The Marbella club has accumulated a stellar history as the venue for major golf tournaments since its foundation nearly half a century ago.

 

As current director Paul Muñoz notes with ample justification, the creation of Royal Las Brisas Golf Club – which is just a few months away from celebrating its golden anniversary – was a significant milestone for Andalucian golf, and a classic example of how things should be done to achieve a top-quality golf course.

Businessman José Banús, who developed Royal Las Brisas (originally known as Nueva Andalucía Golf Club) and was the key figure behind the creation of the famous Marbella marina that bears his name, “was a visionary”, says Muñoz. “He realised that, to ensure success, you had to work with the best in every respect, and to that end he commissioned one of the leading golf course designers and architects, Robert Trent Jones.

¨Banús was an extremely intelligent man and he saw that, to achieve the best possible international promotion of Las Brisas, they would need to host a major tournament and provide it with substantial prizemoney, and that’s how they managed to hold the World Cup and attract players of the calibre of Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.”

Another event at Las Brisas that gained global media coverage – albeit not on the fairways but in the clubhouse – was a spectacular inauguration party for Puerto Banús, including a concert by Julio Iglesias and gala dinner for 1,700 guests, among them Prince Rainier of Monaco, Princess Grace, Gina Lollobrigida and the Aga Khan.

Nearly half a century after Royal Las Brisas was opened, and following a major golf course renovation by renowned designer Kyle Phillips, “we are continuing to work towards conserving, for many more years, the enormous quality that defines this magnificent project initiated in 1968 thanks to José Banús”, says Muñoz.

“Our objective is to ensure there is continuity at this extraordinary club, and we believe Kyle Phillips was the ideal person to carry out the renovation, to provide continuity for Trent Jones’ project, and to prepare the club for at least another 50 years at the same high level of quality.”by renowned designer Kyle Phillips, s was opened, and following a major golf coruse renovationb Golf Club during an exciting fi