The Els Club Teluk Datai in Langkawi has picked up the Best Golf Experience in Malaysia accolade in the 20th edition of the IAGTO annual golf tourism awards, which took place on October 17 in Marrakech, Morcoco.
Meanwhile, The Magellan Sutera Resort in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, was named as the Best Hotel Experience in Malaysia during the prestigious awards ceremony, staged on the final day of the International Golf Travel Market attended by more than 1,000 delegates. The golf travel convention and awards are organised by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO).
Built in 1992 and redesigned by South African golf legend Ernie Els in 2014, the spectacular Rainforest Course of The Els Club Teluk Datai (www.elsclubmalaysia.com) stretches from the foothills of towering Mount Mat Cincang to the azure waters of the Andaman Sea.
The newly-introduced Experience Awards recognised one golf course and one hotel in each of 25 countries for the outstanding experience that they delivered this year for visiting golfers. Like the other categories, the awards were voted for by IAGTO golf tour operators.
The Algarve in Portugal claimed the blue-ribbon award, the overall Golf Destination of the Year, introduced this year to replace the previous practice of presenting one award for each of five geographical regions. Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort, Moon Palace Cancun and Adare Manor picked up the awards for Asia Pacific, The Americas and Europe, Africa & Middle East Golf Resort of the Year Awards respectively. Meanwhile, Cambodia was voted Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year by the journalists of the International Golf Travel Writers Association.
Golf Destination of the Year: The Algarve, Portugal
Another new recognition was introduced where IAGTO members voted for the top 15 golf destinations in the world, which were (in alphabetical order) as follows: Abu Dhabi, Algarve (Portugal), Coastal South Carolina (USA), Costa del Sol (Spain), Cote d’Azur & Provence (France), Dominican Republic, Fife (Scotland), Lisbon Golf Coast (Portugal), Marrakech (Morocco), Monterey County (USA), New Zealand, South West Ireland (Ireland), Tenerife (Spain), Vietnam and Western Cape/Garden Route (South Africa).
“As the guardians of the most important and prestigious golf tourism awards, for two decades now we have presented only a handful of awards each year which lends enormous gravitas to the event and significance to the winners. With only one Golf Destination of the Year Award the expectation was palpable.,” said IAGTO chief executive Peter Walton.
“But we also took the opportunity to expand the Awards to other categories of companies with our Golf Experience and Hotel Experience awards. We will extend these next year to yet more countries so that every major golf destination will be able to celebrate achievements within their golf tourism industry.”
IAGTO has over 700 golf tour operators in 63 countries and the top 15 golf destinations that they voted for were, in alphabetical order:
2020 IAGTO Awards winners
Golf Destination of the Year: The Algarve, Portugal
Golf Resort of the Year – Europe, Middle East & Africa: Adare Manor, Ireland
Golf Resort of the Year – The Americas: Moon Palace Cancun, Mexico
Asia Pacific Golf Resort of the Year: Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf Resort & Spa
Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year: Cambodia
Hotel & Golf Experience Awards (Hotel / Golf)
Bulgaria: Lighthouse Golf & Spa Hotel / Thracian Cliffs
Caribbean: Casa de Campo Resort / Villas Punta Espada Golf Club
Cyprus: Almyra Hotel / PGA National Cyprus Golf Course
France: Hôtel Ermitage – Evian Resort / Albatross Course – Le Golf National
Morocco: Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech / Assoufid Golf Club
Gulf States: The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa / Yas Links Abu Dhabi
Indian Ocean: Anahita Golf & Spa Resort / Ile aux Cerfs Golf Club
Indonesia: Bintan Lagoon Resort / Bali National Golf Club
Ireland: Adare Manor / Old Head Golf Links
Italy: Verdura Resort / Golf Club Bogogno
Japan: Kawana Hotel / The North Country Club
Malaysia: The Magellan Sutera Resort / The Els Club Teluk Datai
Mexico: Moon Palace Cancun / El Camaleon Mayakoba Golf Course
New Zealand: The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs / Jack’s Point Golf Course
Northern Ireland: The Bushmills Inn / Ardglass Golf Club
Portugal: The Oitavos / Monte Rei Golf & Country Club
Scotland: The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa / Kingsbarns Golf Links
Slovenia: Grand Hotel Union / King’s Course – Royal Bled Golf
South Africa: Kwena Lodge – Gondwana Game Reserve / Pinnacle Point
Spain: Hotel Camiral at PGA Catalunya / Finca Cortesin
Thailand: The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok / Black Mountain Golf Club
Tunisia: La Cigale Tabarka Hôtel Thalasso & Spa – Golf / Golf Citrus Hammamet
Turkey: Maxx Royal Belek Golf & Spa / Carya Golf Club
USA: Trump National Doral / The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
Vietnam: Anantara Hoi An Resort / Ba Na Hills Golf Club
For the eighth year, IAGTO’s partner in sustainability, the GEO Foundation, highlighted four exceptional golf courses with Aphrodite Hills of Cyprus being recognised for its outstanding contribution to sustainability.
For more information log on to www.iagto.com/awards
