Recently upgraded to include full greens as
targets, the practice ground in front of the
clubhouse was called one of the best in Europe
by Nick Faldo. But golfers must remember that
it is not an easy course - nor was it intended
to be. Its undulations, slick and sloping greens,
overhangs and tightness require thought and
precision on every shot.
Robert Trent Jones created three outstanding
par 5s that define the test and appeal of
Valderrama. While the 11th is a fine hole that
ends with the best view on the property,
the 4th and 17th are images from a ‘picture
postcard’ with the elevated tiered green
guarded by cleverly placed water hazards.
Valderrama was well known for many of their
prestigious tournaments, particularly know as
to be the Home of the Volvo Masters from
1988-1996 and also from 2002-2008. Also the
venue to the 1997 Ryder Cup, where victory
fortunately went to the European team, but it is
not this victory which gives the course its fame,
but the spectacular round which makes the
Valderrama the best course in Europe.
The Open de España (formerly the Spanish
Open) is the national open golf championship
of Spain. It was founded in 1912 and has been
part of the European Tour’s schedule since the
inception of the Tour in 1972. Except for a five-
year period in the early 1980s, the tournament
has been played in April or May. In 2005, it was
one of five European Tour events to be held in
Spain. Former champions include Arnold Palmer,
Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, and Nick
Faldo.
Francisco Javier Fernández, the Tourism & Sports
Minister of Spain, presented the town of San
Roque, the Valderrama Masters tournament,
a competition that places the destination in
the elite of the European Circuit of golf and
to be held this October 19th-22nd, 2017 with
the participation of one hundred and fifty
professional players of the highest level.
Sergio García, who will be co-hosting the
2017 event through his foundation, won the
title in 2011 after Graeme McDowell had been
victorious in the inaugural tournament in
2010. Last year (2016), Valderrama hosted the
Spanish Open which was won by Andrew “Beef”
Johnston.
During the official presentation, the minister
noted that the tournament date “is very
Volume 3 • Issue 40
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