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Portugal’s Praia D’El Rey course leads the way in eco-friendly golf

3rd December 2008 Print
Ranked 13th in Europe by Golf World magazine, the golf course at the award-winning Praia D’El Rey Golf & Beach Resort on Portugal’s Silver Coast is the first course in the region to start implementing ISO 14001, the environmental certification programme now recognized all over the world.

9th December 2008 sees the official inauguration of Praia D’El Rey’s new state-of-the-art 1500m2 golf maintenance facility, near the 5th fairway. Here special treatment areas have been built into each work station to enable the proper separation, disposal and recycling of all the residues and waste materials from the course.

“For much of the year we cut the grass on the fairways every day”, says Director of Golf Eduardo da Silva, “And this new facility ensures that we can now deal with all the grass and residues in an environmentally friendly way. It has lots of other benefits too. By the end of 2009 the Praia D’El Rey course will be officially certified under ISO 14001, making us one of the most forward thinking and environmentally aware golf courses in Portugal. And it also improves working conditions for all our 22 green keeping staff”.

This new environmental management system minimizes the resort’s use of water, focuses on the use of organic fertilizers and protects the 54 endemic species of flora found on the course.

The rest of Praia D’El Rey is equally committed to efficient energy use and providing eco friendly homes.

All 53 new properties at The Beachfront (currently for sale from E458,000 - E1.4m) use high quality thermal insulation throughout, and natural vegetation on the roofs, helping energy efficiency by eliminating the need for air conditioning and heating units. Solar panels provide hot water and heating, and courtyards around the new properties are heavily planted with indigenous local species, ensuring a healthy microclimate.

All street lighting in the resort uses low energy light bulbs, resulting in a 40% energy saving in 2008.

All glass, plastic, cardboard and newsprint is recycled in dedicated recycling points (or eco pontos) around the resort.

This commitment to recycling and energy saving is part of the Beltico Group’s longer term strategy to ensure that Praia D’El Rey retains its market leading position as one of the most famous golf resorts in Portugal.

For further information, visit praia-del-rey.com