friday the 6th of January
New Years Week at The Hacienda, El Torrente Restaurant
& The Crocodile Club

Saturday 31st December
New Years Eve Dinner at El Torrente Restaurant

For further information on each individual event, please follow the link beneath it.

We are receiving a lot of interest in these events, to avoid disappointment please make your reservation using the below contact details.

Desert Springs Wishes you all a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year!

For further information contact: Ellie Hunter
Email: hosteleria@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34 618 609 978

Desert Springs Golf Club has today announced its official winter opening hours applicable from Tuesday 8th November 2011.

Golf Clubhouse Reception:

08:45 hrs until 17:00 hrs.

Indiana Golf Course:

08:59 hrs until 18:00 hrs.

The first tee time available for reservation for the Indiana course will be 08.59hrs.

Caddy Master Building:

08:45 hrs until 18:00 hrs.

All rental equipment; Golf buggies, electric trolleys, pull trolleys, rental sets and mountain bikes, must be returned to the Caddy Master building by its closing time.

Driving Range:

09:00 hrs until 18:00 hrs.

Golf Operations Manager Jose Ignacio Olea remarked:

“The introduction of the winter timetable is to reflect the reduction of daylight hours at this time of the year whilst keeping the maximum playing time available.”

As always, simply reserve your tee time in advance or come to the golf reception in the Clubhouse to register in the normal manner and enjoy the winter!

For further information contact: Golf Reception
Email: golfreservations@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34 637 861 591

Desert Springs has today published its ‘2012 Public Green Fee Offers’ on its website.

The ‘2012 Non Resident Members Extra Rounds, Members Guests & Non Member Property Owner Green Fee Offers’ have also been posted within the Owners section of the website.

Golf Operations Manager, José Ignacio Olea remarked:

"First introduced in 2008, ‘The Seasonal Offers’ were designed to encourage use of the golf course during certain periods, when use was bound to be low, i.e. from mid afternoon and towards dusk in the autumn and winter and during the heat of the day in the summer. The green fees offered for these periods were intended to compensate players for using the course at times when weather and light conditions are less than perfect.

To date this has worked well and we have been pleased to see a steady increase in the number of rounds played in accordance with these offers which has continued to create not only activity on the golf course but also a great atmosphere at the Club.  

The current spare capacity on the course at certain times, of both the day and the year, has for the time being enabled these seasonal offers to be extended to apply earlier in the day, as well as including the extra incentive for Non-Resident Members of the round being accounted for as a half a round only; this has been extremely well received.  For Resident Members, for whom that incentive does not work, the equivalent incentive is the free use of a golf buggy for their round.

The year-round “Non Resident Members Extra Rounds Offer” of up to 35 extra rounds is intended to smooth the transition from the end of the 40 rounds included in the individual membership package, up to the point where full Resort Resident Membership becomes a more economic way of playing.  In all circumstances these rates are less than those applicable to the public, including golf societies.

The “Non Member Property Owners Offer” of green fees discounted from the public rate is intended to recognise the special relationship of all property owners at Desert Springs with the golf course, even though they do not play enough to warrant being a Member.

As always, to take advantage of the benefits offered, simply reserve your tee time in advance or come to the golf reception in the Clubhouse to register in the normal manner and enjoy!

For further information contact: José Ignacio Olea
Email: jioz@almanzora.com
Telephone: (+34) 670 613 900

UD Almería Team 2011

A squad of 24 players and twelve officials from Almeria Football Club – which currently competes in Liga Adelante (Spanish Division Two) followed in the footsteps of other teams such as Byrne, Honefoss and Shrewsbury Town Football Club, by enjoying the facilities of the Football Academy established at Desert Springs for their pre-season training camp between Monday 18th - Saturday 30th July.

The Club’s Manager, Lucas Alcaraz, was so enthusiastic about the caliber of the resort, its football pitch, other sports facilities, restaurants, accommodation and staff, that he has pledged for the team to return.

UD Almería Manager, Lucas Alcaraz

Speaking of the teams experience at Desert Springs, Lucas Alcaraz remarked:

“The conditions of the Football Pitch are absolutely superb and ideal for training. Moreover, our preferred specifications have been accommodated on a daily basis.

When a professional football team travels for a Pre-Season Training Camp, there are always small inconveniences, schedule changes and last minute problems that are disruptive and unfortunately cannot be resolved. 

In my 28-year football career, Desert Springs Resort has been the only venue where all aspects have run smoothly, and requests have been accommodated. Thanks to their facilities and professional staff, we have been able to fully concentrate on the Camp.”

During their thirteen-night stay, the Almeria players and officials were accommodated in some of the privately-owned apartments normally reserved for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs and the resort’s executive chef was on hand to cater for the special dietary requirements of individual players dining in the resort’s two restaurants – the award-winning El Torrente and the Croc Restaurant, part of the family-friendly Crocodile Club.

Simon Coaker, sales and marketing manager at Desert Springs, remarked:

“Already well-known as a resort specializing in golf and family holidays, Desert Springs has been rapidly gaining, not only popularity, but also an excellent reputation as a centre for both warm-weather and pre-season football training within the footballing community. It is clear to see that with feed back such as this we can only expect to be host to more Club’s in the near future.”

For further information contact: The Almanzora Group Ltd
Email: tag@almanzora.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 1242 680 299

This summer at Desert Springs, ‘Fútbol’ will be the key word!

Unión Deportiva Almería (Almería Football Club) have selected the Desert Springs Resort to be host to their pre-season training camp between Monday 18th - Saturday 30th July.

A squad of 24 players and twelve officials from Almería Football Club – which currently competes in Liga Adelante (Spanish Division Two) are following in the footsteps of other teams such as Bryne, Honefoss and Shrewsbury Town Football Club, all of whom have previously benefited from the facilities of the Football Academy established at Desert Springs.

During a thirteen-night stay at Desert Springs the Almería players will benefit from training and coaching on the first international-size quality grass pitch in Almería. Since it was inaugurated by Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Geoff Hurst in 2004, floodlights, shower and changing facilities and a referee changing room have been added.

More recently, in response to requests from visiting teams, a new hard standing area provides outside space for facilities such as a free weights gym, stretching mats and a medical area. The players will also be able to make use of the recently introduced goalkeeper training and five-a-side games area.

Simon Coaker, sales and marketing manager at Desert Springs, said that the wide range of facilities available in the resort influenced the decision by Almería Football Club to select Desert Springs for its training camp.

“Slowly but surely the reputation of the quality of the Football Academy, allied with the resort and its facilities available is getting around the footballing community,” said Simon.

Spectators are welcome to visit the Football Academy to watch the training sessions which are scheduled as follows:

Monday – Friday 09.00hrs – 11.00 hrs & 19.00 hrs – 21.00 hrs
Saturday – 09.00 hrs – 11.00 hrs

During Football Training Camps, players can make full use of the 18-hole Indiana golf course and enjoy opportunities to swim, play tennis and use the gymnasium, trim trail, jogging tracks, paddle tennis and beach volley ball courts. They also have access to the resort’s Private Reserve which incorporates a spa, private sauna and jacuzzi suite, personal fitness workout room, games room with bar, and a home cinema.

Accommodation for the players and officials is in some of the privately-owned apartments normally reserved for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs.

The resort’s executive chef will be on hand to cater for the special dietary requirements of individual players dining in the resort’s two restaurants – the award-winning El Torrente and the Croc Restaurant, part of the family-friendly Crocodile Club.

For further information contact: The Almanzora Group Ltd
Email: tag@almanzora.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 1242 680 299

Cuevas del Almanzora’s town council asked DESERT SPRINGS for some ideas and help in the design of a roundabout at the entrance of the town. Rather than just installing another fountain in this water challenged region, the town council preferred to plant species with little needs for water, so Cacti and other Succulent plants were the perfect choice. The project also presented some difficult issues in term of both aesthetics and the need for a natural low maintenance solution.

DESERT SPRINGS drew the plan, offered plants, lent vehicles and workforce, all this in coordination with the services of Cuevas del Almanzora’s town council. The answer was a mini-golf hole, surfaced with water saving artificial grass.

The result: After one year, one of the most beautiful roundabouts of the region, which is evidently delightful to all those visitors who do not hesitate to take photos of it!

A world record for an amazing grasshopper !

Female of Tuberous Bush Cricket (Photo: © Joël Lodé)

Not less than 420 wild animal species, mammals, birds, lizards, butterflies, etc. live in harmony at DESERT SPRINGS Resort and Golf Club.

Also found at DESERT SPRINGS, the Tuberous Bush Cricket (Platycleis affinis) has the largest testicles of any species on the planet… at least when compared to its body mass! They represent no less than 14% of its total weight.

In general, animals’ gonads are larger in species where males mate with many females. In fact, and like some other species such as Bonobo Chimpanzes, it looks as though the testicles of the Tuberous Bush Cricket may be that big simply to allow males to carry on mating without their sperm reserves being exhausted during their short two-month adult lifespan.

For further information contact: The Almanzora Group
Email: tag@almanzora.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 1242 680 116