General News & News of Golf Holidays Spain

The Good Safari Guide Awards were announced on the 7th May, 2010 at the Durban Hilton, South Africa, prior to Africa’s largest travel trade show, INDABA 2010, showcasing the widest variety of Africa’s best tourism products and attracting international visitors and media from across the world.

Elsa’s Kopje in Kenya was elected as the Best Safari Property, not merely in East Africa, but in the whole of Africa, beating over 60 nominees from all over the sub Saharan countries, including South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Tanzania. It is owned by Kenyan safari operators, Stefano Cheli & Liz Peacock and Stephen & Tania Hitchins.

Also voted Best Safari Accommodation Group in Africa was Cheli & Peacock Ltd - African Safari Holidays. They manage Elsa’s Kopje, Joy’s Camp, Tortilis Camp and Kitich Camp, all owned jointly with Stephen and Tania Hitchins, as well as Cottars Camp, Loisaba and Lewa Safari Camp amongst others. For their part, Cheli & Peacock beat well known safari operators, including Sanctuary Retreats (Abercrombie & Kent), Wilderness Safaris, andBeyond (Conservation Corporation) and Kerr & Downey. Cheli & Peacock operate up-market, exclusive and bespoke safaris, for clients who want a real safari and wild game viewing experience in the best range of top quality safari lodges & camps in Africa.

The Good Safari Guide is the travel industry’s definitive selection of the most professionally run, independently selected and vetted safari lodges, camps and hotels. The Good Safari Guide Awards are nominated and voted for by hotel, lodge, safari and tour operators, travel agents and guides from all over the world; the awards reflect peer group recognition of outstanding achievements in the safari travel industry.

Elsa’s Kopje, is named after Elsa the lioness, made famous by the film “Born Free” about the lives and work of George and Joy Adamson. It was Stephen’ inspiration for the design of The Crocodile Club at Desert Springs.

The Crocodile Club, Desert Springs Resort, Spain		Elsa’s Kopje, Meru National Park, Kenya

For a good idea of what its all about, click here.

For further information contact: Tania Hitchins
Email: info@knollhill.com
Telephone: +44 7971 141 104

A view of Desert Springs in Spain, a new destination for James Villa Holidays in 2010.

Kent-based James Villa Holidays is the latest to add Desert Springs, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course in the Almeria region of south-east Spain, to its portfolio of leisure resorts for holidays in 2010.

The company, which offers holidays in 44 leisure resorts for clients flying from 26 UK airports and four in Ireland, says it was attracted to Desert Springs by the calibre of the ten villas with private pools and cottages with shared pools in which its clients will stay.

“They will enable us to arrange self-catering holidays for a mix of clients, ranging from couples to families and groups of up to seven people,” says Andy Smith, marketing director of James Villa Holidays.

The family-friendly Crocodile Club (pictured) at Desert Springs in Spain is just one of a wide range of facilities and amenities which persuaded James Villa Holidays to add the resort to its destinations for 2010.

He added: “We were keen to add Desert Springs to our destinations when we saw its fantastic facilities and amenities, such as the resort’s award-winning El Torrente restaurant and the Croc Restaurant, part of the family-friendly Crocodile Club, as well as the 18-hole championship golf course, day spa, sports club, tennis and paddle courts.”

Clients who take a James Villa holiday at Desert Springs before the end of March this year will qualify for a free pass for the resort’s Sierra Sports Club. This will enable them to use the paddle and tennis courts and the gymnasium without charge. They will also qualify for discounted rounds of golf with free use of a golf buggy.

Clients who book a holiday at Desert Springs before the end of this month (February, 2010) can enjoy a James Villa Holidays Sunshine Spectacular comprising free car hire, free travel insurance and a free welcome pack.

For more information on James Villa Holidays visit www.jamesvillas.co.uk

The climate at Desert Springs

Desert Springs takes it name from the region’s desert microclimate which is unique in Europe. It has the warmest winter weather on the continent with an annual average of more than nine hours of daily sunshine and maximum daily temperatures of between 16°C (60°F) and 30°C (86°F) throughout the year. Annual rainfall is less than 200 mm. The Almanzora’s coastal waters are among the cleanest and warmest in Europe, attracting both fish and diving enthusiasts.

Getting there from the UK

Desert Springs is easy to reach, thanks to three international airports. The current journey time from Almeria International Airport to Desert Springs is around 50 minutes by road. Other international airports are at Murcia – 70 minutes by toll motorway – and Alicante which is less than two hours by road.

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

The family-friendly Crocodile Club at Spain’s Desert Springs – just one of scores of resort facilities featured on the 80 videos currently available to view at here.

www.youtube.com/desertspringsresort keeps property owners, travel agents and the public up-to-date with the latest resort news

Scores of hitherto unseen videos produced by the Cheltenham-based Almanzora Group are the first to go online on the YouTube website to provide news and previews of year-round properties, holidays, golf and other facilities on offer at Desert Springs, Europe’s only award-winning luxury desert resort and golf course in the Almeria region of south-east Spain.
 
The resort’s property owners and golf club members, as well as travel agents selling holidays at Desert Springs and the general public, can keep up-to-date with the resort’s latest news and events by signing-up to receive alerts when new videos are produced.
 
Among the 80 videos currently available to view at here are an introduction with comments from enthusiasts for the resort. They include former England test cricketer Sir Ian Botham, who has a home there, world champion athlete Steve Cram and Olympic gold medallist Darren Campbell.
 
A host of videos feature the family-friendly Crocodile Club at Desert Springs, the resort’s spa, sports and fitness facilities, bars and restaurants, and the properties available to buy or occupy for holidays and short breaks.
 
Others show the pre-season warm-weather training facilities for professional sports clubs and school teams wishing to hone their football, rugby, cricket and golf skills.
 
There are hole-by-hole guides to the 18-hole Indiana golf course at Desert Springs. It was designed by former Great Britain and Ireland Golf Team Captain Peter McEvoy, who was inspired by the desert courses of Arizona and California.
 
Also available to view is Jon Gaunt of the online radio station Sun Talk interviewing former British tennis ace David Lloyd who praises what he describes as ‘a great resort,’ earmarking it for the creation of the new David Lloyd Resort at Desert Springs announced recently.

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

Players from Norway’s Bryne Football Club pictured last year at Desert Springs in the Almeria area of Spain where they were the first Norwegian club to benefit from the facilities of the resort’s Football Winter Training Camp.

Shunning the Nordic snow as they head south next month to enjoy the desert micro-climate of south-east Spain will be 25 of Norway’s top footballers.

A squad of 22 players and three coaches from Honefoss Football Club – which currently competes in the Tippeligaen, the top tier of Norwegian football, after promotion at the end of the 2009 season – are following in the footsteps of the country’s pioneering second division Bryne Football Club which last year was the first to benefit from the facilities of the Football Winter Training Camp established at Desert Springs in the Almeria area of Spain.
.
During a four-night stay at the Desert Springs Resort in south-east Spain – Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course – the Honefoss players will benefit from training and coaching on the first international-size quality grass pitch in Almeria. 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.

And for the first time this year players will be able to make use of a newly-sewn dwarf rye grass area planned specifically for goal-keeper training and five-a-side games.

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

“Clearly the word is getting around in Norway’s football clubs following last year’s visit by Bryne,” said Simon. “That club’s coach, Rolf Teigen, was so enthusiastic about the calibre of the resort, its football pitch, other sports facilities, restaurants and accommodation, that he pledged to spread the word to other Norwegian clubs. Rolf told me: ‘I have lots of sporting connections in Norway and when I return for the new season I will be speaking to them about Desert Springs and its first class facilities.’ Clearly he is as good as his word.”

Simon expects the Bryne Club to return to Desert Springs for more warm weather training “in the not too distant future.”

During Football Winter 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 coaches is in some of the privately-owned apartments normally reserved for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs.

Simon said that when Honefoss visits next month, 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.

Already well-known as a resort specialising in family holidays, Desert Springs is gaining popularity as a centre for warm-weather training for golfers and cricketers, as well as footballers.

For further information contact: The Almanzora Group
Email: desertsprings@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34 678 679 387

Millfield, the independent school in Street, Somerset, has named the Desert Springs Resort and Golf Club in the Almeria region of south-east Spain as the official Spanish home for its golf academy.
 
Next month (December) 15 pupils – 11 boys and four girls aged between 13 and 18 – will be the first to make a four-day visit to the resort to develop their individual golfing skills in warm weather while experiencing a golf course which offers a challenge to players at all levels.
 
Widely recognised as a school with one of the most extensive range of sporting facilities in Britain – including two 18-hole golf courses and a driving range – Millfield established its golf academy in 1998. Today it is used by 35 pupils, a number which rises during the summer term. They include three England internationals – two boys and a girl.

Pupils are taught by the two PGA golf professionals employed by Millfield. They are its director of golf, Karen Nicholls, and Stuart Wells.

Says Karen: “The unique golf programme we offer at Millfield covers all aspects of the game including technical training, fitness, golf psychology, competitive golf, on course observation and analysis. Our excellent on-site facilities give the pupils the scope to practice all aspects of their game every day of the school year.”

Karen, who with the master in charge of golf, Phil Cookson, initiated the arrangement for a Spanish home for the golf academy, says that they chose Desert Springs because it offers the opportunity for all pupils to benefit from warm weather coaching using quality short game, long game facilities and a challenging golf course to improve their games.

“The self discipline and self regulation required for success on the golf course provides a model of behaviour that underpins success in all facets of life,” says Millfield School’s headmaster, Craig Considine, pictured here.

Commenting on the importance and value of golf in schools, and the benefits it brings to the education of pupils, Millfield’s headmaster Craig Considine said: “Golf is a signature sport at Millfield. It provides challenges for our most able and a ‘life skill’ for those who wish to play recreationally. The self discipline and self regulation required for success on the golf course provides a model of behaviour that underpins success in all facets of life.”

During their stay at Desert Springs, the Millfield pupils will play on the resort’s 18-hole Indiana golf course designed by former Great Britain and Ireland Golf Captain Peter McEvoy. They will also benefit from one-to-one tuition in the resort’s golf academy.

Accommodation for the pupils and three staff accompanying them will be in the apartments and villas available for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs. Meals will be served in the resort’s Croc Restaurant, part of the family-friendly Crocodile Club which is geared up for a wide variety of leisure activities.

Additional information about golf at Millfield and warm weather winter training camps at Desert Springs:

Golf at Millfield

Millfield, the independent school in Street, Somerset, which has named the Desert Springs Resort and Golf Club in the Almeria region of south-east Spain as the official Spanish home for its golf academy.

For pupils in Millfield’s golf academy, golf lessons are fitted into their timetables and they have the opportunity to play local golf courses twice a week. They compete against some of the country’s top golf clubs including Woburn, Walton Heath, East Devon, Woodbury, Long Ashton and Saunton.

Millfield has chalked up an enviable record of successes during recent inter-school tournaments, including winning the ISGA Home International, HMC Foursomes, World Schools Team and ISGA Schools Matchplay 2007/2008 competitions. The school also won the World Schools Individual Girls Tournament and was runner-up in the Individual Boys’ competition.
 
Alumni who started playing golf at Millfield and now are big names on the international golf circuit include Brian Barnes, Martin Gregson, Ruth Barry, Pip Barry, Garth McGimpsey, Michael King, Mark Mouland, Alex Marshall, Ben Evans and Luke Collins.

Warm weather winter training camps at Desert Springs

The golf academy practice grounds at Desert Springs which will be used by 15 of Millfield’s teenage pupils in December to develop their individual golfing skills.

Desert Springs, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course, is proving to be one of the most popular destinations for warm weather winter training camps among the growing number of schools with their own golf academies and teams, currently estimated at around 90 in the UK. Visiting groups have included golfing pupils from Reading Blue Coat School at Sonning-on-Thames, King Edward’s School in Bath and Loretto School at Musselburgh near Edinburgh.

All school golf trips to Desert Springs are bespoke. If desired, the programme can include time away from the golf course for some local sightseeing in what many regard as ‘the real Spain.’

During their stay pupils have opportunities to swim, play tennis and use the gymnasium, trim trail, jogging tracks, paddle tennis and beach volley ball courts.

Desert Springs is easy to reach from the UK, thanks to three international airports. They are: Almeria Airport, around 40 minutes away by road; Murcia Airport, 80 minutes by car, and Alicante Airport which is a drive of less than two hours. Airlines currently flying to the region from the UK include easyJet, Monarch, Ryanair, Jet2, Jetair Fly and Thomas Cook.

Already well-known as a resort specialising in family holidays, Desert Springs is gaining popularity as a centre for warm-weather training for cricketers and footballers, as well as golfers.

A spokesman for Desert Springs said that, depending on the size of the group and its requirements, the total cost of a four-day trip for warm weather training, including flights, would work out at between £350 and £400 per person.

For details of training camps, sporting breaks – including three-day tuition packages with a professional, some including health and beauty treatments in the Day Spa – and family holidays, call the Cheltenham-based Almanzora Group.

For further information contact: The Almanzora Group
E-mail: tag@almanzora.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 1242 680116

Pictured are Sun Talk’s Jon Gaunt (right) with David Lloyd at Desert Springs.

Tennis champion David Lloyd has hinted that Desert Springs in Almeria – Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course – could be the location for the first David Lloyd Tennis Academy in Spain.

The news emerged during a radio interview broadcast live from the resort by Sun Talk, the Sun newspaper’s online radio station.

During a discussion with Sun Talk’s Jon Gaunt – known to listeners as Gaunty – David Lloyd revealed that he was seeking a location for a tennis academy in Spain and had been encouraged to visit Desert Springs by his friend Sir Ian ‘Beefy’ Botham who owns a holiday home there.

David praised what he described as “a great resort” with good weather and easy access from the UK.

During the interview – which can be heard by clicking here and clicking on the link to Gaunty’s interview with and David Lloyd – the tennis ace criticises the state of British tennis which last produced a Wimbledon champion in 1936.

Making an impassioned plea for more youngsters to pursue the sport – aided by the Lottery funding now available to help them do so – David said that Desert Springs would be an ideal place for them to learn to play tennis while on holiday and then continue their new interest when they return home to the UK.

David Lloyd pictured at the Tennis Academy at Desert Springs.

A variety of tennis holidays are available at Desert Springs where facilities within the resort’s Tennis Academy include two brand new tennis courts, two new paddle courts and a beach volley court. The tennis and paddle courts are finished with surfaces designed to give high bounce and add to the ease and pleasure of the game.

Headed by the resort’s resident LTA qualified tennis professional, Jim Gordon, the academy offers a comprehensive, personalised and professional service with digital coaching technology for adults and children, individuals, teams and clubs, all year round.

For details of the tennis holidays, tennis lessons and court rentals available visit www.almanzora.com

For further information contact: The Almanzora Group
Email: desertsprings@almanzora.com
Telephone: +34 678 679 387

Shrewsbury Town Football Club training at Desert Springs

Shrewsbury Town Football Club were so pleased with the results of pre-season warm-weather training for their players at Desert Springs in Spain that they have returned for the second year running – and hope to go back next year as well.

According to the manager of the Coca-Cola Football League Two club, Paul Simpson who has arranged pre-season training in Germany, Norway and Sweden for other clubs in the past, the facilities at Desert Springs are the best.

“The resort has exactly what we need,” he said. “In addition to the fantastic surface of the first international-size quality grass pitch in the Almeria area of Spain, the warm weather is excellent for pre-season training and the opportunity for 19 players and their coaches to spend six days living together strengthens the bond between them.”

Mr Simpson said it was a shrewd move to take The Shrews to Desert Springs last year: “When we returned, the new season got off to a flying start with three consecutive straight wins. That’s why we went back this year.”

Already well-known as a resort specialising in family holidays, Desert Springs is gaining popularity as a centre for warm-weather training for golfers and cricketers, as well as footballers.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS
The football pitch at Desert Springs – Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course – was inaugurated by Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Geoff Hurst in 2004. Since then floodlights, shower and changing facilities and a referee changing room have been added.

A new hard standing area provides outside space for facilities such as a free weights gym, stretching mats and a medical area and a new grassed area has been added for goalkeeper training and five-a-side games.

A wide range of resort facilities are available for use by clubs which opt for pre-season training at Desert Springs. 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 is in the privately-owned apartments, cottages and villas which are available for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs.

If required the resort’s executive chef can 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
Email: tag@almanzora.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 1242 680 299

Pictured during a three-day break at Desert Springs is last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winning jockey Sam Thomas (second from right) with other jump jockeys (left to right) Jody Mogford, Colin Bolger, Alan O’Keefe and Dominic Elsworth.

An exclusive scheme whereby jockeys take a break from the turf to enjoy a holiday in Europe’s only desert has been so successful that the arrangement has been renewed for a second year.

It was launched last year for the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) by The Almanzora Group Ltd of Cheltenham. The firm offers a range of holidays, golf, spa and fitness breaks at Desert Springs, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course in the Almanzora region of Almeria in south-east Spain. The resort takes it name from the region’s desert microclimate which is unique in Europe.

The scheme devised by Simon Coaker, director of golf at Desert Springs, and PJA director Josh Apiafi enables jockeys to enjoy free accommodation for three nights in one of the resort’s luxurious Colonial Apartments and breakfast in its award-winning El Torrente Restaurant. They can also play three rounds of golf on the resort’s 72 par 18-hole Indiana golf course, with the opportunity to practice in the golf academy prior to play.

Also available for their use are the fitness gym and pools as well as massages and other health treatments in the Day Spa. Tennis, mountain bike trail rides, a trim trail and jogging tracks are among other resort facilities.

Jockeys who wish to eat out can choose between the resort’s El Torrente and Crocodile Club restaurants, or numerous tapas bars and restaurants in local villages.

Says Simon: "I am delighted that members of the PJA have taken up their exclusive complimentary invitation to visit us and enjoy a well-earned break in the sun, whilst benefiting from the exceptional variety of facilities available at Desert Springs.
“Our commitment is to exceed our guests’ expectations with a warm and friendly welcome, providing an uncompromising level of service from the moment they arrive. We pride ourselves on anticipating what our guests require and delivering what they need.”
Feedback received from jockeys who have already visited confirms that they regard Desert Springs is a superb venue, reports Simon.

He says: “Renewal of the jockeys’ holiday offer for 2009 underlines the commitment of Desert Springs to continue to develop and strengthen its commercial partnership with the PJA and benefit its members."

Josh commented: “The PJA and its 400 members are delighted to partner with the Almanzora Group and, in particular, the Desert Springs Resort. I think golf is the second love of all our members – and golf courses don't come much better than the Indiana at Desert Springs!”

He added: “Many of our members enjoyed a five-star break in south east Spain last year and, following recommendations from members who have already experienced the resort’s world-class hospitality, we're seeing a large increase in enquires.”

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

	Pictured is the winner of the third Schools European Golf Championship at desert Springs, 13-year-old Alexander Wilson from Loretto School.

Pictured at Desert Springs are (left to right) golfers Will Sadler of Reading Blue Coat School with Peter Templeton and Lewis Gregory, both from Loretto School.

Pictured at Desert Springs are (left to right) golfers Ian McDowall (Loretto), David Gaynor (Reading Blue Coat) and Tim Binder (Loretto).

Growing numbers of the schools with their own golf academies and teams – currently estimated at around 90 in the UK – are developing pupils’ playing skills by opting for warm weather winter training in south-east Spain.

One of the most popular destinations for golf training camps for schools is Desert Springs, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course in the Almeria region of south-east Spain.

Visiting groups have included golfing pupils from Reading Blue Coat School at Sonning-on-Thames, King Edward’s School in Bath and Loretto School at Musselburgh near Edinburgh.

This year players from Loretto School visited for the third year running and competed with pupils from Reading Blue Coat School in the third Schools European Golf Championship. The annual tournament is organised by Tewkesbury-based sports travel specialist Gullivers which booked flights and co-ordinated arrangements for the four-day visit.

Says Simon Coaker, director of golf at Desert Springs: “From the start of their 36 hole Medal Play over two days, the 28 players – 22 from Loretto and six from Reading Blue Coat – realised that this was to be a stern test of their skills and ability, but they thoroughly enjoyed playing on the Desert Springs golf course.

“Both schools fielded some big hitters but it was 13-year-old Alexander Wilson from Loretto who set the pace early, proving that as long as you are accurate, distance is not a key factor if you want to shoot a good score.”

Despite a good come back from the lower handicapped players in the final round, Alexander held his nerve to become the 2009 champion winning by four shots with a total score of 153. George Maxted (15) from Reading Blue Coat School was the runner up scoring 157.

In the team event it was Loretto's Finbar Dalton (13), Florian Keller (17) and Edward White (13) who came through to win with an impressive 206 Stableford points accumulated over two rounds.

In addition to playing on the resort’s 18-hole Indiana golf course designed by former Great Britain and Ireland Golf Captain Peter McEvoy, pupils were able to benefit from one-to-one tuition in the resort’s Golf Academy.

Accommodation for the Loretto and Reading Blue Coat pupils and staff was in the apartments available for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs. Meals were served in the resort’s Croc Restaurant, part of the family-friendly Crocodile Club geared up for a wide variety of leisure activities.

Loretto School’s golf academy assistant, mathematics master Kevin Reid, says that pupils who are golfers – including the 32 boys and eight girls aged between 12 and 18 who are in the golf academy – tend to mature earlier.

“Their willingness to play hard often is reflected in a similar approach to their studies,” he said.

Golf was added to Loretto’s curriculum when the golf academy was set up with a handful of students in 2003.

“We are now full at 40 with projected numbers of 50 from September, 2009,” reports Mr Reid. “We are very much the market leader in the UK and this is reflected in our recent results. The school does not just play matches, we compete in the ISGA tournaments (Independent Schools Golf Association) with numerous team and individual successes during the three years since it was set up). We also compete in the HMC Foursomes tournament and during tours throughout the world to compete in school events.”

Since opting for warm weather training at Desert Springs three years ago, the school has chalked up a marked increase in the number of games it has played against others across the UK.

Training at Desert Springs for pupils was the brainchild of Loretto’s director of golf, Rick Valentine, the golf professional grandson of one of Scotland’s most dominant figures in women’s golf for two decades, Jessie Valentine, who was dubbed Queen of Golf in 1958.

The Reading Blue Coat School has 40 golf-playing pupils aged between 11 and 18. Their events calendar includes the International Golf Tournament at Sun City in South Africa as well as regular HMC Foursomes. The dedication of Reading Blue Coat’s golfing pupils means that many of them have gone on to pursue the sport at university, notably in Birmingham, St Andrews and the USA.

Says Reading Blue Coat School’s director of Lower School studies, Jon Bruce, who selects and coaches the pupils who represent it at golf: “Playing in the warm weather at Desert Springs offered me an alternative venue to help maintain the enthusiasm of the school’s golfers while providing a valuable opportunity to compete prior to the Regional HMC foursomes semi-final against Seaford College.

Mr Bruce, who describes the facilities at Desert Springs as “excellent,” reports that plans are in hand for a biennial fixture in the resort.

All school golf trips to Desert Springs are bespoke. If desired, the programme can include time away from the golf course for some local sightseeing in what many regard as ‘the real Spain.’

During their stay pupils have opportunities to swim, play tennis and use the gymnasium, trim trail, jogging tracks, paddle tennis and beach volley ball courts.

Desert Springs is easy to reach from the UK, thanks to three international airports. They are: Almeria Airport, around 40 minutes away by road; Murcia Airport, 80 minutes by car on the new toll motorway direct to the Almanzora Valley (the toll is €11.5), and Alicante Airport which is less than two hours by road. Airlines currently flying to the region from the UK include easyJet, Monarch, Ryanair, Jet2, Jetair Fly and Thomas Cook.

Already well-known as a resort specialising in family holidays, Desert Springs is gaining popularity as a centre for warm-weather training for cricketers and footballers, as well as golfers.

The dates of the next Schools Golf Tournament at Desert Springs are February 25 to 28, 2010.

For details of training camps, sporting breaks – including three-day tuition packages with a professional, some including health and beauty treatments in the Day Spa – and family holidays, call the Cheltenham-based Almanzora Group
Email: tag@almanzora.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 1242 680 299

Pictured during warm weather football training at Desert Springs are players from Norway’s second division Bryne Fotballklubb.

The warm weather football training facilities at Desert Springs in Spain are the talk of the footballing fraternity in Norway, it seems.

The news follows a visit by Norway’s second division Bryne Fotballklubb to Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course for four days of training and coaching on the first international-size quality grass pitch in the Almeria area of south-east Spain.

The club’s coach, Rolf Teigen, was so enthusiastic about the calibre of the resort, its football pitch, other sports facilities, restaurants and accommodation, that he has pledged to spread the word to other Norwegian clubs.

Mountain biking Bryne Fotballklubb players take a break from warm weather football training at Desert Springs where the packages available include a variety of other sporting and leisure activities.

He said: “I have lots of sporting connections in Norway and when I return for the new season I will be speaking to them about Desert Springs and its first class facilities.”

Mr Teigen said he was hopeful that the Bryne Club would be back in the resort for more warm weather training “in the not too distant future.”

Additional information
Since the Desert Springs football pitch was inaugurated by Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Geoff Hurst in 2004, floodlights, shower and changing facilities and a referee changing room have been built.

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. Recently additional space for goal keeper training and five-a-side games has been added.

Clubs opting for warm weather training packages 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 players is in the privately-owned apartments, cottages and villas which are available for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs.

If needed, the resort’s executive chef can 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.

Already well-known as a resort specialising in family holidays, Desert Springs is gaining popularity as a centre for warm-weather training for golfers and footballers, as well as cricketers. For details call the Cheltenham-based Almanzora Group +44 (0) 1242 680116 or visit the website, www.almanzora.com

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