There is a Parkland Forest course on the Costa del Sol that stands out for the beautiful natural environment that frames it, a lush forest of long-lived Canary Island pines of stately bearing located just a few hundred meters from the sea, whose waters can be seen from several of its holes. Chaparral Golf Club, in the municipality of Mijas, is certainly a unique course in the varied and wide range of golf courses on the Costa del Sol.
Coinciding with the Day of Andalusia, on February 28, the club celebrated the fifteenth anniversary of its reopening (it was inaugurated three decades ago). It was on that date in 2006 when the Rubio family proceeded to cut the ceremonial ribbon that inaugurated Chaparral’s new life.
The president of the club, the successful businessman Antonio Rubio, was the architect of the recovery of this natural jewel that had been closed for several years for various reasons. To do so, he had the invaluable help of the prestigious Malaga designer Pepe Gancedo, known as the Picasso of Golf, who did -again- an extraordinary job to give the course the very special essence it has today. Those changes breathed a new and splendid life into Chaparral. Gancedo’s work shows great respect for the landscape and the environment, making the most of the natural shape of the course in the design of each hole.
The road to achieve the current success has been marked by great efforts in every sense, both physical and economic, as over the years there have been various upgrades and investments to improve the facilities to meet the needs and demands of all golfers who visit Chaparral Golf.
To commemorate the fifteen years of the club’s new phase, a series of actions and events will be held beginning in March and continuing throughout 2021 for members, visitors, collaborators and friends of the club.
The managing director of Chaparral Golf Club, Domingo Gavira, summarizes the current and future moment of the complex. “Since 2019 and up to the present day,” he explains, “we have carried out actions and work to improve and condition the course, improving its playability and accessibility for players, all the bunkers have been refurbished, buggy paths have been reconditioned, new tees have been built and cleaning and clearing work has been carried out on the course along with a new maintenance program for our greens.”
He recognizes that “it has not been easy all this way and the world pandemic situation for Covid has slowed down the pace of work, but, regarding the immediate future, during the year 2021 and 2022 we have an ambitious project where the development of the new urban complex will improve our roads and access to the club, lighting, parking areas, playgrounds, greenways and the projection of a new Country Club Social”.
“What we are looking for with this,” explains the director of Chaparral Golf Club, “is to offer greater services not only to our members and visitors, but also to the residents of the area. Thus, in addition to golf, they will be able to enjoy facilities such as paddle and tennis courts, indoor swimming pool and gymnasium”.
The objective is to generate a great social environment that satisfies not only golf players but also those who do not practice this sport but like a lifestyle in contact with nature and the practice of sports.
Regarding the golf course itself, Gavira emphasizes the great scenic beauty of the course, the spectacular and lush forest that surrounds it, the sea views from some of its holes and the great variety among its holes, which makes it necessary to hit all kinds of shots during the course.
“Chaparral Golf is a Parkland Forest course where players will discover a unique course to enjoy an extraordinary golfing experience, with a wide variety of holes suitable for all types of players,” concludes the director of the Costa del Sol club.
GOLF PICASSO MASTERPIECE
There are very few courses that can boast of being the work of none other than the man known as the Picasso of Golf, Pepe Gancedo, and Chaparral is one of them.
Born in Malaga in 1938 and died in 2016, Gancedo began playing golf at at the age of 12, becoming a national figure in the sport.
Among his triumphs stand out the six Spanish Absolute Amateur Championships between 1966 and 1976. Another six runner-ups between 1959 and 1977, two International Amateur Championships of Spain, in 1968 and 1969, and three second places in this same trophy, in 1963, 1972 and 1976.
He was awarded the RFEG’s Medal of Merit in Golf, the first Medal of Merit granted by the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, in recognition of his sporting career and his love for this sport and the values linked to it.
Gancedo’s true passion, beyond his sports career, was golf course design.
He was considered one of the most creative Spanish designers, a genius who not only designed on paper, but created his golf courses inspired by the natural shape of the terrain.
Throughout the design process he carried his golf club bag with him, modeling each hole down to the smallest detail.
He always defended the theory that when designing a course you had to feel it, and that is why all his golf courses (about twenty) have a great personality. He is considered by many experts as one of the most emblematic international golf designers of the 20th century.
Thanks to its expertise, Chaparral has the honor of having spectacular 18 holes, a demanding, unique and integrated course in the middle of nature.
Leave a Reply