The Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España returns to the Real Club de Golf Guadalmina three years after Azahara Muñoz triumphed in the 2017 edition and achieved her second victory in the competition. The southern course, a Javier Arana design remodeled by Stirling & Martin in 2002, is once again offered to the players in perfect condition and with substantial improvements with respect to the already remarkable level of maintenance it offered in its last appointment with the Ladies European Tour.
The San Pedro de Alcántara course inaugurated its first nine holes in 1959 and was extended to 18 holes as early as 1963. Interestingly, the first nine holes designed by Javier Arana are those comprising the stretch from 6 to 14 in the current routing, while for the tournament a novelty is also introduced with respect to the course played by members, as the 11th hole, a beautiful par 3 flanked on the left by the beach, will become the 10th hole. In the illustrious trajectory of Guadalmina, the most important tournaments in the amateur field and a handful of professional tournaments of the highest level, such as the school of the European Tour in 1995 or the aforementioned Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España in 2017.
In this tournament the staging was spectacular, but those responsible for the maintenance of the course, led by the greenkeeper José Luis Prado, have worked together to improve it even more in this edition, played one year after the sixtieth anniversary of the Real Club de Golf Guadalmina.
“There have been quite a few changes and already in 2017 we started several street cleaning programs. We have opted not to reseed and have the bermuda clean. In addition, we have implemented scarifying programs in the streets, we have made recebo and the streets have improved a lot. In addition, we have recently equalized and remodeled the tee platforms, which is also a very positive change with respect to the last edition”, explained Prado.
The south course of the Real Club de Golf Guadalmina offers a relatively uncluttered perspective thanks to the width of its fairways and its few undulations, although over time the lushness of its trees has been adding difficulty. The additional length (5920 meters in total, par 72) that golfers will find, the demanding par 3’s and the rough will serve to add spice to a varied and fun course.
“The course is going to be played a little longer than in 2017 and we will have to see how the weather is. There are forecasts of some rain, although we hope it doesn’t come true, although we have anticipated with a program of infiltrators in all areas of the course to support it well. The course is very comfortable to play walking as there are not many slopes. The rough is a bit more demanding, as there is a lot of kikuyu with a ryegrass reseeding, but it is a comfortable and accessible course”, concluded José Luis Prado, who also wanted to emphasize the good harmony there has been with the Ladies European Tour staff when preparing the setting for the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España.
With 419 bermuda fairways, L93 agrostis greens and bermuda tees with ryegrass reseeding that has been carried out for the tournament to improve its aesthetics, the southern course of Guadalmina will be a magnificent ambassador of Andalusia and the Costa del Sol in the television broadcasts that can be followed from Thursday 26 to Sunday November 29 from 14 to 17 (peninsular time) on Movistar Golf, Teledeporte and Andalucía TV.
The final round of the Race to Costa del Sol, the Ladies European Tour order of merit, could not have a better setting.
News about the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España can be followed on the website openfemenino.com, the Twitter account @Openfemenino, the Instagram account @spanishopen and the Facebook page @openfemenino.
The Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España 2020 will be held at the south course of the Real Club de Golf Guadalmina from the 26th to the 29th of November. The tournament, the last event of the Ladies European Tour calendar, has the main sponsorship of Andalucía, Costa del Sol and Acosol, who together with the Marbella Town Hall and the Benahavís Town Hall, as well as the rest of collaborators (ARQUIMEA Medical, Eversheds Sutherland Nicea, Kaudal, Kyocera, Mahou, PING, Audi Safamotor and Solán de Cabras) and organizing entities (Deporte & Business, Ladies European Tour, Real Federación Española de Golf and Real Federación Andaluza de Golf) make this event possible.
Title Sponsors: Consejería de Turismo, Regeneración, Justicia y Administración Local de la Junta de Andalucía, Turismo y Planificación Costa del Sol, Acosol – Mancomunidad de Municipios de la Costa del Sol Occidental.
Main sponsors: Marbella Town Hall and Benahavís Town Hall.
Institutional sponsors: Real Federación Española de Golf, Real Federación Andaluza de Golf, Real Club de Golf Guadalmina, Consejo Superior de Deportes and Universo Mujer.
Collaborating companies: ARQUIMEA Medical, Eversheds Sutherland Nicea, Kaudal, Kyocera, Mahou, PING, Solán de Cabras and Audi Safamotor.
Promoter: Deporte & Business
.
About the Consejería de Turismo de la Junta de Andalucía
Andalusia is one of the most complete tourist destinations in the world, with a diverse and quality offer that satisfies foreign and domestic tourists alike. In addition, Andalusia is an international reference in golf tourism. Its unbeatable climate allows the practice of this sport during all months of the year in more than a hundred courses located in privileged areas, with landscapes of great beauty or close to paradisiacal beaches.
www.andalucia.org
About Tourism and Planning Costa del Sol
Its more than 70 courses have made the province of Malaga and the Costa del Sol the first destination in Europe as far as golf is concerned, hence it is known as the Costa del Golf. Few places like the Costa del Sol gather in the same destination so many attractions, because the province not only offers a magnificent infrastructure for the practice of this sport, but also a privileged climate that allows the game throughout the year.
www.visitacostadelsol.com
.
About Acosol
Acosol is the public company belonging to the Mancomunidad de Municipios de la Costa del Sol Occidental that manages the integral water cycle, within its geographical scope, as a vital and essential service for the citizens, working to guarantee supply and sanitation. Acosol is committed to the environment, collecting, transporting, treating and regenerating wastewater, thus contributing to the preservation of water resources and leading initiatives at provincial, regional and national level. In addition, Acosol stands out for its work in the irrigation of golf courses through the use of recycled water.
www.acosol.es
About Real Club de Golf Guadalmina
With more than 60 years of history, Guadalmina is one of the flagship clubs of the Costa del Sol and, by extension, of Andalusia and Spain. A breeding ground for great champions, the club stands out for its magnificent facilities, its great social life and the constant renewal of its competition teams, which have produced players of the stature of Azahara Muñoz, Noemí Jiménez, Laura Gómez and Laura Cabanillas. With two 18-hole courses (among which is the south course, designed by Javier Arana, which will host the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España) and an attractive Pitch & Putt, the Real Club de Golf Guadalmina is a regular venue for amateur tournaments of high competition and hosted in September 2017 the Open de España Femenino.
www.guadalmi
nagolf.com
Leave a Reply