“WHEN GOLFERS VISIT THE COSTA DEL SOL IT IS DIFFICULT FOR THEM NOT TO REPEAT”.
He is, above all, passionate about golf, more than a sport, a philosophy of life that has permeated for many years the existence of this veterinarian who decided to study a Master in Business Management in order to manage a golf course that had been built by a company owned by his family. More than two decades have passed since then and he is still as enthusiastic about golf as the first day.
-Without second thoughts, have your veterinary studies helped you when it comes to managing a golf club?
-In this life everything adds up, and knowledge, experiences, etc., are your business card. This does not mean that there is only one way, but quite the opposite: to will is to be able to.
-Baviera Golf is located near the border between the provinces of Malaga and Granada. What are the advantages of being the easternmost course on the Costa del Sol?
-Well, not so close to Granada, we are just 15 minutes from Malaga, but in the eastern area, which marks its subtropical climate; hence the Axarquia is the queen of fruits such as mango and avocado thanks to a climate without temperature variations and sweetened by the Mediterranean. By the way, the sea is only 500 meters away from our golf course, and the direct entrance of the highway (exit 274) makes it easier to reach our resort.
-What are usually the best memories of a golfer when he finishes his round on this course?
-We have satisfaction surveys that we carry out periodically to know the feedback from our customers and thus improve our services according to their demands. With this we are in a continuous evaluation and that is why our customers enjoy the design, the maintenance conditions, the movements of the greens and the end in our magnificent terrace with an unbeatable restoration.
Apart from an 18-hole course, what other facilities and services does your club have?
-We have a subway parking lot and another in height with capacity for 200 vehicles, nursery, gym, sauna, jacuzzi, pro-shop of more than 100 square meters, restaurant with a great chef, two driving ranges (with night lighting), two professionals and above all a first class team.
-According to many managers of golf clubs in Costa del Sol, the courses in the area recorded significant increases in occupancy last year and even better results are expected for this year. Can we consider the crisis to have been overcome on the Costa del Golf?
-That would be going out on a limb. It is true that there are signs and some improvement over previous records and balances, but the VAT increase from 8% to 21% ate up our commercial margin in one fell swoop, which, together with those critical years, has caused an ordeal for all golf courses, which we are still recovering, although it is true that the day-to-day and the forecasts indicate an improvement year by year and month by month.
-Could any positive lessons for golf be drawn from this long period of crisis?
-We always have to take the positive out of management, we learn from downturns, but we improve our services, adjust our profit and loss accounts…. In short, we get out of crises, although with a lot of effort and trying not to neglect our offers and customer satisfaction.
-You have extensive experience in dealing with golf tourists. What are the main motivations for golfers to choose one golf destination over another?
-But what we do have in the Costa del Sol that differentiates us from other alternatives is, among other things, our climate (fundamental to choose this destination), as well as communications (the airport, the AVE and the network of highways), restaurants and hotels (the best in quality / price in Europe), alternative offers that complement the golf sector.
-On what pillars do you think the promotion of a leading golf tourism destination such as the Costa del Sol should be based?
-In continuing to bet on building loyalty with our British, German and Nordic customers, continuing with the emerging ones, who are gradually improving their share in our area, and not forgetting the communities that love to “come down” to enjoy our fish plus sun plus golf, such as Madrid, Catalonia, the Basque Country, etc., which we have here and when they visit us it is difficult for them not to repeat.
-In your role as provincial delegate of Malaga and assistant to the President of the RFGA, what role does the Andalusian Golf Federation play in the development of this sport in the region?
-Mainly to promote the sport in all its categories, to make it known and go where we are demanded, support tournaments, advice they need, in short, listen to concerns of our players and even visitors and move forward so that this segment of golf that both deseasonalizes our supply of sun and beach continues to bring wealth throughout the Andalusian community. And on the other hand, go to represent the Federation wherever they demand it and the president deems appropriate.
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