“OUR CLUB IS ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE IN SPAIN”

From a young age Marcos Lería was very clear what he wanted to be when older: a golf club manager. Currently the manager of Escorpión Golf Club in Valencia, he knew this from the moment he turned 16, and one decade later – after graduating in economic sciences and many hours dedicated to the golf industry in different areas – he realised his dream.

He began his professional career as manager of Club de Campo y Deportivo de Córdoba,, better known at the time as Los Villares Golf Club. Two years later he arrived at Playa Serena, the golf club where he had spent his whole life. He spent three years there, combining his job with various positions in the Royal Andalucía Golf Federation, on the promotion, marketing and professionals committees.

In 1999, Altorreal was his next professional challenge, for a year, and in 2000 he was named general manager at La Quinta Golf, a position he held for eight years. He also had the good fortune to run a nine-hole course for several months in 2010. This enabled him to expand his experience in the sector, having managed social clubs, golf resorts, mixed courses and golf academies, of nine, 18 and 27 holes. Since 2010 he has been manager at Escorpión Golf Club.

- Escorpión is probably one of the most attractive golf clubs in Spain. Can you tell us why, from you point of view?

- It is the well-established standard-bearer among golf courses in Valencia, created by and for members, and that’s probably its greatest attraction. Its well maintained amenities, and the luxury of being able to enjoy open space everywhere, its elegant clubhouse and the state of the course… these are other aspects that are also highly valued. I believe that, yes, our club is one of the most attractive in Spain.

- With 27 holes and three very different layouts, the course offers many options. How would you describe each of these layouts?

- The Masía layout, closest to the clubhouse, has a flat topography, with nine very comfortable holes. This makes them the most popular and at the same time the most fun to play, as there are seven doglegs with numerous strategic options. The Lagos layout features water hazards on five holes, in some cases quite threatening, including the “demoni”, a 169-metre par-3, where making par feels like a birdie. However, the fairways are wide, although bordered by forests, and the greens are more undulating than those on the Masía. Built in 2000, the Nuevos layout has a more sloping topography, with larger and more undulating greens, and also wide fairways, although longer than the traditional 18 holes – which makes this the most challenging layout of the three.

The course is surrounded and protected by a dense forest area, which encourages the presence of several animals. The squirrels are the main stars, and there are also rabbits, ducks, magpies and parrots. In addition, we have nine short holes built in 2005, highlighted by their beauty, design and challenging layout, with small, extremely undulating and well protected greens. The course can be used for par-three or pitch and putt competitions.

- Many high-level competitions have been held at your course. What are the main ones you would highlight?

- With the original design by Ron Kirby, the course hosted the Spanish Professionals Championship (1976), Spanish Open (1980) and Turespaña Open Mediterranea (1995); and following its enlargement, also for professionals, it has been the venue for four editions of the Peugeot Tour (2008-2011) and the final of the Banesto Tour in 2012. In the amateur sphere… several Spanish championships in all categories. In a few days we host the Spanish championships for the “benjamín” and “alevín” junior age groups, and in 2016 we will be the venue for the Queen’s Cup.

- What reasons would you give Spanish golfers and others from the rest of Europe to come and play at your club?

- The Escorpión perfectly rounds out the golfing amenities in Valencia, on a 100-metre plot with 27 holes and nine short holes where golfers can enjoy much more than just a round of golf: numerous areas and spaces for peace and tranquillity in the midst of nature, combined with exceptional cuisine following the addition in 2013 of the Genuí Golf Escorpión Restaurant.

 

And all of that embellished with a clear commitment to looking after the needs of our members, with the objective, where possible, of exceeding their expectations. This is an industry – leisure – with increasing demands, and that means we have to constantly update our management and never lose touch with what is happening “outside”.

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