Professional golf at the highest level is going to shine again in the south of the Peninsula, and it will do so in one of the best courses in the country: Aloha. From the 22nd to the 25th of September it will host the ‘Andalucía Costa del Sol – Open de España Femenino’, belonging to the Ladies European Tour (LET). Many of the great figures of international women’s golf will be in contention, such as Azahara Muñoz from Malaga, who will take a break from her American Tour schedule to play this tournament, Nuria Iturrios, winner of the recent Moroccan Open, official tournament of the LET, the French Glwadys Nocera, with fourteen victories in the Women’s European Tour and twice Player of the Year, Natalia Escauriola, who has recently revalidated in another Marbella club (RCG Guadalmina) the title of Champion of Spain, Noemí Jiménez…
The Aloha Golf Club is in a privileged location, in the heart of the Costa del Sol, in cosmopolitan Marbella, five minutes from the famous Puerto Banus, in the no less emblematic Golf Valley. Inaugurated in 1975 and designed by the prestigious Basque architect Javier Arana, the course stands out above the usual average and is among the best we have in Europe. And the same can be said of the club, with a lively and friendly social life throughout the year, a formidable clubhouse and a restaurant that leaves no one indifferent due to its quality.
With impeccable maintenance, the pampering and care that is applied to everything here is noticeable. Unfortunately, it is no longer common to build courses like this, without houses, spacious, and in the best possible area.
The scene of three European Tour tournaments and important amateur competitions, Aloha is a course in constant evolution and renovation that in recent years has made a very important update of the club’s facilities to improve its level. The reforms involved, among other actions, a spectacular renovation of the clubhouse.
In addition to a beautiful parkland-style course of par 72 and 6,293 meters, the great players of the Open de España will face a course that demands precision off the tee and a good approach to the green. An undulating terrain, a colorful grove of trees and beautiful lakes are some of the peculiarities of Aloha, in addition to spectacular views of the Sierra de La Concha and the Mediterranean.
The mark of a great designer
The designer Javier Arana’s stamp was not only reflected in the splendid course, but also in the choice of the type of trees and plants that would populate the course, with the idea of being able to enjoy trees in bloom at any time of the year. The layout consists of four par 5 holes, ten par 4 holes and four par 3 holes evenly distributed between the two rounds.
Aloha has hosted the Open de Andalucía, a European Tour tournament, on three occasions. In the first one, held in 2007, the Englishman Lee Westwood won with a total of 268 strokes, 20 under par. The British player set the course record at 64, and that victory ended his drought of victories, establishing a turning point in his career, which culminated in him becoming world number one, dethroning Tiger Woods himself a couple of years after his victory in Aloha. In 2008 the victory at the Marbella club went to the Frenchman Thomas Levet, with 272 impacts, after a vibrant playoff against Oliver Fisher. The third event of that tournament in Aloha took place in 2012 and ended with another French victory, that of Julien Quesne, with an overall score of 271 strokes.
Another important event at Aloha is the Andrés Jiménez Memorial Pro Am, which has been organized by the club in December for many years and features the stellar participation of Miguel Ángel Jiménez.
Fantastic challenge
Aloha has had a new director since a few weeks ago, Juan Alvarez, an industry professional of recognized prestige who comes from Troon Golf, an American company leader in management, development and marketing of golf courses. “We have,” he points out, “the honor and pleasure that Aloha Golf Club has given us the responsibility of managing the golf course under the Troon Privé brand. This is a brand for members-only courses and is the first in continental Europe under that name. We are delighted to have this responsibility and this fantastic challenge. It is clear that Aloha is one of the great clubs in Europe, and we are going to put all our efforts, skills and means to make this club as good as possible”.
Regarding the Open de España Femenino, Álvarez says that the course is being thoroughly prepared for a competition of this category. “We are already the whole magnificent team of Aloha and Troon Golf, in collaboration with the Green Section of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, doing what is necessary for the course to be at a fantastic level, which is what we all want,” he explains.
“Aloha is already a veteran in hosting professional events of international level, and it is a great satisfaction to have the Women’s European Tour here, and we are sure it will be a success,” concludes the director of the Marbella golf club.
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