TERRE BLANCHE, FRANCE – The third edition of the 59club Europe Service Excellence Awards concluded on March 6, 2026, following a two-day event hosted at the scenic Terre Blanche resort. The ceremony gathered industry leaders from across the continent to celebrate the highest standards in golf hospitality and operational performance.
The 59club awards are uniquely determined through impartial mystery shopping audits. By evaluating real customer experiences against objective benchmarking criteria, the methodology ensures that only the most consistent venues and individuals receive recognition.
The evening reached its peak with the announcement of the five major European titles, recognizing venues that delivered "sustained elite performance" throughout 2025.
Awards were presented across three distinct divisions, highlighting regional talent that will now move on to represent their clubs at the 59club Global Awards in Portugal this November.
| Category | Europe South | West Europe & North Africa | Nordic & Central |
| Golf Manager | David Ashington (Costa Navarino) | Lionel Gardes-Bus (Terre Blanche) | Hanno Kross (Estonian Golf) |
| F&B Manager | Marta Castells (Camiral) | Pierre Millet (Golf de Seignosse) | Hakan Demirtas (St. Leon-Rot) |
| Golf Retail | A. Christopoulou & Ana Rita | Cécile Crignola | Jacob Pedersen (Great Northern) |
| Greenkeeper | João Goulão (Old Course) | Philippe Burgeat (Terre Blanche) | Bevan Tattersall (Kristianstads) |
| Ops Team | Old Course Vilamoura | Terre Blanche | Great Northern |
| Most Improved | Palmares | Golf de Seignosse | Miklagard Golf |
The night concluded with the presentation of the Flag Designations, a global ranking system for clubs demonstrating world-class facilities and service.
The industry’s highest honor for consistent excellence:
Aphrodite Hills, Camiral, Club de Golf Alcanada, Costa Navarino, Estonian Golf & Country Club, Finca Cortesin, Golf Club St. Leon-Rot, Great Northern, INFINITUM, Old Course Vilamoura, Son Muntaner, Terre Blanche, The Dutch, and The Scandinavian.
Includes: Evian Resort, Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech, Le Golf National, Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, and Quinta do Lago, among others.
Includes: Domaine de Manville, La Cala Resort, Ombria Algarve, Pula Golf Resort, and Real Club Sevilla Golf, among others.
"This robust methodology ensures that only the most consistent, dedicated and authentic venues, teams and individuals receive recognition for their commitment to excellence," organizers noted during the presentation.
The winners will now prepare for the 59club Global Awards, scheduled for November 2026 in Vilamoura, Portugal.
