Angel Hidalgo Portillo is an 18 year old from Marbella attached to the Real Club de Golf Guadalmina who is standing out in the Spanish amateur golf scene thanks mainly to the excellent results he has achieved this summer. This young man started playing golf when he was only 2 years old at the El Angel Golf School, in the Marbella Golf Valley, under the guidance of his grandfather and his father, also named Angel, who is a professional in this sport.
Soon after, he began to win his first tournaments in Andalusia, in the alevin and benjamin categories, and already in his infantile stage he was recruited to participate in the national team under 14, beginning then his travels outside his native region and the country.
His most important sporting achievements so far have occurred this year, specifically in the summer months, and have been the title of Absolute Champion of Spain, achieved in El Saler, and the triumph in the International of Spain Under 18, in Bonalba, a tournament that brought together teams from Italy, France, England, Italy, Finland, Denmark, etc., and that Angel won both individually and as a team. He has also won the Andalusian Championship Under 25, in Malaga, and the Memorial Norberto Goizueta, which was held at the Real Club de Golf Guadalmina, the club for which he is federated, where he trains and the scene of this interview.
-What goals have you set for yourself in the short term?
-I would like to finish high school with good grades and then go to study at an American university. I have many friends from here, from Guadalmina, who have gone to America and they are doing well. They have always given me very good references from there, they help a lot with sports, and if you go there you perfect the language. There, whether you like it or not, I think there is a better level than here, and that’s why, if you want to rub shoulders with the best, you have to go there.
-And as for golf, do you see yourself having a chance to make a career out of it?
-The truth is that I would like to, at least try. Right now that I’m obviously playing well, even more so, but, well, that’s still a couple of years away, God willing.
-Is the Andalusian Federation supporting you?
-The truth is yes. The Andalusian Federation is doing a very good job and so is the Spanish Federation, taking us to all the tournaments and giving us a lot of support.
-What is your usual training routine here in Guadalmina?
-Mainly I like to go to the driving range first, warm up a bit and hit some balls, although I don’t like to be hitting balls for too long, half an hour or an hour maximum. Then I take a short time, ten or fifteen minutes, and then I spend a lot of time kicking, which I like very much.
-Where do you feel more comfortable with the clubs: on the tee, on the fairway or on the green?
-On the green, without a doubt, with the putt. With the driver I’m doing well, and it’s with the irons where I should improve.
-Do you see yourself in five years in the American Circuit?
-Well, God willing, yes.
-What advice does your father give you?
-What he mainly wants is for me to get my studies: that’s the first thing for him. And if golf comes up, all the better, but first and foremost, my studies.
-What career would you like to pursue?
-I haven’t thought about it yet because I don’t want to get too overwhelmed.
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