Finca El Cortesin Hosts the Volvo Match Play Championship 2011

Volvo World Match Play 2011 Finca El CortesinSome of the world’s top golfers will be delighting crowds at this year’s Volvo Match Play Championship which will be played at the fantastic Finca El Cortesín, near Casares.

The 24 players who will take part in the tournament have already arrived on the Costa del Sol and are ready to fight for the generous first prize of 800,000 Euros (The total prize fund is 3.4 million Euros!). The draw for the first two days of play took place this morning (please click here for a pdf copy of the groups).

Play commences on Thursday the 19th May, with the final being played on Sunday 22nd May. There’s a fantastic line up for this tournament with the top three players in the world, six of the top seven in the world rankings and the winners of the four majors.

Spectators will be able to watch their favourite golfers in action: Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Paul Casey, Charl Schwartzel, Ian Poulter, local hero Miguel Angel Jiménez …and many more!

The tournament will be played following traditional match play format with each match being decided over 18 holes. The 24 participants have been divided into eight groups of 3 players who will play each other over the first two days of the tournament. The first two out of each group will go through to the last 16 and quarter finals on Saturday, with the semi finals and final being played on Sunday. (more…)

Scuba Diving Season has Started! (Video)

Here’s a short video I took as I spotted some clients taking scuba diving lessons in the main pool here at Sunset Beach Club; it was a little overcast so they had the pool to themselves!

Scuba diving season has officially started and we are lucky enough here at Sunset Beach Club to have our very own dive centre on site! Run by Scuba Tours, one of the longest running dive organisations on the Costa del Sol, the team of qualifies instructors are available to answer guest queries about their fantastic selection of excursions and PADI courses.

Apart from initial lessons in our pool, guests who sign up for an excursion can experience an entry level dive at a site that is within a few steps of the hotel. Those who are looking for a little more adventure can choose from 15 different dive sites situated along the Coast, including reefs, wrecks and caverns!

There’s something for everyone. Guests can choose from the following:

  • Day Excursions (Beginners and advanced)
  • PADI Courses (From beginner to professional level)
  • Special Kids Programmes (from 8 years of age)

For more information about Scuba diving lessons and excursions, pop into the “dive shack” located by the pool at Sunset Beach Club or visit the Scuba Tours website on www.divinginspain.com . Alternatively, just ask at our Leisure Desk.

 

Travel Back in Time: Visit the Medieval Market in Benalmadena Port

Medieval Market

Sweets and Pastries...yuuuum!

One of this weekend’s highlights will be the Medieval Market which will take place at the Benalmadena Marina.

From tomorrow Friday 13th May – and until Sunday the 15th – tourists and locals who wonder down to Puerto Marina will feel like they have been transported to medieval times as they make their way around the Medieval Market which will be located in the large exhibition tent in the “Pueblo Marinero” area of the Marina.

A walk through the market will allow visitors to see artisans (my favourite are the ones who make sweets and pastries!), exhibition workshops, theatre groups, street performers and dancers, circus acts, jugglers, theatre for children, musical groups, snake charmers…the works!

There’s no doubt that the Medieval Market will provide a fun alternative for all the family this weekend. By the way…it’s free! 🙂

Photo: Keith Williamson

La Noche en Blanco de Malaga 2011: A Unique Cultural Event

la noche en blanco malaga 2011Next Saturday the 14th May, the city of Malaga will organise the fourth edition of “La Noche en Blanco” (literally translated as The White Night), a unique cultural event in which citizens and visitors can enjoy art exhibitions, stage shows, live music and audiovisuals in more than 100 points around the city. The great news is that all these events will have FREE admission!

This year, social networks (Facebook, Twitter and Youtube) take center stage as many of the projects being developed for “La Noche en Blanco” this year are the result of the numerous ideas and proposals made by the the citizens of Málaga through these Social Media channels. In addition, following the event via Twitter and Facebook will allow you to know which places have the longest queues – so that they can be avoided – and which ones have less affluence.

This fourth edition of The White Night promises to be the most spectacular to date.This year there will be 130 free activities – compared to 111 last year – which will take place in 100 locations. More than 60 institutions and organizations (public and private) supported the event last year, attracting 153.546 people; this year the authorities expect to surpass this figure. (more…)

Luna Beach Club Update!

Our fantastic new Beach Club has undergone extensive refurbishment work over the last few weeks. With just a few more finishing touches to go, Luna Beach will be open to the public as from Monday 9th May (please bear in mind that we will only be serving drinks during the first week; food service will be introduced the week beginning 16th May.)

Here’s a brief summary of what’s been going on this week:

Below is a photo of the new road sign which was put up this week announcing Luna Beach’s imminent opening.

Luna Beach Club sign (more…)