If success is difficult to achieve, it is even more difficult to maintain it. It requires a great material and human effort, vision of the future and, above all, not resting on its laurels. Spain’s most renowned and prestigious golf course has not let itself be rocked by the arms of Morpheus, but quite the contrary: it has always been wide awake, aware that excellence is not the result of chance, but the fruit of hard work and well done. It is a Real Club: Valderrama.
The recently completed renovation plan for Valderrama, which began in 2011 and has involved an investment of millions of dollars, is part of this desire to improve. A great project with which the legendary course revalidates its position among the best in the world ranking. From excellence to perfection to remain, for many years to come, the best course in Europe.
Valderrama thus closes a profound process of reforms carried out with the firm intention of its current Board of Directors to continue being a great reference in world golf.
“To maintain our level and prestige, we decided that it was important to make a series of investments and we drew up a detailed plan. All the improvements have served to modernize and perfect the course. We face the coming years with the full guarantee that we offer the highest quality standards,” explains general manager Javier Reviriego.
The course modernization plan has involved an investment of more than three million euros and various aspects of the course have been improved. In all cases, the common objective has been to increase the level of excellence that has made Valderrama famous.
Thus, among the highlights of this important project, Reviriego highlights the renovation of all the bunkers of the course. In this regard, it should be noted that the drainage and construction of each bunker has been improved, and new sand has been incorporated as a result of a demanding selection process.
Irrigation system
Likewise, the irrigation system of the course has been completely renewed. According to the general manager, Valderrama had until now a hydraulic system that was more than thirty years old and caused many problems. With the installation of a modern system, an important step forward in efficiency has been taken, since it will optimize water consumption and energy expenditure.
“The new irrigation system at Valderrama is one of the most advanced in the world. We have software that controls the course’s 3,000 sprinklers and receives information from two weather stations and hundreds of sensors installed around the course. With this system, the club is clearly committed to environmental sustainability. The technology will not only allow us to keep the turf in optimal conditions: we will be able to automatically optimize water consumption according to weather conditions,” says Reviriego.
Tees that make a difference
Another of the highlights of this remodeling has been the reform of all the tees of the course. Without changing their location, they have all been oriented and leveled and a new variety of Agrostis grass has been introduced, identical to the existing grass on the greens. “All the tees have the same constructive and visual quality as our greens. It is a feature of the course that sets us apart, as there are very few in the world with this type of tees,” said Adolfo Ramos, head greenkeeper at Real Club Valderrama.
As for the greens and greens, several have been renovated in order to maintain their purity and prevent the proliferation of varieties such as Poa Annua. The renovation consisted of the removal of the affected grass, the total burning of the contaminated root zone and the laying of new sods with a new sand base.
Investments have also been made that affect the aesthetics and presentation of the course. It is worth mentioning the pruning of the more than 6,500 cork oak trees on the course and the improvements made to the buggy paths. According to Ramos, “the pruning of our grove has been fundamental to improve the quality of the grass in the shady areas; now they receive more light and we can keep them in perfect condition. The visual aesthetics of the cork oaks has also improved notably; they look cleaner and healthier than in previous years.”
Training area
The last part of the modernization plan has been the total renovation of the training areas. A short game area of more than 8,000 square meters has been built in which all types of short shots can be practiced (pitches of up to 70 meters, bunkers, chips, etc.), as it includes two greens and three bunkers. The driving range has also been completely renovated with the construction of new tees and five greens with bunkers at different distances to recreate the conditions of the course during training. Both areas have been designed by the famous American course architect Kyle Phillips.
“We think that the materialization of all the projects has increased the level of the course considerably and that we can compete in quality and maintenance with the best courses in the world. It fills us with satisfaction and we will continue working to be a reference in the sector. We are very fortunate to have Adolfo Ramos, one of the best greenkeepers in the world, and a trained, involved and motivated team that tries to improve every day. Without them and the full support of our Board of Directors, it would be impossible”, concludes Reviriego.
Leave a Reply