The 14th edition of the SAN MIGUEL ANDALUCÍA GOLF CHALLENGE-Dominican Republic by Globalia Circuit could not have started in a grander setting, Finca Cortesín – nor with better weather conditions.
With perfect temperatures, a light breeze, a radiant sun, spectacular greens in perfect condition (very fast and with unbeatable ball rolling quality), the tournament participants were able to enjoy an exceptional day of golf on a fantastic course that has hosted the Solheim Cup and three editions of the World Match Play Championship.
Players from all over Andalucía and other Spanish regions teed up in the 2024 Circuit’s inaugural competition. In addition to Spaniards, there were players of several other nationalities, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Luxembourg, Belgium, Russia, Ireland, Norway and Austria.
(PHOTO GALLERY AT THE END OF THIS TOURNAMENT REPORT)
After the golf, a spectacular cocktail reception was held in the gardens attached to the driving range and the Finca Cortesín clubhouse. The collaboration by the entire golf club team, led by Ignacio Olea, was excellent, with a special mention for Antonio Aguilar.
Prizes for the leading players included premium-branded clothing from the Puerto Banús boutique Fairway+Blue, magnums of wine from Bodegas Marqués de Terán (Rioja D.O.), and dozens of Bridgestone balls.
Player services at Finca Cortesín are surely the best that can be enjoyed on the Costa del Sol. A member of the team receives the players in the parking lot and takes their clubs to place them in a personalised buggy that is left next to the driving range, where balls (courtesy of the club) are perfectly stacked in pyramids. Once on the golf course, players are treated to a hot broth during the round. These are first-class details that certainly make a difference.
As for the competition itself, the winners were Alan Fordyce (scratch), Rob McGovern (category one) and Eva Lindblom (category category). In addition to prizes and gifts for the winners and top finishers, there was a gifts raffle and a special prize for nearest the pin sponsored by Restaurante Tragabuches, part of the Dani García Group. The raffle included a painting by Alejandro Hermann, a renowned artist who is based at a studio and art gallery in Marbella. The lucky winner of both the nearest the pin prize and the painting by Alejandro Hermann was José Bernal de la Rosa.
The Finca Cortesín event was the first of a total of 25 tournaments that make up the 14th edition of this popular open amateur circuit organised by Andalucía Golf/España Golf magazine. The circuit will cover all of the Andalucian provinces, as well as Madrid and Mallorca, with most of the legs being played on the Costa del Sol at top-level courses.
The circuit’s grand finale, which will decide the five winners of trips to the Dominican Caribbean, will be played on 21 September and will be followed by a gala dinner at the Gran Hotel Guadalpín Banús in Marbella.
Access to the final will be direct for the winner of each category and the scratch winner in each tournament leg, while the remaining places will be awarded according to a ranking based on points obtained in each event.
The next leg of the Circuit is on Saturday 2 March at La Monacilla (designed by José María Olazábal) in Huelva province.
TRIP TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
The grand finale of the circuit will decide the winners of five one-week trips, with flights, all-inclusive accommodation at the five-star Sunscape Dominicus La Romana hotel and golf at the spectacular Teeth of the Dog, Punta Espada, Dye Fore and PGA Ocean’s 4. The final will be played on 21 September and will be followed by a gala dinner at the Gran Hotel Guadalpín Banús*****.
PLANNED DATE FOR THE TRIP
30 October to 6 November 2024
PRIZES INCLUDE:
Flights from Málaga or Madrid to Santo Domingo (round trip)
Transfers between the airport and hotel
All-inclusive accommodation at the five-star Sunscape Dominicus La Romana hotel
Golf at Teeth of the Dog, Punta Espada, Dye Fore and PGA Ocean's 4.
El Circuito está patrocinado por CERVEZAS SAN MIGUEL, SOLÁN DE CABRAS, GLOBALIA, AIR EUROPA, TURISMO COSTA DEL SOL, MANCOMUNIDAD DE MUNICIPIOS DE LA COSTA DEL SOL OCCIDENTAL y GRUPO 1941.
Los principales colaboradores son Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, Sunscape Dominicus La Romana, Gran Hotel Guadalpín Banús, Bodegas Marqués de Terán, inversionesparavagos.com, Fairway+blue, Holiday Golf Estates, Ayuntamiento de Marbella y Ayuntamiento de Benahavís. La Cadena SER y la revista Andalucía Golf/España Golf son los medios oficiales del Circuito.