~~Perhaps no golfer captured the joyfulness of the game as the late, great Seve Ballesteros. His fist-pumping celebration upon winning the 1984 British Open at St. Andrews is indelibly imprinted in my mind, and his passion – captured in his smile after sinking the winning putt – is a sneak peek into the Spanish psyche.
Seve had the heart of a conquistador, the flair of a matador, and the stylish graces of a flamenco dancer. There’s a raw, natural ethos about the Spanish and their beloved country, and you’ll find all that and more by playing its bevy of golf courses. I love Spain.
Nowhere is golf played in such a glittering setting as Spain, and nowhere in Spain is that truer than along the Costa del Sol.
Spanish golf is all about sun and fun, and there is a kaleidoscope of courses to choose from in the region called Andalusia, including world-famous Valderrama which I visited in January this year, home to the 1997 Ryder Cup – the event captured by Europe, and the winning team captained by Ballesteros.
Malaga is the capital of Andalusia and its centre for tourism, and from it, golf courses fan out in every direction.
For years, northern Europeans and now Eastern Europeans made up by my members from Lighthouse Golf Resort in Bulgaria we have been going to the Costa del Sol to satisfy our golfing urges by the Spanish sun.
The Costa del Sol runs along the blue-eyed Mediterranean, and whether golfers are looking for championship layouts or underpriced little gems, Spain is perfectly poised to offer both, and more, including the finest in food, drink, culture and weather.
Since a mere 1 per cent of Spain actually plays golf (soccer is the main sport; Spain is the World Cup titleholder), almost all courses cater to visitors.
Costa del Sol includes Malaga and Marbella and has long been favored by British golfers. The reasons are plentiful: sunshine, great golf, easy-to-get-to venues, great-value prices, a warm ambience and fun après-golf.
But Spain is much more than golf and I have tasted in my day off this year some of what the area has to offer. The Gibraltar and the Torcal de Antequera Natural Reserve is located in the centre of the region, just 12 kms from Antequera. Its fantasy-like rock formations are hundreds of millions of years old.
Climbing up the Mountains is a breathtaking experience and looking back to the blue Mediterranean is one of the best vistas in all of Europe.
You can see everywhere the British influence on Spanish golf, including the name of The Andalusia Royal Golf Federation.
It’s like taking the best of British Golf and splashing it with sunshiny weather. Andalusia is probably Europe’s most exciting golf destination, and definitely my favorite.
There is no better climate for all-year-round golf in Europe, and what Mediterranean region can boast 94 golf courses that offer more than 100 possible round combinations?
The Spanish are passionate about everything, especially their golf. The flair that Ballesteros displayed throughout his wonderful career epitomizes what golf in Spain is all about.
Perhaps you can even offer up your own Seve-like “Ole!” when you make the winning putt.
BBTR Bucharest sells packages to Spain for the period of 17th to 24th of January. All of you are welcome to join us in our golf tournament “The Marbella Swing 2015”.Contact Ildiz ildiz.chisanovici@bbtr.ro Phone: +40 75 711 00 08
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