Cascais in the final stage of the World Corporate Golf Challenge
Cascais has always scored points when it comes to the practice of different indoor or outdoor sports. In Portugal, it was in Cascais and Estoril that some of today’s most famous sports were played for the first time, such as tennis or football. Sports are, in fact, part of the municipality’s DNA. And when it comes to golf… for sure without any handicap.
Between 30th June and 5th July, Cascais hosted the final stage of the “World Corporate Golf Challenge”, the biggest corporate golf tournament organized each year. And why? Did you know that Cascais and Estoril are recognised and recommended, throughout the world, as one of the best destinations for playing golf, all-year-round, in Europe?
The “World Corporate Golf Challenge” is a yearly major corporate golf tournament that gathers the winners from different competitions that take place in different countries. Since its first edition, in 1993, its notoriety has been growing in such way that, over the last years, more than one million amateur golfers have taken part, from more than thirty countries. This year, the final stage, that had already taken place in countries such as South Africa, Spain, Malaysia, Mauritius Islands, Jamaica and Scotland, took place in Cascais, at one of the best-ranked world 100 golf courses and second best in Continental Europe, The Oitavos Dunes. The global nature of this event has never been so impressive, as this year players from 32 different countries were present at the “Final Stage”.
Portugal has participated since 1998. Over the 22 years of competition, Portuguese players have already won the tournament four times. This year, the victory was given to the Indian couple, Sonam Chugh and Shashidhar Reddy, sponsored and representing Ramesh Swiss Watches. The tournament was played at The Oitavos Dunes, a par 71 championship course. Mr. S. Chugh, a handicap 3 player, made 66 stableford points (34+32) over the two days of play. Mr S. Reddy, playing with a 5 handicap, obtained 62 stableford points (33+29) in the same two competition days. In total, the two Indian players made 128 points, 7 points more than the host pair, who reached second place with 121 points.
For Cascais, this wasn’t just another prestigious golf tournament finale. Being the main stage of an event that gathers representatives from worldwide famous corporations is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the potential that Portugal in general, and Cascais in particular, offers at different levels, to all participants. It’s not only about having excellent conditions for playing golf, but also being a privileged destination for holidays and leisure and an adequate and a high potential location for investment, a unique chance that was securely grabbed.
Its astonishing beaches, the unique gastronomy, its history, culture, architecture and the nature in a pure state are Cascais’ and Estoril’s best invitation cards for participants and their families to return, the same for colleagues and close friends. Besides this, some of Continental Europe’s best championship golf courses are located here – among them The Oitavos Dunes, where the final stage took place, ranked in 2013 as one of the top best 100 golf courses in the world (nr. 65), by “Golf Magazine”.
Projected and designed in 2001 by the famous golf architect, Arthur Hills, The Oitavos Dunes is also considered one of the Portuguese best courses. Planning and final layout design involved great concern for preservation of the delicate dunes ecosystem in which the course is settled and was built. This led to the recognition of The Oitavos Dunes as a Golf Signature Sanctuary, a quality certification awarded by Audubon International in recognition of the high environmental concern observed in every detail of the course construction and operation. In this category, it was the first European 18 hole course and second worldwide to receive such award. All the 18 holes offer an astonishing view over the Atlantic Ocean and Sintra mountains, making a golf round experience something really exceptional and truly different, a unique moment of communion and enjoyment with nature.
Around Cascais, Estoril and Sintra, golfers with a valid handicap, can choose to play in 8 or 9 different “pay and play” championship courses, all of them located in less than “15 minutes driving distance” from main hotels and other tourism accommodation.
If you are planning to visit Estoril or Cascais in a near future to practice your beloved sport, you should know that in Cascais you can acquire a “golf passport”, especially prepared for you. This “passport” allow you to play 3 or 5 days on different 18 hole courses at your choice, one day in each course. Each day you can play unlimited golf during daily course opening hours.
The 18 hole courses where you can play using the “golf passport” are: Belas Clube de Campo, Estoril Golf course in Estoril, Lisbon Sports Club in Belas, Penha Longa – Atlantic course (as well as the 9 hole Monastery golf course, where two rounds can be played) located between Estoril and Sintra, Pestana Beloura Golf, Quinta da Marinha Golf course and The Oitavos Dunes, also in Quinta da Marinha, Cascais.
When visiting Cascais, you can come for one reason and stay for many others! Golf might be the first of many reasons that will force you to surrender to Cascais’ charms and the uniqueness of the Estoril Atlantic Coast. Be welcomed to Cascais.
