Andalucía Valderrama Masters
Valderrama launches major renovation plan to upgrade the golf course and practice areas
Club de Golf Valderrama, the most known Spanish golf course internationally, has announced a series of improvements to the field with a total investment of 3 million euros.
The venue for the 1997 Ryder Cup, two World Golf Championships and 16 editions of the Volvo Masters, is currently undertaking major investments. Valderrama has been consistently ranked among the best courses, recently ranked in 45th place in the World and number 1 in Europe by Golf Architecture Magazine, this top 100 ranking is elaborated with votes from the most prestigious golf course designers and architects in the World.
The first investment undertaken has been the complete renovation of the pumping system, this new system has significantly reduced water and energy costs. The second major improvement on the course has been the new bunkers. All traps have been renovated by installing new drainage, liners and sand. The new sand conforms with USGA specifications and has been chosen after months of testing. “Bunkers have always been an issue at Valderrama. We have rebuilt the bunkers following the strictest and highest specifications and I am proud to say they are now matching the quality of our greens and fairways” says Valderrama’s general manager, Javier Reviriego.
This is only the first phase of the renovation project, Valderrama is currently working on the improvement of many cart paths and the landscaping of the course, in order for the greens and fairways to be free of bad weeds.
Planned for the immediate future is the construction of a new pitching and chipping green, in a large area next to the current practice range.
With the announcement of these improvements and the mention in the press release itself, one would think that a major golf tournament might be soon announced for Valderrama.
Spain’s elusive holy grail
Unfinished business at Valderrama
SEVE BALLESTROS went close in 1988. The late Spanish star finished second two shots behind Nick Faldo in the inaugural Volvo Masters at Valderrama.
Six years later, he was again second, a bogey on the last hole leaving him one short of Bernhard Langer’s winning score and level with Vijay Singh. Miguel Ángel Jiménez was fourth that same year, having opened with a six-under 65 that included the first albatross carded in competition on Valderrama’s notorious 17th hole. Continue reading
Alvaro Quiros before playing at Valderrama
Extracted from ALvaro Quirós press conference just before the Andalucía Valderrama Masters, just a few minutes away from his home.
Tuesday October 26, 2010
“I am really looking forward to playing at home. It was great to play here in 2008, and this Valderrama Andalucía Masters will also be an important event.
For me, this will be an opportunity to recover my place in the world top 50, which I lost after Portugal, and also to get into the Race to Dubai.
The course is in great condition and the greens very fast… obviously this course is always perfect.
I spend here 3 of my 5 weekly practice days as I have a courtesy invitation. I do the rest of my practice at La Reserva and La Cañada.
I have been struggling with my game for the last 6 months, just trying to survive, but two weeks ago I started playing better, although my putting is a bit yippy.
I am comfortable at Valderrama and know the greens well. I should be able to finish in good position without putting too well. I am aware that the greens are difficult. I don’t think anybody can play 4 straight rounds without a problem on these greens. We often find ourselves putting defensively.
Everybody has good and bad moments on course, and it’s quite normal to get mad from time to time, but it’s important not to lose concentration.
Martin Kaymer is an incredible player. His mindset and his attitude on course are just perfect. His game is not spectacular, but his putting certainly is, at least for the last two years.
The world top 15 have very similar games. Martin and I are very different types of players: he is brainy, well aware of his limits, and he takes full advantage of his strong points. He is living a sweet moment, and that reflects on his demeanour, on the way he walks… I, on the contrary, have not found that sweet moment yet; I struggle, but I give it my best effort. He takes advantage of 90% of his potential, I don’t even reach 75%
I am now striking the ball better, but when I play well I don’t putt well, and when I putt well I don’t play well. I conclude that when a player manages to put these two most important parts of his game together he becomes world number one.
At present I am only trying to save shots. Olazábal explains it very well: on a rainy day you can only open your umbrella and wait for it to stop. That’s just what I am waiting for.
I don’t really know what I need to do to be up there… it’s frustrating not to be able to play to my full potential.
We live in the Tiger Woods era. He is just number one, the best player in the history of golf, no disrespect intended to his predecessors. I hope to see him back up there soon. He may have not won as many majors as others, but he has certainly done it in more difficult circumstances. He is the perfect modern golfer, a great sportsman and an athlete.
During the 1997 Ryder Cup I was only 14. I don’t remember any of the players, just Seve running around and trying to teach Lee Westwood to play out of a bunker. It impressed me how easy it seemed for Seve and how difficult for Lee, and I wondered which would I resemble.
In a way, I feel that I am a better player, but I am not enjoying my golf as I used to two years ago, not because I won but because my game felt good. It’s frustrating to know that you could go a step forward and not be able to do it.
I am ambitious, you must be ambitious to be up there, but now I don’t even enjoy my good moments… I always think that I have a lot to improve.”
Tuesday October 26, 2010
“I am really looking forward to playing at home. It was great to play here in 2008, and this Valderrama Andalucía Masters will also be an important event.
For me, this will be an opportunity to recover my place in the world top 50, which I lost after Portugal, and also to get into the Race to Dubai.
The course is in great condition and the greens very fast… obviously this course is always perfect.
I spend here 3 of my 5 weekly practice days as I have a courtesy invitation. I do the rest of my practice at La Reserva and La Cañada.
I have been struggling with my game for the last 6 months, just trying to survive, but two weeks ago I started playing better, although my putting is a bit yippy.
I am comfortable at Valderrama and know the greens well. I should be able to finish in good position without putting too well. I am aware that the greens are difficult. I don’t think anybody can play 4 straight rounds without a problem on these greens. We often find ourselves putting defensively.
Everybody has good and bad moments on course, and it’s quite normal to get mad from time to time, but it’s important not to lose concentration.
Martin Kaymer is an incredible player. His mindset and his attitude on course are just perfect. His game is not spectacular, but his putting certainly is, at least for the last two years.
The world top 15 have very similar games. Martin and I are very different types of players: he is brainy, well aware of his limits, and he takes full advantage of his strong points. He is living a sweet moment, and that reflects on his demeanour, on the way he walks… I, on the contrary, have not found that sweet moment yet; I struggle, but I give it my best effort. He takes advantage of 90% of his potential, I don’t even reach 75%
I am now striking the ball better, but when I play well I don’t putt well, and when I putt well I don’t play well. I conclude that when a player manages to put these two most important parts of his game together he becomes world number one.
At present I am only trying to save shots. Olazábal explains it very well: on a rainy day you can only open your umbrella and wait for it to stop. That’s just what I am waiting for.
I don’t really know what I need to do to be up there… it’s frustrating not to be able to play to my full potential.
We live in the Tiger Woods era. He is just number one, the best player in the history of golf, no disrespect intended to his predecessors. I hope to see him back up there soon. He may have not won as many majors as others, but he has certainly done it in more difficult circumstances. He is the perfect modern golfer, a great sportsman and an athlete.
During the 1997 Ryder Cup I was only 14. I don’t remember any of the players, just Seve running around and trying to teach Lee Westwood to play out of a bunker. It impressed me how easy it seemed for Seve and how difficult for Lee, and I wondered which would I resemble.
In a way, I feel that I am a better player, but I am not enjoying my golf as I used to two years ago, not because I won but because my game felt good. It’s frustrating to know that you could go a step forward and not be able to do it.
I am ambitious, you must be ambitious to be up there, but now I don’t even enjoy my good moments… I always think that I have a lot to improve.”
McDowell last man standing at Valderrama
Aunque con muchas incógnitas por desvelar todavía, hoy se ha presentado al fin el Andalucía Valderrama Masters del que tanto se había rumoreado.
La fecha parece concretarse finalmente en la semana 44 (última de Octubre), tradicional del Volvo Masters y en la que este año se ha celebrado el Mundial Match Play. Ni siquiera el nombre del torneo parece del todo cierto a estas alturas, pues aunque en la convocatoria original y en algunas vallas que la Junta ha colocado ya en diversos puntos de la Costa del Sol se incluyera la sede en el nombre del torneo, en la nota de prensa posterior éste ya no aparecía en su denominación.
Sea como fuere, se confirma finalmente que será un torneo del circuito europeo por lo que el primer y último torneo del mismo en tierras europeas se celebrarán en Andalucía (Open de Andalucía en el Parador en Marzo). Después vendrán los torneos en Asia y finalmente el torneo final de Dubaí (que por ahora contra pronostico, parece resistir al menos en 2010). El montante de premios se fija en 3 millones de euros, cantidad nada despreciable con los tiempo que corren, pero alejada de los mayores torneos de la temporada. No será pues un torneo de maestros como tal, aunque el nombre “masters” se mantenga, y seguramente serán de 80 a 100 jugadores con corte, aunque nada se ha precisado en este sentido. El acuerdo se indica que será “al menos” para cinco años.
Con todo así, y hasta que se desvele de una vez el calendario para 2010, todo indica que podríamos tener en España hasta 7 torneos del circuito europeo, dado que Mallorca recupera su prueba, uniéndose a Castellón, Madrid, (que parece moverse a Mayo) y los tres en Andalucía (que pueden ser 4 si el Open de España se viene a Sevilla). De la fecha del Volvo Mundial Match Play nada se sabe con certeza pero podría quedar fijado en la primera semana de Octubre.
En definitiva una gran noticia para España y para Andalucía en particular, de la que nos alegramos enormemente por todo lo que significa para el golf en nuestro país. Loable el esfuerzo de la Junta de Andalucía, aunque cuestionable la estrategia de mantener tres torneos en su territorio en lugar de un gran evento “de bandera” como siempre se había sugerido. En todo caso estamos seguros de que Valderrama estará como siempre a la altura y el evento ayudará vender la excelencia del golf en el sur de España.
A small tribute to McDowell
Graeme McDowell is staying at Finca Cortesín to play the Andalucía Valderrama Masters from Thursday and said today:
“Forgotten how much I love Valderrama (love to hate it maybe??). Such a unique golf course requiring precision and patience. Great condition.”
We thought it was a great excuse to publish our pictures of his Albatross to the Valderrama’s 17th during the 2007 Volvo Masters as our small tribute for his great season and incredible work during the past Ryder Cup. We were lucky enough to be just a meter away from him then and enjoyed live one of those unforgettable golf moments.
Tickets on sale for Andalucia Valderrama Masters
Although Golf in Spain will not be responsible for the marketing and coordination of advance tickets sales for the event– as we were for the last six tournaments held at Valderrama, we have however, reached an agreement with the organisers to sell tickets for the Andalucía Valderrama Masters, to be held from 28 to 31 October at the renowned Sotogrande course.
The discounts available are lower than in previous years, but tickets purchased in advance will be €2 cheaper for single-day passes (€13 Thursday and Friday; €28 Saturday and Sunday); and €5 for weekly tickets (€70). There are no special prices for seniors but entry remains free for children under 12 accompanied by an adult.
Using our online bookings system, you will be able to reserve and pay for your tickets automatically, obtaining a voucher which tournament staff at the golf course entrance will exchange for entry to the tournament. For this reason, we will not be able to accept refunds or changes from 24 October.
Packs with hotel + tickets are also available from 2 to 7 days.
Andalucia Valderrama Masters confirmed
A confirmed field size of 96 players will be back to Valderrama in October playing for a first prize of €500,000 from a €3 million prize fund in the inaugural Andalucía Valderrama Masters from October 28-31.
The field includes five invites and four players from the Spanish Order of Merit and means the cut will see the top 50 players, and those tied for 50th place, complete the final two rounds.
The spectacular Robert Trent Jones Snr layout has provided the backdrop for some of the most thrilling moments in golfing history, including Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph in 1997, when Colin Montgomerie, this year’s European Captain, provided the vital half point in his singles match against Scott Hoch, which saw Europe win 14½-13½.
After some rumours about the possibility of the event being postponed to 2011, Valderrama will be back to the European Tour the last week of October, meaning a great chance for a golf holiday to Spain that same week.
