By NATASHA SMITH
SEVERIANO BALLESTEROS has hit the first shot on the soon to be completed Quinta do Vale Golf Resort in the eastern Algarve.
The symbolic gesture on Thursday, October 26, served to christen the land on the course which he has designed. Located next to the Guadiana River in Castro Marim, the luxurious resort looks set to revitalise the area as a whole.
The official presentation of the resort preceded the tee off and was attended by the Civil Governor of the Faro District, António Pina, Hélder Martins of the Regional Tourist Board and Castro Marim’s Câmara President, José Estevens, among others.
They each spoke about the project and how it would benefit the local community with employment opportunities as well as the Algarve as a region.
Hélder Martins said that one, if not the most important, aspect of the project was to offer dignity, wealth and jobs for the community. José Estevens commented that “it was a good day for Castro Marim” in light of the recent announcement that the area was going to receive five per cent less in government subsidies in 2007.
The Quinta do Vale Golf Resort is spread over 100 hectares of land and plans include a five-star hotel, 57 villas, the par-72 golf course with luxury clubhouse, tennis courts, a football pitch and a nature walk.
The developers intend to involve the local community as much as possible, including inviting children from the area to learn and hone their golf skills.
The impact of construction on the environment was discussed at length at the official presentation and the resort plans to reuse treated water for irrigation.
This will be overseen by Águas do Algarve, responsible for the region’s water treatment, who will construct a treatment plant on site to cope with the needs of the development. Vitor Alonso spoke on behalf of the resort about their endeavours to preserve the land and the animals which inhabit it. Rain water will be collected to help maintain the 10 lakes in the development.
José Estevens expressed his pleasure in meeting a company such as this that was interested in the area surrounding the development. There are plans to build a marina on the edge of the Guadiana River and Estevens said: “We urgently need to reclaim the river and improve the quality so that tourism will thrive and, in turn, the community will prosper.”
Ballesteros, voted the European Player of the Century in 2000, said the course will be ready by September 2007 and golfers should find it an enjoyable course, surrounded by lakes and trees.
He added that he was proud to be involved in this venture and proud to have his name attached to it.
