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Golf Course:
Valderrama Golf Club, San
Roque
The par-71, championship
course measures 6356 metres
from the professional tees.
The fairways have been
described by top pros and
leading golf writers as the
best in Europe, if not the
world. It is not an easy
course – nor was it intended
to be.
The layout demands thought
and precision on every shot.
Designed in 1974 by Robert
Trent Jones, Sr – one of the
truly great golf course
architects –, it was
originally known as
Sotogrande New. After being
bought in 1984 by Mr Jaime
Ortiz-Patiño, the additional
land was also acquired and
the course was redesigned
and extended by Robert Trent
Jones, Sr, who willingly
agreed to come back and
upgrade his original layout.
Renamed Valderrama, after
the ancient estate on which
the course is situated, it
rapidly established itself
as the finest course in
mainland Europe and has
proudly held that position
in Golf World’s rankings
ever since. Host to many top
tournaments, including the
mighty Ryder Cup itself in
1997, the course still
fulfils the owner’s and
designer’s shared intention
of presenting a challenge to
bring out the best in every
golfer. |