'NEW COURSE' RESEARCH:
…and all in the cause of duty!
By Lawrie Thornton
Secretary-General of the PGA of Europe
When the PGA of Europe recently renewed its Corporate
Partnership agreements with both Atalaya Park Hotel and the Costa
del Sol Tourist Board, the process was completed with matching enthusiasm
by all concerned because of the natural way that our three operations
complement each other.
Part of my responsibility in this business triumvirate
is to constantly be aware of the advances that are being made
in the region in order, in a knowledgeable manner, to be able to encourage
12,000 professional golfers from our 33 member countries, and
their club members, to take advantage of them.
In the words of the well-worn cliché 'yes, it's a rotten
job but somebody has to do it!'
It was partly in this capacity and partly as an
annual Spring break that I was privileged to play some of the new
golf courses that are emerging in such tempting fashion on the Costa
del Golf.
My first reaction to the brief 'tour' is to express
the PGAE's delight that such admirable new golf resorts and their
creatively-designed courses are opening up yet more golf tourism
opportunities in an area which constantly expands its attractions
and which continues to bring visitors pouring into Málaga
airport.
Much as I would have liked, it was not possible
for me to put my (rising!) handicap through a 'lost ball' count
at each of the new locations on a sheer 'available hours' basis.
Those I did play, however, left me with a profound
sense that the Costa del Sol Collection of golf courses has impressively
enhanced its 'something for everyone' reputation at a time when
pressure on tee-time bookings has never been more intense.
Pay-As-You-Play facilities, as distinct from those
with a membership enjoying first priority, are always most welcome
and in this regard CABOPINO is a popular, high-standard arrival
with its pleasant, enjoyable design and top-quality greens.
While comparatively short at 5170 metres, it refreshingly
demands accuracy rather than an outsize driver with a trampoline-effect
face, and is a sound test of anyone's 'A' game. You can always leave
that monster drive in the locker room…
I can personally recommend Cabopino for a thoroughly
enjoyable round of golf, at a conveniently-placed Marbella location,
played against a backdrop of picturesque land and seascapes.
On to FLAMINGOS, a marvellous facility I have watched
emerge from its earliest days of site clearance , to shaping and
contouring, seeding, grass growth and finally to standing on the
first tee savouring a feeling of acute anticipation.
I need not talk of its quality and desirability since, already this
has been officially recognized by its selection for a PGA European
Seniors Tour event and a share, along with Atalaya Park Old Course,
in our own PGAE Fourball Championship next January.
It is a beautiful golf course and a most challenging
one which left me with one recurring question at the back of my
mind, namely 'are some of those excellent and interesting greens,
just a touch too severe?'
I recall one putt, in particular, which was required
to negotiate a couple of slopes, one up, one down, separated by
a mini-valley which was virtually beyond my judgment of pace and
direction. Should the severity be eased, just a shade?
Just a passing thought, perhaps, but one which might be worthy
of consideration.
Yet again, though, Flamingos is a quite delightful
place to spend a few blissful hours in the company of like-minded
friends for eighteen holes, enjoy a debate at the 19th and a nicely
chilled glass of vino blanco.
Next call was to SANTA CLARA where it quickly becomes
apparent, again, that 'quality' has been the objective throughout
all of the stages of creation. The clubhouse is quite superb, as
is the absolute courtesy of the service from the moment you arrive
in the car park to the moment you leave.
You feel pampered and privileged to be there…
though the course is not always equally welcoming to those who fail
to find the landing areas woven into the challenging 'risk-and-reward'
elements of the design!
Along with the other courses visited, I found Santa
Clara to be an enticing addition to all that the region has to offer.
Yet still there was a memorable treat in store. GREENLIFE GOLF ,
Marbella, is simply ideal for those wishing to fit some golf into
a packed day with non-golfing family and friends. The full 18-hole
courses are wonderful to play …but time-consuming.
This, as a welcome option, is a quite delightful
nine-hole par-three course which tests the best of short games to
the full and I must stress here that it is serious, testing GOLF,
and not pitch-and-putt. The ninth hole is, for example, measures
169 metres and asks questions of any golfer's skills in terms of
club selection and precision.
My companions and I took a mere one hour and ten
minutes to savour the course's varying, scenically-satisfying tests
of mid-irons and all the intricacies of the short game. There is
also a whole range of other leisure facilities plus a learning centre
where a visit would benefit any of us, whatever handicap range.
I found Greenlife Golf to provide quite the most
outstanding opportunity to tune up the most crucial part of one's
golfing repertoire.
By now readers will no doubt fully admire my dedication
to duty(!)…I shall certainly relish the opportunity to keep
an eye on how these, and other new facilities in my favourite golfing
region', progress in the future.
Purely as a business imperative, you understand…
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