The best in golf and hospitality were honoured at the 59club Europe Service Excellence Awards,
held on March 27-28, 2025, at Ombria Algarve, Portugal. Industry leaders from across Europe
gathered to celebrate outstanding customer service and operational excellence – all with the aspiration of claiming a prestigious service excellence award.
Guests were greeted with panoramic views over the majestic hills, as The Ombria Algarve Resort in Portugal, provided the perfect backdrop to celebrate outstanding customer service and operational excellence, and to honour the finest performers of the year.
59club’s awards are based on impartial mystery shopping audits, evaluating real customer experiences against objective benchmarking criteria. This ensures that only the most dedicated and authentic venues, teams, and individuals receive recognition for their commitment to service excellence.
On the night, 15 awards were presented to individuals, managers, and teams who delivered the best one-off experiences across 59club’s three European divisions: Nordic, West & South. Additionally, five major awards were given to clubs that consistently maintained elite service levels throughout 2024.
The evening concluded with the prestigious Gold, Silver, and Bronze Flag Designations, a global industry title honouring golf clubs and resorts that deliver exceptional facilities and world-class service to their members and guests.
Celebrating Excellence
In the main European arena, Costa Navarino emerged as the big winner, securing accolades for both Golf Operations Team of the Year and Golf Manager of the Year, claimed by David Ashington.
Staying with the main European titles, Rutger Smits from The Dutch was named European Food & Beverage Manager of the Year, with Carmen Laguna Aguilar from Son Muntaner awarded European Retail Manager of the Year.
Finally, Russell Anderson from The Scandinavian in Denmark joined the European winners when he was crowned 59club’s European Greenkeeper of the Year.
The evening also celebrated regional individual moments of service excellence across the customer journey, with winners recognized in various categories.
Shining a light on 59club Nordic, Estonian Golf & Country Club enjoyed their share of the celebrations having bagged two regional awards after being named Nordic’s Leading Individual Food & Beverage Experience & Leading Individual Retail Experience.
The Scandinavian was victorious for delivering Nordic’s Leading Individual Golf Course Presentation, with Esbjerg Golfklub claiming Nordic’s Leading Individual Golf Operations Team award, and finally Ljunghusens Golfklubb won Nordic’s Leading Individual Golf Experience award.
Heading over the border, the properties within Europe West’s region were next to celebrate with Golf de Terre Blanche enjoying a treble helping of crystalware having been crowned Europe West’s Leading Individual Golf Course Presentation, Leading Individual Retail Experience & Leading Individual Golf Operations Team.
Staying with Europe West, their Individual Food & Beverage Experience award was presented to Golf de Servanes. The Leading Individual Golf Experience accolade went to The Dutch.
Finally, Europe South enjoyed their time in the spotlight, and celebrated another treble winner, after Costa Navarino was awarded Leading Individual Golf Operations Team & Leading Individual Golf Experience while sharing the Leading Individual Retail Experience award with Costa Navarino / ES – La Hacienda / ES – Golf de Andratx.
Son Muntaner celebrated being named Europe South’s Leading Individual Food & Beverage Experience, and the region’s Leading Individual Golf Course Presentation was presented to Pirin Golf Resort.
Beyond Europe 59club has already celebrated service excellence in the USA, Canada & the Middle East & Africa & UK & Ireland with Asia and Australia & New Zealand set to crown their award winners in the coming months, further reinforcing 59club’s global commitment to elevating customer service standards across the golf, leisure & hospitality industry.
The pinnacle of these awards will see a number of regional winners invited to represent their club and Country at 59club’s first ever Global Awards, taking place later this summer at World renowned The Belfry Hotel & Resort, in the UK.
59CLUB EUROPE ‘SERVICE EXCELLENCE’ AWARD WINNERS:
Food & Beverage Manager of the Year: Rutger Smits (The Dutch)
Retail Manager of the Year: Carmen Laguna Aguilar (Son Muntaner)
Greenkeeper of the Year: Russell Anderson (The Scandinavian)
Golf Operations Team of the Year: Costa Navarino
Golf Manager of the Year: David Ashington (Costa Navarino)
59club Leading Individual Experience Award – Regional Winners:
Europe South – Leading Individual Food & Beverage Experience: Son Muntaner
Europe South – Leading Individual Retail Experience: Costa Navarino / ES – La Hacienda / ES – Golf de Andratx
Europe South – Leading Individual Golf Course Presentation: Pirin Golf Resort
Europe South – Leading Individual Golf Operations Team: Costa Navarino
Europe South – Leading Individual Golf Experience: Costa Navarino
Europe West – Leading Individual Food & Beverage Experience: Golf de Servanes
Europe West – Leading Individual Retail Experience: Terre Blanche Golf
Europe West – Leading Individual Golf Course Presentation: Terre Blanche Golf
Europe West – Leading Individual Golf Operations Team: Terre Blanche Golf
Europe West – Leading Individual Golf Experience: The Dutch
Europe Nordic – Leading Individual Food & Beverage Experience: Estonian Golf & Country Club
Europe Nordic – Leading Individual Retail Experience: Estonian Golf & Country Club
Europe Nordic – Leading Individual Golf Course Presentation: The Scandinavian
Europe Nordic – Leading Individual Golf Operations Team: Esbjerg Golfklub
Europe Nordic – Leading Individual Golf Experience: Ljunghusens Golfklubb
59CLUB EUROPE FLAG DESIGNATION
BRONZE FLAG DESIGNATION: Son Quint, PGA Argentario, Valle Romano, Marco Simone, Emporda Golf Resort, Ombria, Opio Valbonne Golf Resort, Golf de Roquebrune, Royal Palm Marrakech, Golf d’Hardelot, Linna Golf, Aalborg Golf Klub, Kytäjä Golf.
SILVER FLAG DESIGNATION: Club de Golf Alcanada, INFINITUM, Pula Golf Resort, Son Vida, Quinta do Lago, Golf de Andratx, La Hacienda Links Golf Resort, Le Touquet Golf Resort, Esbjerg Golfklub, Pickala Golf, Estonian Golf & Country Club, Ljunghusens Golfklubb.
GOLD FLAG DESIGNATION: Finca Cortesin, Son Muntaner, Camiral Golf & Wellness, Costa Navarino & PGA Aphrodite Hills, Terre Blanche, Le Golf National, The Dutch, Golf Club St. Leon-Rot, The Scandinavian.