The edition of the World Corporate Golf Challenge (WCGC) Portugal 2023 starts on February 25th. Internationally, the WCGC celebrates its 30th edition. “This is undoubtedly a fantastic year as we’ll be celebrating the 30 editions of the world’s biggest corporate competition. This is the best reason for future companies to associate with this big event and communicate their brands with us! Their international projection will grow, and the connection between the several licensed countries will be strengthened.” says Estela Sargento, Founder of Golf Concept.
Using the same successful recipe for the second year running, Golf Concept is in charge of this event in Portugal during the year 2023, with a total of 6 tournaments on several outstanding golf courses. A novelty on this year’s calendar due to the massive participation of the various players that attended the previous edition.
The season of WCGC Portugal 2023 starts in Algarve
So, the course which will open the competition is the Amendoeira Golf Resort – O’Connor Jnr, in Silves. Designed by Christy O’Connor Jnr, it’s the stage for the Portuguese Golf Federation Circuit and on the PGA Portugal Tour.
And if the participants think that this ends here, they’re wrong. Starting and finishing at the top is the motto of this competition; therefore, after starting on a course designed by the 4-time winner of the PGA Tour, the National Final is not far behind. With a date set for July 8th, the finale will take place on the Royal Óbidos Spa & Golf Resort course, designed by the World Golf Hall of Fame player Severiano Ballesteros, and scenario of several editions of the Portuguese Open of the Challenge Tour.
Until then, there will be plenty of time for players to qualify in the different competitions, and the next will take place in Sesimbra, on the challenging Quinta Do Peru Golf & Country Club course, which won not one but two rounds in this 24th Portuguese edition of the World Corporate Golf Challenge. Due to the substantial participation last year, it was necessary to add an extra day in the Sesimbra qualifying, taking place on Friday, the 19th, and Saturday, May 20th.
In the following month, on June 3rd, the circuit visits the majestic Axis Ponte de Lima course, designed by Danila Silva & David Silva, who presents it as a mixture of plains and mountains.
Madeira Island is the one that follows, on June 17th, where Santo da Serra Golf Club, stage of the Madeira Islands Open of the European Tour from 1993 to 2015 (except for the years 2009 to 2011) will receive the last qualifying, returning afterwards to the mainland and to the “home” of the Portuguese Open to determine the team that will represent Portugal in the World Final in Tenerife.
In the qualifying for the National Final, teams of 2 players – over 18 years old – will be representing a company. 18 holes will be played using the Stableford scoring system with a 3⁄4 of a handicap. For the National Final, the scoring system changes to Fourball/Better Ball Stableford with 3⁄4 Handicap.
There will be a total of 36 qualified teams for the final where, in each qualifying, precisely the first two classified NET and the first classified GROSS, the next team with the best NET classification (3rd) and the following two teams with the best GROSS classification (2nd and 3rd), always prevailing the NET classification over the GROSS without accumulation.
The WCGC Portugal Ranking remains the same in the 2023 edition, where teams that were not directly selected are automatically selected for it, as well as the premium registration that allows companies to register a second team – add up to 4 players – in one of the qualifyings, guaranteeing a media and a promotional exhibition, another form of qualifying for the National Final. The digital tombola, compared to previous years and following the evolution of golf in the digital world, with the Nectar Interactive partner, will continue in this edition.
A golf and business circuit bound for the World Final
“This year, we want to raise the motto of this circuit: ” Bringing the world of business together” to the highest peak and, therefore, we intend to keep the innovation in the realization of this circuit and continue to develop actions that enhance the excellent networking between partners and participating companies”, underlines Ana Massapina, Founder of Golf Concept.
In the National Final, the team with the highest NET score will represent Portugal in the World Final, which will take place in Tenerife for the second year.
The World Corporate Golf Challenge was created in 1993, and its growth has been extraordinary, surpassing the membership of 30 countries and more than one million entrepreneurs/golfers participating in the competition. This perfect match between the world of golf and business finds its maximum peak at the WCGC, thus deserving media coverage from 60 television channels, 26 newspapers and 24 magazines.
GOLF CONCEPT / PRESS OFFICER