Todos Juntos

WHICH, if you have attended your Spanish class this week, translates as, ‘All Together’. This, along with another slogan titled, ‘Madrid Quiere Golf,’ refers to Spain’s capital city’s candidature to hold the 2018 Ryder Cup. With royal, sport and cross-party political support from the likes of Mayoress Esperanza Aguirre – a figure that divides opinion in Spanish society but, admittedly, has a very nice swing – the proposed 27 hole complex in the Tres Cantos area is still at planning stage dependent on the bid being successful. It is hoped that this will give golf a much needed boost in the city as there are nearly 100,000 federated golfers (almost twice as many as in Andalucia and Catalonia respectively) with relatively few courses, especially those of the municipal variety. Do Madrid golfers sleep overnight in their cars before popping their balls in the shoot to ensure a game? I digress. Aside from these courses there are some other courses in the pipeline: one from Jose Maria Olazabal and another course in the exclusive ‘La Moraleja’ neighbourhood designed by Jack Nicklaus. The aim is to put Madrid firmly on the golfing map instead of being known as a cultural destination. Decision time is only 10 months away – April 2011 – and Spain faces fierce competition from France, Sweden, Holland , Portugal and Germany. A bilingual website is up and running (rcmadrid2018.com) where one can register support and add comments. Valderrama 97, Madrid 2018 been there, done it!?

Tags: Madrid Quiere Golf