The owners spare no expense when it comes to maintaining the high standards of excellence that define the resort.
“Considerable funds are being invested in equipment,” says Rod Bastard. “We’ve reached agreement with Toro to buy quite a lot of equipment, as we are always committed to updating the fleet depot to ensure a high level of course maintenance is sustained.”
The Marbella Golf Club general manager notes that, especially over the last couple of years, the course has been in “extraordinary condition”. In that respect, “We carried out some major work last summer, changing all the fringe areas of the greens to Bermuda and cleaning up the rest of the course. Ninety-nine per cent of the course has the same species, which gives it a particularly attractive look, and the greens have been spectacular for four years now.”
As for the golfing layout in general terms, Bastard says, “It’s a very attractive course, really spectacular, extending over different levels but the holes are very open, quite wide. The golfing experience is extremely pleasant because players feel they are alone on the course, very peaceful. The homes that can be found in some parts of the course are large, with low construction density, and you have a sense of relaxation, tranquillity and comfort, and that you are playing almost by yourself for the whole round.”
Other aspects that help create this soothing sense of calm include the times between rounds (12 minutes) and the lack of overcrowding, with no more than 80 players a day during the high season – which is exceptional. “Most times,” says Bastard, “there is an average of 30 or 30 players out on the course, and that’s the way we want it to be because people can have a peaceful round and fully enjoy this magnificent layout.”
Marbella Club Hills
One of the new initiatives at the club managed by Rod Bastard is the Marbella Club Hills urbanisation. “It is a high-end luxury project, with minimal impact on the environment and stunning views, and it will be hugely positive for our area, attracting more people to this part of Marbella and also new members for the golf club.
“It is located next to the golf course, just past the club entrance, in a picturesque hillside setting with fantastic views over the course, Gibraltar and African coastline. The quality of the construction and fittings will be extremely high, featuring an elegant architectural style. Work has now begun, and a high percentage of homes have already been sold.”
Marbella Club Hills will include semi-detached villas with four bedrooms and villa apartments with two to four bedrooms, ranging in size from 103 to 224 square metres; in addition to spacious gardens and terraces. It will offer numerous sports outlets, including state-of-the-art gymnasiums, several swimming pools for adults and children, and two tennis and two pádel tennis courts, as well as children’s playgrounds.
The project is designed by the prominent architectural firm of Villaroel-Torrico, which has a 40-year track record in successfully developing resorts and residential communities with sophistication, technological rationality and modern architecture. Marbella Club Hills will incorporate modern design together with an Andalucian touch and quality finishing.
Marbella Club Hills will be executed in two phases, with the number of units in phase one comprising 55, and 71 for phase two. The timeline for the project is less than three years. Construction of phase one started in August 2017 with planned delivery by the end of 2018; and construction of phase two is scheduled to start in early 2018 with an expected delivery by the end of 2019.
