“Semper paratus” is the Latin motto of a number of organizations around the world (for example, the U.S. Coast Guard) and could also apply to La Reserva Club, the course that will host the La Reserva de Sotogrande Invitational from May 16 to 19. Its translation, simple and forceful: “always prepared”.
The spectacular work of the maintenance team makes this design of the American Cabell B. Robinson offers an impeccable presentation the twelve months of the year and is now ready to host the first of the three Ladies European Tour events to be held during 2019 in our country. The participants in La Reserva de Sotogrande Invitational (and the lucky players of the pro-am) will be able to see first hand the care with which this course is taken between the Mediterranean and the surrounding hillsides, highlighted by the prestigious magazine Golf World as the ninth best course in Spain and an essential reference.
“This is a course that is prepared to host any competition all year round, because it is always at the highest level. Three years ago, with the NH Collection Open of the European Tour, we prepared the tournament with six weeks without any problem and we won’t have to make a big effort to bring it up to date,” explains José María Menacho, head greenkeeper at La Reserva Club. “We want to present the best face of the course. We have the course, we have the design, we have the maintenance and we want to present it all in a spectacular way. To do that, we need to put a lot of effort into the manicure”.
La Reserva Club de Sotogrande is one of the most luxurious developments in Spain and Europe. Exclusivity, attention to detail, first class design and exquisite attention to detail are indispensable ingredients, but we leave it to José María Menacho to highlight the most striking features of Cabell B. Robinson’s spectacular design:
“Among the many highlights of La Reserva Club are its large agrostis greens, with an average of about 700m2 and a lot of movement. We usually have them at a speed of 10.5 feet.” describes Menacho. “The fairways are also wide, the course is undulating and the bermudagrass rough will be presented high. It’s a long course, but its appeal will satisfy all types of players.”
In addition to the length and the complications posed by the greens, one of the main rivals for the players will be the influence of the air.
“In the Sotogrande area we have two predominant winds: east and west. The westerly tends to make the greens harder and faster, and the easterly is more humid. In any case, if they blow strongly, they will intervene in most of the holes,” Menacho concludes.
It is difficult to highlight holes in such a balanced and varied course, but we cannot fail to mention the challenge posed by hole 8, handicap 1 of the course and with a pronounced dogleg bordered by a large lake on its right flank; the beauty of two par 3s, 15 and 17, well guarded by bunkers and water hazards; or the demanding finish posed by the shot to the elevated green of hole 18.
A traditional venue for top amateur tournaments and venue of the NH Collection Open of the European Tour or The Gecko Masters, final of the Gecko Tour, La Reserva Club debuts in the women’s professional field and becomes the first course in Sotogrande to host a Ladies European Tour tournament. La Reserva de Sotogrande Invitational, sponsored by La Reserva de Sotogrande and organized by Deporte & Business, will have 126 players on the roster (ten of them invited) and a prize purse of 300,000 €.
The entrance to the tournament is completely free, but those who can not come to the Sotogrande course will be able to enjoy a complete television coverage and follow all the news of the tournament at
www.lareservadesotograndeinvitational.com.
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