Rory’s Takes US Open in Style.
Congratulations to Rory McIllroy on taking the US Open in such style.
Rory at the Congressional course in Maryland.
Pictured here with last year’s winner, close friend and fellow Ulsterman Graham McDowell. European golfers now hold all of Golf’s Major titles and also dominate the top of the world rankings.
Here is a link to an interesting interview given by Rory to the BBC when he was 9 years of age. This boy knew where he was headed!.
Link: Rory McIlroy interview on the BBC aged 9! Click Here.
Seve’s Passing
As golfers all over the world mourn the passing of this wonderful icon and ambassador for Spanish and European golf we would like to add our condolences and send our sincere sympathy to his family.
Seve who lived most of the year at his villa on the 14th hole at San Roque did much to put Spain on the world golf map. His performance as Captain during the Valderrama Ryder Cup is one which will stay in many minds for a long time. He will be sorely missed.
Seve clutches the Ryder Cup at Valderrama while his team celebrates. Also in shot, a youthful Tiger.
Golf Experience New offices
During May we moved offices to larger premises. Those of you who visit us regularly will have no trouble finding us as we are in the same block but in the adjoining premises (first as you come up the stairs).
The office space is twice the size as the previous one and we are happy to say that the switch was trouble free with no interruption to telecommunication or internet – quite a feat in Spain!
Real Club de Golf Las Brisas closure to rebuild greens
Real Club de Golf Las Brisas will be “out of bounds” to visitors for the coming season as it closes 9 holes followed by the other 9 in order to rebuild them.
Real Club de Golf Las Brisas
A supremely strong field of 24 players assembled at Finca Cortesin Golf Club for the return of the Volvo World Matchplay Championship. Six of the world’s top nine players did battle over the 4 days with England’s winning through.
No one had anything but praise for the most challenging of courses with special mention for the condition if the greens which measured 13 on the speedometer!
After playing 108 holes against many of golf’s best players in hot sun over Finca Cortesín hilly layout, Ian Poulter emerged as the winner of the Volvo World Match Play Championship.
In the final, the first of his six matches in four days which did not go to the 18th green or beyond, he beat his fellow Englishman Luke Donald 2 & 1 to take the €800,000, one of the richest prizes on the European Tour.
In doing so Poulter became the first golfer in history to have won both the Volvo and Accenture match play titles and enhanced his already strong reputation as a formidable opponent in the sport’s head-to-head format.
Many of the golfers also remarked on the Finca Cortesin Hotel where they all stayed.Apparently it is head and shoulders above any other resort hotel on the circuit.
We could have told you that !
Graham McDowell driving at the 5th hole at Finca Cortesin
New BA service London City to Malaga
7th June sees the launch of two British Airways services from London City Airport.
The service will operate four-times-a-week service to Malaga.
All flights are operated by wholly owned British Airways subsidiary BA CityFlyer using new and very comfortable Embraer 170 and 190 aircraft.
BA Embraer 190
Delta Air Lines has resumed its popular New York (JFK) / Malaga non-stop flight with 6 rotations a week. This is an increase on last year’s service and a great vote of confidence in Spain as a tourist destination.
Delta have also started a JFK to Valencia service.
Santa Clara closes after storm
Green-keepers at the popular Santa Clara worked like Trojans to reopen their course 2 weeks after being hit by a devastating storm on May 19th.
The river (usually a stream) flowing through the low lying 1st , 9th, 10th & 18th holes burst and turned the entire area into a quagmire as you will see from the before and after pictures below
Santa Clara (before and after storm of May 19th causes closure for 2 weeks.
After the storm (May 19th)
After the clean-up 4th June
Santana throws in the buggies!
Santana’s new price structure and almost free buggies
Santana has introduced a very flexible new pricing structure for 2012 with considerable reductions in green-fees particularly for those who are flexible as regards the time of the day they play.
Buggies have been included in all but the high season when they will cost a modest €10 (€5 per player). As this is a “path only” course it really makes sense to reduce the cost of buggies and include them as much as possible in the green-fee.
New Accommodation at San Roque Resort
San Roque Suites & Club-house Living room
San Roque Suites have recently reopened their refurbished accommodation at the San Roque Resort. The tastefully decorated Suites (one and 2 bedrooms) were originally built to house the Ryder Cup Teams in 1997. Indeed today the suites carry the names of the team members who occupied them during the Ryder Cup.
In addition to a magnificent pool facility, the resort boasts 3 restaurants – in the Golf Club clubhouse, Tango’s (Spanish Cuisine) and the world class Japanese Kamakura restaurant.
For golfers looking for comfortable accommodation in the midst of what is probably Europe’s finest cluster of quality golf courses (Valderrama, Sotogrande, San Roque, La Reserva & Finca Cortesin are all only a short drive) this is the place for you.
Please consult us for excellent rates.
Summer Car Rentals
Once again we would remind customers who get their cars from us not to delay booking them if they need cars over the busy summer period.
As in previous years there will be a shortage of cars in July / August particularly in family friendly models.
Renault Kangoo from Espacar.