Well 2009 would seem as if it might present some choppy waters. A perfect storm as more than one guru has described it.

However we remain optimistic particularly when we see the huge amount of “value” emanating from the Spanish golf courses and many hotels. This value is being injected into our Golf packages every time we make a proposal. The reaction by the Spanish courses can best be described as Better late than never!. In contrast the Algarve continues to increase its prices – the mind boggles.

Some more great news

Las Brisas

Real club de Golf Las Brisas, one of Spain’s most iconic courses had decided to throw open its wonderful course in Marbella for 8 months of the year. Up to now it was virtually a no-go area for visiting golfers and if available the price was exorbitant.  Now this top class Robert Trent Jones designed course has invited a select number of Tour Operators to market their visitor tee-times, including Golf Experience / GolfinSpainnow.

We will have a heavily discounted rate of €120 throughout 2009.

Santana Golf Club is even better value in 2009.

Santana, having already frozen its 2008 prices have now juggled around with the seasons in a way that reduces their green-fees during a considerable number of extra weeks of the year.

Gran Flamingos see even more light!

Following their hugely successful two for one offer in the low season the powers to be at Flamingos Golf have decided that they will continue to drive traffic with this great price offer.

Golf Experience is offering a round on this great new course for €65 in high season. Twelve months ago it was priced at €130.

Lorcrimar Hotel Puerto Banus

We are delighted to include this new 3 star Puerto Banus property in our 2009 packages.

It offers great rates, a great location and golfer friendly atmosphere.

Steaming hot Rory McIlory enters World’s top 50 and it looks as if 2009 will see a steady climbing in his rankings.

Despite his play-off defeat in the Hong Kong Open, teenager Rory McIlory from Holywood Co. Down has still made it into the world’s top 50 for the first time. This is an incredible achievement by Rory as he has only been a professional for 14 months.

The World’s Top 50 players receive automatic invitations to The Masters next April and who would bet against Rory being in the “shake up” when the first major of 2009 reaches its conclusion.

The 37 year old Dubliner, who was two strokes clear of the field at the time, closed the door on his playing partner, Greg Norman of Australia and England’s Ian Poulter, who was already in the clubhouse on 287. Harrington finished with a round of 69 for a 72 hole total of 283.
He said: “On the 17th, I hit my five wood off the tee and hit it really solid. It was good to hit the fairway. I had 220 yards to the front of the green and 249 yards to the pin. The five wood is my favourite club and I knew I could make birdie if I hit that club.
“I was anxious that Greg could make eagle going down there, and if I laid up and I made par, all of a sudden it was very close. I wasn’t so much worried about the guy that was two holes ahead of me and finished (Ian Poulter). I was worried if I laid up and made par, I was giving Greg a great chance to get within one shot of me, and one shot is not comfortable in any shape or form going down the 18th.
“So I wanted to take it on although there was obviously trouble on the right and left. A low shot, I felt, was always going to be an advantage. So I used the down slope in my favour and the ball came out nice and low. Once I hit it, it was perfect. It’s one of the few times I think I’ve ever heard my caddie say good shot to me before the ball is finished. Normally he waits until the ball has actually stopped before he says anything.
“Obviously he was comfortable with what we had taken, but it was a worrying shot. It was a real bonus to finish three feet away. I would have been quite happy with it on the green and take my chances with two putts. Once it was three feet away I made sure I holed it. You can’t have enough of a lead going down the 18th in a Major.”
The European Tour Shot of the Month Award is presented to the Tour Member for the shot judged to be the most outstanding played during each calendar month on The European Tour International Schedule. The winning shots from each month are entered into The European Tour Shot of the Year Award.

Monte Mayor has become the latest in a string of courses to reduce their 2009 rates. This world famous course has extended its low season when a green-fee including buggy will cost only €49 to Golf Experience Clients.

At this price Monte Mayor is really great value, even if you have spent a few Euros on balls!  As they say up there – “you need balls to play Monte Mayor”!

Alanda Homes – Co-Sponsor www.golfinspainnow.com and www.golfexperience.net

Alanda Homes, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Irish PLC “McInerney Homes” has renewed its co-sponsorship agreement of our websites for 2009.  Alanda Homes is a perfect Real Estate Partner as it is currently marketing a range of prestigious property developments on some of the Costa Del Sols most sought after golf courses. These include Flamingos Golf, Santana, La Cala and Finca Cortesin. For more details juts click on the Alanda Homes Logo on www.golfinspainnow.com

So if you are tempted by the idea of owning property on one of the Costa del Sol’s best golf courses take a look at the Alanda site. They are also offering inspection trips from The UK and Ireland.

Further examples of increasing value on the Costa del Sol is the decision of Santana to reverse a price increase announced a few months ago for 2009. They have now decided to hold prices at the 2008 rates. A wise decision.

Special Offer to Golf Experience Clients from Gran Flamingos

Flamingos have announced a range of value added packages and price cuts which sees the new Gran Flamingos price almost halved for 2009. In addition they have a new “Combo” rate for golfers who play both Flamingos Golf & Gran Flamingos. For €150 you can enjoy both these great courses throughout the high season on 2009.

Buggy prices have also been dropped for Golf Experience clients.

Valderrama may host a new major tournament in 2009

Colin Montgomery on Valderramas 17th Hole

While the Volvo Masters has bid farewell to Valderrama we hear that Valderrama may yet hold a major tournament in 2009 at the same time as the Volvo Masters. If this materialises this would mean that Andalucia will host at least 3 major tournaments in 2009, the Andalucia Open at Aloha, the Volvo World Match-play at Finca Cortesin and a new tournament at Valderrama. Andalucia may also host the Spanish Open as it did in 2008 in Seville.

La Cala Rebrand its 3 courses

La Cala have re-names its 3 courses alter 3 continents as follows:

La Cala South becomes Asia Course
La Cala North becomes America Course
La Cala New becomes Europe Course

Security on Courses

We would warn golfers to take particular care of personal belongings when playing strange courses. Unfortunately from time to time we hear of wallets being stolen from golf bags during a game of golf.

Inevitably this happens to visitors who are unaware of the vulnerable areas on strange courses when their bags can be unsighted for the short time required for the deed to occur. So please, use common sense when it comes to personal belongings on a golf course.

An example of a Club making a real change and facing up to economic reality is Atalaya Golf & Country Club, who for years had priced its Old and New courses identically. Well, as anyone who has played both courses will testify the New, while an excellent course is not quite up to the quality of the Old course. So while last years high season price for the New was €80 (without buggy) this year two green-fees and a buggy is €125. That is just one example of the type of good commercial decision Golf Directors are starting to make.

Los Naranjos Golf Club

Over the summer months the Robert Trent Jones designed Los Naranjos has undergone something of a facelift with major work being done to the approaches to the greens and the bunkers have been remodeled and new sand added. Renovation work has also been done to the Clubhouse.

Finca Cortesin

Dates have been set for the Volvo World Match-play Championship 2009 – they are September 24th – 26th.

While it is not expected that Tiger will participate in 2009 the dates for the 2010 event will be the week preceding the Ryder Cup in Celtic Manor so Tiger should be present.

Sotogrande La Reserva

Work has started on the New course at Sotogrande La Reserva and if it has anything like the success of the existing course it will be another Jewel in the Crown of the Sotogrande cluster of quality courses. We will keep you abreast of developments.

Hotel News

Many of you will be familiar with the H10 Andalucia Plaza Hotel & Casino in Puerto Banus. This property has always been popular with our clients. It has recently undergone a major refurbishment. The stunning results are there for all to see the minute you walk into the foyer. Superior bedrooms are available for a small supplement as is the very plush “Privilege” lounge.

For an additional €20 per night you have 24 hour access to what is effectively a “first class” lounge with its complementary bar, internet access and very plush TV lounge. We would recommend the supplement.

Seve Ballesteros

As you will all know Seve remains in a critical condition in Hospital in Madrid. At the time of writing surgeons were preparing him for a third operation.

The legend Severiano Ballesteros, a five-time major winner who retired last year, was hospitalized Monday in Madrid after he briefly lost consciousness, the hospital said.

We hope and pray that Seve can make a full recovery in the fullness of time.

For the record Seve won the British Open in 1979, 1984 and 1988 and became the first European to win the Masters championship in 1980, a title he repeated in 1983. He was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1999.

One of four professional golfing brothers, Ballesteros had not been a force in golf during the decade before his retirement due to back injuries.

Known for his flamboyant and imaginative style of play, he won one of his three British Open titles by playing a shot from a temporary parking lot.

MADRID (AFP) — Spanish golf legend Severiano Ballesteros, a five-time major winner who retired last year, was hospitalized Monday in Madrid after he briefly lost consciousness, the hospital said.

“His condition is stable,” the La Paz University Hospital said in a statement, adding the 51-year-old was undergoing tests.

The hospital said it would provide no further details at the request of his family.

Ballesteros won the British Open in 1979, 1984 and 1988 and became the first European to win the Masters championship in 1980, a title he repeated in 1983. He was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1999.

One of four professional golfing brothers, Ballesteros had not been a force in golf during the decade before his retirement due to back injuries.

Known for his flamboyant and imaginative style of play, he won one of his three British Open titles by playing a shot from a temporary parking lot.

Europe’s Ryder Cup team have embarked on their journey to America to defend The Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club.

Seven members of Team Europe, along with Captain Nick Faldo and his assistant José Maria Olazábal flew on a specially chartered Virgin Atlantic flight from Heathrow Airport in London to Kentucky this morning.

Padraig Harrington, Søren Hansen, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Robert Karlsson, Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood and Oliver Wilson were the men flanking Faldo, with Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson already in America.

Sporting casual brown jackets and trousers with light shirts, designed by Italian designer label Canali, Faldo and his men cut relaxed figures and the Captain was certainly in good spirits ahead of what promises to be an intense week of action.

Faldo confirmed he already had some strong thoughts in place on how his pairings will work out. He said: “Obviously I’ve been studying that for the last couple of weeks. Since the Team was confirmed I’ve been talking to the guys, I’ve already done a couple of formulas in my mind.

“I think I’m in a fortunate position. Right now I’ve got 12 guys playing great. As we all know I play eight, four have got to be rested and we’ll see how that works out, but I already have some good thoughts up my sleeve.”

The European Captain was also buoyed by the performances of those players who competed in The European Tour’s Mercedes-Benz Championship over the weekend with Karlsson winning the event and Hansen and Jiménez both finishing in the top ten in Cologne.

“That is really great, for Robert to go and win, all the guys played well,” he added. “All the guys played really well to hold their place in the Team which was only a couple of weeks ago so I’ve just got to put the reins on them and just get them out there.”
C/O European Tour

Dermot Synnott
GOLFING Magazine
The Clubhouse leader

What They Say…..

In 2001 Santa Clara Golf Marbella started its activity, an 18 hole golf course, par 71 and placed only few minutes from the centre of Marbella.

Santa Clara is set to become one of the finest courses in the Costa del Sol. The golf course has been created with respect for the natural environment of indigenous wildlife and vegetation, providing a fantastic meeting place for golf enthusiasts.

Santa Clara Golf Marbella presents a technically challenging but straightforward and pleasant round, wide fairways with few roughs and open greens without pronounced slope.

Overlooking the first and last holes and the driving range with views over the Mediterranean Sea, the huge sun-drenched terrace is a focal point for the Clubhouse. A comprehensive range of amenities offers everything for even the most enthusiastic golfer.

What we say…

Santa Clara is a very successful new course located just at the Costa del Sol Hospital.
This is a very well manicured course on 2 levels – heading into the surrounding hills after 3 holes only to return for the last few.
Some golfers find a few of the opening and closing holes a tad close to each other for comfort.
It has excellent clubhouse facilities. In 2007 Santa Clara caught the competition unawares by being the first course to actually reduce green-fees and as a result probably had their most successful year. At €75 including buggy this quality course is good value.

Opened in 1994 and occupying one of the largest remaining green areas on the Costa del Sol, the 6.000 meter long 18-hole links course with a par of 72, has been imaginatively designed to respect the natural terrain.

The facilities the Club House offers are the magnificent El Olivo Restaurant, conference rooms, a Pro-shop, a driving range and putting green, tennis courts and a Wellness Centre offering yoga and pilates classes and a variety of massage and physiotherapeutic treatments.

What we say…

Marbella Country Club near Santa Clara GC (not t o be confused with Marbella Resort in Benahavis) is really worth playing. It has many attributes including a real estate free environment, generous fairways and a very well laid out course.
It has a great location near Marbella which is very accessible from any location… There is an old world charm about this club that we like and the magnificent clubhouse has a distinctive colonial feel to it. It is great views over the course from its generous terrace. Brian, their marshal of 15 years proudly proclaims it to be one of the best on the Costa and with the exception of the iconic courses we would not argue with him.
Give it a try.

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