Tenerife Ladies Open ends in cliff hanger

It was left to Rebecca Hudson and Anne-Lise Caudal to show that the Spanish football team didn’t have the monopoly on nail biting finishes on Sunday, as they went to a sudden death play off to decide the outcome of the 2008 Tenerife Ladies Open.

This thrilling finish at Golf Costa Adeje pitted England against France after both players had tied on 278 strokes, 10 under par. It was settled at the 17th hole with a neat putt from Doncasters Rebecca Hudson. There was a tie for third spot as well, with European Number One Gwladys Nocera, and find of the tournament, Spains amateur, Carlota Ciganda both hitting 281strokes during the 4 rounds of play.

What a great end to four days of tough competition, and what a great advert for Tenerife tourism and golf, the event was shown on television across Europe, the sun shone and the Costa Adeje course had never looked better. The standard of play raised the bar a little higher for ladies golf and the Tenerife Open keeps adding to its prestige as one of the key competitions on the European Tour. Roll on next year.

Tenerife tourism experts get mean on the greens

They work hard bringing tourists to Tenerife from all over the World, but give them a chance to relax, and they are even more competitive. Tour operators and their agents love to pit themselves against each other on the golf course, and the 9th annual International Golf Challenge will see them battling for personal and professional pride.

The tournament started today and runs through until Saturday at 2 of the islands best courses, Golf Del Sur (above) and Golf Las Americas. This year there are 50 players involved from 11 different countries, not just from the obvious markets like the UK and Germany, but also Finland, Holland and Norway, to name just a few.

It’s a great way to promote golf on the island and is sponsored by Turismo de Tenerife and Tenerife Golf, 2 of the leading government promotion agencies. These tourism experts maybe off duty, but they will be swapping notes and advice and forging strong links that will hopefully help in the battle to increase awareness of golf tourism in Tenerife.

The 2 courses are in the heart of the property investment growth areas and each golf tourist these operators bring in is a potential property buyer. They would no doubt be pleased to know that Actual Properties have villas and apartments in both areas and a browse through their website is a grest starting point in the move to Tenerife to enjoy endless sunshine and golf on a daily basis.

Los Palos, Tenerife, gives Nicki a new drive

“I’d like to teach the world to swing - drive, putt and chip” You could understand Nicki MacDonnell adopting that as her theme, after all as a self confessed late starter at golf, she is eager to pass on every ounce of skill, dedication and sheer enjoyment of the game that she loves. Now installed as a professional coach at Los Palos golf centre in Guaza, she has the perfect facilities to work with, as she sets about teaching all ages, sexes and abilities, to embrace golf as a healthy and fun way to enjoy the superb year round weather that Tenerife has to offer.

It’s just a couple of months since Nicki left Amersham in the south of England, proudly clutching her coaching qualifications from the WGTF, the World Golf Teachers Federation. If the federations name doesn’t spring immediately to mind when thinking about golf, it should do as even the PGA, Professional Golfers Association, is taking on their coaching methods. The WGTF covers 35 nations and has 12,000 members, but it’s a club that requires hard work to join as Nicki can testify. “I did an intensive course, working 16 hours a day for 7 days, covering practical play and theory at the North Weald golf club. ” Nicki had taken up playing at Harewood Downs when she was married, and although she never turned professional, she was a handy player, winning the Watford Open three times.

Looking to join family in Tenerife, Nicki was well aware of the quality and quantity of courses on the island, but really landed on her feet when she scooped a job at Los Palos. “From a coaching point of view, it has probably the best facilities on the island, it’s a 9 hole course and perfect for people who are looking to learn the game . There’s a driving range, putting green, chipping green, and practice bunker, and all in a beautiful and well placed setting.”

The wider area is very much in keeping with Los Palos, the exclusive resort of Palm Mar, next door is set between Guaza mountain and the nature reserve of Malpais de Rasca, and tranquility and peace are very much bywords for the area.

There will certainly never be a dull moment for Nicki, as the course offers coaching from scratch level to the more experienced player looking to iron out a few kinks in their game. With the long summer months stretching ahead, parents can breathe a sigh of relief if they enrol their children in a 6 week course, knowing they are in expert hands, learning a discipline that will stay with them. For that extra peace of mind, it’s good to know that Nicki has her Sports Coach UK Safeguarding and Protecting Children certificate.

Coaching takes special skills, not just in the game but also patience, dedication and good communication, Nicki has them all, topped off with bags of enthusiasm. The greens are watered, the grass cut, and the bunkers raked, and Nicki is raring to go, just give her a ring on 922169080 or email nikmac@terra.es.

Young Canarian chips off the block

Golf in the Canary Islands is enjoying a boom, and at all age levels, many boys and girls are now taking up the sport at a young age. The progress of some of the young players is staggering and this has been recognised with a summons to Madrid for 2 Canarian children in the “infantil” category.

This weekend at the Madrid technical centre, Javier Poladura from the Costa teguise golf club in Lanzarote, will be joined by Cristina Cabezas from the Royal Golf Club in the north of Tenerife. Both will get a chance to shine in the Spanish Infantil Championships at pitch and putt level.

Golf schools are seeing ever greater numbers of children signing up for golf schools, and with the long summer school holidays looming up, many parents recognise that, it’s an excellent fun way to keep them occupied while learning to enjoy an active outdoor sport.

A new page for Canarian golf

If you live, breathe, sleep and read golf, there’s a new must have companian for you. Just Golf, is a new FREE 98 page colour, glossy, quality magazines produced in association with the Canarian tourism and promotion department. It covers courses and events in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, and the articles are in English and Spanish.

It’s another sign of how much importance the Canarian and Tenerife governments put on golf tourism, and shows their commitment to encourage and inform golfers that choose our islands to enjoy their favourite sport.

As well as interviews with leading figures around the Canarian golf scene, Just Golf has technical features on equipment and contact details of all the courses in the islands. The photography is stunning, if you are aware of the work of underwater camera wizard and environmentalist Sergio Hanquet, you won’t be surprised to see that he can also turn his lens expertly to golf coverage.

Just Golf is a FREE quarterly magazine and is available from all the leading golf courses and through the big tour operators. However you can also go to the website and download the main articles from each issue. Either way it will serve as a further boost to the growing reputation of golf tourism in the Canary Islands.