For many, the most beautiful GREEN in the world. Valderrama, one of the most challenging and exclusive golf clubs in Europe. In this issue we introduce you to the stunning Valderrama Golf Club. It is located just above the village of Sotogrande in Andalucia, Spain s largest and southernmost region, and lies just a few miles north of Gibraltar, about an hour from Malaga International Airport. Valderrama is a private club with a limited amount of tee time for visitors. Thanks to the climate here at one of the most prestigious golf clubs in Europe, golf is playable all year round. Since 2010, these noble greens which have been in use for decades have hosted the Valderrama Andalucia Masters, being the seasonal finale of the European Tour and one of golf s most high-ranking tournaments. The par-71 Championship Course measures 6,356 metres from the PRO-Tees, and its fairways have been described by top pros and leading golf writers as the best in Europe, if not the world. On this challenging course every stroke demands the highest concentration, precision and versatility from the player; the latter due to the graceful branches of the cork oaks and ancient olive trees which protrude at several locations: one has to try fades and draws and both high and flat strokes to master this difficult course. Also noteworthy is the impeccable standard of maintenance: the fairways running through the course like a majestic green carpet, and the impressive pre-greens and beautiful-to-behold bunkers with their hand-trimmed edges merging with the greens, are an unforgettable sight. Valderrama s goal was to achieve the status of No. 1 golf course in Europe and this has been accomplished. No other championship course has gained recognition so quickly, and Valderrama went on to host the Volvo Masters in 1988. Worldwide fame and recognition then brought the 32nd Ryder Cup to the club in 1997, and the WGC-American Express Championship in 1999 and 2000. 24 GREEN MAGAZINE Golf Luxury Lifestyle Summer 2014
Club de Golf VALDERRAMA Avda Los Cortijos s/n 11310 Sotogrande, Cadiz, Spain T: +34 956 791 200 F: +34 956 795 456 Reservations & Information; greenfees@valderrama.com Golf Shop; golfshop@valderrama.com President, Visconde de Pereira Machado; presidencia@valderrama.com Vice President & Treasurer, Juan C. Garay Ibargaray General Manager, Javier Reviriego Bóveda; direccion@valderrama.com www.valderrama.com Luxury GOlf Magazine 25
Hole 1 PAR 4-365m Hole 2 PAR 4-385m Hole 3 PAR 3-179m 365 339 319 292 309 286 An uncomplicated start which makes it clear how important it is to find your way around Valderrama s cork oaks; the tee-off with a three-wood or a long iron must be taken from right to left, or otherwise from left to right with a short iron. This green is slightly elevated and must be played below the pin. 1 385 345 322 292 312 284 The tree which gives this hole its name El Arbor is in the centre of the fairway, just 240 metres from the next tee directly on the dogleg. With some tailwind, it s possible to get past without hitting the tree, and then use a wedge on the way to the green, though in a headwind, you have to play around the trunk to the left. 2 171 153 134 119 124 109 small green is bounded at the back and A on the left side by an extended fallaway, not to mention two bunkers at the entrance. It is important to get your shot deep, but requires only a five or six iron. A modest challenge in comparison to the following holes, but that does not mean it is easy to get under par. 3 Hole 4 PAR 5-515m Hole 5 PAR 4-348m Hole 6 PAR 3-149m 515 488 460 427 437 417 4 348 332 314 275 296 258 5 149 138 122 117 120 115 6 This is often an interesting hole during match play, especially the fourball variety. Strong hitters manage to reach the green in two shots, but the approach to the hole is tricky, even after a lay-up. The two-tier green is slightly elevated with a waterfall front right, and a bunker to the left. The sharp left turn after the elevated tee requires a three-wood or a long iron to reach the spacious fairway. However, as is usual here, the green itself is small. Light undulating ground and a tree with low hanging branches also make it difficult to approach the hole from the right. Following a redesign of the greens 18 months ago, there is now a ridge which runs from front to back. An elegantly set hole, reminiscent of the Augusta National Golf Club. The deepsunk green is surrounded by six sparkling white bunkers, and is the most uneven of the greens the players will have experienced up to this point. Here is where this beauty shows her claws, because three or four putts are often required. 26 GreeN magazine Golf Luxury Lifestyle Spring 2014
Hole 7 PAR 4-454m Hole 8 PAR 3-320m Hole 9 PAR 4-403m 448 410 390 357 369 342 321 296 270 241 257 231 403 386 364 340 354 330 This hole presents the longest distance on the course, which can be conquered in two strokes. Here, the terrain is so open that even Tiger Woods could risk full throttle. The fairway meanders from left to right, which means the two bunkers on the right come into play. The green also has numerous bunkers, and should be approached with a mid-iron (Woods takes a short iron) or a wood. 7 Compared to the previous hole, this is an extremely short tee where precision with an iron is critical. If your ball leaves the fairway, it then becomes difficult to squeeze it through the trees. In addition, a semicircular bunker short of the green forces the player to go aerial with an eight or nine iron to get to the putting surface. 8 This hole provides another long drive with an out-of-bounds to the right. The green, which is raised up more than a metre, has numerous small humps and is surrounded by sand. In strokeplay, par at the 7th, 8th and 9th holes is a good result, and in matchplay your overall results will be mostly positive rather than negative. 9 Hole 10 PAR 4-356m Hole 11 PAR 4-500m Hole 12 PAR 3-194m 356 333 303 271 293 261 10 509 476 449 421 439 397 11 194 180 165 146 158 133 12 This hole is a dogleg leading around a lake, though the water is not likely to play a role. An iron is recommended at the tee, and the approach is across a valley to the green, which has a dangerous forward slope. The apron from the fairway to the green is mowed short so any weakly hit ball with backspin rolls down 45 metres. Here you may well encounter a headwind, which is why only big hitters cope really well. The fairway falls away steeply from left to right, so a draw should be played. An extra difficulty is that the green is on a plateau, forcing the player to look upwards. In addition, the narrow green is protected by bunkers to the right and left. Use anything between a mid-iron and a wood from this elevated tee which tumbles down a funnel-shaped avenue of trees to a small green. To the right of the green is an out-of-bounds, but the many sanded areas and numerous trees signify an even greater danger. Moreover, the green itself slopes forward and offers one of the roughest putting surfaces on the course. Luxury GOlf Magazine 27
Hole 13 PAR 4-376m GolF Hole 14 PAR 4-338m Hole 15 PAR 4-338m 376 341 315 296 306 286 338 315 299 285 294 273 206 183 183 156 173 146 From the tee, the player must use a draw to make the left side of the fairway. However, the distance is not much help because there is always a danger of being thwarted by one of the many trees. An eight or nine iron takes you to a spacious green by Valderrama standards where there are no troublesome sand bunkers. 13 14 15 Another short initial drive where judgement will determine your success. The second shot is uphill to an elevated forward-sloping green with bunkers at the entrance. The real danger, however, is landing in the sand or in the rough behind the green. This hole may deliver a hole-in-one, double-bogeys or even more anything is possible here. From the elevated tee it s best to use a long iron or wood. This green slopes severely from right to left, so a tricky chip is required if the ball is hit too far leftward, whilst the bunker front right of the green is an ideal miss. 28 28 GreeN magazine Golf Luxury Lifestyle Summer 2014
Hole 16 PAR 4-396m Hole 17 PAR 5-490m Hole 18 PAR 4-415m 396 354 327 299 317 289 490 455 405 384 395 374 415 397 379 353 369 343 16 17 18 In a headwind, this is the most difficult hole on the course. A wide drive must go well to the left to allow passage through the trees standing on the dogleg of the fairway. If the ball lands in the wrong place, it will be a challenge to reach the small green below in two shots. This is a very controversial but spectacular hole. Long hitters will be wiped out by the rough which runs across the fairway, which usually leaves them two strokes behind. Because the shore of the pond in front of the green is cut short, as at Augusta, the approach to the hole is fraught with danger. Players should prepare for dramatic scenes. Here the player is faced with the hardest drive the course demands. Above all, it s essential to play around the trees in the left corner by hitting to the right, or over the top. However, also avoid any hit to the right which goes too short or too long. Anything between a three and eight iron can be used on the way to the green, where it s not always possible to finish in two putts. Luxury GOlf Magazine 29