Andalucia Masters 2011 – Valderrama Golf Club

The Andalucia Masters is confirmed to be the major tournament that brings the European Golf Tour to a perfect close. You will enjoy the Valderrama Golf Club, a unique space for the best golf, and the participation of 96 professional golf players.

Andalucia Masters 2011 - Valderrama Golf Club

Useful Information

Date: from 27/10/2011 to 30/10/2011

Venue: San Roque (Cádiz)

Facilities: Club de golf Valderrama

Competition schedule: from 9:00 to 19:00 horas

Ticket prices full tournament price:

• Online price: 61 €
• Ticket-Oficce price: 75 €

Participants: 96 professional golf players

Description of the Event

This tournament establishes a cut after the second day. From then, the first 50 players who have passed plus the tied ones play the final two days.

Andalucia Masters 2011 - Valderrama Golf Club

The Field

The course was designed by Sr. Robert Trent Jones in 1974 and was originally known as  Sotogrande New (Las Aves). In 1984, Jaime Ortiz-Patiño bought the field and set himself the goal of raising it to an extraordinary standard, never seen before in Europe. Sr. Robert Trent Jones came back again to re-design and improve the original layout.

The course was renamed Valderrama, the same name as the ancient estate on which the land is situated. These two men shared a common aim: to create a course that would present a test of golf to the everyday golfer and the first-class player alike. Valderrama has since risen in the Golf World rankings to become the No.1 golf course in mainland Europe, a position proudly held since 1989.

Andalucia Masters Record - Graeme McDowell.

Record

The first title of this Tournament was won by the Irish Graeme McDowell.

Valderrama Golf Club : What to Expect

As reported by Brian Tucker in World Golf News

Jones built nine courses on the Costa Del Sol, and many of the region’s top clubs are within a short drive, like San Roque Club and Sotogrande Golf Club – but Valderrama is unmistakable from the rest.

No. 1 is a prime example of what to expect. It’s a subtle dogleg off the tee, but if you find the right side of the fairway, the green is blocked out by cork trees. Similarly on No. 2, if you’re on the right side, you’ll have to take a short-iron over trees onto another tiny green. The course gets narrowest and most uncomfortable on the short, par-4 eighth hole, “El Bunker,” but stay patient, eventually there are a handful of spots where you can finally open up the shoulders.

The second nine gets decidedly more undulated than the front side (which is probably a reason why the nines were flipped years ago), with numerous vantage points high enough up to see the Mediterranean in the distance. Two par-4 greens are steeply elevated – No. 10 and No. 14 – while No. 11 requires a blind shot to an elevated green from where most drives land in a sloping valley.

The par-5 17th got plenty of ink after Tiger Woods’ incident in the 2000 World Golf Championships, when his ball went from pin high to rolling back in the water. Ortiz-Patino has stated he doesn’t exactly understand what all the fuss is about regarding No. 17:

“Most members consider the 17th to be one of the more enjoyable holes on the golf course,” he’s written. “And yet I am told by some commentators that it is ‘controversial’ or even ‘notorious.’”

And for visitors, the sight of the spacious 17th fairway will fill your eyes with tears of joy after so many tighter holes previously. If there is a par 5 to be reckoned with at Valderrama, it’s the signature No. 4 “La Cascada.” This is Jones’ favorite hole on the golf course, but it required tons of renovations to make it so, including the moving of dirt to flatten it a bit and sub-air under the green, as this small surface is protected by constant shade.

If you would like to play Valderrama Golf on your next Spain Golf Vacation contact us for our packages:  tourinfo@roundballgolf.com.

Andalusian Masters kicks off at Valderrama

International golfers such as Sergio Garcia and John Parry are playing at the San Roque Course

Thursday 28th October saw the first day of the Andalusian Masters tournament at Valderrama, marking the start of the last European Tour event in Spain for the golf season.

The three million euro event continues until Sunday 31st October 2010, before the Dubai World Championships end the season in November.

This is the first Andalusian Masters, which joins the Andalucia open as one of Spains grandest golf tournaments, having been announced by the President of Valderrama Golf Club last December. “This event could, over the years, establish itself as one of the “not  to miss” tournaments on the European Tour Calendar”, he said.

The Valderrama Club, which played host to the Volvo Masters for 21 years, is the choice venue for the new event, in which 96 players battle for the first ever Andalusian Masters trophy, watched by a crowd of thousands.

For a six day seven nights golf vacation package in Spain check this out.

As reported by the SUR in English.

Valderrama Golf

Valderrama Golf Club Spain’s Championship Course

If you are planning for a Spain Golf Vacation Valderrama Golf Club is one not to miss. This championship course is fully enjoyed by players of all handicaps.

This is a two part exploration of Valderrama Golf Course.  For more information on how to book a Spain Golf Vacation including guaranteed tee times at Valderrama golf just complete this simple inquiry/quote request form.

Valderrama Golf Course

Valderrama Golf Course is a 6356 metres par 71 with no hole less than championship quality.

Other Top Golf Courses to Play in Spain

If you have already played Valderrama Golf and are familiar with the Course you may read more about other Top Golf Courses in Spain to Play here. Spain Golf Courses include Sotogrande, La Reserva, Finca Cortesin, Marbella, Flamingos and many more.

Valderrama Golf – 1st Hole ‘Sol y Sombra’ Par 4

The player hits slightly uphill to a fairly wide landing area guarded by trees. Accuracy and length are needed.

Valderrama Golf  – 2nd Hole ‘El Arbol’ Par 4

In the landing area a large Cork Oak dominates the middle of the fairway, but it can be a help, not a hindrance.

Valderrama Golf – 3rd Hole ‘El Tunel’ Par 3

For a short hole, the green is spacious enough, but it settles into the hillside, with fall-away slopes on the left and back, protected by bunkers. A shot missed to the left will leave the player with a very difficult par.

There is also trouble behind the green – a deep grassy pocket backed by an unrelenting tangle of bushes. In the Volvo Masters a player once missed the green and took ten!

Valderrama Golf – 4th Hole ‘La Cascada’

From the Professional tee, to reach the green in two, even with the Levante, will demand a long drive, followed by an accurate 3 wood or long iron to a well-guarded two-tier green with plenty of water behind as well as on the right.

Valderrama Golf – 5th Hole ‘Los Altos’ Par ‘4′

A slight dogleg to the left, this is one of the shorter par 4’s, but it is also one of the most distinctive drive-and-pitch holes a golfer could wish for.

From the landing area on the left side of the fairway only a short iron is needed but the green is protected by a ‘bunker in the sky’ – a Cork Oak tree on the right front side of the green.

Valderrama Golf – 6th Hole ‘El Valejo’ Par 3

The view from the tee is dramatic: the player is 8 metres higher than the green, with a complete view of the six bunkers that encroach right up to the green surface itself. Though large, this green is difficult to putt, with an upper tier at the back that falls towards the front and right. The target area therefore is small. The green has the potential for some diabolical pin placements for championship play.

Valderrama Golf – 7th Hole ‘El Mirador’ Par 5

This hole started life as a par 5, but is now a par 4 for the Professionals, while remaining a par 5 from the Amateur and Ladies tees. The fairway is beautifully defined by Cork trees on the left and Olives on the right.

Valderrama Golf – 8th Hole ‘El Bunker’ Par 4

This hole, the shortest of all the par 4’s, is a slight dogleg to the left. The fairway is framed by Cork trees, so an iron from the tee is recommended. The green is slightly elevated and protected in front by a large semi-circular bunker whose contours are well emphasised, with the back left side nearly two feet higher.

Valderrama Golf – 9th Hole ‘El Muro’ Par 4

This is one of the more difficult of the par 4’s, partly because it is long but also because the green is elevated, with bunkers on both sides that make for a narrow entrance. The green also slopes slightly from front to back and from left to right. Thus the second shot asks the player a very searching question.

Hole descriptions courtesy of Valderrama Golf.

Spain

Golf Vacations in Spain

Come to Spain´s Costa del Sol to experience the sun, water, mountains and scenic mountain courses.

Golf in Spain has enjoyed tremendous growth over the last 10 years. The region’s warm weather year around attracts golfers from around the region but especially from Ireland , the U K and Northern Europe .

Spain Golf Courses like Valderrama, Sotogrande, San Roque, La Reserva, Finca Cortesin, Marbella and Flamingos are within 45-60 minutes drive of your hotel in costa del sol. Our clients enjoy the availability of riding carts at all the Spain golf courses and being able to play 6-7 championship courses from one hotel.

Delta Airlines now offers non-stop service four days a week from JFK to Malaga Airport just 45 minutes from most hotels.

Because of the large number of English speaking visitors and residents, language is seldom a problem. Our local representative who is a transplanted Irishman (and is fluent in Spanish) will personally meet you upon arrival. Having lived in the area for years he is an excellent source of the current hottest restaurants and sightseeing. Your golf vacation to Spain will be one to remember.

Golf in Spain is about more than the golf. The region offers 300+ days of sunshine per year, year around golf, beautiful mountain scenery, and beaches / palm trees. We can also arrange day trips to the Rock of Gibraltar, Morocco on the African Continent (only 13 miles away) or to the Alhambra in Granada . The small mountain village of Benahavis (only 20-30 minutes away) is known as the culinary capital of the region. For nightlife Puerto Banus is minutes away and home to Europe ’s ocean going yacht fleet.

While Spain is part of the European Monetary system and uses the Euro the U S Dollar goes much further in this part of Spain than elsewhere in Europe . Get the ball rolling on your next Golf Vacation to Spain.