Nº 286 - JUNE 2019 - FREE COPY

AMATEUR TOUR The Costa del Golf Tour gets under way

This amateur tour takes place across four legs and stops off at some of the area’s best courses [P3]

LPGA & LET Women golfers paving the way for Spain

The country has the third most female golfers ranked in the High expectations for top 500 in Europe [P4] the Andalucía Masters Tourist destination: The tournament is on the European Tour Almeria

after finding a much-needed sponsor [P2] The province is developing a strategy to attract golf tourism, putting the focus on its unique courses [P6]

:: RC VALDERRAMA 2 ANDALUCÍA June 2019 COSTA DEL GOLF

The Andalucía Masters promises to be more exciting than ever

Jon Rahm and Sergio García have confirmed their participation in the tournament which features on the European Tour after finding the private sponsor it needed

:: ALEJANDRO DÍAZ MALAGA. The Andalucía Masters, which returned to the European Tour calendar in 2017 after an absence of six years, is now revving up for the next edition. Sergio García has be- come involved with the tournament, which will run from 27 to 30 June, through his Foundation which was created in 2002 to help economically disadvantaged children and young people by means of social assistance and the chance to practise sport in the open air. “Our Foundation’s involvement makes the tournament even more special, and we are hoping to raise more funds for those in need. With Jon’s presence, and that of other players who will be taking part this year, and with all the new features which are being announced, this tournament is going to grow con- siderably. It is going to be an impres- Representatives from Valderrama, federations, organisers and sponsors, after the presentation. :: FERNANDO HERRANZ sive week,” said García at the pres- entation of the event. player to win a tournament on After becoming the first Spanish strokes at the Real Club Valderrama thanks to his hard-fought triumph in the 2011 edition, the 2017 Mas- ters champion and Ryder Cup re- cord-holder extended his relation- ship with the course with his sec- ond title when it returned to the in- ternational calendar of the Euro- pean Tour. “I’m delighted to be going back Published by Prensa to Valderrama, especially as Jon Malagueña, S.A. Rahm is also coming. Winning Director General again last year was like a dream José Luis Romero come true and I’m sure th27th-30th

Andalucía Costa del Golf June at this year it’s going to be an- is a Diario SUR publication other very special week, especially for the Spanish fans,” he said. Editor in chief Last year García added to his im- Manuel Castillo pressive record at Valderrama by lift- Director of publications ing the trophy for the third time in a Pedro Luis Gómez historic course for Spanish golf, be- Production Alberto Gómez cause it was where the legendary Seve Alejandro Díaz Ballesteros led Europe to victory in the Ryder Cup in 1997. However, this Advertising year the battle for the title of the tour- Corporación de Medios nament will be especially enticing to del Sur, S.L. watch. This is because García will be ac- Telephone: 952 649 700 companied by Jon Rahm, the cur- Sergio García is aiming to win again. :: SUR Jon Rahm’s presence will be an added attraction. :: SUR Fax: 952 612591 rent world number 11, who made his debut as a professional in the country and of the world, in fact,” “We’re lucky enough to have two sponsor of the Andalucía Masters 2017 tournament and, despite miss- said Rahm. “Last time I didn’t play tournaments on the European Tour for the next five years. Thanks to ing the cut at Valderrama, dazzled my best tournament and I missed in Spain and, to a great extent, we this new incorporation, the prize local fans by winning his third title the cut, but this year I hope to give have to thank Sergio and his founda- money for the Estrella Damm N.A. (also on the European Tour) in the Sergio a run for his money and fight tion for one of them. I wil give all the Andalucía Mas- Fundación Sergio We would like to hear from you! Spanish Open the following year. him for the title”. support I can. I hope we have a good García will be three million euros Please send any golfing news from your clubs to “I’m very excited to be coming This will, without a doubt, attract week and that we put on a good - one million more than in 2018. [email protected] back and also being at Valderrama the attention of the Spanish and in- show,” said Rahm. This sum will undoubtedly at- in the summer, because that is the ternational media and will make An- tract some of the best foreign play- MA- 343 96 ideal time to visit the south of Spain. dalucía the centre of world golf once Sponsorship ers. That is also why this is pre- It is a very important part of our again for a few days. Estrella Damm is the new main dicted to be a unique event. June 2019 ANDALUCÍA 3 COSTA DEL GOLF M

SCHEDULE 2019 15 June Los Arqueros The Costa del Golf Tour begins I Prueba Costa del Golf Tour Open tournament

17 June Lauro Interautonómico Absoluto Los Arqueros will be hosting the first leg of one of the area’s biggest Femenino 2019 amateur tours, for which there is still time to register, this Saturday Open tournament 24 June Antequera Golf Campeonato de Europa Universitario 2019 :: ALEJANDRO DÍAZ costs 65 euros, for those who pre- Open tournament MALAGA. The tournament of all fer to enjoy one or two specific summer tournaments on the Costa legs. 30 June del Sol has arrived. On 15 June Los It should be pointed out that, as El Paraíso Arqueros will be the first host course in previous editions, the tourna- II Prueba Costa del Golf Tour of the Costa del Golf Tour 2019, ment will be held under individ- Open tournament which will be celebrating more than ual Stableford rules, where each five years of attracting hundreds of hole scores in relation to the 6 July enthusiasts each day to some of the (one point for a bogey, two for the Alcaidesa finest courses in Andalucía. par, three for a birdie and four for III Prueba Costa del Golf Tour Los Arqueros was the first golf an eagle). Access to the final will Open tournament course on the Costa del Sol to have depend on the results of the first been designed by Severiano Ball- three days of competition, al- 13 July esteros. He used to say it was a good though players can register for Aloha course for players of all types, a one, two or all three legs, with the Torneo Benéfico Horizonte reasonable challenge for the aver- possibility of competing in the fi- Open tournament age golfer and difficult enough for nal in all cases. professionals. 21 July Surrounded by rugged moun- Other legs Cabopino tains and just ten minutes from After the inaugural round on 15 IV Prueba Costa del Golf Tour Marbella, the impeccable fairways June, the Costa del Golf Tour will Open tournament of Los Arqueros Golf & Country continue on to the other courses. Club are set amid spectacular The second leg is also this month, 3 August mountain countryside where the on 30 June, when the participants, Aloha players can enjoy fantastic views organisers and collaborators are Valle del Golf Aloha - Brisas over the Mediterranean. Inaugu- The eighth hole at Los Arqueros, which is hosting the first leg. :: SUR due to meet at El Paraíso Golf. Open tournament rated in 1991, Los Arqueros is a Barely a week later, on 6 July, the challenging 18-hole par 71 course. cluded, on the three courses for 179 Registration for just one of the third leg will take place at Alcaidesa 10 August The tournament, which is or- euros. The final will be attended three tournaments costs 120 euros, Golf, before fourth at Cabopino on Aloha ganised by SUR and its specialist by the highest-classified players although Oferplan also offers a dis- 21 July. The grand final will be at Memorial Ibarrondo publication Costa del Golf, has be- from the different categories. count so that each tournament Guadalmina this year. Open tournament come an unmissable event for golf fans. During all these years, it has 17 August grown in every way, quantitative Aloha as well as qualitative, which is why THREE LEGS, A Torneo padre e hijos this year’s edition is probably the Open tournament best of all those held so far. GRAND FINAL AND Some of those competing have A UNIQUE TOUR 28 September taken part in every single one. What Torrequebrada golf began as an initiative which the or- Campeonato de España Dobles ganisers hoped would continue, is Senior Femenino 2019 now a tournament which nobody Reaching the grand final at Open tournament wants to miss on the amateur golf Guadalmina will depend on calendar of Andalucía. It is a circuit the results of the first four 5 October on which all players of every level days. Those interested in Aloha find their place. It is also well- taking part can register online Trofeo Benéfico ASPANDEM known for being an entertaining via Oferplan or by contacting Open tournament event with a great atmosphere. Diario SUR’s commercial The registration period for the department. The tour, which 5 October Costa del Golf Tour is still open. began over five years ago, aims Aloha Oferplan has launched a voucher to beat all records this year. ‘Pitch and Putt’ Nacional with which you can enjoy the com- The grand final will be at Guadalmina. :: SUR Open tournament petition, green fee and buggy in- 4 ANDALUCÍA June 2019 COSTA DEL GOLF

WORLD RANKINGS 13. 33. Azahara Muñoz 162. Nuria Iturrios 194. Beatriz Recari 263. Luna Sobrón 358. Noemí Jiménez

qualified for the US Open, and Nuria Iturrios (162), who climbed 31 po- sitions to be among the top 170 in the world, have allowed Spain to be considered a European golfing power. Beatriz Recari (194), Luna Sobrón (263), Noemí Jiménez (358), Marta Sanz (364), María Parra (457), Silvia Bañón (465), Elia Folch (473) and Carmen Alonso (482) are joined among the first places by Ciganda in 13th and Muñoz just outside the Nuria Iturrios has been having an extraordinary season. :: SUR top 30 in 33rd after having been very close to the top ten before health problems caused a setback. Earlier in the month, Ciganda made history by getting into the top 10. She surpassed the 13th place achieved by Azahara Muñoz follow- ing her victory in the Lacoste La- dies Open de France Dames in 2014 and which until now was the record for Spanish women’s golf. Beatriz Recari also reached the top 20 after previously beeing 17th in 2013. Ciganda, still without having won a ‘major’, has been showing an enor- mous consistency for years. Muñoz this year celebrates ten years on the American Tour. She has already secured several top-10 fin- Carlota Ciganda made history by breaking into the top 10. :: SUR Azahara Muñoz is showing her best form again after injury. :: SUR ishes this year and came close to winning the , where she finished second. She was third in the HSBC World Championship, sixth in the Australian Open and fifth in the Handa Vic Open. Her good start to the year saw her return Another formidable ‘Armada’ to among the top fifteen players in the world. Muñoz alternates the American and European Tours and boasts five titles, among them the Sybase Spain comes in eighth place with regards to players countries: Japan (100), South Korea Match Championship, one of the (83) and the United States (73). The most important tournaments in the in the top 500 of the women’s world rankings list is completed by Thailand (27), world, with nearly 400,000 dollars Chinese Taipei (21), Sweden (17), in prize money. The San Pedro-born China (14) and the UK (14). The lat- golfer divided her first years as a pro- ter three are closely followed by fessional on both sides of the pond Spain, with thirteen golfers among before settling permanently in Flor- This is not just down to the rise of eral tournaments held this season. the top 500 in the ranking. ida, where she lives with Tim Vick- :: ALBERTO GÓMEZ Carlota Ciganda in the last few Only eight countries have more At European level, only two coun- ers, whom she married in 2015. MALAGA. Spanish golf is going months, finally making a break- female players than Spain in the top tries, Sweden and the UK, surpass Muñoz is a player forged in the through one of its best periods. The through into the top 10, nor because 500 in the world, and three of them Spain, but none has a ‘top 10’ among United States, where universities world rankings show that the so- of the recovery of Azahara Muñoz, are almost out of reach because of their ranks. The leaps made by offer many more facilities for elite called Armada is performing well. who has had excellent results in sev- the popularity of the sport in those Fátima Fernández Cano (490), who athletes than in Europe.

A TOURNAMENT Herbin comes out on top at AGAINST CANCER AT MIJAS GOLF La Reserva de Sotogrande

Following the success of last year’s event, Un Sí Por La :: ALEJANDRO DÍAZ vida-Unidos Contra El Cáncer MALAGA. Despite wind hamper- is this Saturday morning hold- ing the first two days of play, it was ing its second charity golf a dream final last month as the tournament at Mijas Golf. The course at La Reserva de Sotogrande event, which will raise funds decided the winner of the invita- for patients and families in the tional of the same name, part of Guadalhorce vally, is in mem- European Tour. ory of Blas Fernández, a for- French golfer Céline Herbin saw mer worker at the course who off the challenge of the German Es- worked practically right up ther Henseleit to claim the trophy, until he died aged 56. Sign up shooting 69 on the final day, includ- :: SUR for 60 euros (952 476 843). ing two birdies on the final two holes. Winner Céline Herbin. :: LET June 2019 ANDALUCÍA 5 COSTA DEL GOLF M

6 ANDALUCÍA June 2019 COSTA DEL GOLF

Almeria developing a strategy to grow golf tourism in the summer

ing and exciting course and it re- The regional government wants to attract more visitors to a quires a variety of strokes which challenge the skill of every player, sector which brings millions of tourists to Europe every year from beginners to professionals. Another well-known course in Almeria is Almerimar Golf, designed by Gary Player, and the only one with 27 holes. It covers approximately 800,000 square metres, between lakes and palm trees, and lies within a top- class residential development, beside the sea and sheltered by the hills which surround it. There is one five- star hotel, another which is four-star hotel and it is located next to a spec- tacular marina, just seven minutes from El Ejido. In Roquetas de Mar, one of the most popular tourist resorts on the Mediterranean with the highest num- ber of hotels in Almeria, is Playa Serena Golf, set beside the sea with lovely views of the Mediterranean and also the mountains. It is a precise

The Junta de Andalucía is promoting the destination Several tournaments take place in Almeria. :: SUR to international markets to attract year-round visitors

course with ten lakes, eight of which are natural and a stopping place for exotic species of migratory birds. It has 18 holes and is a par-72 course. Marina Golf is another modern course with spectacular views. A para- dise for golfers, it is in Marina de la Torre, a residential area with four ho- tels at the foot of the hill below Mo- jácar, a village which has won awards for its beauty. This course has two very different halves: the first three holes are close to the sea, followed by one of the most spectacular holes in Spain, the par- five fourth hole. The course then as- The province has some of the very best golf courses. :: SUR The city has numerous remains from the Moorish period. :: SUR cends to the next ten holes, with a small hill and a valley sheltered from the marine breeze, before finally re- mations, beaches and charming Tourism, announced a new plan to course, the only desert course in turning to the sea to finish the re- ALEJANDRO villages. The dry and rugged Tab- attract more tourists to Almeria prov- Europe, Desert Springs. maining holes. DÍAZ ernas desert is also famous world- ince, and he said that golf has an im- Inspired by the famous desert Other golf courses in Almeria wide and many American westerns portant role to play in that. He ex- courses of Arizona and California and which will be delighting visitors this have been filmed there. plained that the regional government built to USGA specifications, Desert summer are Cortijo Grande, Envía In recent decades Almeria has be- will be using digital marketing tools Springs Golf Club is a spectacular ex- Golf, Valle del Este - which is also in come an increasingly popular desti- to make the province better known ample of a man-made creation in har- desert style - Alborán Golf, Aguilón n Almeria ‘tourism’ began a nation, attracting more tourists of worldwide, and it will also be organ- mony with nature, as it contains thou- and Playa Macenas. very long time ago with vis- more nationalities every year. The se- ising familiarisation visits for travel sands of cacti, enormous areas of flow- The tourism sector of Almeria its from the Greeks, Phoeni- cret lies in its enormous range of op- agents and tour operators so they gain ers and rocks, streams and dry rivers. has been modernising in recent I cians, Romans and Carthagin- portunities for visitors, especially the first-hand knowledge of the area. There is an amazing contrast be- years, with the aim of attracting ians. Those who stayed longest excellent golf facilities. Its record He also said that Almeria will have tween the impeccable emerald of the visitors all year round and not just were the Moors, who left a pro- number of sunny days and the expe- a presence at the world cruise tour- greens and fairways and the arid but in the peak season. As well as de- found mark on towns and villages. rience of practising your swing be- ism fairs such as those in Miami, Ham- at the same time colourful desert land- veloping its golf facilities, it has fo- This province can boast numerous tween the sea and the desert make burg and Southampton. scape. The 600,000 cacti and other cused on cruise and agrotourism. attractions, such as endless this province an ideal destination for There is, however, no doubt that desert plants grow progressively This has been accompanied by the beaches, golf courses and very golfers. the golf courses in Almeria will re- denser, making the game more diffi- development and optimisation of popular marinas, especially Almer- Summer is normally low season ceive a good number of visitors this cult as you progress further from the hotel complexes, efforts to rein- imar. There are also some lovely for golf, but in May the vice-presi- summer anyway, partly due to the fairway, and of course cacti are prickly force residential tourism, promot- natural parks, particularly Cabo de dent of the Junta de Andalucía, Juan choice: there are courses beside the plants so that aspect also has to be ing Mediterranean gastronomy and Gata-Níjar with its volcanic for- Marín, who is also the Minister for sea, close to the mountains and, of taken into account. This is a demand- improving communications. June 2019 ANDALUCÍA 7 COSTA DEL GOLF M

8 ANDALUCÍA June 2019 COSTA DEL GOLF