About Catalonia

Catalonia is one of seventeen autonomous communities in the Kingdom of Spain. Catalonia itself is divided into four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona. Often described as one of the most naturally beautiful parts of Europe, Catalonia is bordered by the Alpine peaks and ski resorts of the North, the fruit growing countryside of Aragon to the West, the Valencian municipalities to the South, and by 580km of coastline and the Mediterranean Sea to the East. The main languages are Spanish and Catalan. The Capital of Catalonia is Barcelona, one of the worlds leading tourist, economic and cultural centres and home to the architectural wonders of Gaudi. A giant in European Tourism, Barcelona boasts a vast array of parks, museums, monuments and beaches. To the North lies the province of Girona and the renowned Costa Brava coastline. Here you will fine a rugged coastline of crystal waters and excellent beaches. Tourism has replaced fishing as the main industry, but the small fishing villages that are dotted along the coastline add to its unique charm. The province of Tarragona to the South is rich with historical splendours including medieval walls and the remains of a Roman aqueduct. It is also home to the spectacular Costa Daurada coastline and the main holiday resort of Salou. International Airports in Catalonia are located at Barcelona, Girona (North) and Reus (South). Ryanair and Aer Lingus operate direct flights from many locations in the UK and Ireland, while other Airlines have operations from all over Europe.

Golf in Catalonia

With average annual temperatures of between 18 and 23 degrees Celsius and over thirty-seven superb golf courses, Catalonia is the ideal golfing destination. Our Official Venues and Hotel for CIGF 2011 are:

PGA DE CATALUNYA
PGA de Catalunya is a truly stunning course with the Pyrenees as a backdrop, which only adds to its magic. It was designed by Neil Coles and Angel Gallardo and after only opening at the end of 1998, has already hosted the Sarazen World Open in 1999 and the Spanish Open in 2000, the only course to host two European Tour events within 10 months of opening. In November 2008 the finals of the European Tour Qualifying School were held on both the Stadium and Tour Courses and nine years later history was repeated when the PGA Catalunya once again held the Spanish Open in April 2009.

BARCELONA GOLF CLUB
Barcelona Golf Course’ was designed by Jose Maria Olazabal and founded in 1990. This is a very demanding and tight course even for the best of golfers and is sure to prove a test of character. This highly rated golf course is beautifully maintained and has hosted numerous professional tournaments including the 2007 Catalonia Ladies Masters, part of the Ladies European Tour. Set on the border of the Penedes wine growing region, Barcelona Golf Club commands some spectacular views of the Montserrat Mountain. Practice facilities at this course are superb with a double ended driving range, and it also a 9-hole course to train on.

REAL CLUB DE GOLF EL PRAT
The Real Club de Golf El Prat Golf course comprising of 45-holes and designed by Greg Norman is set in beautiful rolling countryside on the outskirts of Barcelona. It also has a public school and 9-hole course. Like any Championship course, it aims to test the golfers’ ability. El Real Club de Golf El Prat is an exclusive and private club, but arrangements can be made to play here and we are delighted to include it as one of our three venues. In May 2011, Real Club de Golf El Prat was the venue for the Spanish Open 2011, thus highlighting its Championship calibre and the region of Catalonia as a quality golf destination

HUSA MASIA BACH
The Husa Masia Bach is a hotel in natural surroundings between the Mediterranean Sea and the mountains of Montserrat, built in the modernist style typical of the Penedes region. It is a hotel highly recommended for all those who enjoy playing golf, with modern facilities and numerous comforts for enjoying the select Mediterranean cuisine of its exquisite restaurant, which highlights a select and viewable wine cellar with wines and cavas from the region. The hotel is an ideal base to play golf and also to visit Montserrat and the Penedes wine region.

About CIGF 2011

The Catalonia International Golf Festival (CIGF) 2011 is a 4-day golf festival open to all golfers (male & female) with Official Handicaps, to be played on some of the best golf courses in Catalonia. It is managed and operated by Destination Golf Media Ltd and Barcelona Golf, in association with its sponsor Agència Catalana de Turisme. The itinerary for CIGF 2011 is:

Monday, 3rd October 2011 –
Players arrive and transfer from airport(s) to hotel. Accommodation at Husa Masia Bachl.

Tuesday, 4th October 2011 –
Player Registration and Welcome. CIGF Day 1 – Golf at PGA Catalunya. Transfer back to Husa Masia Bach. Non Golf: Girona Tour

Girona is a jewel of culture and history acquired over 2000 years of existence. Many cultures have left their imprint on the streets of the city–Iberians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Jews, Christians… they have created unforgettable places such as the medieval quarter, the Arab baths, the best preserved medieval Jewish quarter in Europe, the houses on the Onyar river, the Cathedral, Saint Felix church and the walk around the city walls.

Wednesday, 5th October 2011 –
CIGF Day 2 – Golf at Real Club de Golf El Prat. Transfer back to Husa Masia Bach.

Non-Golf: Montserrat Tour Montserrat is a mountain, a unique Natural Park, and a massive rock over 4000 feet high, visible for miles, with weird shapes and rounded peaks that jut into the sky; there are paths, stairs, caves, chapels and hermitages scattered over the mountain, extraordinary landscapes and wonderful views. Montserrat is a Benedictine monastery nearly 1000 years old, perched half way up the mountain and sheltered by its peaks. There is a basilica with the Chapel of Our Lady of Montserrat known as La Moreneta, the patron saint of Catalonia, and a presence strongly felt and revered. The community of monks also runs a boys' school devoted to the study of music. Montserrat is culture: a library of nearly 300,000 volumes; the oldest boys' choir in Europe; a basilica full of paintings, gold lamps and decorated chapels, a museum with paintings by El Greco, Picasso and Dalí among many others and treasures from ancient Egypt.

Thursday, 6th October 2011 –
CIGF Day 3 – Golf at Club de Golf Barcelona. Presentation of prizes & Gala Dinner at Husa Masia Bach. Non-Golf: Panoramic Tour Barcelona More than just a city by the Mediterranean sea…Barcelona offers a rich variety of fashionable places with cosmopolitan flavour and a wonderful combination of Culture, Art and Design Passing along the world famous boulevard,
La Ramblas with all it´s flowers and birds down to the port and the Christopher Columbus monument. It will then take it´s passengers up Montjuic, the Olympic Mountain with the Olympic Stadium and the Palau San Jordi. Continuing to La Sagrada Familia, which is (although still under construction) one of Gaudi´s master pieces of Architecture. The tour will then continue down the main street Paseo de Gracia with all the famous modernist buildings, among which is Antoni Gaudi's masterpiece La Pedrera, now listed on Unesco's list of world heritage. Reaching Plaza Catalunya the tour will continue on foot for a 30-45 minu

Friday, 7th October 2011 –
FREE DAY. Players depart and transfer to airport(s). Extra option: Visit to Torres Vineyard / 4th game of golf.