Newsletter  Summer 2019

As most of the Costa’s courses are closing for maintenance it gives us a breather to allow us update you on developments within the golf tourism industry on the Costa del Sol.

The spring season was a very busy one without a single tee-time lost to rain. While we had some intermittent rain nothing too heavy that would disrupt golf. So no more rain until well into October! But there is still snow on the Sierra Nevada mountains two hours from Malaga!

Did you know that the golfing watches have GPS and shot tracking to improve your gaming skills.

Book Early to avoid disappointment and Expense!

As ever we would encourage clients to book their trips as early as possible. Apart from benefiting from cheaper accommodation rates due to early booking discounts you will also stand a better chance of getting your preferred tee-times at each of your courses. This is particularly important for groups when consecutive tee-times are required at popular courses.

Planning ahead:

When planning your October trip this year and if you have interest in watching the Rugby world cup matches from Japan please take into account the fixtures.

Below is a link so you can see the relevant dates of your country of interest.

https://www.rugbyworld.com/rugby-fixtures/rugby-world-cup-fixtures-2019

Price Predictions for 2020.

We are now making bookings for bigger groups who are planning ahead for 2020.

It would appear that tourism inflation to Spain is close to zero in euro terms. So you can expect to pay almost the same in 2020 for the same holiday taken in 2019. The hotels are holding off on price rises due to the welcome competition re-appearing from big competitive markets such as Egypt and Tunisia.

Transport.

Golf Experience has renewed its exclusive deal with Garcatri Deluxe Transport for 2020 guaranteeing our groups the highest standard of coaching and service available in Spain.

We understand just how vital a component transport is in a golf holiday. From the reassuring sign on arrival at your airport to the refreshing complimentary water on board and the convenience of WIFI on all our buses.

Golf Courses

Golf Experience has a particularly close relationship with many of the best courses on the Costa del Sol and has particularly good rates with many of the most popular courses. We would highly recommend a few of these courses offering particularly good value.

El Higueral G.C. to become 18 holes

Work has started in Benahavis to transform the very popular 9 hole El Higueral course into an 18 hole track. The new 9 holes will be on the western (right hand) side of the Benahavis road as you go in towards the mountain. A new clubhouse will also be built.

Cabopino G.C. Upgrades

Major improvements are currently taking place at Cabopino Golf which include a complete new fleet of buggies equipped with GPS.

 

Santa Maria G.C.

Santa María Golf & Country Club has extended its 18-hole course to a par-71 following a major transformation of the ninth hole, which has been lengthened from a 324-metre par-four to a 511-metre par-five.

The Marbella club’s new-look layout was unveiled with the opening of the transformed ninth hole on 14 June.

The tees on the ninth remain the same. The first shot has to be hit across a lake and begin climbing a slight slope, gaining enough distance so you can reach the new fairway with your second shot, a slight dog-leg to the left to the second landing area; or, for the more conservative, a third shot which will require a second approach to avoid two bunkers protecting both boundaries of the new hole.

The approach shot to the green offers an expansive landing area. Large, gently sloping and with two putting platforms, the green is protected by a bunker at the front on the right.

This extension of the course does not stop there. In March 2020 it will become a par 72.

Nestling next to picturesque pine and cork forests in the Elviria area, Santa María Golf was inaugurated in 1991, initially with nine holes designed by Antonio García Garrido. The second nine, was added in 1996.

La Cala Resort.

La Cala has announced simplified rates for 2020 and a premium rate for La Cala America which will now be more expensive than both the Asia and Europa courses. They are doing away with the two tier rates of early and late and peak times in between. They will now have only one rate for the day.

Special added value green-fees include one, two and 3 course deals together with early bird offers.

All in all La Cala will have more competitive and flexible pricing for 2020. La Cala continues to be probably Europe’s most popular and busiest Golf Resort and for good reason.

Almenara G.C.

While a little off centre in terms of travel time but for those willing to go the extra 15 or 20 minutes you get wonderful value for money at this 27 hole resort.

Alcaidesa Two course offer.

Particularly good value is the two course deal at Alcaidesa – playing the Links and Heathland course. The Heathland is arguably the better course but the Links course has spectacular scenery!

Combining these two excellent courses is a good way to add value to your group’s package.

Rio Real GC.

Golf Experience has a special comercial tie-up with Rio Real guaranteeing our clients the most competitive green-fees at this top class course in the centre of Marbella.

Westin La Quinta

Last year La Quinta refurbished the bunkers on 2 of their 3 courses and have announced that during 2019 they would finish the refurbishment by working on the remaining 9 holes. The Marbella Club have announced that during June they will finish the full refurbishment of the bunkers on all of the 27 holes of La Quinta Golf & Country Club. La Quinta is now the first course on the Costa del Sol with bunkers built using the Better Billy Bunker system which is the latest technologies used on the best courses of USA.

The new system offers a unique bunker drainage system which all but eliminates bunker flooding and sand seepage from the trap.

Video for more information on Better Billy Bunker System:

Real Club Valderrama Hosting Andalucia Masters

Valderrama will host the Andalucia Masters (European Tour Event ) from 26th to 30th June.

This is a change from the usual dates in late October. The new dates mean that green-fees are now readily available in the second half of October when they normally would not.

Club-Hire 2020

Since the beginning of the year we have completely replace our inventory of Wilson Pro-Staff clubs with the new MacGregor DCT 200 sets. Each set consists of 12 clubs and are available in right & left handed and steel or graphite. Rates are €15 per day or €40 per week including delivery and collection. This is certainly a better option than hauling your own clubs over to Spain at great expense.

We also have Ladies Wilson & Macgregor sets in right & left.

We are also continuing to stock the new Taylor Made M4 & M5 & 6 (12 clubs)

Barcelo Occidental Hotel Fuengirola

A new and welcome addition to the stock of hotel rooms in Fuengirola. Many of you will have been familiar with the Hotel Las Piramidas in Fuengirola. The property has just reopened having been completely refurbished and under the ownership of the Barceló Occidental chain.

In the very heart of the Costa del Sol, on the seafront in Fuengirola, the Occidental Fuengirola**** offers a unique experience in the perfect setting for enjoying your free time and a variety of activities. Its 316 rooms, most with fantastic sea views, provide everything you may need to have a pleasant stay. Completely refurbished, this state-of-the-art hotel is perfect for a holiday with your family or partner if you want to enjoy the beach or a round of golf. It is also ideal for celebrating weddings.

The hotel has three dining areas that provide different options throughout the day: a restaurant, a Snack Bar and a Lobby Bar. There is also one outdoor and one heated swimming pool, perfect for taking a dip at any time of the year.

New 5 star Hotel opens in Malaga

Finally Malaga city has a new world class 5 star hotel – the Palacio Miramar Hotel. Originally opened by King Alfonso XIII in 1929 as a hotel, since then the building has served as a field hospital, a law courts and now again as a Hotel. This mangificent building is situated on the beachfront in Malaga.

Golf and Culture:

Quite often groups will take a day off from golf in the middle of a week.

Rather than spending the day wandering aimlessly from bar to bar of getting sun burned by the pool you might consider the wide variety of excursions available from the Cost del Sol.

These excursions can be arranged at very reasonable cost especially for bigger groups.

They include :

• Full Day trips to Morocco
• Half Day trip to Ronda and a local vineyard
• Granada and the Alhambra
• Cordoba and its Mezquita
• La Caminito del Rey
• Casares White village
• Gibraltar