Destination Golf - July 2016 * | Page 51

The Designers of Stirling & Martin
Blake Stirling has been working as a golf course designer for more than 22 years. Together with Marco Martín, he has created many renowned golf courses in the past 12 years, ranging from the friendly and accessible courses to those geared to the highest levels of competition.
Before teaming up with Marco, Blake Stirling worked as head of design for Pete Dye, Perry Dye and Desmond Muirhead, architects with worldwide acclaim. Blake has accumulated tremendous experience from working on more than 160 projects across five continents.
Marco Martín has worked on numerous golf course design projects in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, since he started as a design assistant at Dye Designs, under the tutelage of Perry Dye. He currently works as manager of projects and supervision in the creation of golf courses for Global Golf Company.
These two designers bring double the prestige to a firm synonymous with credibility, security and leadership.
FIVE COURSES TO PLAY
al Golf Company
El Cortijo Club de Campo, Gran Canaria
Venue for the 2002 Spanish Open, won by Sergio Garcia, El Cortijo Club de Campo has seen many other international tournaments hosted on one of the longest courses in Spain. Designed by Stirling & Martin, this par 72 course has six lakes and hundreds of palm trees stretched across rippling fairways. The design of the course uses a number of natural valleys to full effect, especially on the front nine which boasts a links-like feel. Spectacular views of the sea are on show for the entire round.
Golf Almerimar, Almeria
This impressive resort boasts its own marina and hotel, as well as the highly regarded golf course. Almerimar promises wide fairways and large fast greens, well protected by trees which, in the summer months, offer a welcome slice of shade. The course is beautifully bunkered and the Almerimar’ s par three 12th, where the green sits stranded alone in one of the course’ s lakes is a highlight for many visiting golfers.
Guadalmina Golf( South), Malaga
This highly rated and old course( opened in 1959) in the south of Spain was remodelled by Stirling and Martin in 2002. Bunkers were added on fairways while the fairways themselves were given additional contouring. The land is flatter than the second course( the North) but with little rough and swathes f Company
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