LISBON, Portugal – In March, Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest & Associates (AHSF) will present Pedro Figueiredo the firm’s first Amateur Golfing Scholarship, to be awarded annually to an outstanding amateur player who exhibits the same core values – integrity, passion, fun, teamwork and creativity – embodied by the team at AHSF.
Furthering AHSF’s commitment to amateur golf around the world, the Portuguese Golf Federation (PGF) announced that AHSF agreed to assist in the design and construction supervision of Jamor Golf, a public, 18-hole golf course and practice facility, in the heart of Lisbon, that will also serve as a PGF’s national training center.
"We’re donating our services to the Jamor Golf Project because we feel strongly that everyone in golf has an obligation to help grow the game worldwide. What better way to do it than supporting amateur golf at the individual, grass-roots level?" said Drew Rogers, Partner at Hills/Forrest. "We strive for excellence in our course design work and we want to have similar impact on people who aspire to excellence in other areas of the game. That’s why we’re involved in the Jamor Golf Project, and that’s why we extending our support to amateur golfing scholars, starting with Pedro."
As an AHSF Amateur Golfing Scholar, the 14-year-old Figueiredo will receive travel and training support courtesy of Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates. A four-time national age-group champion in his native Portugal, Figueiredo has emerged as one of Europe’s finest junior competitors. He plays off a +0.1 at his home course, Clube Quinta do Peru in Azeitao, but he made a wider name for himself in 2005 by winning the prestigious Kendal Cup, the South Wales Boys Stroke Play Championship, and the International Andaluzia (an event for players 21 years of age or younger). Figueiredo also reached the quarterfinals at this year’s British Boys Amateur, a sub-18 tournament.
"Of course, we want to make sure our support is applied in such a way that it does not negatively impact Pedro’s amateur status," said Quentin Lutz, AHSF vice president of global business development. "Pedro’s a terrific young man – and he can play. We’re looking forward to following his career for many years to come."
In choosing future amateur golfing scholars, AHSF has indicated it will continue to consider candidates worldwide, as the firm currently has more than 40 separate design projects underway in North America, Europe and Asia. Indeed, Hills/Forrest got to know Pedro Figueiredo – and got involved with the Jamor Golf Project – on account of its ongoing design work in Portugal. In 2002, the firm unveiled Oitavos Golfe, a resort gem in Cascais that played host to the European PGA Tour’s Portuguese Open in 2005; this fall, Hills/Forrest will break ground on a thorough renovation of Estoril Golf Club, one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious courses (20 times a host to the Portuguese Open).
"Because so much of the golf in Portugual is entirely focused toward the tourism industry, the cost of playing golf is somewhat prohibitive to many people in Portugal," explains Drew Rogers, the AHSF partner who led design efforts at Oitavos Golfe and is overseeing the firm’s work at Estoril. "It’s clear the Portuguese Golf Federation is serious about growing the game here, promoting it and making it more accessible. The Jamor Golf project will do all these things. Naturally, we are eager to help in any way we can."
The Jamor Golf Project was conceived two years ago when the PGF formed a technical committee to explore the idea of creating a 9-hole public course and academy in Lisbon, on the site of an existence golf practice facility. In 2005, the PGF was able to acquire more land, enabling construction of a full 18-hole course and training center.
Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates agreed to provide design consulting at no charge. Construction bids will go out this spring and ground could be broken as early as September, according to PGF Director Manuel Agrellos.
"The Federation needs such a venture in order that golf become more popular with the Portuguese people," Agrellos explained. "The Federation will not only utilize this course as its national training center – this facility will make golf affordable to everybody. The Federation also believes the Jamor Golf Project will serve as an example for others to follow, where private promoters work together with municipalities to develop new, public courses that will help make golf a true national sport.
Arthur Hills and his company have generously donated their expertise to this effort. We applaud their vision."
Contact:
Hal Phillips
Phillips Golf Media
207-926-3700
onintwo@maine.rr.com
Quentin Lutz
Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates
419-841-8553
qlutz@arthurhills.com
