Spring 2015 – Golf on the Costa Del Sol

The Year ahead.

Well the 2015 season looks promising and if advance bookings are anything to go by the Costa del Sol should see very healthy numbers of golfers back on the fairways and greens in the months ahead.

The UK market is buoyed by the recent strength of sterling and the Irish are putting austerity behind them, as only they can!! With the increased numbers will come more pressure for the popular tee-times so we can only advise clients to book as early as possible if you are particular about when you play. The good news is that green-fee prices on the Costa del Sol have remained relatively stable compared to 2014.

There has been a spate of investments in various Golf Courses and even the reopening of some which had closed (see below).

As in past years we would also advise clients wishing to avail of our excellent car-hire service at peak times (Easter and July / August) to make their reservations as soon as you are sure of your dates.

In addition to our stock of 2014 / 2015 Wilson Golf Clubs for hire we can now offer a more up market option of Taylor Made and Callaway “knock-offs” (Gents Only) with delivery and collection included.

We now have in total in excess of 70 sets for hire but you would still need to book in advance for high season as they do all get rented out.

Golf Course News

El Paraiso course improvements 2014

Our neighbours in El Paraiso have invested heavily during 2014 and the results of their hard work are there for all to see. The club is no longer plagued with the long recovery from the dry summers as of previous years due to a new irrigation system. This Robert Trent Jones course is well on the way back to its former glory days when it was among the Costa’s most popular courses.

Some of the works completed during 2014 include;

– New first green.
– New tees constructed on holes 7, 13, & 14.
– New practice putting green next to the clubhouse.
– Extensive drainage added throughout the course.
– New buggy path on the 8th hole.
– New tee sign/maps and markers for the tee.
– New stone bridges constructed on hole 9 & 18.
– Ongoing, silviculture program, introducing new trees and replacing any lost trees.
– Ongoing, program to introduce state of the art maintenance turf equipment.

The Monte Mayor Phoenix

Monte Mayor Golf Club is due to re-open in 2016. Originally opened in 1989 it closed in 2011. Bought by a Russian Investor.

The course has “returned to nature” so will require a considerable investment and perhaps some redesign in order to make it a little easier for your average golfer. We recall that prior to closing, the Pro-shop shop stocked clothing merchandise with “You need balls to play Monte Mayor”. This fact probably contributed in part to its commercial downfall – the average golfer needed too many balls to play it. Alter all what golfer enjoys losing balls!

Cabopino GC – Most Improved Golf Club.

We recently had the opportunity to visit and play Cabopino Golf club and were very impressed with the improvements to the course. A major investment program has resulted in Cabopino having greens that must be among the best greens on the Costa. In addition to the greens, much work has been done on the bunkers and the course now presents very well indeed with a very high level of manicuring. For anyone looking for a very reasonably priced Golf Experience you will be more than happy with Cabopino.

Cabopino Golf Club

The course also offers excellent views out over the Mediterranean.

Valderrama Golf Club.

Valderrama has been awarded the official Royal Household ‘Royal Badge’ and will from now on be known as Real Club Valderrama.

Press release from the club:

PGA Catalunya Resort has been appointed as candidate venue for Spain’s Bid to host The 2022 Ryder Cup.
The announcement was made recently by the Real Federación Española de Golf (RFEG), which is leading the Official Bid in partnership with the national government of Spain and key stakeholders in Catalunya.

Spain is one of six countries bidding to host The 2022 Ryder Cup, so there is strong competition. PGA Catalunya has much experience of staging European Tour events, including the Open De España in 2000, 2009 and 2014, as well as The Qualifying School Final Stage for the past seven consecutive years, we feel Spain’s entry, with PGA Catalunya Resort as its preferred venue, makes a compelling Bid.

More than 250,000 spectators attended this year’s match at Gleneagles, Scotland, including fans from 96 different countries. Of course, with a global event of this size there is the potential for significant economic benefits for the host country and region, not to mention the venue itself.

Our location next to the cities of Barcelona and Girona, with their international airports and highspeed rail connectivity, as well as the world-class cuisine and hospitality of the region, will stand in our favour.

The Stadium Course was originally developed with a view to hosting a major event such as The Ryder Cup, so it would be the realisation of a vision should the Bid be successful.

Our proprietor, Denis O’Brien, is fully committed to Spain’s Bid and will continue to invest in PGA Catalunya Resort, further developing the leisure, hospitality and residential offering that has already made this a world-class golf venue and an award-winning real estate development.

New Faces at Golf Experience:

Gerry Lovett has recently joined Golf Experience where he will be responsible for Group Reservation. Gerry hails from Tipperary and is an avid golfer although his first love was Hurling and has the distinction of playing golf with a hurling grip which for the uninitiated that means right hand on top – see below!

Gerry Lovett.

More Air Access to Gibraltar:

For those of you living in the South Wales and Bristol catchment area be aware that Easyjet are starting a new Bristol to Gibraltar service from April 2015

Hotel Sol Aloha Puerto in Benalmadena is to rebrand itself as the Sol House Hotel!

The Sol House is a short walk to the marina in Benalmadena. It is a fresh, affordable lifestyle hotel experience. Literally “The House of the Sun”, it is modern, bright and welcoming, infused with cool designs and decors. You will find all sorts of innovative entertainment, with water playing a vital role in how our guests relax and have fun. From the chilled ambience through to the guest experience, Sol House is playful, social and contemporary.

FOUR !!!!!!!!!

A waterspout tornado hit the city of Malaga this on November 22nd.
The strong winds destroyed the petrol station at Malaga Airport, bars and a caravan site.
Walls have collapsed across the city and cars and caravans have been overturned.

View from Parador Golf Club:

Quiz:

In our last newsletter we asked if anyone could guess from where this photo was taken from . Well the answer is the Sunborn 5 star Cruise Hotel which is permanently docked in Gibraltar. In a strange coincidence that Ship had a major fire just before Christmas resulting in its temporary closure.

And finally, We spotted this on a local course recently (we won’t name and shame) the motto of the story is it’s always advisable to get a proper translation!