Lancashire County Cricket Club players are now back in England having completed a successful four (4) days of warm weather pre-season cricket and fitness training between Sunday 26th February – Thursday 2nd March at Desert Springs Resort, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course with its very own dedicated Cricket Academy, in the Almanzora region of Almeria, Andalucía in south-east Spain.

Glen Chappel (LCCC Head Coach), Sam Bryne (LCCC Team Physio) and Warren Hegg (LCCC Business Development Manager), accompanied eight (8) players who completed bowling, batting and fielding practice as well as strength and conditioning training sessions as they stepped up their physical preparations for the upcoming 2017 season.

LCCC Head Coach Glen Chappel commented:  “It has been absolutely great for us to get some outdoor practice after a long winter of indoor training. The facilities have been outstanding and the service we have received has been first class. We already look forward to our next visit!”

Speaking of the grass wickets Glen remarked: “The wickets were a touch ‘spicy’ on day one but flattened out beautifully for the rest of the stay. The wickets lasted the full 4-days of heavy use, our ‘net’ wickets outside Old Trafford CG only last 3-days!

We are more than happy with the performance of the wickets, they are on a level with the ‘nets’ received at County Grounds back in England!”

The training camp worked on a specific and carefully planned programme covering technical skills, strength and conditioning and both individual and group activity. Lancashire CCC players said of their pre-season training experience at the Desert Springs Cricket Academy:

“Brilliant facilities.” Simon Kerrigan

“Top draw 4-days, definitely coming again!” Tom Bailey

“Brilliant trip, top class staff and an enjoyable week had by all.” Kyle Jarvis

“Brilliant facilities and great food!” Daniel Lamb

“Great facilities and impressed with the quality of the wickets.” Karl Brown

 “Excellent facilities for cricket and golf and the villa we were accommodated in was excellent.” Josh Bohannon

Sam Bryne, Lancashire CCC Team Physio commented:  “Desert Springs Resort is an outstanding venue for pre-season training, both the wickets and gym are brilliant, what a place for getting fit!”

Warren Hegg Lancashire CCC Business Development Manager added: “Desert Springs Resort is a first class facility with excellent customer service!”

To view the video of the Desert Springs Cricket Academy Click Here

The players and coaches were accommodated in some of the privately owned apartments and villas normally reserved for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs and the resort’s executive chef was on hand to cater for the special dietary requirements of individual players dining in El Torrente Restaurant.

Between Tuesday 21^st – Saturday 25^th February, three (3) officials from the Irish Ladies Golf Union accompanied six (6) girls aged between 15 – 23 years for 4 days of warm weather winter training at the Desert Springs Resort.

ILGU International Squad members Paula Grant and Annabel Wilson, remarked respectively of their experience at Desert Springs:

“We couldn’t ask for better facilities or hospitality, a first-class stay!”

“Desert Springs is such a brilliant place all round, we couldn’t ask for more!”

The training camp utilised the Gym at the Sierras Sports Club and the excellent practice facilities at the Desert Springs Golf Academy where the ILGU Coaches were able provide one-to-one tuition and take advantage of the use of the Desert Springs short game academy.

Donal Scott, ILGU Head Coach commented:

“Desert Springs has a wonderful atmosphere and excellent staff with superb facilities for our high performance squad.”

Clodagh Hopkins, ILGU Director commented:

“Desert Springs has simply excellent facilities all round, just perfect for our requirements. The food is fabulous and all of the staff are so friendly and helpful. We very much look forward to returning!”

The students and officials were accommodated in some of the privately owned townhouses and villas normally reserved for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs and the resort’s executive chef was on hand to cater for the special dietary requirements of individual players dining each evening in El Torrente Restaurant.

Matt Ellis, Golf Academy Manager & PGA Instructor, Neil Jones, Level Two Tutor, Paul Johnson, Level One Tutor & and Joanne Cawthorne, P.A to the Performance Director at Hartpury College Golf Academy, accompanied thirty-one (31) students aged between 16 – 18 years for 5-days of warm weather winter training at the Desert Springs Resort between 29^th January & 03^rd February.

Student George Bryant-Stroud of the England Regional Squad remarked:

“The practice facilities here are just awesome!

This was the perfect preparation for the season ahead, see you next year!”

 “What a brilliant week at Desert Springs, I got so much out of the training camp to take forward into my season, thank you to all of the staff!”

“A sensational training camp and a stunning golf course, thank you for looking after us so well.”

“I just love coming back to Desert Springs, everything is just so good here to allow a player to hone their game. The golf course was in just stunning condition!”

Those are the verdicts of Alexandra Giles of the England Regional Squad, Alex Talbot of the England Regional Squad and Reece Swain, all full time students from the Hartpury College Golf Academy.

The training camp utilized the excellent practice facilities at the Desert Springs Golf Academy where the PGA Instructors were able provide one-to-one tuition and take advantage of the use of the Desert Springs short game academy prior to the students embarking on their rounds on The Indiana course.

The students and officials were accommodated in some of the privately owned apartments normally reserved for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs and the resort’s executive chef was on hand to cater for the special dietary requirements of individual players dining each evening in the ‘The Crocodile Club’ Restaurant.

Matt Ellis: Golf Academy Manager & PGA Instructor at the Hartpury College Golf Academy remarked:

“This was my first visit to Desert Springs, what a resort!

We were made to feel welcome by everybody and the facilities are first class.

Thank you for a sensational training camp, the students have got so much from their week and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2018!”

Paul Johnson, Level One Tutor at the Hartpury College Golf Academy commented:

“I am very familiar with Desert Springs Resort and have to say that the experience and the standards just get better and better, thank you so much and see you next year!”

Between Tuesday 3rd – Saturday 7^th January, three (3) officials from the Irish Ladies Golf Union accompanied seven (7) girls aged between 15 – 23 years for 4 days of warm weather winter training at the Desert Springs Resort.

“Great facilities, great golf course and great service!”

That is the verdict of 16-year-old Valerie Casey, one of the ILGU International Squad members.

The training camp utilized the Gym at the Sierras Sports Club and the excellent practice facilities at the Desert Springs Golf Academy where the ILGU Coaches were able provide one-to-one tuition and take advantage of the use of the Desert Springs short game academy.

Johnny Foster, ILGU Head Coach commented:

“This was my first visit to Desert Springs and I am very, very impressed. Wonderful staff and service with top class facilities and a lovely environment, ideal for a high performance training camp or a family holiday, I will be back!”

Paula Grant, 23-year-old ILGU International Squad member, remarked of her experience at Desert Springs:

“Desert Springs Resort provided a first class golfing experience with both great facilities and hospitality.”

Clodagh Hopkins, ILGU Director commented:

“We all really enjoyed the complete golfing experience at Desert Springs. Both the golf course and facilities are fantastic and all of the girls got great value from their experience here. We could not have been looked after any better and we are looking forward to our return visit at the end of February.”

The students and officials were accommodated in some of the privately owned apartments normally reserved for holidays and short breaks at Desert Springs and the resort’s executive chef was on hand to cater for the special dietary requirements of individual players dining each evening in El Torrente Restaurant.

Golf is great despite poor weather for the time of the year.

Very good course and excellent service from the golf team…… Overall the golf resort of Desert Springs is well worth a visit.

My husband and I have been playing this course at least once a year, one week per visit.

Everything is perfect about this golfing holiday, the course, weather, the stay, staff…. We are going again in a month’s time!

Hello Simon,

I hope all is well. I can’t believe it’s been a week already!

I just wanted to say a massive thank you to all the staff at Desert Springs. The hospitality was fantastic and the accommodation was superb, it’s definitely a place I would return to. Myself  and the referee’s thought the course was set up fair and the greens were fantastic, praise goes to Anthony and his team.

I hope you have an excellent end to the season and best wishes for 2017.

Many thanks

Jamie  

Jamie Cantelo

Tournament Controller

Hello Simon,

I hope all is well. I can’t believe it’s been a week already!

I just wanted to say a massive thank you to all the staff at Desert Springs. The hospitality was fantastic and the accommodation was superb, it’s definitely a place I would return to. Myself  and the referee’s thought the course was set up fair and the greens were fantastic, praise goes to Anthony and his team.

I hope you have an excellent end to the season and best wishes for 2017.

Many thanks

Jamie  

Jamie Cantelo

Tournament Controller

“Great week, great facilities, keep up the good work and fantastic food in the clubhouse.”

Paul Dwyer

“Fabulous week, the course is lovely, great facilities and accommodation.”

Ben Hall

“Fantastic week from start to finish. Hospitality and course was first class. See you soon again.”

Dave Coupland

“All the staff are a credit to the course. Course was very enjoyable”

Jack Harrison

“Fantastic course and really enjoyed my week. Thank you”

Richard James

“Fantastic course, great staff, thanks for all your help”

Sandeep Grewal

“Thanks to Alfonso and his team”

Liam Murray

“Superb greens on a great layout! Many thanks to the kitchen staff for looking after us this week. Best tuna steak I ever had”

Andrew Marshall

“Thoroughly enjoyable few days here, the facilities were second to none. (Despite losing many euro’s on the chipping green!)”

Sam Forgan

“Awesome facilities on a great resort! 

Very well looked after and thoroughly appreciated by all the players!”

James Maw

“Massive thanks to Desert Springs for hosting and presenting a successful tournament”

Jamie Cantelo – PGA Tournament Director

“Really enjoyed returning for a second time. A great resort, golf course, and facilities. Many thanks for your hospitality”

Matt Cort

“Thank you so much! Great course, great place.”

Peter Tarver-Jones

‘We booked a golf break with some trepidation, but we need not have worried. My non golfer husband and I both had a great week.

The booking process, standard of accommodation and mechanics of the holiday were all great, designed to meet our own particular needs and very well organised.

The golf experience was a revelation. Neil is an excellent coach. His straight forward instruction, based on careful observation, is easy to implement – and it works! My handicap is on the way down and I’m already looking forward to the next time.’

'We booked a golf break with some trepidation, but we need not have worried. My non golfer husband and I both had a great week.

The booking process, standard of accommodation and mechanics of the holiday were all great, designed to meet our own particular needs and very well organised.

The golf experience was a revelation. Neil is an excellent coach. His straight forward instruction, based on careful observation, is easy to implement – and it works! My handicap is on the way down and I'm already looking forward to the next time.'

Both throughout my playing career and after, I have been privileged to have been invited to participate in numerous golf events at some of the most luxurious locations all around the world.

Hosting your own event, in your own name, for the charity of which you are President can be a daunting task. Certain criteria have to be met by the host venue both for the celebrity guests and the amateurs.

Desert Springs as a venue offers my guests a relaxing ambience, a unique experience and an underlying overall charm. It has lots of quality facilities to enjoy besides world class golf. Its staff afford a warm welcome and unrivalled professional service

That is why my decision to host the Ian Botham Charity Golf Classic in aid of Leukaemia Research at Desert Springs in October 2008 was an easy one and due to its phenomenal success, why I have selected Desert Springs to host the final of my next Charity Golf Series.

Sir Ian T Botham

The course is challenging but excellent and the food in the clubhouse was great.