The nominees for 59club’s European Service Excellence Awards have today been announced, with many of the Leading Golf & Hospitality Properties across Europe making the shortlist. The winners will be unveiled during the prestigious awards ceremony, at Camiral Golf & Wellness Resort on Thursday 14th March 2024 – the first ceremony of its kind to be hosted on European soil.
59club’s prestigious accolades honour outstanding Venues, Teams, and Individuals in the global golf & hospitality industry consistently delivering exceptional customer experiences for members and guests.
The selection process remains unbiased, relying on scores attained through an in-depth and objective mystery shopping program. This program meticulously evaluates the experiences provided to members, visitors, and potential members across Golf, Greenkeeping, Retail, and F&B operations.
This year sees several of the finest Golf Resorts & Member Clubs in Europe securing multiple nominations. Notably, renowned Portuguese resort Quinta do Lago and Italy’s northern gem Royal Park I Roveri, lead the pack with eight & seven nomination respectively. Joining the elite group are Camiral Golf & Wellness, voted the #1 golf resort in Spain, along with 2023 Solheim Cup host & winner of Golf Manager & Golf Operations team of the year at last year’s event, Finca Cortesin. Additionally, Club de Golf Alcanada, the host of the Challenge Tour Final and Københavns Golf Club, the oldest golf club in Scandinavia, who celebrated 125 years of service in 2023, all boast several nominations across various service excellence award categories.
Golf de Servanes, located just a few minutes from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, is in the running for an impressive 5 awards. Since it began working with 59club in 2021, the positive development of its course and customer service are clearly paying off.
The nominations list also includes the likes of: Aalborg Golf Klub, Esbjerg Golfklub, Golf de Roquebrune, Golf de Sainte Baume, Golf de Seignosse, Terre Blanche, Golf des Yvelines, Golf D’Opio Valbonne, Golf du Touquet, Infinitum and Pickala Golf, all contending for service excellence awards.
Additionally, this year’s Ceremony will showcase the best individual moments of service across the customer journey. These awards are highlighted in each region: Europe South, West & Nordic.
The glittering award ceremony, which is supported by 59club’s Industry Partners – Club Car and Golf Genius will conclude with the presentation of the 59club Bronze, Silver and Gold Flag awards to the Resorts and Members’ Clubs which have demonstrated distinction against criteria for both customer service delivery and the quality of their facilities.
Looking ahead to the first ceremony to be held on the European mainland, founder of 59club, Simon Wordsworth expressed his excitement, stating:
We are delighted to finally be offering a European version of our Service Excellence Awards. Europe hosts a plethora of fantastic venues that span all corners of the golf industry from resort to private member’s club, and our mystery shopping over the last year has measured their successes. It is only right that those high-performing venues are given their moment in the limelight at our awards ceremony. We feel privileged to be able to share in their success and look forward to supporting them further to achieve their goals in the future.
Simon Wordsworth, CEO of 59club
*For the full list of nominations, see below.
59CLUB EUROPE ‘SERVICE EXCELLENCE’ AWARD NOMINATIONS (in alphabetical order):
Food & Beverage Manager of the Year:
Attilio GIRELLO (Royal Park I Roveri); Charles DE BRUYNE (Golf du Touquet); Christophe RONDELE (Golf de Seignosse); Hugo OLIVEIRA (Golf de Roquebrune); Jan NIELSEN (Esbjerg Golfklub); Jean BADEA (Golf de Servanes); Lionel GARDES-BUS (Terre Blanche); Savaş NUHOĞLU (Antalya Golf Club); Vicky FARRIOL (Infinitum)
Retail Manager of the Year:
Anne-Mette BENDIX MAJGAARD (Københavns Golf Klub); Carla BICA (Quinta do Lago); Hugo OLIVEIRA (Golf de Roquebrune); Jean BADEA (Golf de Servanes); Lionel GARDES-BUS (Terre Blanche); Richard STANISLAS (Golf de Sainte Baume); Teresa MOLL (Club de Golf Alcanada)
Greenkeeper of the Year:
Alfredo ÁLVAREZ (Camiral Golf & Wellness); Borja AZPILICUETA (Club de Golf Alcanada); Daniel Lüttger (Golf Club St. Leon-Rot); Guillaume VERNEY-CARRON (Golf d’Opio Valbonne); Ignacio SOTO (Finca Cortesin); Markus SUOJOKI (Pickala Golf); Morten TERKELSEN (Esbjerg Golfklub); Philippe PILATO (Le Golf National); Scott McLean (Quinta do Lago); Victor Wood ESCUTIA (Marco Simone)
Golf Operations Team of the Year:
Club de Golf Alcanada; Camiral Golf & Wellness; Finca Cortesin; Golf de Roquebrune; Københavns Golf Klub; Quinta do Lago; Royal Park I Roveri; Terre Blanche
Golf Manager of the Year:
Brian EVANS (Quinta do Lago); Christian Tage NYVANG HANSEN (Københavns Golf Klub); Flavio PAPA (Camiral Golf & Wellness); Hugo OLIVEIRA (Golf de Roquebrune); Kristoff BOTH (Club de Golf Alcanada); Lionel GARDES-BUS (Terre Blanche); Marco AQUILINO (Royal Park I Roveri); Rocio SANCHEZ (Finca Cortesin)
59CLUB EUROPE ‘SERVICE EXCELLENCE’ AWARD NOMINATIONS – Leading Individual Experience (in alphabetical order):
Europe South – Leading Individual Food & Beverage Experience:
Antalya Golf Club; Aphrodite Hills; Quinta do Lago; Royal Park I Roveri; Son Muntaner – Arabella Golf
Europe South – Leading Individual Retail Experience:
Camiral Golf & Wellness; Costa Navarino; La Hacienda; Quinta do Lago; Son Muntaner – Arabella Golf
Europe South – Leading Individual Golf Course Presentation:
Club de Golf Alcanada; Costa Navarino; Marco Simone; Royal Park I Roveri; Son Muntaner – Arabella Golf
Europe South – Leading Individual Golf Operations Team:
Antalya Golf Club; Camiral Golf & Wellness; Finca Cortesin; Quinta do Lago; Royal Park I Roveri
Europe South – Leading Individual Golf Visit Experience:
Antalya Golf Club; Camiral Golf & Wellness; Finca Cortesin; Quinta do Lago; Royal Park I Roveri
Europe West – Leading Individual Food & Beverage Experience:
Golf de Oued Fès; Golf de Servanes; Golf du Grand Avignon; Golf du Médoc; Royal Golf de Fès
Europe West – Leading Individual Retail Experience:
Golf de Lyon Salvagny; Golf de Marseille la Salette; Golf de Servanes; Golf du Médoc; Golf d’Ormesson
Europe West – Leading Individual Golf Course Presentation:
Golf d’Arcachon; Golf d’Ormesson; Golf de AA Saint Omer; Golf de Paris Val d’Europe; Golf National Aigle
Europe West – Leading Individual Golf Operations Team:
Golf de Lyon Salvagny; Golf de Roquebrune; Golf de Sainte Baume; Golf National Albatros; Terre Blanche
Europe West – Leading Individual Golf Visit Experience:
Golf d’Hardelot; Golf de Lyon Salvagny; Golf de Servanes; Golf du Médoc; Terre Blanche
Europe Nordic – Leading Individual Food & Beverage Experience:
Esbjerg Golfklub; Estonian Golf & Country Club; Linna Golf; Pickala Golf; The Scandinavian
Europe Nordic – Leading Individual Retail Experience:
Aalborg Golf Klub; Esbjerg Golfklub; Københavns Golf Klub; Linna Golf; The Scandinavian
Europe Nordic – Leading Individual Golf Course Presentation:
Aalborg Golf Klub; Esbjerg Golfklub; Kytäjä Golf; Pickala Golf; The Scandinavian
Europe Nordic – Leading Individual Golf Operations Team:
Esbjerg Golfklub; Estonian Golf & Country Club; Københavns Golf Klub; Linna Golf; The Scandinavian
Europe Nordic – Leading Individual Golf Visit Experience:
Esbjerg Golfklub; Københavns Golf Klub; Linna Golf; Pickala Golf; The Scandinavian
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