Although circumstances and prudence led the organizers of the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España to hold the press conference to present the tournament telematically, the physical distance was neutralized, not only thanks to the computer resources, but also to the closeness and harmony conveyed by the participants in the event. Once again, golf serves to build bridges, strengthen ties between public institutions and private entities and also serve as an ideal springboard to convey to golf fans, whether local or foreign, the benefits of the land that hosts the last round of the Race to Costa del Sol calendar.
“We are presenting this Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España in very exceptional circumstances, as a result of the pandemic we are suffering, but we do it with the same enthusiasm. We still have on our lips the sweetness of the presentation of the Solheim Cup 2023, another of the dreams we have achieved as a result of public-private collaboration and the efforts of all institutions, entities and companies related to the world of golf. And we have to insist on this effort in such an important sector for our tourism industry on the Costa del Sol as golf, fundamental to break the seasonality. There is no other destination with more than 70 golf courses as the Costa del Sol”, referred Francisco Salado, president of the Diputación de Málaga.
“In addition to promoting our golf courses, we are also committed to high-level competitions, such as the Race to Costa del Sol, whose winner will be announced during the tournament. I want to reiterate that we will continue to promote these international competitions because women’s golf has a great impact on important destinations such as the United States, Canada, Asian countries, Germany, France and the United Kingdom.
The potential of this Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España to reinforce the image of the host community served as a common thread for the intervention of Nuria Rodríguez, territorial delegate of the Junta de Andalucía for Tourism, Regeneration, Justice and Local Administration in Málaga.
“Andalusia is synonymous with organizational capacity and this tournament will be a great example as a prelude to the Solheim Cup that we will host in 2023. Here is the largest concentration of golf facilities in continental Europe, a wide range of complementary services and a wide range of accommodation to satisfy all our visitors. This is Andalusia, this is Malaga, this is the Costa del Sol, this is Marbella, this is our traditional land of welcome where golf has become a consolidated segment and a fundamental element to reinforce the diffusion of our tourist brand. I would like to highlight the ability of the organizers to adapt to the new circumstances, demonstrating that large events can be promoted with all the health and safety measures. It will be an excellent opportunity to improve the positioning of the Andalusia brand as a leader in golf and the Costa del Sol as a safe, diverse destination that never disappoints visitors.
For her part, María Ángeles Muñoz, Mayoress of Marbella, reflected on the importance of golf as a generator of wealth for the region and an essential driver of economic recovery.
“The objective is to continue having golf as a necessary ally on the Costa del Sol and, specifically, in Marbella. The fact that we are once again holding an event of this nature, of the category of the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España, proves it. What better way to publicize the importance of a strategic sector such as golf in the economic recovery. I am convinced that the administrations are doing the right thing by putting public resources at the service of golf, which in itself deserves it for being essential in terms of attractiveness and job creation, but of the return that golf reverts in our own municipalities of the Costa del Sol”, recapitulated the mayoress.
For his part, Manuel Cardeña, executive managing director of Acosol, the public company of the Mancomunidad de Municipios de la Costa del Sol Occidental that manages the integral water cycle, wanted to emphasize the important role of golf as a sustainable and environmentally friendly sport.
“To kick off a competition of the highest level as this Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España is a joy and for Acosol even more, since we are the livelihood and the raw material of golf. Doing it in Guadalmina, which is one of the standard bearers of the use of reclaimed water for golf courses and saving water supply, fills us with enthusiasm. From Acosol we will continue to support women’s sports, as it is part of our corporate responsibility. We must all work, with a didactic spirit, to explain how important golf is in our area, the wealth and employment it generates on the Costa del Sol, as 17,000 jobs depend on golf in the province of Malaga. We have to look out that American window through the Solheim Cup, those 26 million players, to try to open that market for the fields of the Costa del Sol, giving a message of sustainability and environmental care, a major attraction for all tourists who visit us, “explained Cardeña.
The head of Spanish golf, Gonzaga Escauriaza, did not want to miss the event and took the opportunity to vindicate the figures of two icons of Spanish women’s golf, Emma Villacieros and Marta Figueras-Dotti.
“I would like to talk about Spanish women’s golf, because it is an example. A third of the players are women. They have won everything possible in Europe, they have won two world championships, and I think it is the result of a lot of work and a lot of people. I would like to mention Emma Villacieros, who was my predecessor and who spent many years as president and was the one who really gave the impetus to women’s golf. And next to Emma, Marta Figueras-Dotti, who has achieved everything: she was a pioneer in winning the British Amateur, she was the first Spanish player to go to the United States to play, she has been captain of the PING Junior Solheim Cup, vice-captain of the Solheim Cup, etc.”, recalled the president of the RFEG.
“We must also thank all the institutions that have made possible the Open de España, the Race to Costa del Sol and, as a final point, the Solheim Cup, with what it represents for Spain. It comes at a time when we need a recovery of tourism, of the economy and this is the perfect moment to put Spain at the forefront as the number one tourist destination. In a study of economic impact that we have carried out together with the Instituto de Empresa and the Spanish Association of Golf Courses, it is indicated that seven out of every eight euros that golf brings as a sector revert in society and not in golf, so we are in a good moment to be an engine for the recovery that Spain needs so much”, Escauriaza concluded.
The president of the Real Club de Golf Guadalmina, Mr. Juan Ramón Martínez Landazábal, thanked the confidence placed in this great club and wanted to address the fans who, because of the covid, will not be able to enjoy the tournament in situ.
“As a club we have brought all our illusion and have presented the course in the best possible conditions for this time of the year. We are sure that the Javier Arana south course, redesigned by the firm Stirling & Martin, as in 2017 will be up to the task and will allow an interesting and attractive game. We would be very excited if one of our players lifted the trophy. With the wish of
that we can count on quality golf, I would like to thank Sport & Business and the Ladies European Tour for the great work they do. To all those fans and members who will not be able to enjoy this sport live, because even though it is one of the safest activities, the influx of public should be restricted by the Covid, I encourage them to support their favorite players from their homes”.
Alicia Garrido, executive director of Deporte & Business (the tournament’s organizing company), emphasized the role of health security in the tournament and the privileged location of the competition as the closing event of the Ladies European Tour’s Race to Costa del Sol.
“I am very happy that this event has gone ahead thanks to the effort and enthusiasm that all the sponsors have contributed. I think this tournament is being a reference not only in Spain but worldwide in terms of security and protocols. I hope that on Sunday we can all celebrate, not only because there is a good winner for the tournament but also because everything went well, all the tests were negative and a good show was offered”, began Garrido.
“It is well known that the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España is the last tournament of the season within the Ladies European Tour and that it doubles its importance compared to previous editions, not only because of the prize money but also because in Guadalmina the winner of the Race to Costa del Sol, sponsored from this year by the Costa del Sol, will be announced. Although the public will not be able to live the tournament, I want to emphasize that we have tried to extend the transmission time and we will have three hours live every day, from Thursday 26 to Sunday 29, in Movistar Golf, Teledeporte and Andalucía TV and, internationally, in a wide range of television channels such as Golf Channel or Sky with a reach of 380 million homes worldwide, “continued Garrido.
“I also wanted to talk about the repercussion that this Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España generates in the area, because as you know this tournament is part of a much larger project, that of the Solheim Cup, which will come to Spain for the first time in history in 2023. Despite the current difficulties, this Spanish Open, which is going to be held in Marbella for five years in a row, generates a direct income of 350,000 euros during this week. We have reopened the Barceló Marbella hotel, which was closed, and thanks to the event all the rooms have been occupied. The event is a very important economic engine because of the income it attracts throughout the week. In addition, I would like to emphasize the great effort made by the Real Club de Golf Guadalmina to host this event. The course is much better than it was three years ago, the maintenance team has done a magnificent job and I would like to thank them for that,” concluded the executive director of Sport & Business.
Pilar de la Huerta, general manager of ARQUIMEA Medical, wanted to review the transcendental role played by her company in assuring the development of the tournament.
“When the pandemic emerged in March of this year, we decided to stop most of the projects we were carrying out and focus on generating resources within the national territory to be able to carry out mass testing and help both private and public healthcare. In these months we have collaborated with public and private healthcare, with companies, and in events like this one with the main objective of providing testing services to different organizations and entities. Thanks to the experience of these months, which has been quite interesting, complex and at the same time relevant, we are today supporting the health security of this tournament. We have two protocols in place, one of maximum security for those people who are inside what we call the “bubble”, which consists mainly of the players and the people who have very close contact with them (through routine PCRs and other measures to ensure that these people have exhaustive control) and a second protocol for everyone else who is participating here, which is not as strict but which serves to ensure the welfare of all. We believe that we have enough experience for everything to go well, but we need to count on the individual collaboration of each one of us here. This is like an orchestra in which we need everyone to play their part responsibly. And in a few days we can be satisfied that everything has been very safe and that there have been no circumstances to regret”, ended Pilar de la Huerta.
The latest news of the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España can be followed on the web openfemenino.com, the Twitter account @Openfemenino, the Instagram account @spanishopen and the Facebook page @openfemenino.
The Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España 2020 will be held on the south course of the Real Club de Golf Guadalmina from November 26 to 29. The tournament, the last event of the Ladies European Tour calendar, has the main sponsorship of Andalucía, Costa del Sol and Acosol, who together with the Marbella Town Hall and the Benahavís Town Hall, as well as the rest of collaborators (ARQUIMEA Medical, Eversheds Sutherland Nicea, Kaudal, Kyocera, Mahou, PING, Audi Safamotor and Solán de Cabras) and organizing entities (Deporte & Business, Ladies European Tour, Real Federación Española de Golf and Real Federación Andaluza de Golf) make this event possible.
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