Andalucía Golf magazine has been able to confirm that the sale of the company that owns the land where the Valderrama golf course is located has finally been signed after months of negotiations. The situation does not change for the golf club since only the ownership of the land has changed from Jaime Ortiz-Patiño to a business group. The Valderrama golf club, owned by four hundred members, has a lease on the course until 2050, so its status quo will not be altered in any way.
Valderrama is considered one of the best courses in the world and has been repeatedly chosen as the best in continental Europe. The work of one of the most prestigious designers, the American Robert Trent Jones senior, Valderrama made history by becoming the first Spanish course and the first outside the British Isles to host the Ryder Cup in Europe, in 1997, which was captained by Seve Ballesteros and won by Europe. It had previously hosted nine Volvo Masters, which continued to be played here, and had earned the recognition of the best players, becoming the number one course on the continent. Valderrama also hosted two American Express World Championships. In 1999 Tiger Woods beat Miguel Angel Jimenez in a duel that lasted until the last hole.
Jaime Ortiz-Patiño acquired the course, then called Las Aves, in 1985. Thanks to him and his great initiative, the Ryder Cup, the AmEx World Championships and the Volvo Masters were won for Spain.
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