With white sand beaches and year-round sunshine, it’s no surprise the Maldives is popular with celebrities across the world, including Manchester City Football Club’s manager Pep Guardiola, who publicly announced this week he would move to the Maldives to play golf if he no longer managed football teams.As a result, the Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC) has extended an official invitation to the world-renowned coach via a tweet sent by the official MMPRC account, inviting him to visit the Maldives to practise his swing on four courses across its islands.
These include the nine-hole course at Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, the six greens at Kuredu Resort Maldives and Meeru Island Resort & Spa, and the nine-hole golf course and academy designed by world famous golfer and Ryder Cup-winning captain José María Olazábal at Velaa Private Island.
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives is home to the country’s first ever golf course. Nestled on seven and a half hectares of land at the southern end of Villingili Island, the nine-holf course has spectacular views of the Indian Ocean. What is so special about this course is that it is essentially at the edge of the earth, with only stretches of ocean before reaching Antarctica. Designed as a fun, recreational golf course for aficionados and beginners alike, it was developed in keeping with the island’s natural beauty including Mount Villingili. Located at tee number eight, it is the highest point in the Maldives standing at modest 5.1 metres. For more information, visit www.shangri-la.com/male/villingiliresort.
The Kuredu Golf Club at Kuredu Resort Maldives
Kuredu’s golf course is located on the eastern end of the island, next to its driving range and putting green, and guests can play six par three holes over 297 yards on a 21,000 sq. ft course. There is no dress code at the course and guests can even play barefoot if they wish. Six tees, including one elevated tee, and six greens allow golfers to play six, 12 or 18 holes while sharpening up their short game. Each green features three flag positions and are made of artificial turf, ensuring year round perfect playing conditions. They are well protected by bunkers, and some palm trees may prove to be a sneaky obstruction while playing island golf. Kuredu also boasts a 200-yard-long driving range, a nine-hole artificial turf putting green, a Golf Shop, a Golf Club Bar and a beginner-friendly practice bunker. Furthermore, a Qualified Golf Professional can arrange private classes for guests and there are also free 30-minute sessions three nights each week, along with competitions such as Pool Chipping, Texas Scramble and Nearest to the Pin. For more information, visit www.kuredu.com.
Meeru Golf Club at Meeru Island Resort & Spa
Located in the centre of the island next to the Golf Driving Range and Putting Green, guests at Meeru Island Resort & Spa can enjoy nine holes of golf including over 480 yards on this 21,500 sq. ft course with artificial turf. The Meeru Golf Course offers nine tee boxes and six greens which allows golfers to play 18 holes while working on their short game. Each green features four or more flag positions of increasing levels of difficulty. The resort also plays host to the Maldives’ first driving range, which is 120 yards long with high target markers for shots up to 220 yards. Meeru’s artificial turf putting green is ideal for beginners and golfers to improve their putting skills and golf lessons on the driving range or golf course can be scheduled at the resort’s sports centre. For more information, visit www.meeru.com.
Velaa Private Island
Nestled within the constellation of islands that form the Maldives’ Noonu Atoll, the five-star resort of Velaa Private Island takes exclusivity to the next level with facilities and service that go beyond traditional hotels. The resort’s unparalleled Maldivian sporting facilities designed for exploration and active living include one of the finest golf courses in the Indian Ocean. The nine-hole golf course and academy designed by world famous golfer and Ryder Cup-winning captain José María Olazábal provides guests the opportunity to perfect their skills whilst being trained by fully PGA qualified teachers. For more information, visit www.velaaprivateisland.com.
For further information on the Maldives, visit www.visitmaldives.com.
ENDS
Notes To Editors:
Photo Caption:
Image 1: The golf course at Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives.
Image 2: Pep Guardiola playing golf. Image courtesy of Sportsfile.
Image 3: The golf course at Velaa Private Island in the Maldives.
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