European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has hailed Quinta do Lago’s new TaylorMade Fitting Center as the best in Europe after officially opening the state-of-the-art facility to a packed audience at the Portuguese resort.
McGinley interrupted his hectic schedule to fly out to the award-winning Algarve destination to launch the new centre and show the full range of facilities available to both amateurs and professionals.
The European Tour star received warm applause from the crowd, which included journalists from all over Europe, juniors, club members and residents, after taking part in a media question-and-answer session before leaving the audience spellbound with a demonstration of his full repertoire of shots.
Situated at Quinta do Lago’s Paul McGinley Golf Academy – the only one of its kind in the world – the fitting centre gives golfers the chance to enjoy the ultimate club-fitting experience by providing them with the tools and techniques used on the professional Tours.
McGinley said: “This is a big day for me, Quinta do Lago and TaylorMade and the new fitting centre is something that we are all very proud of.
“It’s the first time that I’ve seen the centre since it was finished and I’m very excited. It’s equal if not better than anywhere else in Europe. This is as good as it gets.
“Amateurs can now get the same experience as professionals have had for the last 20 years when getting a new set of clubs fitted, and they have the potential to use exactly the same equipment that we use.”
The TaylorMade Fitting Center, the only one of its kind in Portugal, is operated by trained TaylorMade technicians, and offers golfers a custom-fitting experience testing hundreds of club head and shaft options, ensuring the best combination for every player’s swing. The Fitting Center also has a fully equipped Tour standard workshop.
The fitting centre utilises FlightScope X2 radar technology to measure the entire flight of the ball from impact to landing whilst displaying its 3D trajectory in real time. The system also allows the consumer to understand their club face position at impact, attack/path angles as well as ball flight data including launch angle and spin rates. The TaylorMade technician will then use this data and deliver it in an easy to understand format, giving golfers the opportunity to see where improvement in both their game and equipment lies.
Sean Brady, TaylorMade’s brand experience manager in Europe, said: “I think Quinta do Lago has done an incredible job here in producing a very special facility.
“The fitting centre here is our main way of showing what TaylorMade can do and offer, while giving the consumer a really great experience.
“For example, the new R1 driver has 168 different settings and the only way people can understand this is by coming to Quinta do Lago and being fitted by a TaylorMade-qualified technician. This is why TaylorMade adidas Golf is investing in industry leading fitting facilities such as Quinta do Lago, which is at an iconic venue and, given the fact that Paul McGinley also has a long term relationship with TaylorMade, made this a very easy choice for our company.”
John Dwyer, chief executive at Quinta do Lago, added: “Quinta do Lago has established a pedigree for excellence over the years and we realise how important it is to modernise and change so that we can continue to fulfill our aim of offering visitors a one-stop for golf, leisure and lifestyle.
“When we first looked at building the Fitting Center three-and-a-half years ago, we did our market research and tried to work out what was the best way to take this forward. Paul and TaylorMade were the logical choices to partner with and we’re delighted with the final result.
“We now have practice facilities to match anything else in Europe and will greatly enhance the first-class experience we can offer to our guests and members.”
Quinta do Lago has firmly established itself as one of the most highly regarded golf and residential developments in the Algarve since opening in 1972.
Located just 15 minutes from Faro airport and sitting amongst 2,000 acres of the picturesque Ria Formosa Natural Park, the resort offers residents and guests an unparalleled location benefiting from a year-round temperate climate, a variety of lifestyle pursuits and a strong sense of community.
Since its inception, Quinta do Lago has been at the forefront of golf in the Algarve with three 18-hole championship courses – Quinta do Lago North and South courses and Laranjal – matched by outstanding practice facilities at the Paul McGinley Academy.
Away from the fairways, the estate’s extensive leisure facilities guarantee there is plenty to keep everyone occupied, with tennis, cycling, watersports and horse riding just some of the activities available.
Quinta do Lago’s stunning location by the beach offers the perfect place to relax and unwind while the resort’s wide array of restaurants, both formal and informal, allow visitors and residents the opportunity to savour the very best in traditional Portuguese cooking.