GOLFING HOLIDAY MENORCA SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER 2008
01 September 2008

GOLF SON PARC
ENJOY GOLF, ENJOY MENORCA
G O L F I N G H O L I D A Y S MENOR C A

Play golf in Son Parc and enjoy a unique
18 holes. Designed by Dave Thomas for
the Golf Son Parc Resort.
You will live an unforgettable experience in a wonderful place full of
enchantment: in incomparable surroundings on the island on Menorca.

BARGAIN SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER 2008!
HOTEL JENI+GOLF visit the hotel web page www.hostaljeni.com
Double Room Accommodation only+ Green Fee 18 holes:35€ p/day p/person
Double Room B&B + Green Fee 18 holes:38,50€ p/day p/person
Single Room Accommodation only + Green Fee 18 holes:43€ p/day p/person
Single Room B&B + Green Fee 18 holes:46,50€ p/day p/person

Supplement HB/FB: 9,00€ p/pax p/day


Get in contact with us as soon as you can by phone or by e-mail

Tel: (0034) 971 35 90 59 - (0034) 971 18 88 75
e-mail: info@golfsonparc.com

GREAT GOLF HOLIDAY IN SON PARC
14 September 2007

David Billington recently joined Golf Son Parc with a specific role to develop and manage great (and great value) golf holidays.

David can be contacted by email or phone (07710 331754).

We spoke to him recently:

Hi David and welcome to Golf Son Parc. Tell us a bit about your background in golf.

I played an occasional round of friendly golf whilst still playing rugby and cricket, rugby was my main sport and the highlight for me was winning the Hong Kong Sevens Plate for Bahrain in 1978, having played against Fiji and Australia. I joined my first golf club after my rugby career was over following further knee surgery.

Since then I have enjoyed playing golf for 23 years, my best handicap being thirteen. I was the Captain of my golf club in 2002 and have now been a member for twenty years.

Ten years ago after several years in the contracting ‘rat race’ I decided to enter in to golf club management and have never looked back. My first appointment was full time and I was very much a one man band with no assistance, working long hours each week and attending numerous committee meetings which quite often went on well in to the night, some even finished in the early hours of the morning. However it was a great but steep learning curve, which gave me the grounding needed to move on to a bigger more prestigious golf club. I worked for just over two years before I moved closer to home with my present golf club and took on a part time position as Manager/Secretary and Company Secretary, I have been here four years.

Being a Golf Club Secretary is a great job, with tremendous benefits, the majority of British golf clubs offer courtesy of the course to working secretaries, which I occasionally enjoy.

And what will you be doing for Son Parc?

My role for Golf Son Parc is to market the golf and sports facilities which have been successfully built up over the last 25 years by Hugh Brown. My first of several visits to Son Parc was with my wife, on an organized golf week with 14 others. It was great all we had to do was turn up on time and everything was organized for us, the golf, the tours and the evening social dinners.

Now the course is a magnificent 18 holes it will appeal to more club golfers and it is my job to market golf holiday packages to suit all levels, with certain times of the year being set aside for organized competitions for all who wish to enter.

I suppose people must ask you why, out of the hundreds of holiday golf courses around the world, they should come to Son Parc. How do you answer that question?

I have played golf in mainland Spain and always remember my first visit to the Malaga area. My memories of the first trip were, out of five courses, two were very poor, two were an hour’s drive away and one we came off after six holes because it had taken four of us almost three hours to play the six holes. Yes there are hundreds of courses reflecting the demand but they are now becoming extremely expensive, course marshals pressurize you when you play and many of the courses are over crowded and unless you can reserve an early tee off time a round can be a very long, frustrating and extremely hot experience.
In Spain many courses are designed by retired golfers around hillsides surrounded by housing estates.

You don’t experience this at Son Parc, from the moment you arrive you are greeted by friendly English or English-speaking staff, your apartment is next to the course, or your hotel is ten minutes away. The course has been designed by Dave Thomas one of the world’s leading golf course architects, the Belfry probably being his best known one. The course is surrounded by pinewoods, and bordered with a natural wetlands nature reserve, it’s a picturesque environment. To play the same course each day has to be a benefit similar to playing at your own club, one can measure improvements, or otherwise and the familiarity will help to relax you more. It’s easy to relax before or after a game on the terrace or in the clubhouse with quality bar snacks and fine dining available everyday to suit all needs. It is so much more relaxing than any course I have experienced on the mainland.

As well as golf, what else can people do when they come to Son Parc?

At Son Parc we have all the facilities you would expect within the complex. A full time professional for lessons on the course or at the driving range, a driving range, buggie hire, club and trolley hire, superb tennis courts, swimming pool, full catering facilities available all day with fine dining in the evening and a beautiful sandy beach five minutes away.
With the advantage of a hire car in your package one can explore this beautiful un-spoilt part of the Balearics, there is little traffic and the roads are excellent. For the non-golfer days exploring the island, its small towns, villages, restaurants and magnificent beaches will be a restful pleasure.

And will you be developing any new ideas in the future?

We have over the years established special weeks like the Menorcan Open which is very popular and this year we had the inaugural Mathew Brown Trophy, (in remembrance of Hugh’s grandson who tragically died in an accident). This was a Ryder Cup format competition against mixed Cheshire Juniors and the Balearics Juniors, and it will now become an annual match.

Yes we are developing new ideas and have already instigated the first Golf, Bridge and Walking Holiday on the 2nd to the 9th November this year. Many golf clubs in the UK now have Bridge playing sections and we feel this is a type of holiday all can enjoy, particularly couples who may not, both play golf. The escorted walks will be personally supervised, not too strenuous but very informative and interesting. We are setting dates for beginners weeks which will include professional lessons and playing. In October we have a Golf week which includes a 36 hole competition, mixed greensome, single stableford, 4BBB (pairs stableford), team Texas Scramble and a prize and presentation buffet evening.

We will be offering golfing holidays for ladies and seniors over long weekends and full weeks and special all inclusive golf holidays throughout the winter months, November to April, 4 and 7 days inclusive, golf, apartment or hotel, and flights from UK airports.

We give the best value for money golf holidays from the UK and try wherever possible to include flights in our package prices, however for flexibility one can arrange ones own flights.


That all sounds great. If people want to find out more, how do they contact you?

This website is extremely informative and worth looking round. I am looking forward to increasing the number of visitors to Golf Son Parc. Many like it so much they visit regularly; we hope all our new visitors this year will do the same. For all those interested, all those who have tried the mainland golf I would ask: try us.
I can be contacted on db@golfsonparc.com or my mobile 07710 331754.

We all look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Take a virtual flight around Son Parc
01 September 2008

Thanks to Golf Son Parc member and aerial photographer Martin Hejnar you can now get a bird's eye view of the course. Martin's superb photos of each hole can be seen on the course guide pages and you can see some of his shots of the island on his website: www.vistaire.es.

SICTED - tourist quality system implemented at Golf Son Parc
01 September 2008

For the forth successive year, last January 2008, we have received the "Sicted" certification by the General Secretary of Tourism for the quality management systems relating to tourist destinations.

As part of the quality system we are establishing a client service questionnaire. Please help to improve and maintain the quality of our business by completing a questionnaire which will be available in the shop and inside the bar and drop it at the reception desk.
We would like to get your opinions to be able to improve the course and our services.

Live Open Qualifying
01 September 2008

After a triple bogey at the ninth, Tato is two over after 10 holes

12th - another bogey after two pars: 3 over. It's going to be tough now!

13th: a great drive but a wayward second shot leaves Tato needing a 10m putt for his par - and he's sunk it!

14th: another super tee shot and on the green with his second. Could this be the birdie chance he needs? Sadly the putt doesn't quite have the legs. Another par but time is starting to run out.

15th: Tato's drive is off to the right so his approach shot is through the trees. he takes the safer option and knocks it onto the fairway. Looiks like another bogey coming up but his third shot leaves him putting about 8 ft for his par again. And, once again the putter does its job. Still 3 over.

16th: On the green in two. Could this be the birdie he needs? 12m downhill. It's a big ask: A couple of inches left and now he has a 5 footer for another par. Oh no - just left and another bogey. +4

17th: A good looking tee shot hits the green on this par 3 but rolls back to the apron and after the next shot there's still plenty to do to save his par. It looks all over now as the third shot rolls agonizingly by. Another bogey. +5

18th: The drive fades to the right but he is lined up well for the approach to the green. On the green in two - just past the flag on the left. And yet again he just shaves the hole for a par and finishes 5 over on the day.

All in all a very creditable showing for Tato on his ever competitive round in England.

UPDATE 9th JULY
Unfortunately Tato didn't make it through to the next stage. This year was very tough and only one player got through to final qualifiyng with an over-par round.

There was other interest for Son Parc too. Course record holder Sebastian Garcia just missed the play-off with a 73 but two of last year's Cheshire team who played in the inaugural Matthew Brown Cup had excellent rounds. Tom Boys ended the day in joint third place with an outstanding 69 and Josh Sims also made it to final qualifying with one stroke more. Sadly that's as far as the boys got when they came up against seasoned tournament pros (like Jean van de Velde and Philip Walton) as well as difficult conditions over 36 holes of final qualification. But as both are still teenagers they clearly have a great future ahead of them - and we hope it includes more visits to Son Parc, a couse both boys really loved.

INTERNET ACCESS
31 July 2007

In our snack bar area you can find an internet web kiosk from where you can surf the internet, send emails and keep in contact with home for as little as € 1 for the first 10 minutes.

The kiosk is coin operated.

SON PARC PRO IS FIRST TO MAKE BRITISH OPEN QUALIFIERS
01 September 2008

Golf Son Parc pro Gustavo Flammia, known to everybody as Tato, is the first golfer from Menorca to reach the qualifying stages of the Open. He flew in to Manchester Airport today, Monday and will tee off at Prestbury Golf Club in Cheshire on Wednesday July 2nd. All members and friends of Son Parc are invited to come along to join Hugh Brown in supporting Tato – his tee time is 9:06am.

Tato, who was born in Cordoba, Argentina 35 years ago, has been at Son Parc for four years and has done tremendous work in developing the game in the island running numerous schools and classes for local youngsters. In between his duties as a popular and successful teaching pro, he has been working hard on his competitive golf. His greatest successes have come in the Spanish championship for monitors (younger or junior pros) where he gained a second in 2006 and a victory in 2007.

We wish Tato all the best and will bring you his scores as soon as we have them. (And to send a message of support to him, please click here.)

ENVIROMENTAL DECLARATION
31 July 2007

Golf Son Parc Menorca S.L. announces its commitment to the protection and improvement of the environment, by implanting a complete system of quality tourist destination (S.I.C.T.E.D.). We recognise that respecting the environment is directly connected with human well being and in our case, sporting excellence.

We believe that by putting into place a system such as this, it will be fundamental to the contribution of the conservation of our title as a Biosphere Reserve. It is for that reason that we have opted for plans which pursue the following objectives:

· Good Internal Management: to manage a golf course and its auxiliary installations in such a way that minimises the noxious impact on the environment and use natural resources as well as following local, national and European regulations concerning environmental matters.

· The conservation of the Biosphere: to expand to the maximum the ecological potential of the golf course. For that we hope to collaborate with non profit making organisations who put into practise environmental protection plans.

· Communication and Education: to ensure that the staff adopt both political and practical positions in favour of the environment and these are perceived by and transmitted to the public.

· Saving water and energy: by following controls and results as well as the awareness of both staff and golfers. Investing in control systems for a computerised irrigation system and of course by using “recycled water” to water the course.


· The use of cleaning products “non aggressive to the environment”

· Minimise the generation of dangerous residues.

· Recycling of paper, cardboard and plastics.

In order to implement these objectives, certain environmental management criteria are emplaced that take into account the aforementioned objectives as well as the needs of the golfers, the staff that work and other interested parties.

If managed properly, we believe that golf can act as a model to be imitated for good environmental practise.


GOLF SON PARC MENORCA S.L.

THEY CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF GOLF SON PARC
01 September 2008

For four friends from Manchester, coming to Son Parc in the spring for a week’s golf has become an annual event. Brian Atherton, Peter Hargreaves, Norman Evans and Ron Blezard are now in their late sixties but still play off very respectable handicaps ranging from 9 to 20. And, in fact, they love the place so much that they have been coming for fourteen years and two of them make an extra visit in the autumn as well! So between them that adds up to around ten thousand drives, ten thousand sunk putts – and quite a few shots in between.

They were very fond of the original nine hole course especially the old fifth with its tee on top of the hill – sadly this tee was lost in extending the course to 18 holes and will be the site of luxury villa in the future but the approach and green remain as part of the dogleg fourteenth. They enjoy the new holes too and always find the course challenging.

But it isn’t just the golf they come for because the friendliness of everybody at Son Parc and the great food in the clubhouse (a building much extended and improved since they first came) are all part of the attraction. So too is the island itself and they have often found themselves making the short drive to the picturesque fishing port of Fornells for dinner after a hard day on the course.

And you could be doing the same thing - we are only a couple of hours flying time from the UK and there are flights from most airports between May and October. We can arrange not only the golf but also luxury apartments alongside the course and book your car hire too. So why not drop an email to David Billington or phone him on 07710 331754 and we'll fix it all up for you.

BALEARIC YOUNGSTERS RETAIN MATTHEW BROWN CUP
01 September 2008

The Second Matthew Brown Cup, played between teams of under-18 boys and girls from the Balearic Isles and the English County of Cheshire, proved to be an exciting event. In the mixed foursomes on the first morning, Cheshire won by four matches to one taking a healthy 8:2 lead into the lunch break. But the Balearics came back strongly in the afternoon, taking three fourballs to Cheshire’s one to leave the overnight position as a narrow lead for Cheshire by 10 points to 8.

As so often happens in the Ryder Cup on which this competition is based, the singles proved decisive. The day began well for the English team with Matthew Taylor taking the first match against Jaime Fuster 5 and 3 to make the score 12:8. But then wins for Azahara Mellado (5&4 over Imogen Wilson) and Claudia Frau, who beat Abbie Cowland 3&2, brought the two teams level. Ataulfo del Hoyo finished all square with James Newton and so did Toni Servera and Mark Geddes. So, with half the singles finished, the two teams were neck and neck on 14 each.

After that it was virtually one way traffic for the Spanish youngsters. First Alexandra Ferrer edged Kelly Paxton one up then Pep Juaneda and Nuria Iturrios comfortably won their matches against Martin Thomas and Zoe Evans, 4&2 and 6&5 respectively and to decide the destination of the Cup. Martin Leese managed to hold Jose Insua all square but Luna Sobron won the final match on the 18th finishing 2 up on Claire Fry to give the Balearic Team a resounding 23:15 victory. The visitors from Cheshire were however able to take some comfort from having reduced the margin of victory from 10 points to 8 since last year and, more importantly, had enjoyed fine weather, wonderful golf and making the acquaintance of new friends from across the sea.

Individual congratulations go particularly to Alexandra Ferrer, the only player to win in foursomes, fourballs and singles and Matthew Taylor who was a winner both times he went out.

COUNTY BOYS TEAM PICKS SON PARC FOR WINTER TRAINING
01 September 2008

CHESHIRE BOYS, pacesetters in junior boys coaching, have taken a group of 12 to Menorca to start a period of intensive warm-weather coaching under the direction of senior county coaches, Alan Thompson Peter Barber.

County boys manager Michael Jones says: “This is a first for Cheshire Boys. It is difficult to coach certain aspects of the game when it is wet, when greens are soft, bumpy and slow. Also, with chipping, the coaches want somewhere with a firm surface, not off muddy surfaces or soft greens like you get on parkland courses in Cheshire at this time of year.” Son Parc, on the other hand offers good surfaces and reliable weather conditions.

Read the full newspaper story about the trip here

18 Holes Officially Opened
31 July 2007

Saturday 12 August 2006 was an historic day for Golf Son Parc. At 8 o'clock in the morning, Golf Son Parc founder Hugh Brown struck the first offical shot on the new 18 hole course. He was playing with family friends Steve and Thomas Proffitt and long time Son Parc staff member Stephanie Crossley in the official inauguration competition. This invitation-only competiton was initially limited to 88 players but demand to be part of this special day was so high that the Son Parc team pulled out all the stops to enable almost twice that number to participate.

Computerised irrigation system commissioned
31 May 2006

The photo on the right shows Mark Ganning, European Design Manager of leading irrigation specialists RainBird, putting the finishing touches to our new computer-controlled irrigation system. Its commissioning represents another great step towards completing the new course and will reduce our dependence on rainfall. Every drop of water is precious and the RainBird system (probably the most sophisiticated irrigation system in Menorca) will enable us to ensure that the water goes to the right place at the right time to deliver the top quality golf we are committed to providing.

Mark and the RainBird team have worked closely with us for many years and we are delighted to pay tribute to the professional service they have always provided. If you would like to know more about RainBird’s solutions for golf and other applications, please visit their website or email Mark Ganning (mganning@rainbird.fr).

ESCUELA BALEAR DE MENORCA
31 May 2006

Golf Son Parc cederá sus instalaciones para las concentraciones.

Creada la sede de la Escuela Balear de Golf en Menorca.
Menorca.



15/11/2005 - Golf Son Parc Menorca. La gran aceptación que el deporte del Golf ha tenido durante estos ultimos años entre los niños de Menorca, obligaba a esta Delegación a dar un paso hacia delante en la formación de estos nuevos jugadores.

La Federación Balear sensible ante la demanda realizada desde Menorca, se puso a trabajar en la posibilidad de crear en Menorca una sede propia de la Escuela Balear.La respuesta no se hizo esperar y a principios de Octubre se desplazaron a Menorca la Presidenta del Comité de Infantiles Francisca Negre, el Gerente Ricardo Moralejo y el profesor Marcos Juan, para por una parte explicar a los padres el Proyecto de Constitución de la Escuela en Menorca, y por otra proceder por parte de los profesores Marcos Juan y Gustavo Flammia a realizar una prueba a los 30 jugadores de la Escuela del Club de Golf Son Parc o niños con licencia federativa, para con posterioridad poder seleccionar a los jugadores mas avanzados que serán los tutelados por la Federación. La totalidad de los gastos que su formación ocasione será subvencionada en su totalidad por la Federación Balear a través de su Delegación en Menorca.

Esta Escuela viene a ser el espejo de la ya existente en Mallorca. La formación de estos jugadores se realizará semanalmente por el Monitor de la Federación en Menorca Gustavo Flammia, y mensualmente por un profesor de la Federación que se desplazará hasta nuestra Isla.

Como complemento de esta formación están previstos desplazamientos a Mallorca para participar en las pruebas organizadas por la F.B.G y controles técnicos. Del resultado de las pruebas, los alumnos seleccionados para formar parte de la Escuela Balear de Golf con sede en Menorca son: Xavi Torres Huguet, Pau Torres Huguet, Artem Koblow, Azahara Mellado, Isabel Van Der Graaf, Alex Carreras Graig, Andrés Martínez Artal, Antonio Recuenco. Cecilia Fdez-Reyes, Gabriel Palomo.

La delegación en Menorca de la Federación Balear de Golf quiere agradecer públicamente la gran sensibilidad demostrada por el Presidente de la Federación Pablo Fuster así como por el restos de los componentes de su Junta Directiva. Igualmente agradecer al Sr.Hugh Brown propietario del Campo de Golf de Son Parc y al resto de sus empleados por cedernos sus instalaciones y la paciencia demostrada con los niños, sin las cuales este ilusionante proyecto seria inviable, agradecerle igualmente el gran apoyo que con carácter general y en particular con el tema de los niños están prestando a esta Delegación. Destacar por ultimo, el trabajo de la Junta Directiva del Club de Golf Son Parc pues a ellos debemos, poder contar con una escuela con mas de 30 niños, que nutrirán a la recientemente creada Escuela Balear de Golf en Menorca.

Jesús Fernandez-Reyes Olivares
Delegado de la F.B.G. en Menorca.

Photo Gallery
31 May 2006

We are delighted to have been selected as the first Spanish course to be featured in the prestigous website golf.about.com . As well as lots of useful infromation about the history of the sport, its history and lots of advice for players of all standards, golf.about.com also features a gallery of soem of the world's finest courses inclduing, St Andrews, Augusta, Kiawah Island and the Australian National. To see the pictures of Son Parc, go to http://golf.about.com/library/slideshows/blsonparc1.htm