Kiawah Island Golf Resort Named North American Golf Resort of the Year While Doonbeg
Named European Golf Resort of the Year
20 November 2009
MALAGA, SPAIN – November 20, 2009 – Over 300 golf tour operators from 45
countries cast their votes for the annual International Association of Golf Tour
Operators that saw Kiawah Island Golf Resort declared Golf Resort of the Year in
the North America category (the other two categories being Europe and the Rest of
the World). Kiawah Island’s sister property, Doonbeg, in County Clare Ireland was
named Golf Resort of the Year for Europe.
“Receiving these awards from the IAGTO, speaks to the time, effort and attention
to detail we give each golf course project we undertake,” said Charlie Arrington,
Director of Design and Planning, Kiawah Development Partners. “While Kiawah and
Doonbeg are both dramatic venues for golf courses and offer unmatched natural beauty,
it’s the quality of service and people that make each destination worthy of such
a distinction.
Coastal South Carolina USA managing director, Gary Edwards was on hand to collect
the award at the IAGTO Awards Gala Dinner held in Malaga, Spain on Nov. 19.
Over 2,000 golf resorts from around the world were considered for this award category
and were judged based on customer satisfaction, quality of golf course and accommodation,
value for money, accessibility to tee times as well as speed of communication and
quality of service of the golf resort sales and marketing team.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort joins a roster of acclaimed international golf resorts
who have received the prestigious award in previous years. Past winners in the category
included: Pebble Beach Resorts, in Carmel, CA, the PGA National Resort & Spa, in
Palm Beach Gardens, FL and the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, FL among others.
The IAGTO Awards were established in 2000 to reward to recognize those exceptional
resorts in the world of golf travel.
ENDS
About Kiawah Island Golf Resort:
Located along 10 miles of pristine beach just south of Charleston, SC, Kiawah Island
Golf Resort is currently ranked as the #1 resort in the U.S. by Golf World magazine,
one of the top five tennis resorts in the U.S. by Tennis Magazine and the prestigious
Conde Nast Traveler magazine has ranked Kiawah Island Golf Resort the #1 resort
in the USA and the #1 island in North America. Kiawah Island is also known as one
of the top eco-friendly resorts in the U.S. In addition to The Sanctuary, the resort’s
Mobil 5-star/AAA 5-Diamand 255-room oceanfront hotel and spa, the resort manages
600 private villas and luxury homes, nine restaurants, two tennis centers, a renowned
recreation and nature program and has five championship golf courses, including
The Ocean Course, host of the 1991 Ryder Cup, the 2007 Senior PGA and 2012 PGA championships.
For more information on the resort, please visit www.kiawahresort.com or call 800-654-2924.
About Doonbeg:
Doonbeg, in County Clare Ireland, is a luxury resort destination featuring five
star accommodations, a Greg Norman-designed championship links golf course, restaurants,
pubs and a state-of-the-art spa. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on the magnificent
crescent-shaped Doughmore Bay, Doonbeg allows for whole-ownership cottages and suites
as well as a private residence club managed by Timbers Resorts, the word's leading
creator of deeded property interests. The property is developed by Kiawah Development
Partners, the master-planner behind Kiawah Island, SC and Christophe Harbour, St.
Kitts.
For reservations, real estate and membership, please visit www.DoonbegGolfClub.com or call 1-866-DOONBEG (366-6234).
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ENDS
19th November 2009