They’ve been called the ‘glittering jewels’ in Spain’s golfing crown, ranked among the world’s very best golf courses and regularly hosting the sport’s most famous names.
Situated just three miles apart in the sun-kissed heart of Sotogrande, Andalucia, La Reserva Club and Real Club Valderrama have become bywords for golf at its finest: each a world-renowned course with facilities of the highest calibre and set in breathtaking surroundings.
PRO-AM
Last season, La Reserva Club’s Pro-Am event drew a large crowd to its long, wooded course – with stunning views towards Gibraltar and the Mediterranean – and featured a star-studded field of its own, including Romain Langasque and Paul Maddy, with England’s two-time Ryder Cup winner David Howell finishing at the top of the leaderboard.
Adrian Otaegui, the 25-year-old from San Sebastian knows Sotogrande well. He took part in the Pro-Am as a precursor to the Andalucia Valderrama Masters taking place a few days later. According to Otaegui, the two tournaments provided the perfect week’s golf – for players and spectators alike.
‘The Pro-Am is great fun – and an ideal way to prepare for the Masters,’ he says. ‘It is such a great area for golfing and I’ll be back again next year. Sergio did really well to win, but hopefully I can take his crown.’
VALDERRAMA MASTERS
The Andalucia Valderrama Masters attracted Europe’s top golfers, including Major winners Martin Kaymer, Padraig Harrington and Danny Willet. The Real Club Valderrama was a fitting venue for the only European Tour event to take place in Spain in 2017.
After four days of competition in front of large and enthusiastic galleries, home favourite Sergio Garcia continued his superb season by claiming the second Andalucia Valderrama Masters title of his career –finishing on 12 under par, one stroke ahead of Joost Luiten of the Netherlands.
The highlight of Garcia’s four-under 67 in the final round came on the ninth where he showed his trademark creativity by using a five-wood from just off the green – and holing for a birdie. ‘Valderrama is a very special place for me, and full of good memories,’ said Garcia after his triumph, which included five birdies in his final round. ‘It is one of my favourite courses, one of the best in the world, and I always enjoy playing there.’
Garcia’s stellar performance was just the latest in a long list of unforgettable moments at Real Club Valderrama. In 1997, it became the first Spanish course to host the Ryder Cup as captain
Seve Ballesteros led Europe to a close-fought victory over the USA, with little-known Italian Costantino Rocca defeating the mighty Tiger Woods in the singles.
Three years later, Woods was famously frustrated once again at Real Club Valderrama, this time by the notorious par-5 lake-fronted 17th hole, with the American legend finding the water three times in the WGC American Express Invitational. More recently, Valderrama hosted its first Spanish Open in 2016 with Real Madrid galactico Gareth Bale in the crowd as England’s Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnson won on the manicured fairways and small, lightning-quick greens that have seen Real Club Valderrama dubbed ‘the Augusta of Europe’.
Meanwhile, Garcia’s win – his 14th European Tour title – capped a memorable 2017 for the popular 37-year-old, coming after his victory in the Dubai Desert Classic in February and his first Major at the Masters in April. ‘Valderrama was really a treat. The crowds were unbelievable – so many people came out and supported,’ said Garcia.
LA RESERVA CLUB
La Reserva Club is widely regarded as an absolute must-play for any golfer visiting the area. Opened in 2003, this modern, 18-hole, 7,400-yard championship layout has quickly become a firm favourite of golfers worldwide, and hosted numerous tours including the NH Collection Open in 2014 which featured several Ryder Cup stars including Andy Sullivan, Chris Wood and Thomas Pieters.
Legend Manuel Piñero joined La Reserva Club as its ambassador and offers specialist golf clinics and training courses. Designed by famed American course architect Cabell B. Robinson, La
Reserva Club consists of two loops of nine which feature iconic and varied par-3s, many of which are highlighted by vastly different teeing areas to vary the challenge of the holes dramatically.
Highlighted by wide, sweeping fairways which lead to large, undulating greens, La Reserva Club examines every aspect of even the most accomplished golfer’s game.
The par-4 first is as stunning as any opening hole in Europe, with an elevated tee overlooking a generous and sweeping fairway that doglegs sharply to the left. Finding the fairway is far from mission accomplished, as a stream short of the green awaits any poorly struck approaches.