Major practice facility upgrade for PGA Catalunya Resort

(Girona, Spain) - PGA Catalunya Resort, the 2015 European Golf Resort of the Year*, continues to assert its reputation as one of the continent’s foremost golf venues, by enhancing its acclaimed practice facilities.

The award-winning resort and Spain’s official candidate host venue for The 2022 Ryder Cup has upgraded its double-ended, natural grass driving range by extending its top teeing area to 250 metres wide, doubling its capacity, to now accommodate 100 bays. Along with the existing 30 bays of the lower teeing area, PGA Catalunya Resort’s expanded driving range can welcome up to 130 players at any given time.

The European Tour Destination, which has hosted the Open de España on three occasions and the European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage since 2008, has also created a new putting green made with Poa grass, which is used on golf courses throughout the world, including Pebble Beach Golf Links, USA.

The new putting green means the four main grass types, Bermuda, Bent, Paspalum and Poa, can all be found within the 2,000 square metre short game area – the largest in Spain – alongside its five bunkers containing a different sand type from courses around the world, including Augusta National supersand, St Andrews links, Hawaii volcanic, Pebble Beach and PGA Catalunya Stadium Course sand.

Extensive development over the last few years has enhanced the venue’s reputation as one of Europe’s leading integrated golf and residential resorts, with the practice and coaching facilities providing the location for the Sergio Garcia Junior Academy and Dave Pelz’s Spanish Golf School.

Miguel Girbes, Director of Golf at PGA Catalunya Resort, said: “The aim is to always provide the most memorable experience for those visiting PGA Catalunya Resort, whether they are an elite tour player, or are taking their first steps in the game.

“The upgrades we continue to make to our world-class practice facilities, ensure that golfers are able to hone their game in optimum conditions, which is why we have established ourselves as a preferred winter training facility for many tour professionals, as well as the Danish, Norwegian and Finnish national teams.”

The expansion of the practice facilities at PGA Catalunya Resort is designed to complement the resort’s two highly acclaimed Tour and Stadium courses, the latter ranked as Spain’s No.1 by influential golf course ratings website, www.top100golfcourses.co.uk.

*As voted by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators

For more information about PGA Catalunya Resort visit www.pgacatalunya.com.