Large-scale renovation project completed at one of Europe’s premier courses

The wait has been long but is has been well worth it. Without a doubt… The expert guiding hand of Kyle Phillips has led the renovation of Royal Las Brisas Golf Club, one of the magnificent creations designed by Robert Trent Jones – who for many years was Phillips’ teacher and mentor.

Phillips was actually one of Trent Jones’ favourite disciples, working with the legendary designer – who was born in England and raised in the US – for many years, absorbing his philosophy and way of doing things.

Kyle has also created several of his own renowned courses internationally, and he is currently recognised as one of the finest golf architects in the world. No-one better than him to be able to “interpret” Trent Jones’ basic ideas and adapt them to our times, according to Paul Muñoz Langley, general manager of this iconic club in Marbella’s Golf Valley – just a short distance from the glamorous Puerto Banús.

Respect for the great Las Brisas designer was a guiding principle behind the renovation project, initiated three years ago with the first nine holes and now completed with the second nine. Its re-opening is scheduled for the next few weeks.

The members are extremely satisfied with the result, adds the general manager of this celebrated course, which has hosted two World Cups (1973 and 1989) and four European Tour events (the Spanish Open in 1970, 1983 and 1987, and the 1990 AmEx Mediterranean Open). Jack Nicklaus and Johnnie Miller would no doubt be delighted with the “new” course if they were to return to Las Brisas and relive their World Cup victory 42 years ago.

And this is perfectly understandable. The result takes your breath away: it is simply spectacular.

Muñoz Langley highlights the members’ satisfaction by noting that for the first nine holes they agreed a budget of €1.9 million and – after seeing the excellent results – authorised spending of €3.3 million for the second nine. In total, €5.2 million, which gives an idea of the magnitude of the work.

For the second phase, the whole area of the second nine holes has been upgraded and provided with a new infrastructure, including a 2,500 square metre nursery, an irrigation system, a new drainage network, four bridges, a new dam, an overlay of the fairways with sand and the rough with vegetal soil, and a complete renovation of the design, covering all its bunkers, tees and greens.

Six holes have been updated in accordance with the original design, and three others are completely new: the 15th, 16th and 17th. The length of the course has been increased from 6,130 to 6,600 metres, and it has been maintained as a par-72.

Honouring its fame as a botanical garden, with a great variety of species (many of them “exotic”), the “new” course not only retains all of its trees but also boosts the total. “We have transplanted 299 trees and planted 45 new ones,” says Muñoz Langley.

Now that work has been completed on the course’s 18 holes, the next stage of the renovation stage will affect the practice layout, with its length extended from 200 to 250 metres. This project is due to be carried out at the start of 2017. “We’re going to have a rest year to enable members to enjoy the course without any ongoing work,” explains Muñoz Langley.

“It’s going to be a particularly attractive project because we want to build six target greens and one day we will close the practice tees to create a small layout of short-par holes so people who are starting to play the game can enjoy a pleasant introduction to the world of golf.”

Renovation work on the second nine holes at Royal Las Brisas Golf Club involved numerous different initiatives, detailed as follows…

Hole 10

The existing back tee has been elevated and lengthened, with the existing path from #18 green maintaining access to the clubhouse below the wall in front. A new front tee has been positioned to the right near the cart path. The two fairway bunkers on the left have been relocated from the right side of the fairway to protect the inside of the dogleg for those who try to shorten the hole by cutting the corner, while allowing the higher handicap player more area on the right side. The green and surrounding bunkers have been pulled forward slightly to allow for softer slopes surrounding the green complex.

Hole 11

The green has been pulled forward, and repositioned with more pin positions closer to the lake edge. The green side bunkers have been moved behind the green to grab balls going long over the green and to protect the right side entry for those who play away from the water.

Hole 12

The back tees have been moved to the other side of the creek so that all tees are now on the same side of the creek. This eliminates the need for the fence on the left of the tee and reducing of the dogleg turns the line of play away from the housing on the right. The fairway bunkers short right have been replaced with one new bunker on the right that will come into play for the longer hitters. Two new bunkers have been added to the outside of the second turnpoint to create better separation from the housing and to penalize those who play too far away from the water on their second shot. The green and surrounding bunkering have been repositioned to tempt long hitters to try and reach this short par 5 in two, but with the increased risk of inaccurate shots finding the water.

Hole 13

The tees, fairway and buggy path have been shifted left and more into the centre of the course, away from the property boundary on the right. Existing olive trees have been transplanted to the right side of the hole to create a buffer from the surrounding development. The fairway bunker concept remains the same except for one bunker added on the right just short of the turnpoint. In addition, a new back tee has been added and the green complex has been pulled forward giving more space to the property boundary and adjacent roadway.

Hole 14

Similar to hole 13, the 14th hole has been has been shifted away from the surrounding development towards the interior of the property. The buggy path has been repositioned on the right side of the hole and several olive trees will be transplanted from the middle of the course to the perimeter in order to create a natural buffer from the homes. Drives that land near the new right side fairway bunker will be left with the best angle to approach the new green which has been relocated just in front and right of the existing lake. As the longest par 4 on the course this hole will greatly expand the variety of two shotters.

Hole 15

The proximity of the existing houses on the right, severity of the dogleg around the houses and the relationship of the green to the 12th and 16th tees have created issues for the Club since the land of the short course was sold for housing many years ago. With the lengthening of the 14th, there is now the opportunity to straighten the drive, with the landing area just beyond the existing #15 green site. And from this point, the second shot plays beyond the existing pond into the large open area on a line just left of the existing 16th green and right of the 11th tees. The approach shot plays slightly uphill to a green that ties into the natural hillside and favours a left to right shot, with the existing African trees beautifully framing the green on the right. Playing as a par 5, this will now allow the back nine a strong uphill par 5 and for the course to once again play to a par 72.

Hole 16

The existing par 3, 16th has been repositioned to play downhill towards the clubhouse with the existing lake right of the green. Bunkers that protect front left and back right and cascading water, provide a beautiful and challenging setting for the shortest hole on the course.

Hole 17

This challenging par 4 plays in the opposite direction of the existing 17th, with the tees positioned near the existing lake. The drive plays to a landing area that is in the same area as the fairway for the existing hole 17. The tee positions allow both longer and shorter players to play driver from the tee and reach the top of the hill. The approach shot plays downhill to the green which sits across the creek, nestled amongst the olive orchards, near the existing 17th tees.

Hole 18

A new back tee has been added to this strong uphill finishing par 4. A new bunker left at the landing area will visually define the edge of the existing pond and grab slightly offline drives from the water. The green moves very slightly left and forward allowing the surrounding hillside to be connected more naturally into the green and surrounding bunkers. The finishing sequence of the last 5 holes have been improved significantly. Not only have the green to tee walks been reduced significantly, but more importantly the variety and beauty of the finishing holes provide a dramatic crescendo to the course.