The Costa del Sol candidate for host of the Solheim Cup 2023

the Solheim Cup female version of the Ryder Cup

The Costa del Sol candidate for host of the Solheim Cup 2023

This morning it was announced at the World Travel Market that the Costa del Sol has submitted its candidacy to host the Solheim Cup of 2023. It would be the first time it was held in Spain since its creation in 1990 and the fourth time that the competition was hosted in a European country far from the British Isles.

In order for the Costa del Sol to host the Solheim Cup, a highly competitive golf course is required, with certain measures of length, breadth, maintenance, equipment and machinery. In addition, another requirement is that these golf courses have spacious areas for the location of stands and hospitality tents as it is a global event that brings together thousands of golf fans during the days of the competition. Likewise, other requirements need to be met, such as extensive access to their facilities, evacuation plans, parking areas available and transfers necessary for the mobility of the players and the attendees of the event.

The Solheim Cup Female Team

The Solheim Cup Female Team

“This is a historic opportunity that would turn the Costa del Sol into a mecca for women’s golf for years as the Solheim Cup celebration has been paired with the Women’s Open in Spain in the years before and after. The Costa del Sol meets all the necessary technical and tourist infrastructure requirements to host a worldwide sporting event, it is a destination that stands out for having a quality hotel offer since more than half of the hotel beds are four, five and five stars great luxury as well as excellent communications of highways, highways or the AVE adds the wide range of connectivity of the international airport of Malaga that has connections with more than one hundred and twenty of the main cities of the world “, indicates Elías Bendodo, president of Tourism Costa del Sol.

Bendodo, after the meeting with Mark Lichtenhein, Chairman of the Ladies European Tour (LET), which was also attended by the president of the Commonwealth of Municipalities of the Costa del Sol, Margarita del Cid, the mayor of Benahavis, José Antonio Mena , and the mayor of Marbella, Ángeles Muñoz, highlighted the dual importance that the Costa del Sol would be the seat of the Solheim Cup in 2003, ensuring that it would be a unique opportunity to disseminate throughout the world the tourist attraction for the entire Malaga province and would also serve to strengthen our commitment to promote women’s golf, a field in which we have been working for years with the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation.

Carlota Ciganda celebrates the triumph of Europe in the 2013 Solheim Cup the last european triumph

Carlota Ciganda celebrates the triumph of Europe in the 2013 Solheim Cup the last european triumph

The president of Tourism Costa del Sol has also acknowledged the impact for golf tourism, one of the most important segments of the offer in the province, which has more than seventy golf courses.

Although there are not many studies on the direct economic impact of the Solheim Cup, the promoters consider that it would be an invaluable tool to attract the American tourist, a market in which the Costa del Sol still has a lot of room for growth. Golf tourism in the province is led by players from the United Kingdom, followed by Scandinavia, Norway, France and Germany and is a strategic tourist profile due to the fact that their average expenditure for their trip is 1,827.29 euros, which means an average daily cost, including transportation, accommodation and spending on the golf course of 148.46 euros per day, much higher than other profiles of tourists.

La Quinta Golf & Country Club, is the spectacular venue of the Andalusian Costa del Sol Open of Spain Ladies Tour 2018

La Quinta Golf & Country Club, is the spectacular venue of the Andalusian Costa del Sol Open of Spain Ladies Tour 2018

La Quinta Golf & Country Club: The prestigious Malaga golf course hosts this relevant professional tournament for the second time in its history.

La Quinta Golf & Country Club.
The competition, framed within the Ladies European Tour, will take place between November 22 and 25.
La Quinta Golf & Country Club, 10 minutes from Marbella center, has been designated as the venue for the Ladies Tour Open of Spain 2018, competition framed within the European Ladies Circuit that will take place between November 22 and 25 with the main sponsorship of Andalusia Tourism, Tourism Costa del Sol and Commonwealth of Municipalities of the Western Costa del Sol.

The choice of La Quinta Golf & Country Club, a golf resort of recognized prestige, also renews the commitment to quality that emanates from the Costa del Sol, one of the most important touristic destinations in Europe, to the point that it responds in perfection to the slogan coined in his day – Costa del Sol, Costa del Golf -, which has made this beautiful area of Spanish geography famous.

La Quinta Golf & Country Club, is the spectacular venue of the Andalusian Costa del Sol Open of Spain Ladies Tour 2018

La Quinta Golf & Country Club

La Quinta Golf & Country Club, a golf course of international reputation.

Founded in 1989, La Quinta Golf & Country Club has a deserved and recognized international reputation for its high level of quality, one of the most active golf courses on the Costa del Sol, designed by Manuel Piñero. The 27-hole complex, equipped with the prestigious The Westin hotel, has three 9-hole golf courses combinable with each other, which expands its game options.
The Lady´s Open of Spain occupies the last place in the calendar of the Ladies European Tour 2018, so the fact of awarding the winner of the European Tour ranking will be an additional incentive to this event.

This will be the second time in history that the Spanish Ladies Open is played at La Quinta Golf & Country Club facilities. The previous one took place in 2011, when Melissa Reid, an English player won the title at stake to Tania Elósegui a Spanish player by one shot.
The spectacularity has characterized the celebration of the last editions of the Ladies Open of Spain, resolved in many cases on the last hole. Special mention for the outcome of the last two editions, with the triumph of Azahara Muñoz, a local idol with performances full of spectacularity and emotion.

The Westin La Quinta Golf Resort & Spa

The Westin La Quinta Golf Resort & Spa

Costa del Sol, a priority destination of the European ladies Circuit

This will be the fifth time in history that the Costa del Sol hosts the celebration of the Ladies Open in Spain after those contested at Flamingos in 2010, La Quinta (2011), Aloha Golf (2016) and RCG Guadalmina (2017).

In the first case the triumph corresponded to the legendary Laura Davies, while in the second the trophy ended up in the hands of his English compatriot Melissa Reid. In the last two editions, the victory was dominated by Málaga-born Azahara Muñoz, who for the first time in history bejewel the record of this competition with the name of a Spaniard.

Hotel Packages – hotel Fuerte Estepona

Portuguese & Spanish golf courses Featured on Tours 2018

Both Portuguese Spanish golf courses are steeped in golfing history and play an integral part in the European golf tours every year.

Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Club - Portuguese Spanish golf courses

Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Club

You need only look at the players in recent history who have come from both regions, and the golf courses that you can find there, to realize why it’s such an admired part of Europe. With Sergio García winning The Masters in 2017, and Jon Rahm surging through the ranks on the PGA Tour, 2018 is sure to be an exciting year for Spanish golf fans.

Portuguese Spanish golf courses

We’ve put together a list of the golf courses that will be hosting the professional tour or qualifying school tournaments in Spain and Portugal over the coming months. Although some are yet to be announced, the following are confirmed.

European Tour

Portugal Masters

The biggest golfing event in Portugal returns in 2018 to its home course, Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Club, in Vilamoura. The event, which will run between 20th-23rd September will as always host come of the tours biggest names – something the region is familiar with! The golf course was designed by none other than golfing legend, Arnold Palmer, and since 2007 it has been the proud home of the annual Portuguese Masters.

Real Club Valderrama - Portuguese Spanish golf courses

Real Club Valderrama

The Par-72 Championship layout, measuring 6.651 meters (7,273 yards), makes use of the natural wetlands and the typical vegetation of carob, olive and almond trees in the area. Lakes form a formidable hazard throughout the course – even for the skilled professional – hence why it has remained a popular test on the tour for over ten years. The course is also known for its contrasting front and back nine – with each side of the course offering its own type of challenge.

The 2017 edition of the event was won by Lucas Bjerregaard who carded a blistering final round 65 to finish on 20-under par, four clear of his nearest competitor – Marc Warren.

Andalucia Valderrama Masters

The Real Club Valderrama in Sotogrande will host the 2018 Andalucia Valderrama Masters on the 18th-21st October. The tournament was first played here in 2010, and it previously hosted the Volvo Masters.

Gramacho Golf Club - Portuguese Spanish golf courses

Gramacho Golf Club

After being canceled in 2012, the event returned to the region last year when it was hosted by local hero and 2011 champion Sergio García. García went on to win the event last year, and it will return in 2018 for what is set to be an amazing four days.

Valderrama is renowned as a tough Tour course that trails its way through the Sotogrande hills and meanders in between tightly clustered umbrella pine trees which makes for a tight, unforgiving test. Rather than being overly long, or having thick rough, Valderrama focuses on making sure that each shot a golfer takes has to be thought through meticulously – for some this is both the attraction and the fear when they play here.

Staysure Tour (Seniors Tour)

Qualifying School 2018

For the 18th consecutive year, the European Seniors Tour Qualifying School returns to the Pestana Golf Resort on Portugal’s Algarve.

Vale Pinta Golf Course - Portuguese Spanish golf courses

Vale Pinta Golf Course

Taking place over three venues, the 2018 Qualifying School will include the first stage being conducted for 36 holes on Silves Golf Club and Gramacho Golf Club. After that, the Finals will be played over 72 holes of stroke play on the Pinta Course at Pestana Golf Resort.

Silves is a par 70 course nestled into the foot of the Monchique mountains, while Gramacho, a par 72 course co-designed by former World Number One Nick Price, has previously hosted the Portuguese Ladies Open.

Challenge Tour

Challenge de España

Details yet to be confirmed by the Tour. This tournament featured here in 2017 and was won by Victor Perez who claimed a maiden European Challenge Tour title in some style, shooting an impressive 24-under par over the four days and winning by three shots.

Silves Golf Club - Portuguese Spanish golf courses

Silves Golf Club

Andalucía Costa del Sol Match Play 9

Details yet to be confirmed by the Tour. This tournament featured here in 2017 and was won by Aaron Rai who secured his second European Challenge Tour victory of the 2017 season by beating Ireland’s Gavin Moynihan 2&1 in the final match.