Bring Your Game To Spain
Overlooking The Verdant Hills Of Spain Lisa 'Longball' Launches One At The Finca Cortesin Golf Club - Image Credit Anton Vlooswyk
by Lisa 'Longball' Vlooswyk
As a passionate golfer I have made the heralded pilgrimages to Scotland and Ireland. They are 'must visit' destinations that expose you to some of the world’s greatest courses, but what next?
After you have walked over the Swilcan Bridge at St. Andrews and hit your approach shot on the 9th hole at Royal County Down, then where do you go?
I say Spain.
Spain has a rich and vibrant culture; it is known for its delicious tapas, abundance of world class wineries and they boast beautiful warm sunny days with a tropical feel. Beats wearing rain and wind gear in July in the UK.
I flew into Barcelona, now one of my new favorite cities. It is alive. A mix of historical and modern day architecture, this coastal city perched on the Mediterranean Sea offers tourists a candy store of attractions.
Everything from museums, high end fashion districts, Olympic venues from the 1992 Summer Games, parks, Cathedrals and let’s not forget sporting events. This city is passionate about sports.
During a football game (soccer for my North American brethren) cafes on quaint side streets are brimming with soccer enthusiasts crowded around a small television set cheering as if their mother’s life depended on the outcome.
I had to see it live. I got tickets to see FC Barcelona in their home stadium Camp Nou. It is the largest arena in Europe with a seating capacity of just under 100,000 people. It was electric.
image credit anton vlooswyk
A Newly Minted 'Barca' Fan Is Spotted Amongst The Crowd At Camp Nou, Home Of FC Barcelona
Seeing soccer legend Lionel Messi in person score a goal and chanting and singing Barca traditional songs with my “fellow” Spaniards in the stands was truly an unforgettable experience.
As for golf, there are so many amazing golf regions in Spain. I selected the region of Costa del Sol in southern Spain, the home of the Ryder Cup venue and top 50 in the world golf course, Real Club Valderrama.
I arrived in the delightful city of Malaga, birth place of famed artist Pablo Picasso. It is a Mediterranean port city that has gone through a major facelift the last few years and has been nominated for the 2016 European Capital of Culture.
image credit lisa vlooswyk
A Roman Amphitheatre Is A Reminder Of The Rich History To Be Experienced In The Spanish City Of Malaga
The heart of the city is highlighted by a marble paved pedestrian street. Must sees are the Moorish castle, Alcazaba palace, Roman amphitheatre, Picasso museum and the unfinished Cathedral of Malaga, all of which can be done in one whirlwind day.
The next day it was off down the Costa del Sol to the Suites at San Roque Club, the official home of the Ryder Cup in 1997 with both the European and American teams taking residence there.
Each room that hosted a player has the player’s name on the outside of the front door. I found myself running from building to building like a kid looking to see where Tiger Woods, Seve Ballesteros, Tom Kite and Nick Faldo all stayed. 
The property is built in the charming Andalucian style and boasts 100 rooms consisting of 50 bungalows that are suite style with large bedrooms that have a patio exit, living room and full kitchen, perfect for an extended golf holiday.
The resort is surrounded by quaint paths and gardens and the highlight is the stunning outdoor pool peppered with palm trees that has a swim-up bar.
The resort also boasts two championship golf courses on site at the San Roque Club, 'The Old' and 'The New', both having previously hosted the Spanish Open.
The Old course, designed by Dave Thomas, often ranks in the top 5 in Spain. It opened in 1991 and the bunkers were later redesigned by popular Spaniard Seve Ballesteros.
The front nine winds through Cork Oaks while the back nine features several water hazards. It makes for a great day of golf.
The New Course was designed by the son of Pete Dye, Perry Dye, along with Ballesteros. It saw its first tee shot in 2003 and has quickly become a favourite amongst golfers.
Many typical Dye features are evident such as big, steep bunkering, large greens and the use of railway ties. I loved stepping back to “Seve’s Tee” on the beautiful 4th hole par 3 .
Another track close by, is La Reserva. It is an 18-hole course designed by Cabell Robinson.
There are 5 tee boxes on every hole making it a fair and challenging test of golf for any level of player. My favorite hole was the uphill 18th leading back to the grand-style clubhouse.
Santiago Luna, a four-time Spanish national champion and a twenty-year veteran of the European golf circuit said about La Reserva, “This is a course where you will use every club in your bag.
It is very fun and offers the option of making it easy or difficult. It is a very large course, with ample but perfectly shaped fairways and greens.”
After golf it was time to explore. I took a side trip to the Rock of Gibraltar. It is a British Overseas Territory that is only 6 km long and is 426 m high.
My husband and I parked the car on the street and with passport in hand walked across the border, through security, as we were entering another country.
There is a small airport and it is like a time warp of British history. You go from tapas and wine on the Spanish side, to fish & chips and pints in a pub on “the Rock”.
The Cable Car is a must do to see the expansive views of the coast, marinas and where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. It is truly breathtaking.
Be aware of the “locals”, a groupof 300 Barbary macaques (monkeys)that are curious and playful and roam on the mountainside.
Gibraltar continues to draw millions of tourists and even celebrity weddings such as John Lennon and Yoko Ono and Sir Sean Connery.
Next on the golf list was the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande (RSGC) and Finca Cortesin.
Sotogrande is the first golf course famed architect Robert Trent Jones designed in Europe and he has called it one of his 5 favourite golf courses around the world.
The course opened in 1964 and boasted the Trent Jones elements of integrating a course to its natural environment yet making it challenging and enjoyable to all.
image courtesy sotogrande
The Robert Trent Jones Designed Sotogrande Is One Of His Five Favourites Around The Word
There are 100 bunkers on the course with almost three quarters of them greenside making approach shots challenging. There are several holes on the course that offer risk/reward for golfers wanting to go low.
Finca Cortesin can be stretched out to over 7,400 yards. It has a plethora of bunkers and fantastic elevation changes.
One of the most stunning views may be from the expansive and pristine driving range. It's ranked as a top 10 golf course in Spain and you could play it again and again and never tire of it.
It has hosted the Volvo World Match Play Championship for multiple years. It also offers 5 different tee locations on every hole and the forward tees are non-intimidating at sub 5,300 yards. The greens are also spectacular and have been heralded by PGA TOUR player and native Spaniard, Sergio Garcia.
Mixing golf and tourism, the next spot I had to see was Tarifa, located a short car ride away. The southernmost tip of all of Europe, it beckons windsurfers and kite surfers form around the world with some of the best sailing conditions in Europe coupled with 10 km of pristine white beaches.
To say it was windy there is an understatement.
It's worth the trip to walk through the quaint town and visit some of the historic sites such as Castillo de Guzman El Bueno built in 960 AD.
As for golf, I saved the best for last, the crown of Spanish golf, Valderrama. I hired a caddie which absolutely made the experience.
Valderrama was the first course outside of the UK to host a European Ryder Cup. Not only is it the #1 course in Spain, it is the top course in all of continental Europe since 1988.
Designed by Robert Trent Jones and opened in 1974 under the name Las Avez, it came under new ownership in 1985 and Trent Jones was brought back to do the redesign with the purpose of making it world class and at that time it was renamed Valderrama. The course is often given the nickname “the Augusta of Europe”.
A true test of golf where errant shots are often punished by having no clear view to the green, aggressive and long is not the smart play. It is a shot-maker’s course in pristine condition and every hole is a treat. I simply did not want my round to end.
image credit anton vlooswyk
Be Sure To Hire A Caddy At Valderrama To Enhance The Experience On This World Class Layout
Be aware of the “locals”, a group of 300 Barbary macaques (monkeys) that are curious and playful and roam on the mountainside.
Gibraltar continues to draw millions of tourists and even celebrity weddings such as John Lennon and Yoko Ono and Sir Sean Connery.
Next on the golf list was the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande (RSGC) and Finca Cortesin.
Sotogrande is the first golf course famed architect Robert Trent Jones designed in Europe and he has called it one of his 5 favourite golf courses around the world.
The course opened in 1964 and boasted the Trent Jones elements of integrating a course to its natural environment yet making it challenging and enjoyable to all.
There are 100 bunkers on the course with almost three quarters of them greenside making approach shots challenging. There are several holes on the course that offer risk/reward for golfers wanting to go low.
Finca Cortesin can be stretched out to over 7,400 yards. It has a plethora of bunkers and fantastic elevation changes.
One of the most stunning views may be from the expansive and pristine driving range. It's ranked as a top 10 golf course in Spain and you could play it again and again and never tire of it.
It has hosted the Volvo World Match Play Championship for multiple years. It also offers 5 different tee locations on every hole and the forward tees are non-intimidating at sub 5,300 yards. The greens are also spectacular and have been heralded by PGA TOUR player and native Spaniard, Sergio Garcia.
Mixing golf and tourism, the next spot I had to see was Tarifa, located a short car ride away. The southernmost tip of all of Europe, it beckons windsurfers and kite surfers form around the world with some of the best sailing conditions in Europe coupled with 10 km of pristine white beaches. To say it was windy there is an understatement.
It's worth the trip to walk through the quaint town and visit some of the historic sites such as Castillo de Guzman El Bueno built in 960 AD.
As for golf, I saved the best for last, the crown of Spanish golf, Valderrama. I hired a caddie which absolutely made the experience.
Valderrama was the first course outside of the UK to host a European Ryder Cup. Not only is it the #1 course in Spain, it is the top course in all of continental Europe since 1988.
Designed by Robert Trent Jones and opened in 1974 under the name Las Avez, it came under new ownership in 1985 and Trent Jones was brought back to do the redesign with the purpose of making it world class and at that time it was renamed Valderrama. The course is often given the nickname “the Augusta of Europe”.
A true test of golf where errant shots are often punished by having no clear view to the green, aggressive and long is not the smart play. It is a shot-maker’s course in pristine condition and every hole is a treat. I simply did not want my round to end.
My favorite hole was the 17th, a par 5 that beckons you to “go for it” in 2. Two albatrosses have been made there in tournament play, one by Miguel Angel Jimenez and the other by Graeme McDowell.
Spain is the perfect combination of golf and vacationing. I can’t wait to go back!
About the Writer:
Lisa is a 7-Time Canadian Long Drive Champion for women and is currently ranked 3rd in the World. She is a Golf Entertainer at corporate and charity events and Keynote Peak Performance Speaker at conferences and meetings. Lisa can be reached through her website at www.lisalongball.com or on Twitter @LisaLongball.