Finca Cortesín Hotel, Golf & Spa has received worldwide recognition from the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) after being presented with the 2018 IAGTO Sustainability Award for resource efficiency.
The exclusive resort in Andalusia, Spain, claimed the coveted award for the first time in its flourishing history after receiving special praise from the jury for its commitment to water conservation.
Each year IAGTO, in partnership with the GEO Foundation, celebrates the outstanding sustainability achievements of golf facilities, resorts and destinations around the world. Now in its fifth year, the awards recognize high performance and commitment in three core areas of sustainability: nature, resources and community.
Miguel Girbés, director of golf at Finca Cortesín Hotel, Golf & Spa, has expressed his great satisfaction for the award given to the resort: “It is a great honor for the resort to receive this award and to receive worldwide recognition for our work in environmental conservation. The privileged location of Finca Cortesín allows our guests to enjoy the magnificent natural beauty of the surrounding area and we realize the importance of preserving and enhancing it”.
“Water conservation at golf courses in Spain has never been more important than it is today and the program we have undertaken over the last twelve months will ensure that the resort has a long-term sustainable strategy that will be beneficial to the environment, but also allows us to continue to deliver the luxury experience that guests expect.”
Finca Cortesin undertook a comprehensive upgrade of its eighteen-hole championship course in 2017 that included becoming the first course in Spain to offer a new type of eco-friendly Bermuda grass on all of its putting surfaces. By committing to spearhead the proposal by Ignacio Soto, head greenkeeper at Finca Cortesin, to install an eco-friendly system that would be more cost-effective and sustainable, the resort began a three-year implementation process with Soto testing a different variety of grass on the greens and practice areas.
Having also carried out a major bunker drainage improvement program this summer by rebuilding bunkers using the Better Billy Bunker system, the resort was recognized in particular for its concerted approach to water conservation.
Annually certified to ISO 14001 environmental standards, Finca Cortesin uses 100% recycled water from a nearby village and has managed to reduce its consumption by 40% by changing the grass species on the greens to a warm climate Bermuda Ultra Dwarf grass using sod grown by Novogreen at its Plasencia nursery the project was completed in just one month by also auditing the irrigation structure and installing a state-of-the-art Lynx irrigation system from Toro . And Finca Cortesin’s progressive environmental strategy extends to the trees, shrubs and wildlife that have been allowed to thrive in and around the complex. Understanding the importance of working with nature, the club has devised and is implementing a sustainable program that allows native plant species to survive and flourish in their natural environment, reducing the amount of water and maintenance required, while maintaining the level of presentation expected at one of Europe’s most exclusive golf resorts.Set on a large 532-acre estate, Finca Cortesin’s 18-hole championship course was designed by Cabell Robinson and has hosted numerous high-profile tournaments since opening in 2006, including the Volvo World Match Play Championship in 2009, 2011 and 2012. It is also a member of the exclusive European Tour Properties network.
Set in the hills of southern Spain, between Marbella and Sotogrande, with the Mediterranean on one side and the tranquil Casares Mountains on the other, Finca Cortesin’s other world-class facilities include an elegant 67-suite hotel, Hotel Cortesin, a Jack Nicklaus Golf Academy, a 6,000-square-meter Beach Club and an award-winning spa with Spain’s only snow cave, featuring bespoke treatments from French beauty brand Boilogique Recherche.
Hotel Cortesin offers a choice of four restaurants, including Lutz’s Garden, which serves authentic Spanish cuisine, and the Michelin-starred Kabuki Raw Japanese restaurant. The development also features an exclusive collection of villas that are available for purchase or rent.
About Finca Cortesín
Finca Cortesin is an independent luxury golf resort, hotel and spa located in the hills of southern Spain, between Marbella and Sotogrande. Overlooking the Mediterranean on one side and the tranquil Casares Mountains on the other, Finca Cortesin was designed in the style of a traditional Spanish ‘finca’.
Opened in March 2006 and set on 532 acres, the exclusive Andalusian development is a member of the exclusive European Tour Properties network. Its world-class facilities include an elegant 67-suite hotel, the Hotel Cortesin, a magnificent 18-hole championship golf course with state-of-the-art Jack Nicklaus Golf Academy, a 6,000 m2 Beach Club and an award-winning spa offering Spaniards a unique snow cave, with bespoke treatments from French beauty brand Boilogique Recherche.
Hotel Cortesin offers a choice of four restaurants, including the Lutz Garden, which serves authentic Spanish cuisine, and the Michelin-starred Kabuki Raw Japanese restaurant. The development also features an exclusive collection of villas that are available for purchase or rent.
Surrounding the hotel is the acclaimed 18-hole championship golf course designed by famed architect Cabell Robinson. The par 72 course, one of the longest in Europe and measuring nearly 7,500 yards long, received worldwide recognition when it was awarded the honor of hosting the Volvo World Match Championship in 2009, 2011 and 2012, with the star-studded lineup including Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald.
For more information about Finca Cortesin Hotel, Golf & Spa, please visit www.fincacortesin.com.
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