Bulgaria’s impressive Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort, featuring an Ian Woosnam-designed course, has become the 18th member of the exclusive European Tour Properties network.
Situated on Cape Kaliakra and located just outside Balchik, a 45 minute drive from the city of Varna, the venue is the first to be named as a European Tour Destination in 2016.
It follows last year’s additions of Black Mountain Golf Club and Resort in Thailand, Saujana Golf and Country Club in Malaysia, Ireland’s Mount Juliet Estate and the Maxx Royal Belek Golf Resort in Turkey.
The par 71 Lighthouse Golf Course combines sensational clifftop views overlooking the Black Sea with picturesque holes winding through woodland, and was designed by former European Ryder Cup captain and Masters Champion Woosnam in conjunction with European Golf Design.
The course boasts a fine set of short holes, two on the front and three on the back nine, with the 164-yard 17tharguably being the most challenging of these par threes, where water protects the front right hand side of the green.
The project was started in 2005 and the course opened in September 2008, with a luxury five star hotel and spa also on site, complete with four swimming pools and four restaurants, and a private beach only ten minutes away.
The resort also offers a broad range of real estate opportunities, including luxury villas and stylish apartments with views to the golf course and the spectacular mountain landscapes.
David MacLaren, Director of Property & Venue Development at The European Tour, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort to our family of European Tour Destinations and Courses.
“As well as being a top-class facility, the excellent golf course at the venue was designed by a European Tour legend in Ian Woosnam in conjunction with our sister company, European Golf Design, and provides a testing and picturesque challenge.
“I am certain that as our newest European Tour Destination, Lighthouse will attract many visitors and golfing tourists, all sure to enjoy the many and varied facilities both at the resort and also within this stunning area of Bulgaria.”
Mr. George Tchouklev, owner and CEO of Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort, said: “We are very proud to have been selected by European Tour Destinations to become one of their prestigious venues.
“It clearly proves to us that all our efforts in the last few years have been leading to a very pleasing result. With Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort becoming a member of this high class union of golf courses and resorts, we will definitely have helped put Bulgaria and our venue on the map as a golf destination.
“With our two sister courses, BlackSeaRama and Thracian Cliffs, we form the Cape Kaliakra Golf Coast, which is now the perfect place to play and stay.”
As a European Tour Destination, Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort will benefit from European Tour Properties’ focused, year-round sales, marketing and operational support, joining the 17 existing members in the network portfolio, which also includes exceptional facilities such as Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, London Golf Club in England, Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort on the French Riviera and Golf Club St. Leon-Rot, recent host venue of The 2015 Solheim Cup.
