Residents of Guadiaro – located in San Roque municipality, also home to the Sotogrande macro-urbanisation – had a dream which became a happy reality in 1982, when the first public (or municipal) golf course in Spain was inaugurated. And it was not just any course, but a top-category one, having been designed by one of the most famous golf architects in history: Robert Trent Jones.
Thanks to the selfless support of Jaime Ortiz-Patiño, demiurge of Valderrama, the same designer responsible for the internationally acclaimed neighbouring courses of Royal Valderrama and Royal Sotogrande designed an extraordinary nine-hole layout on a plot in the upper part of Guadiaro. in 1995, a further nine holes were added, the work of another prestigious designer, former Ryder Cup player Dave Thomas; and in 2002 the magnificent clubhouse was inaugurated.
One reason why Guadiaro so keenly longed for a course of its own was because there was great interest in the sport, with many local residents working at nearby golf clubs and a handful having learned to play as caddies.
The La Cañada course is a par-71 of 5,841 metres from the white markers, with the front nine designed by Dave Thomas and the second nine by Robert Trent Jones. The course offers a good balance between its two layouts, according to club general manager Ignacio Sánchez Montes. The first nine is "very complete, very entertaining, very friendly, but somewhat easier than the second nine holes, which are much wider, developed in the old style, with elevated greens, not very large...
"Two different layouts can be played on a single course," he continues, "and it leaves you with a pleasant taste in your mouth because the second nine are spectacular... the par-three 17th with a lake in front is extremely attractive, but the finale on the 18th, with the challenge of hitting over the gorge that gives the club its name, is fantastic.
"And considering the huge movement of players around the course," he adds, "the course actually remains in very good condition.".
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70,000 Annual Rounds
The club comprises 1,000 members, 300 spouses and 400 members’ children, plus the possibility of having an annual season ticket (there are more than 300 at present). Bearing in mind this volume of members and ticket-holders, and great demand by visitors to play the course, it is not surprising that La Cañada caters for about 70,000 rounds a year, one of the highest totals among 18-hole courses. "Perhaps on the mainland we have more rounds than any other course," says Sánchez Montes.
These high occupancy figures, and the fact that it is a members club open to visitors, requires arduous organisational support. "Sometimes it is difficult to find a balance between one and another, but in the end the objectives are achieved," he says. "There's really no low season here; it's either high season or less-high season, because we're talking about 200 daily rounds on average, and there are times in summer when we surpass 300 rounds on numerous occasions."
Top Professionals
Numerous leading professionals have come from Guadiaro, many of whom have learned the game or practised at La Cañada. There is special affection for Juan Quirós, among other reasons because he was one of the pioneers who gave an impetus to the club’s creation. Álvaro Quirós, Mario Galiano and María Parra are other prominent golfers who have forged their game at this course, located at the eastern end of Cadiz province.
Model Academy
La Cañada is a model example of modern golf teaching, with its municipal golf academy considered a national benchmark in this regard. Currently it has more than 270 children and there is a waiting list to join the children’s school. The club also has an academy for disabled golfers, with more than a hundred students.
"The passion for golf in this area is amazing,” says Sanchez Montes. “Children here learn to play golf before playing football, and we fully encourage them because they are the future of this sport."
High-Performance Centre
The High-Performance Centre is another outstanding feature of La Cañada. The project dates to eight years ago, when it was launched at the instigation of club president Ángel Gutiérrez. However, it was not until the last quarter of 2018, coinciding with Sánchez Montes’s arrival as club general manager, when it finally came to fruition and funds were allocated for its completion thanks to an agreement between San Roque town hall and the Spanish and Andalusian golf federations.
There is only one similar centre in the whole of Spain, in Madrid, and the Guadiario operation will be dedicated to advanced technical coaching for students of the municipal golf academy. Work is due to start soon and it is expected to be finished and operational this year.
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Flagship Course
"Everyone here feels at home, says the club director," because ultimately La Cañada is everybody's club as it brings together committee members and managers from other clubs, who are members here, as well as employees of other golf courses, who are also members, the local population and holidaymakers... We are the flagship course in the area despite not enjoying the renown of such neighbours as Royal Sotogrande and Royal Valderrama. Foreigners are keen to visit, not only for the economic aspect, since our prices are considerably lower than others, but also because we offer great quality and everyone wants to get to know our course.
One other advantage of the course, he says, is that while other courses in the area are forced to close when there are extremely adverse weather conditions, La Cañada remains open "thanks to the way it was built".
