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Oceânico set to launch First Luxury Golf Resort in the Azores in May 2007

Phase One of Oceânico's new golf development in the Azores is set to launch in May 2007 offering a 5-star hotel and spa, two and three-bedroom apartments, luxury villas and a range of sport and leisure facilities

Oceânico Developments, one of the largest and most prestigious property developers in Portugal, will launch Phase One of its first luxury golf and leisure resort in the Azores in May 2007.

The new resort will be developed alongside the existing Batalha golf course, covering 115 hectares of land on the island of São Miguel. The resort, which will be part of Oceânico's Azores Golf Islands, will offer a choice of luxury accommodation including: 236 apartments, 10 luxury villas, a 5-star hotel and spa, and a wide range of sporting and leisure facilities.

Earlier this year Oceânico, in partnership with the Siram Group, agreed the purchase of Azores Golf Islands (formerly Verde Golf), which included the Batalha and Furnas golf courses and 19 hectares of land on the island of Faial, from the Azores Government.

The Azores were voted by the IGTM (International Golf Travel Market) as one of the best undiscovered golfing destinations in the world in 2006, underlining the potential that exists with direct flights to the islands from the UK, Scandinavia, the USA and Canada.

Oceânico Developments is set to deliver €300 million worth of investment into the islands over the next four years, transforming the 27-hole Batalha course into the first luxury golf resort to be developed in the Azores. The new resort, which is Oceânico's first development outside mainland Portugal, is designed to become one of Europe's finest golf developments.

Simon Burgess, joint managing director of Oceânico Developments, said: “There has been growing interest in the Azores over the last 12 months and as one of the first developers in the area we are looking forward to contributing to this.

“With direct flights from the UK, the Azores are becoming increasingly accessible and this is a key time in the development of the area. Phase One of the Azores Golf Islands is set to create one of the most stunning golf resorts in the world, setting the standard for the overseas property market on the archipelago.”

The 27-hole Batalha course was designed in 1986 by Cameron Powell and is situated on the North Coast of São Miguel, overlooking the sea between the capital of the island, Ponta Delgada and Ribeira Grande. Its sister course, the 18-hole Furnas Golf Course, is located 30 minutes south of this in the mountains of São Miguel – the first nine holes were designed in 1936 by McKenzie Ross, the designer of the Ailsa course at The Westin Turnberry Resort in Scotland, while the second nine were completed by Cameron Powell in 1986.

Future plans for the Azores Golf Islands include the construction of a third golf course on the island of Faial and a fourth golf course in a location still to be decided.

Made up of nine volcanic islands, the Azores are located in the Atlantic Ocean, 950 miles west of Lisbon and 2,100 miles from the east coast of the USA. Lying on the parallel passing through Lisbon and New York the Azores are an autonomous region of Portugal.

For more information on Oceânico Developments and Azores Golf Islands visit www.oceanicodevelopments.com , e-mail info@oceanicodevelopments.com or call 0871 990 3388.