Being Spain’s most internationally renowned course is not the result of chance. There are various factors that contribute to creating an image of excellence that can be transmitted beyond Spain’s borders. Royal Valderrama Golf Club has, over the years, gained highly deserved recognition as one of the world’s finest courses. Here we enumerate 10 key aspects that have contributed to this exceptional club’s success.

Design. The Robert Trent Jones layout is simply spectacular and undoubtedly one of his finest projects. It is an international standard-bearer in golf course architecture, having been redesigned in the early 1980s by Trent Jones himself, in order to host major professional events. This was the first course in Europe where the designer was given a special commission to create a course that was particularly demanding for professionals and on which power would never take precedence over creativity.

The routing has been devised so that players come across wind from all directions. It is impossible to find two holes heading in the same direction.

In general terms, it is an extremely demanding design, requiring great accuracy from the tee (not always a feature of Trent Jones courses). The huge cork tree forest protects all the rough areas, and considerably narrows the landing areas for drives.

 

Shots to the green also demand great accuracy, as they are small, elevated and very well protected by deep bunkers. The slope of the greens is, without a doubt, the jewel of Valderrama: in many cases, they are almost imperceptible, and very hard to read.

Robert Trent Jones introduced new concepts in golf course architecture when he redesigned Valderrama. These undoubtedly included the positioning of bunkers and elevated approach areas in front of the greens.

 

Maintenance. The level of “manicure” presented by Valderrama has been an international reference point for more than 20 years. Valderrama raised the standard of European courses when it made a commitment to maintenance at the highest level. The secret always lay in having a commitment to quality above all else. Quality in equipment, products, human resources, technology and, above all else, knowledge. Even today, in spite of having one of the top greenkeepers in the market, Valderrama still receives advice from the world’s leading agronomists. They maintain direct contact with the best courses in the US and stay fully abreast of latest techniques and advances in the sector.

The course maintains competition standard throughout the year, as demanded by members and visitors. Many courses around the world can prepare a course for one week of a tournament, but very few can maintain this competition level the whole year.

 

Location. The estate plot where Valderrama is situated comprises a spectacular cork tree forest with views over the Mediterranean. The feeling you have when playing at Valderrama is of being lost in a forest: you don’t see houses or roads, there is no noise and you practically can’t see the other holes when you are playing. The climate is also an element that stands it apart, with players able to enjoy sun and pleasant temperatures 300 days of the year.

 

History. There is no other course in continental Europe with a greater history and tradition than Valderrama. It is always said that major professional events are what elevate courses to an international level. The case of Valderrama is only comparable with some of the courses that host majors: it has been the venue for the only Ryder Cup held outside the British Isles (and the US), 14 Volvo Masters, two World Golf Championships, a Skins Game and the Valderrama Masters. The best players in the history of the game have teed up at Valderrama, pitting themselves against its robust layout. A study undertaken by the PGA of America in 2008 included Valderrama among the 10 most recognisable brands in the global golf industry.

 

Practice area. Nick Faldo (a regular at Valderrama in the 1990s) once declared that Valderrama had “the best practice range in the world”. Over the past year, a fantastic short-game area designed by Kyle Philips has been added to the practice area. In addition, there is a par-three course (exclusive for members) whose greens reach speeds of up to 14 feet on the Stimpmeter. Many renowned pros on the European Tour use Valderrama regularly for practice.

 

Tourism impact. The 1997 Ryder Cup represented a before and after for the Costa del Sol. Golf tourism began to increase gradually until this part of Spain became the golf tourism leader. The appeal of playing at Valderrama has attracted golfers from many parts of the world.

Rankings. All the aforementioned factors have forged Valderrama’s prestige and reputation, and ensured that its brand is known around the world. It is no coincidence that the world’s most prestigious publications have rated Valderrama one of the top 100 courses in the world in their official rankings.

Currently, Golf Digest has Valderrama in 40th position in the world (second in Europe and first in Spain), Golf Magazine in 88th place in the world (second in Europe and first in Spain) and Golf Architecture Magazine in 45th position in the world (first in Europe and Spain).

 

Service. The Golfboo.com website, specialists in valuing golf courses based on client’s opinions, rates Valderrama in its ranking as the best golf experience in Spain. This valuation is not based only on the course but also on the service and attention offered to clients. At Valderrama, clients are pampered and treated like members during their visit. The procedures adopted for client service and attention to detail are based on those offered by the top country clubs in the US.

 

Members. Just the same as at Augusta National, the list of members at Valderrama is highly confidential information. There are members from different parts of the world, and in some cases they visit the club one week a year. Businesspeople, CEOs, successful entrepreneurs, etc., are part of a prestigious members’ group, in accordance with the club’s status. There is a waiting list and very few candidates fulfil the requirements for acceptance.

 

Royal distinction. His Royal Highness Juan Carlos I conferred the royal distinction on Valderrama last year. This is unquestionably a great honour and one way of recognising Valderrama’s history and the enormous impact the club has had on the world of golf.