Unfortunately, Arana died before the construction of his final masterpiece, the Aloha Golf Club in Marbella. Although construction started in 1972, there were still no greens when Arana visited for the final time in May 1974. Sadly, Arana passed in January 1975, and the course opened in October of that year.
“Initially, the Aloha greens had a specific cutting height and speed, making the game challenging.” “Arana had detailed green plans,” says Luis Cornejo of SURTEC Golf Agronomy, “but posthumous modifications raise questions about their fidelity to his vision.” ‘Los Campos de Golf de Javier Arana’ author Alfonso Erhardt comments.
Aloha’s greens were completely renovated earlier this year, thanks to the efforts of the chief greenkeeper, Manuel González-Loma, Lobb + Partners, SURTEC Golf Agronomy, and CJW Golf. “Aloha’s terrain is captivating,” says Tim Lobb of Lobb + Partners. Our pre-design evaluation indicated that several greens had severe slopes, which limited flag placements and putt experiences at modern speeds.”
TeeOne bentgrass was custom-grown for each of the eighteen greens. The course reopened in phases in August and September following renovations.
Lobb highlights the team’s commitment to preserving Arana’s legacy, stating that they aimed for a minimum of seven flag positions per green. “The goal was not just aesthetic; we wanted to reintroduce lost flag positions and diversify gameplay strategies,” he goes on to say.
Aloha can now accommodate more players as a result of these changes. While the greens may appear the same from a distance, Lobb says that “the real difference lies in the renewed strategies and positions available to golfers.”
The experience of revitalising Arana’s final design was enjoyable for Lobb, who stated, “Our research, including Erhardt’s book, informed our restoration choices.” In several sections, such as greens 7 and 10, we discovered historical boundaries and restored them, as well as some flag sites.”
SURTEC Golf Agronomy was instrumental in this project, supervising design selection, planning, paperwork, licencing, and construction management. Conor Walsh, well-known for his work at Dunas de Comporta, completed the project on schedule and within the plan.
Lobb praises Conor and his team’s dedication, saying that “their expertise and passion, especially from construction manager David Minogue, were invaluable to the project’s success.”
Visit Aloha Golf on your next golf holiday at Costa del Sol. Marbella boasts fantastic golf courses ready for you.
