Valderrama, the most famous Spanish golf course at an international level, continues to improve its amenities as part of an ongoing commitment to excellence. The club’s president, Nuno Alberto de Brito e Cunha, Viscount of Pereira Machado, took over the reins in 2011 and, with his executive committee and general manager, agreed to an upgrade plan for the course that was initiated two years ago and is programmed to end next summer. The work affects both visible areas and infrastructure hidden from the view of players. Now nearly 30 years old, the course is in stunning shape.

At the start of August, a new practice area attached to the driving range, and designed by Kyle Phillips, was opened with the aim of becoming one of the best in Europe, not just for its size – nearly 9,000 square metres – but also because of the range of shots that can be played: downhill, uphill, from the rough, from the fairway, from the bunker (there are three)… When a tournament is being held, this new area will be a great attraction for professionals when they want to practice. Next summer, a comprehensive project will be undertaken to improve the practice fairway, with the addition of target greens and a complete overhaul of the ball-striking area.

Another project being carried out as part of this investment plan concerns the tee areas on the course. All are being levelled off and turfed with Agrostis grass variety, which is the same used to cover the greens. This is not particularly common on a golf course, but the club management realised that, in order to boost the quality of the course, they needed to have these kinds of tees, perfectly levelled off and with new grass, cut the same as for greens, using manual equipment.

Another major project was completed this summer: renovation of the whole irrigation system on the second nine holes (work will continue on the front nine next summer). New pipes, sprinklers, satellites, central computer and software have been installed… the latest technology in order to optimise water use and present the course in the best condition possible.

Intensive improvement work has also been carried out on the characteristic cork tree areas around Valderrama. This included a major pruning operation, the effects of which are now extremely noticeable in the rough – which is of a much higher quality as it receives more sunlight. In addition, some strategic trees that had grown too much and were increasingly hampering play have been trimmed, so the course does not have any added difficulties and is fair for players.

All the buggy paths have also been revamped, unifying their appearance and improving their condition.

 

VERY PLEASED

Born in the stunningly beautiful Portuguese town of Cascais and a top amateur golfer, the Viscount of Pereira Machado says he is very pleased with the work carried out on the course, and the current state of the club he presides over.

- You have now been at the helm of Valderrama Golf Club for three years. What assessment do you make of this period you have been in charge?

 

-  The assessment is positive because things have gone extremely well. We’ve increased the number of members, the club’s finances are in a very good state, it’s a very democratic executive committee, all its members are businessmen with proven experience and successful careers, and we have a great vice president-treasurer, Juan Carlos Garay, who has done an excellent financial job… the club is very good.

- What is the project or change you would particularly highlight during this time?

-  All changes are difficult. We inherited a fantastic club, a fantastic course, but there were problems because over a long time there are always vicissitudes that start to appear form day to day. What we did was adopt a consensus, and when you come into a place with a new perspective it is easier to see the mistakes, or rather the omissions, that a club might have.

One of the “problems” is that this club has a memorable history; there are very few clubs in the world that have such a history as Valderrama’s when it comes to tournaments, with the Ryder Cup, American Express World Golf Championships and Volvo Masters. But it was also a club with a slightly old infrastructure, with the clubhouse needing a little love and attention. And golf courses need a revamp from time to time because the original design changes. The greens became small; the trees grew considerably. A golf course is a living being, so you have to accompany this development and try to ensure the course always reflects the designer’s original idea – in this case, the great Robert Trent Jones. What we’ve done is modernise it, but always respecting the original design.

- Why did you commission Kyle Phillips to design the new practice area?

- We commissioned him to do that, and the course improvements, because he worked with Robert Trent Jones, and for us that is a guarantee and a continuation of his work.

- There is other news related to Valderrama Golf Club’s name, as it as been granted a Royal title...

- Yes, His Royal Highness Don Juan Carlos granted us this honour shortly before his abdication. It’s a matter of pride and enormous satisfaction for us. I played golf with him when we were children, and his father was also a keen golfer.

- Another award received by Valderrama has been the Golf Merit Plaque bestowed by the Royal Spanish Golf Federation…

 

- This is also a great honour for us, and I’m very appreciative of the gesture by Gonzaga Escauriaza (president) and his executive committee, but I should actually confess that I was a bit surprised because I thought we already had it, for everything the club has done, hosting major championships, for Spanish golf.

- People miss these major tournaments at Valderrama. We will see any in the near future?

- I believe this course deserves to host a major tournament. We’ve had a rough patch with the economic situation, and I understand perfectly that for the main sponsor of the Andalucía Masters, which was the Junta de Andalucía (regional government), in the current times, it was very, very difficult to maintain that tournament. Fortunately, you can see in Spain that things are improving, and this is shown by the macro-economic indicators. I believe this country will once again host a major tournament – and I hope it will be here. We are doing what we can for that to happen. In the meantime, it’s not a major tournament, but we do have a very interesting competition in October with Heineken, a two-day pro-am for members and special guests. The best players in the world won’t be here but there will be players from the European Tour, Challenge Tour and Senior Tour.