If the ‘classic’ Old Course at San Roque Club was already one of the great courses in Spain, with the in-depth renovation it has undergone, Dave Thomas’ layout has reached excellence. Gonzalo Sanchez, one of the two official pros who teach at the prestigious Costa del Sol club (the other is Mark Emery), gives us the keys to play the Old Course with greater chances of success.
Conzalo turned professional at the age of 19, and since then has dedicated his career to the world of golf, and is currently trying to become one of the best coaches in this country. He completed his studies and his master’s degree in the United States. He has also worked at some of the best golf courses in the world including TPC Sawgrass (Florida), Vaderrama and now The San Roque Club.
Gonzalo has been an authorized Stack and Tilt instructor for 8 years and helps golfers of all levels to better understand the game and improve their swing technique. Gonzalo says “I am very fortunate to work at The San Roque Club, although I have worked at the best golf courses in the world, where I feel at home, it is here at San Roque, I couldn’t be happier”.
Getting into the subject, he says the following about the Old Course: “As a player I find this course exceptionally fun, it is also true that I find it easy, being a professional player, there are not many places where you can get into trouble. That was exactly our president’s goal, to make a fun and affordable golf course for all handicaps, and he has clearly achieved that. All the feedback from customers who play is exceptional, everyone loves playing The San Roque Club’s Old Course.”
On his preferences, he says: “My favorite hole visually is the 12th, par 3, and the second shot of hole 2: I think they are very beautiful and very successful. And technically the 8th hole is my favorite, a par 5 with the most difficult green on the course, without a doubt”.
“For example,” he continues, “the 8th hole is a par 5 that, although with my distance I could reach 2 without problems, it seems too risky, so what I always do is make a lay-up and try to leave it close with the chip to get the birdie. Incredibly, I have always achieved a better result if I go from 3 to green than if I try to go from 2”.
Gonzalo also mentions the 4th, a par 4 with a pronounced dog-leg to the left, with a long out of bounds and problems on the left. “That’s why,” he says, “whenever I play that hole I always try to do the following: driver to the fairway at 80% to avoid crossing the fairway, second shot usually with a 9 or pitching wedge to the left side of the green, since everything rolls to the right”.
Leave a Reply