The final whistle may have been blown on England's World Cup campaign but a group of Premier League referees have taken advantage of the summer break to hone their golfing skills on a four-day trip to Spain.

While England's dreams of glory in Brazil lay in tatters after defeats to Italy and Uruguay, the top officials were enjoying the chance to relax and unwind on the sun-drenched fairways in Murcia, south-east Spain, with the finale to the four-day golfing break taking at the prestigious La Manga Club resort.

Organised by Michael Oliver, the trip featured a number of Premier League colleagues including Martin Atkinson, Mike Dean, Kevin Friend, Neil Swarbrick, Jon Moss, Anthony Taylor and assistant referees Stuart Burt and Darren England.

And to make sure there was no case of mistaken identity and they made an instant impression for their round on La Manga Club's much renowned South Course – the venue for five Spanish Opens – the referees abandoned their traditional black uniforms in favour of an array of outlandish outfits from Royal & Awesome – Scotland's spectacular clothing brand.

Oliver said: “We had a great time playing golf in Murcia and to conclude the trip at La Manga Club was ideal. It's a great venue and it's easy to see why so many sports teams visit for warm weather training.

“We all chose La Manga Club as it really is the resort to play whilst in the region. The South Course was in great condition and the greens were fantastic, even if they were a little too fast for my own putting ability. It was a great experience, a great course and I'd certainly recommend it. I'm already thinking of heading back to practise my golf … it needs it!”

The officials are the latest leading names from the world of football to head to grace the fairways at La Manga Club after the popular Footballers' Golf Classic was held at the five-star resort earlier this month, with Liverpool and Scotland legend Kenny Dalglish mounting a final-day charge to take the title for a third time.

In addition, Spanish footballing giants Barcelona have chosen the award-winning venue to stage its official
FC Barcelona Junior Football Club Camp from July 21-25, where budding stars of the future – both boys and girls –have the chance to learn some of the secrets of the club and emulate their footballing idols.

Widely regarded as Spain's flagship resort, La Manga Club has been at the forefront of sports and leisure destinations in Europe for more than four decades.

Set in an area three times the size of Monaco, the resort boasts unrivalled facilities as a sport and leisure venue including three 18-hole championship golf courses, 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 about La Manga Club and to book a break, call 00 34 968 17 5577, email reservas@lamangaclub.com or visit www.lamangaclub.com. 

To see Royal & Awesome's spectacular range of golf clothing at www.royalandawesome.com or www.facebook.com/royalandawesome 

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Information for journalists

Release issued and distributed by The Azalea Group.

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

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 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.

Royal & Awesome
• Parent company AFG Media, also owns Morphsuits.
• Royal & Awesome makes spectacular golf trousers, shorts and hats for golfers who want to make an impact on and off the course. It also makes shirts and accessories to complete the Awesome outfit.
• The products are great quality and specially designed for golf. They are 97 per cent cotton and three per cent spandex. They have tee holders and tour slits and every pair of trousers or shorts comes with a free golf tool/bottle opener.
• RRPs: trousers £49.99; shorts £39.99; hats £19.99