The Race to Paradise came to a thrilling climax in Florida last month, with three of the finalists battling out to the last hole on one of the state’s finest courses in challenging conditions.
The competition, which started back in April 2010, had a fitting finale over three of the best courses in Florida.
The Race, a competition sponsored by Virgin Atlantic, Dollar-Thrifty and the Paradise Coast CVB (Everglades, Marco Island and Naples) and run by TravelMole, involved industry golfers who had been through two stages of qualification earlier in the year.
Firstly, they had finished in the top two of their corporate or society event and then finished in the qualification positions at the UK final back in early October.
In the final, played at Fiddlers Creek (one of Golf Week’s top 100 USA courses), David Giles, Adam Quieros and Grant Smith were all in a position to win.
The final day saw virtually gale force winds and unusually low temperatures but despite this Giles emerged by one point as the winner of the tournament.
Smith, Giles and Queiros in Paradise
The group had enjoyed fantastic hospitality and weather within the region and also had the opportunity to watch some of the early rounds of Greg Normans ‘ Shark Shoot out’ which is held annually in Naples.
Many members of the Ryder Cup were playing and amongst the eventual winners was Celtic Manor hero Ian Poulter along with US Opne Champion Graeme McDowell.
CVB executive director Jack W. Wert said: “We are delighted that so many of the UK travel trade’s top golfers could come to our destination at this time of the year and enjoy not only fine hospitality and fantastic golf, but also great weather as we approached the Christmas period.
“For us this has been a very successful incentive and one that we fully intend to follow up in 2011.”
By Bev Fearis
