Big three at La Quinta

The first round of the Spanish Ladies Open got underway at La Quinta Golf & Country Club yesterday with 120 of Europe’s leading players aiming to make the cut to be amongst the 60 vying for the title over the weekend.
Favourites for the title include three of Europe’s Solheim Cup team – England’s Melissa Reid and defending champion Laura Davies along with Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall – who will be using the tournament as useful match practice before facing a strong American twelve in Ireland next week. Despite arriving as defending champions, no doubt in the visiting team’s minds will be the recent American loss in the Walker Cup against a tenacious GB & Ireland team that overcame the all-too-obvious American desire to win on the anniversary of ’9/11.’ If this biennial edition is anything like the last one there will be plenty of Stars and Stripes, whoopeeing and face painting to look forward to. Can’t wait!
Both Laura and Melissa made the team on the back of accumulated points in the World and European rankings. Caroline Hedwall, Rookie of the Year in her debut season on tour, was one of the captain’s picks impressing with three victories in 2011. Davies, curiously enough, is the only player from either side to have been an ever-present since its incecption in 1990; playing in no fewer than twelve editions. So how this player has never been inducted into Golf’s Hall of Fame beggars belief?
Alongside the three Solheim Cup representatives is a host of homegrown players – 14 in total -who will be out in force trying to win their national title, a regular fixture on the Ladies European Tour since the first event at a relatively unknown golf course called Las Aves in 1982. Some of you might recognise it since as Valderrama. To be fair, the ladies, like their Spanish professional male counterparts, have never really done themselves justice in their own national open championship. However, with several of the armada coming from the Malaga province, should their challenge fall flat again it will not be for the lack of local knowledge one feels?
Counting with the support of the Costa del Sol Tourist Board and numerous generous sponsors the Spanish Ladies Open really is one of the highlights on the LET. Admission is free and all Costa del Sol residents, plus any visiting holiday golfers, are welcome to turn out in force and cheer the girls on.

Christmas Sherry

Now is the right time to start thinking about your next golfing break to take advantage of some great deals. Stuck for ideas on what to do after Christmas? Why not combine the festivities with an all-inclusive golfing break at the exclusive five star Hotel Barcelo Montecastillo Golf. Throughout the last year this has proved to be one of the most popular destinations for golfers seeking a value-for-money golfing break, yet only two hours from the heart of the Costa del Sol.
Travelling after 2nd January five nights’ all-inclusive accommodation (breakfast, lunch and dinner including beverages plus a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks served in the bars between 11:00-23:00 hrs) costs only 385€  per person sharing a double room. Did we mention that the offer includes daily, unlimited golf on the Jack Nicklaus signature course; home to the Volvo Masters on several occasions?
Longer stays on all-inclusive basis – and shorter ones on B&B – are also available so, if you feel like getting away from it all where better place is there to enjoy a traditional tipple or two of sherry than in Jerez? Do not worry about piling on the pounds as an hour’s tennis is included daily. Pampering in the Wellness Center can also be arranged. Be quick, though, as this offer is only valid until the end of September so contact Julie or Paul on +34 952 582 943 to reserve your place or simply leave a comment here on our blog

First big name for Valderrama

Last week it was confirmed that Martin Kaymer, World Number Four, will be playing at the Andalucia Masters being held at Valderrama from October 27th-30th. Citing it as one of his ‘favourite courses,’ he also professed to feeling very comfortable golfing in Spain, coming over to play whenever his schedule allowed. He also counts a number of Spanish players amongst  his friends. In an aside he mentioned his love of Iberian Ham and, letting his guard slip a little, betrayed as a bit of a ‘Shandyman’ character digressing about his enjoyment of the occasional glass of ‘clara.’ Your secret is safe with us Martin!
Born in Dusseldorf 26 years ago he turned professional in 2005 and has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the professional ranks.     Joining the Challenge Tour in 2006 he has accumulated titles at the steady rate of two per year; no doubt the most important being the USPGA Championship in 2010. The golfing year ended on a high note winnng the ‘Race to Dubai’ and becoming World Number One for several weeks earlier this year.
Keen to leave a golfing legacy in Germany started by his mentor and idol, Bernhard Langer, his ultimate goal is to make the sport of golf as popular in Germany as tennis was  aided by Boris Becker and Steffi Graf: ”I know it will take time, but hopefully this dream will come true.”
Expect further confirmations to follow over the next few weeks as Valderrama is considered a stiff, but fair test, by Europe’s elite. Traditionally the fitting finale for the European Tour it is still classed as such by many seasoned pros – the last big event on European soil – before hitting the ‘gravy train,’ sorry ‘Race to Dubai’ in the Middle East. Can’t wait until October to watch some exciting live golf? Lets not forget their female colleagues playing in the ‘Spanish Ladies Open’ at La Quinta Golf & Country Club this weekend. Get down there and give them your support.

Showing promise

The second round of the ‘Lacoste Promesas’ Circuit took place at La Cañada Golf in Guadiaro, Cadiz, last week.
This being the closest event to the Costa del Sol the event,naturally, attracted a high number of entrants; a fair number taking advantage of the summer holidays to travel from other regions as far afield as Catalonia. The prize on offer? Only to attend a weekend training camp and tournament at La Sella Golf in Denia, Alicante in November presided over by European Tour professionals Miguel Angel Jimenez, Jose Maria Olazabal and Ignacio Garrido.
Perhaps it was fitting that the Andalucian competition was held at La Cañada? After all, the club can be held up as an example to all courses – both nationally and internationally – with its forward-thinking policy towards junior golf. A new club house is built so what does one do with the existing one? Convert it into a junior golf academy naturally.
Over the weekend the course was in good condition though the players had to contend with the Poniente wind. Having said that the scoring was excellent with the first and second places – in both the boys and girls categories – going through to the national final.
The winner of the girl’s category – and the lowest handicapper of all the competitors – was Clara Baena who finished with an aggregate score of 147, one shot better than Paula Zabarte. Speaking after her victory a clearly overjoyed Clara said, ”Leading up to the event I was the favourite but I felt uneasy with this. Any one of us could have won the tournament as theye are all good players. In November, I’ll return for the final which is all the more special given that we’ll be training with Miguel Angel who, aside from being a really good player, is also very friendly.”
The boy’s prize was won by Alvarao Hernandez shooting two consistent rounds of 73 followed by Luis Montoya three strokes back on 149. This win proved all the more satisfying given the distance he had travelled to compete: ” To win the Lacoste Promesas makes me especially happy as it classifies me for the final where I’ll be reunited with many of my friends. I decided to play at La Cañada because my parents offered to come and I’ve really enjoyed the experience of travelling from Tenerife and winning at this course. Today, I’ve holed out well from two metres although, perhaps the key to the round, were the two long holes – the sixth and tenth – where I made birdies and which served to inspire me.”
The organizers would like to express their thanks to European Seniors Tour player, Juan Quiros, who took the time out to present the prizes in his home town. By the way, the prizes on offer for the outright winners in November are a year’s wardrobe courtesy of Lacoste and the chance to be taken to a destination of your choice by Iberia. I would be practising putting pins into maps right now!

Tags: Golf for beginners, La Cañada, La Cañada Golf

20th Anniversary Trophy

A glorious August summer’s day saw a bumper turn-out of 96 players take part in the ‘Trofeo 20 Aniversario’ at Santa Maria Golf & Country Club on Saturday 13th August.
A shotgun start saw the competitors, replete with a complimentary goodie bag as a souvenir of the day, tee off from their respective starting holes in good spirits. As befitted the ideal playing conditions there was some fine scoring on the day.After the day’s golf there were complimentary drinks and tapas on offer to all particpants in the H19 Restaurant before the prizegiving ceremony which was presided over by golf course director, Alfredo Ramiro and one of Santa Maria’s most loyal servants over the years, Colin Mosely. Winner of the best gross (pictured) was Michael Turley scoring 37 points playing off a handicap of 0.7
The overall winner on the day in the stableford handicap category -and recipient of a White Ice Core Odyssey putter – was Ernesto
Ostrosky with 39 points (handicap 25.3) who had a one point advantage over Angel Blanco del Vega and Antonio Guadix. In the ladies category the prize went to Nuala Kelly with the highest points total overall on the day – 40 – and who took home a Divine Line Odyssey putter.
The club would like to take this opportunity to extend its gratitude to all the members and friends who have supported the club in reaching this initial milestone of twenty years.

Tags: competition spain, Santa Maria Golf, Tee times spain

No more the “nearly man”

After winning three consecutive awards in the Faldo Series for promising young players, Oliver Wilson went on to become the youngest player to compete in the Walker Cup in 2005. Turning professional at an early age he didn’t exactly go the way of Justin Rose, who missed a series of cuts, but, rather, over the space of several years the number of second places accumulated has appeared to be a burden with question marks arising about his ability to,’close out’ a tournament.
This year his prodigious talent has been in scant evidence. Before last week’s Czech Open the  22 year old Englishman was in serious danger of losing his card having dropped to 224th in the Race to Dubai. With forgettable statistics of having missed 20 of his first 21 cuts this season, signs of an improvement – relatively speaking – were evident in Sweden and Ireland last month when he finished 35th and 45th respectively.
The final day’s play at Prosper Golf Resort saw the lead alternate between with some of the lesser lights players on tour – Steven O’Hara, Mikael Lundberg and Garry Boyd – before a couple of birdies over the closing holes saw Fisher edge out the others with a final round 69 which included six birdies and three bogeys to secure a maiden win.
Fisher expressed his emotions over a mixed season: ”It just shows what the game of golf can do – how bad it can be and how great it can be.” Words most golfers can empathise with?
Swede, Mikael Lundberg, jockeyed himself into a good position in the rankings. From a player who had won twice previously on tour he suffered the ignominy of losing his card in 2011 and being forced to compete on the second-tier Challenge Tour. His second-place cheque of 166,660€ easily dwarfed his previous season’s best finish which earned him just 6000€. Fisher, for his part, took home the trophy and 250,000€ which leapfrogged him into the top 70 in the Race to Dubai. Now having kick-started his career rich pickings await!

Tags: Golf History

Golf Leisure Breaks on Facebook

Embracing new technological developments Golf Leisure Breaks is pleased to announce that it has its very own site on the fast-growing social network, Facebook.
Over the forthcoming weeks the page will be administered to incorporate our updated competition calendar along with regular weekly results and photos, as well as exclusive golfing offers. Golfers will be allowed to add their comments and thoughts. Should you miss out on receiving your weekly copy of the ‘Sur in English’ this weekly column will be uploaded with back copies. Search for ‘Golf Leisure Breaks’ and the distinctive putter logo on Facebook as we await your feedback and, hopefully, many of our regular readers will press ‘like’ and  follow us.

IAGTO appoints official rep in Spain

Peter Walton, Marco Polacci and Manuel Piñero

The travel body IAGTO (International Association of Golf Tour Operators) has designated Marco Polacci to be its official representative in Spain.
Marco is a long-time member of IAGTO whose role will be to ensure that the hundreds of  IAGTO members of Spain make the best use of services in order to develop the golf tourism business. This might take the form of helping to implement a single marketing policy or defending the bona fide operators against unlicensed ‘cowboy’ companies trying to sell discounted green fees. Marco has been based on the Costa del Sol for many years and has vast experience in all the sectors which make up a golf holiday: hotels, golf courses and rent a car. Indeed, his own company has represented a portfolio of such companies with their marketing and promotional needs both in Spain and at worldwide trade fairs. As IAGTO’s president, Peter Walton said, ”I have known Marco since 1998 and his knowledge  of the Spanish tourism industry is second to none… has a great understanding of how different international markets are behaving.”
Marco’s appointment could be just the impetus Spain needs, with special reference to the Costa del Golf, to remain at the forefront of an industry which brings innumerable economic benefits to this country. Marco himself put it succinctly saying, ”My objective is to encourage all companies working in the golf tourism industry to come together under the umbrella of IAGTO Spain so that we can speak with one voice when important national decisions are taken about priorities in tourism promotion.”
It is worth pointing out that Spain still remains Europe’s largest golf destination and IAGTO has more members in Spain – 215 companies and organisations – than in any other country. Since its conception in 1997, IAGTO now boasts more than 1600 members in 87 countries, whilst its golf tour operators account for more than 80% of all pre-booked  golf package holidays worldwide. All IAGTO members adhere to a strict code of conduct and this is passed down to the customer. For example, at IAGTO’s instigation several golf courses on the Costa del Sol produced a ‘Statement of Intent’ a couple of years ago which laid down a number of common policies, amongst them a unified, ‘wet weather’ ruling to avoid any potential discrepancies. In other matters, they have been responsible for promoting our destination by bringing hundreds of travel agents, tour operators and journalists to visit the golf resorts on specialized ‘Fam’ and Press Trips. The customer can, thus, be rest assured that he or she is booking through experienced and knowledgeable members of staff. Furthermore, one of the prerequisites of becoming an IAGTO tour operator is to be fully bonded, licensed and insured.
Should the worst happen your annual golfing  trip will be covered. Hopefully this will not occur but, by always looking out for the IAGTO logo, you have the added assurance.
In the meantime, we wish Marco every success in his new endeavour.

Love thy neighbour

For the last couple of decades the Algarve has been the Costa del Golf’s main competitor.  One has to take one’s hat off to the Algarve with respect to their aggressive marketing policies and the way the essential components of  a golfing holiday – tourist board, hotels and golf courses – present a united front.
Working with them on a day-to-day basis one soon realises that they, ‘speak your language’: no staff fumbling with pidgin English; bookings very often confirmed the same day etc. From a business point of view the Algarve actively supports the growth of reputable TO’s and safeguards jobs by honouring direct public green fee rates whist, at the same time, offering favourable TO contracts in order to make an honest living.
The Algarve Tourist Board invariably develops some very successful marketing initiatives; none more so than the, ‘From the Algarve with Love’ campaign wherby more than a score  of hotels and golf courses offered one in eight free no questions asked, no haggling required.
However, over the last couple of years Turkey has emerged as a serious rival to their Iberian counterparts. Quality golf courses designed by the world’s best players along with all-inclusive hotels have proved popular in times of crisis. The fact that the infrastructure seems to be somewhat lacking, at time of writing I insist, tends to be overlooked when price becomes an important factor.
Where does this leave the Costa del Sol? Actually there is room for optimism: prices have been pegged back as the penny seems to have finally dropped whilst all is not, ‘wine and roses’ elsewhere. The price of ancillary services in Portugal is generally higher. Add-ons such as buggies can cost as much as 60€ at some of the better courses. The recent general election has brought into power a conservative government whose election manifesto included the promise to raise the lower rate of VAT on touristic goods from 6% to 23%. This will hit the touristic industry hard as both hotels and golf courses are drawing up contingency contracts with operators with two different prices in the effect of… hardly a recipe for success? The popularity of Turkey is proving to be its achilles heel as the number of golf courses cannot match demand. Indeed, trying to book a prime-time  tee flight is becoming more and more elusive, whilst nightmarish stories of six hour rounds are being more and more commonplace.
The high occupancy re hotel beds on the Costa del Sol this summer should not cause complacency as golfers have tended to come here at off-peak periods. As long as we do not rest on our laurels our destination has everything to offer the visiting golfer; both on and off the course. It is high time the authorities and all those involved in the industry ate a bit of humble pie, looked at our competitors, and founded the basis for continued success.

Santa Maria G&CC The first 20 years

The first nine holes at Santa Maria were designed by Spaniard, Antonio Garrido, twenty years ago followed by the addition of a second nine in 1996. Regarded as being one of the best designs on the Costa del Sol it is certainly one of the more playable; borne out by its popularity amongst resident members and visiting golfers alike. Ask a cross-section of Golf Leisure Breaks’ golfers who play in our regular open weekly stableford competitions and it is, without doubt, our most popular venue. Even allowing for a handful of rookie golfers who got lost en route we still managed a decent turn out of 20 plus this Monday: not too bad considering the heat in August. They often feel satisfied having played to their handicap before enjoying an apres drink or three overlooking the 18th hole.
Not only offering a challenging design to golfers of varying abilities the game is played in idyllic surroundings climbing up to the foothills of Elviria with views to the Mediterranean. The course extends beyond the AP-7 toll road about 10km east of Marbella; a short break at the viewing point by the twelfth tee and taking in the clean, country air comes well recommended. By that stage you will have played several holes featuring pretty water features and a well-stocked carp lake. Having said that the course is surprisingly popular with relatively fit golfers who enjoy a walk. As the course heads downhill between the valleys towards the club house one can reflect on having played on some of the most consistent and truest greens on the Costa del Sol.
Aside from the quality of the layout many of the members – which gives the club a distinct international feel – are attracted by the social side of the club  such as interclub games and the novelty of having its own bowling club adjacent to the golf club house with its own facilities.
To celebrate its twentieth anniversary a special tournament is being held 13th August. The format is individual stableford and for just 45€ this includes  green fee, buggy, goodie bag and drink and tapa after the game. Call the caddymaster direct for availability on 952 831036. Can’t make it? Check out their ad on this page for more summer deals or join in one of our social competitions every Monday.

Tags: Santa Maria Golf - Marbella