He was born in Valencia, but it is where he has lived the least time, since he was 8 years old and for family reasons he lived in different parts of Spain and then lived five years in the United States, where he studied high school and Business Management and Administration, with a specialty of the American PGA of Professional Golf Management.
Although he had job options to stay there, he decided to return to Spain and started working at a members’ club near Barcelona, then called Masia Bach and now Club de Golf Barcelona. He then spent almost five years at Golf Bonmont in Tarragona.
He then had the opportunity to go to Portugal to work at the Westin Campo Real Golf Real in Lisbon. Shortly after, he was hired by the PGA Catalunya Resort on the Costa Brava, where he stayed for eight years, first managing the golf course and for the last year as director of operations for the entire resort. Two years ago, he completed a master’s degree in Management Development at the IESE Business School of the University of Navarra, and just over a month ago he completed a master’s degree in Hotel Management at Cornell University in the United States.
After his interesting career, he now lands, after his time at the PGA Catalunya, in another of the great golf courses and resorts in Spain and Europe.
What are your short-term objectives as Finca Cortesín’s Golf Director?
-After eight years at PGA, which has been a great stage for me and where we have done many important things, I needed a change and the opportunity arose to come to Finca Cortesín, and the truth is that it is an almost unique resort in Spain, I would say. My objective is to promote and sell this product, which is different from PGA. For this year we have different actions planned at Finca Cortesín, and one of them is that we are going to improve the greens and become the first course in Spain with bermuda greens. It is a challenge at a technical level and also in terms of communication, so that people understand that this is a change that will improve the condition of the greens and know that there is an environmental benefit because these greens require less water.
-What are the virtues of Finca Cortesín compared to other golf courses and resorts?
As far as golf is concerned, our greatest strength is, in addition to the quality of the course, the five-star service provided to the client. I think it is a unique service in Spain and I would say almost in Europe as far as resorts are concerned. And then there is also the design and the level of maintenance of the course. And all this is what differentiates Finca Cortesin from the rest. We also have one of the best hotels in Europe, which is fantastic, and in the end the overall service that is given constantly in the resort, both in the hotel, in the golf course and in the residential part, has a five-star level.
-When will the reform of the greens be undertaken and how long will the work take?
-It is going to be done in July. We will close the course for a month, all 18 greens will be done at the same time and we will reopen the course in August.
-Where does your love of golf come from?
-It’s funny because nobody in my family plays golf. I went to do two years of high school in the United States and the family I lived with played golf, the son was preparing to be a superintendent, greenkeeper, and I started to hook up with them there.
-How often do you play golf?
-I play much less than I would like to, like all of us who do this.
-What is your handicap?
-It is 8 and frozen, because I play a lot for work, business golf, as I call it, with journalists, tour operators, clients, but playing for pleasure, unfortunately, less and less.
-You have worked in destinations that compete with this one, what do you think of the Costa del Sol?
-The Costa del Sol is a reference destination. When I have been trying to promote other areas for my work, I was always told: “No, we are going to the Costa del Sol”. I think it is a fantastic destination not only because of the quantity and quality of golf courses, but also because of the climate, the gastronomy and many other attractions.
-Finca Cortesin has hosted three World Match Play Championships. Will we enjoy again a great international tournament in this course?
-Finca Cortesín is always working on big projects and big challenges: we do not rule anything out.
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