The five-star La Manga Club has confirmed its reputation as Spain's flagship resort after clinching one of the top accolades at the 1st World Golf Awards.

The resort's five-star Hotel Principe Felipe beat off competition from 15 other venues across Spain and her islands to be crowned 'Spain's Best Golf Hotel' at a glittering awards ceremony in Quinta do Lago, Portugal.

La Manga Club has enjoyed a year to remember including opening a new €1m world-class golf tuition facility at the venue, with, as its centrepiece, a bespoke Leadbetter Golf Academy – the only one of its kind in Spain.

And more silverware could be heading La Manga Club's way in the near future with Europe's premier sports and leisure destination having also been nominated as the best resort in Spain by readers of the UK's best-selling golf magazine Today's Golfer, as it bids to win the title for a staggering fourth year in a row.

La Manga Club's general manger, José Asenjo, said: “La Manga Club is proud of its reputation that has been established over the last four decades for offering a five-star golf product and the high regard that it is held in by golfers.

“It's a great honour to receive any award and to win such a prestigious accolade as this is recognition for the continued hard work by everyone at the resort to maintain our position at the forefront of golf destinations across Europe.”

La Manga Club's famous South Course – one of three 18-hole championship layouts at La Manga Club – was also shortlisted in the category for 'Spain's Best Golf Course' at the inaugural event, which featured leading golf industry figures from 37 countries and some of the most most famous names in the game including legendary commentator Peter Alliss and respected architect Bill Coore.

The iconic South Course has hosted numerous high-profile professional and amateur tournaments – including staging the Spanish Open on five occasions – and has been the centre of attention for European golfers over the last 12 months.

As well as being chosen to stage the 2014 Spanish Seniors Championship and 2014 Children's Championships, the famous par-73 layout also held the 1st La Manga Club PGAs of Europe Pro-Am, the climax to the 2014 ECCO Tour Winter Series, and the 2014 Footballers' Classic – won for the third time by Liverpool and Scotland legend Kenny Dalglish – while the credentials of the resort's luxurious hotel were given an added touch of Hollywood sparkle this summer following a visit from former Oscar nominee Liam Neeson.

La Manga Club was also one of only five esteemed venues nominated for the 'Best Golf Resort in the World' at the 2014 Telegraph Ultratravel 100 Awards alongside Pebble Beach in California, St Andrews – the Home of Golf – Sandy Lane in Barbados, and eventual winner The Gleneagles Hotel, host to last month's hugely successful Ryder Cup.

Set in an area three times the size of Monaco, La Manga Club is widely recognised as Spain's flagship resort and continues to set the benchmark for sports and leisure destinations across Europe.

Boasting three 18-hole championship golf courses, a nine-hole academy course and outstanding practice facilities, the resort has enjoyed a rich golfing history since its inception in 1972, while its array of other outstanding sports and leisure amenities, bars and restaurants has helped establish it as a firm favourite with visiting golfers.

In addition, the resort offers the ideal place for budding sports stars of the future to hone their skills with a wide selection of academies for boys and girls of all ages including golf, tennis, cricket, rugby, athletics, football and dance, and a range of fun-packed activities in its junior club.

La Manga Club features unrivalled facilities as a sports and leisure destination and, as well as its golf courses, includes a 28-court tennis centre and a 2,000sqm spa and fitness centre. It also offers the choice of a five-star hotel, four-star serviced apartments and townhouses and more than 20 bars and restaurants.

For more information or to book call 00 34 968 17 5577, email reservas@lamangaclub.com or visit www.lamangaclub.com.

ENDS

Information for journalists

Press release written and distributed on behalf of La Manga Club by the Azalea Group.

La Manga Club
La Manga Club – www.lamangaclub.com – is an unrivalled sports and leisure paradise which sits between the low hills that separate the Mediterranean from the Mar Menor Sea, just 20 minutes from Murcia airport and an hour from Alicante.

Set out over an area of some 560 hectares (approx. 1,400 acres), it enjoys a mild year-round Mediterranean climate and offers visitors a prestigious five-star hotel, luxury vacation apartments and extensive sports facilities, including three championship golf courses, a new Leadbetter Golf Academy – the only one in mainland Spain – a 28-court tennis centre and eight grass sports pitches. The resort is also home to innumerable leisure facilities, such as the 2,000m2 Spa La Manga Club with its 13 luxurious treatment rooms, comprehensive fitness centre and 25m indoor swimming pool; meeting, banqueting and incentive facilities, and more than 20 restaurants and bars.

As well as hosting both Davis and Fed Cup tennis matches, La Manga Club has signed a long-term deal to be the overseas training resort of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) until 2016. It has also staged the Spanish Open golf championship and regularly attracts professional and international football teams to the first-class year-round training facilities which are also used by rugby and cricket sides.

As a result of more than 40 years of continued investment, innovation and commitment to excellence, La Manga Club is widely recognised as Spain's flagship resort and as one of the finest sports and lifestyle destinations in the world. Evidence of this is provided by its numerous awards and accolades.

La Manga Club was the proud recipient of a 2013 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel website, for the facilities and service on offer at its five-star Hotel Principe Felipe. The resort has long been a staunch supporter of women's golf, being the official overseas resort partner of the English Women's Golf Association for three years as well as hosting the Ladies European Tour (LET) Qualifying School from 2009-12. La Manga Club is also the venue for the Ladies Murcia Open, an LET Access Series event, and regularly hosts top women's amateur events and teams.

• High-resolution images of La Manga Club may be downloaded for editorial purposes from http://goo.gl/pHbd5b 

For more information on La Manga Club contact Pete Simm on 01730 711920 or email petes@theazaleagroup.com