Real Club de Golf de Valderrama is one of the best known golf clubs in Europe, globally recognised and respected.
It is often referred to as“ the Augusta of Europe”. If you are lucky enough to get an invitation to play it, drop everything and accept. At least, that’ s what I did when Operations Director Mr. Fernando Padrón got in touch.
Driving west down the AP7 towards Algeciras / Cadiz, like a kid off to visit Santa, my golf shoes have been polished, clubs sparkling, and extra golf balls have been packed in. The sign says“ Exit 130 – Valderrama”, surging excitement levels to an all-time high on the point of bursting. Passing the security gate, the clubhouse comes into sight. The mind wanders, heroic golfing memories of Seve winning the Ryder Cup, McGinley winning the Volvo Masters, and much more come flooding back. I needed a pinch to make sure I wasn’ t dreaming.
Real Club de Golf de Valderrama is located in Andalucia, in the exclusive resort of Sotogrande, a few miles from Gibraltar and less than an hour from Malaga international airport. Valderrama was constructed in 1974 to the designs of leading American golf course architect Robert Trent Jones. Renamed“ Las Aves” in 1981, it was acquired by Jaime Ortiz-Patiño in 1984 and was redesigned and expanded by the original architect and became“ Valderrama.”
The Par 71 Championship Course measures 6356 metres from the professional tees, but there’ s many different tees for all levels of golfer. The fairways have been described by top pros and leading golf writers as the best in Europe, if not the world, the words“ carpet” were mentioned most the round in our group.
Volume 3 • Issue 40 65