International Golf and Polo on the Sun-Blessed Costa del Sol
The Costa del Sol is now bathed in its renowned spring sunshine, the perfect time to showcase the area’s burgeoning status as a prime global sporting destination. Much of the attention this week is in the Estepona area, with the Andalucía-Costa del Sol Match Play 9 at Valle Romano (continuing until Sunday 20 May) and the inaugural Costa del Sol Beach Polo Cup 2018 at Kempinski Hotel Bahía, also on the weekend (19-20 May).
The only match play event on the 2018 European Challenge Tour schedule, this is the second edition of the Match Play 9, which comprises an innovative format of 36 holes of stroke play, with the top 64 players making it through to the weekend, followed by a series of nine-hole match play rounds.
Announcing the tournament’s return to the Costa del Sol (last year it was held at La Cala in Mijas), European Challenge Tour director Alain de Soultrait said, “Last year’s match play format proved very popular among players and fans alike, and we are thrilled that we have kept this exciting format for this year’s event. The golf course is in excellent condition with incredibly fast greens, which I am sure will provide the perfect setting for the nine-hole match play contests.”
In addition to a “perfect setting”, Valle Romano Golf also offers the added attraction of signature holes named after famous Spanish players: for example, the second after José Maria Olazábal, the fifth after Miguel Ángel Jiménez and the ninth, the “Seve Ballesteros hole”.
Welcoming the event to the Coast, the general manager of Turismo Costa del Sol,
Arturo Bernal, expressed his optimism at witnessing the area “open its doors to standard-bearing events in the world of golf”. In addition, he said, Valle Romano Golf & Resort “is a fabulous example of the Costa del Sol’s extraordinary golf amenities”. It was worth recalling, he said, that the Costa del Sol’s 70-plus courses represents more than half the total in the whole of Andalucía, and the area has the highest concentration of golf courses of any destination in continental Europe. Málaga has more courses than other province in Spain, covering 16 different municipalities, led by Marbella with 15 and Mijas with 12.
Bernal’s optimism is reinforced by the KPMG’s latest “Country Snapshot” study featuring Spain, which noted, “The famous ‘Costa del Golf’ represents one of the biggest golf clusters in Europe and hosts some of the most recognised and prestigious venues in Europe.”
Meanwhile, as a prelude to the month-long international summer polo tournament in Sotogrande, Kempinski Hotel Bahía is hosting the “Sport of Kings” on the Playa Padrón in Estepona this weekend. Four international polo teams will compete for the inaugural Costa del Sol Beach Polo Cup 2018, with matches played from 6pm to 8pm on Saturday and from 12 noon to 2pm on Sunday.
There is a VIP marquee with ticketed entry, entertainment, food and champagne, while spectators who just want to watch the matches can do so for free.
“Simply stroll along the beach and enjoy the action,” welcomed the organisers. “This is a great opportunity for everyone to come and enjoy this noble sport, and watch top polo players and their horses at close range, right on the sand.” Added organiser Isabel de Borbón, “Beach polo is an innovative version of traditional polo being played on smaller size sand arenas where the audience can appreciate the fast polo action at close range. Four international polo teams on around 50 agile polo horses will be competing for the first Costa del Sol Beach Polo Cup, captivating spectators and aficionados."
Luxury Living
Another area with superb golfing amenities, part of the “Golden Triangle” residential area with Marbella and Estepona, is Benahavís, home to our magnificent featured villa of the week: a tailor-made new concept in real estate that raises the bar to unparalleled heights of luxury, innovation and panoramic splendour.
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