The best examples of golf tourism, golf courses, and golf destinations in 2020 are revealed following a record number of votes cast by the public.
The winners of World Golf Awards 2020 were announced today.
Winners include Georgia’s legendary Augusta National Golf Club, crowned ‘World’s Best Golf Course’. Ryder Cup winning captain José María Olazábal was named ‘Golf Course Designer of the Year’, following in the steps of previous winners Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Sir Nick Faldo. Golfing icon and ten-time major winner Annika Sorenstam was the recipient of the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’.
The beauty of Australia’s golf courses, which range from coastal links to wild greens, was acknowledged with the title of ‘World’s Best Golf Destination’. On the opposite side of the globe, England’s The Belfry, also emerged as one of the big winners with the accolade for ‘World’s Best Golf Hotel’.
In the newcomer categories, Vietnam’s Hoiana Shores Golf Club – home to a spectacular new 18-hole links seaside course – was voted ‘World’s Best New Golf Course’. Meanwhile ‘World’s Best New Golf Development’ went to Navarino Hills, Costa Navarino, Greece.
Golf Saudi was acknowledged with ‘The Golf Vision Award’ for its pivotal role in transforming the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia into a world-class golf tourism destination.
The results follow a year-long search for the world’s top golf tourism and hospitality brands. Votes were cast by professionals working in the golf industry and by the public (golf tourism consumers).
The World Winners are as follows:
World’s Best Golf Destination 2020 – Australia
World’s Best Golf Course 2020 – Augusta National Golf Club (Georgia)
World’s Best New Golf Course 2020 – Hoiana Shores Golf Club (Vietnam)
World’s Best 9 Hole Golf Course 2020 – Glade One Golf Resort
World’s Best Par 3 Golf Course 2020 – The Turtle Hill Golf Club (Bermuda)
World’s Best Golf Clubhouse 2020 – The Carriage House at Adare Manor (Ireland)
World’s Best Eco Friendly Golf Facility 2020 – Sentosa Golf Club (Singapore)
World’s Best Golf Hotel 2020 – The Belfry (England)
World’s Best Golf Tour Operator 2020 – Golfasian Co
World’s Best Golf Club Brand 2020 – Callaway
World’s Best Golf Shoe Brand 2020 – FootJoy
World’s Best Golf Travel Magazine 2020 – Destination Golf Guide
World’s Best Golf TV Channel 2020 – NBC Golf Channel
World’s Best Halfway House 2020 – The Lighthouse @ Trump Turnberry Resort, (Scotland)
World’s Best New Golf Development 2020 – Navarino Hills, Costa Navarino (Greece)
Golf Business of the Year 2020 – Performance54
Golf Course Designer of the Year 2020 – José María Olazábal
Lifetime Achievement Award 2020 – Annika Sörenstam
The Golf Vision Award 2020 – Golf Saudi
Some of the regional winners are as follows:
Turkey’s Best Golf Course 2020 – Cornelia Golf Club – Faldo Course
Turkey’s Best Golf Hotel 2020 – Cornelia De Luxe Resort
Turkey’s Best Inbound Golf Tour Operator 2020 – Bilyana Golf Holidays
Turkey’s Best Outbound Golf Tour Operator 2020 – Noyan Golf Travel
Mexico’s Best Golf Course 2020 – TPC Danzante Bay at Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa
Mexico’s Best Golf Hotel 2020 – Fairmont Mayakoba, Riviera Maya
United States’s Best Inbound Golf Tour Operator 2020 – Elite Golf Experiences®
United States’s Best Outbound Golf Tour Operator 2020 – Elite Golf Experiences®
For the full list with regional winners, click here
Chris Frost, Managing Director, World Golf Awards, said: “Our winners represent the very best of the global golf tourism and hospitality sector and my congratulations to each of them. They have all demonstrated remarkable resilience in a year of unprecedented challenges.”
The World Golf Awards 2020 programme received a record number of votes cast by the public. This shows that the appetite for golf tourism has never been stronger and bodes well for the industry’s future as the global recovery begins.
