To celebrate Andalucía Day on Tuesday, February 28th, La Cala Resort is holding a special golf competition on its North Course. The format is individual stableford and the prize-giving will be preceded by a wine tasting in the clubhouse. This is a great opportunity to enjoy a day’s golf for only €60 including the green fee, competition entry fee, shared buggy and the wine tasting.
Entries close on February 27th and starting times will be confirmed the same day at 14:00. There are special rates available for players and their partners at hotel La Cala.
For more information, telephone 952 669 033, fax 952 669 034 or e-mail golf@lacala.com.
La Cala Resort confirmed as biggest in Spain
The Royal Spanish Golf Federation has confirmed that La Cala Resort, Mijas, Málaga is the biggest golf complex in Spain. La Cala has three 18-hole championship courses and a top quality 6-hole par 3 layout making it the largest golf resort in the country, which now counts over 300 courses in total. Andalucía, with 81, has more courses than any other region followed by Cataluña with 39.
Commenting on the announcement, La Cala Resort Managing Director Denis Foley said: “We are delighted to have the largest golf resort in the country. Obviously Spain is one of the most important world markets in terms of golf tourism and we are pleased to be the market leaders. Our aim has always been to be not only the biggest but also the best resort and we feel that we are also highly regarded for the quality of the golf courses and related facilities including the only David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Spain. Staging the Q-school for the Ladies European tour in November showed the high regard in which La Cala is held internationally.”
The three 18-hole courses offer different challenges. The North Course is longer than the tight, challenging South Course. Campo Europa opened just a year ago but has already drawn favourable comment from the top players who regularly play and practice in La Cala.
Off the courses, the David Leadbetter Academy has covered and grass driving bays. The par 3 course offers a great opportunity for beginners and experienced players alike to practice while the three professionals can design a teaching plan specially tailored for your needs. There is also a practice green and a club-fitting service for any important equipment adjustments.
La Cala Resort is an exclusive residential and recreational estate of approximately 1,000 acres (4 million square metres), situated between the Sierra de Mijas Natural Park and the Mediterranean. Although located in a tranquil area, the resort is only 20 minutes from Marbella and 30 minutes from Malaga Airport.
Since its creation in 1989, the development concept at the resort has been one of low density in order to maximise the privacy for residents and to protect the resort’s special rustic environment. High-quality apartments, semi-detached homes, villas and plots are available for purchase. The principal facilities within the estate include a luxury hotel with a spa opening later this spring.
Dutch Ladies Squad in La Cala Resort
The Dutch national ladies golf squad have spent a week in a training camp at La Cala Resort, Mijas. The girls who range in age from 17 to 23 were preparing for the European and World Championships. All are scratch players and are considering professional careers. Three other squad members could not make the trip as they are pursuing scholarships at universities in the USA and Scotland.
This was the first time the squad held a training week in La Cala and National Coach Cees Renders said: “This was an excellent trip and very well organised. The complex suits us very much. The greens on the North Course are great and smaller than many of the courses we play, therefore encouraging accuracy. The facilities are great. I had stayed here in a private capacity on many occasions and I recommended it to the Dutch Federation. They inspected the resort earlier this year and I am hopeful that we will return for many years. It really is a fantastic place.”
The visit of the ladies squad follows earlier training camps by the Dutch national men’s squad and the junior panel in the resort during February. Other national panels using La Cala Resort for training camps this winter are: the Irish national ladies squad, the English ladies U-21 and U-18 squads and the U-18 select squad. The resort is also the winter headquarters of the Swedish Golf Federation.
Photo caption: (L to R) Joyce Heyster (Captain), Kyra van Leeuwen, Monique van der Linden, Marjet van der Graaff, Marie-Louise Weeda, Laura Winkleman, Cees Renders (Coach).
Third Property Agencies Golf Challenge at La Cala Resort
The Third Property Agencies Golf Challenge at La Cala Resort, held on Wednesday March 1st, was an outstanding success with over 70 players participating, representing over 30 real estate agencies from the whole Costa del Sol.
The competition was a fourball betterball stableford and was held on the North Course. Two of the resort’s latest developments, Real Altavista and Monte Alto overlook the back nine of the course.
The event witnessed some fine scoring with the top prize going to Graham Hart and Lee Evans of Andalusian Dream Homes (ADH) with 46 points. They won on handicap from Mark Rose and Russel Hodgson of Dallimore Marbella, on the same score.
Results:
Graham Hart &Lee Evans (ADH) 46 points
Mark Rose & Russel Hodgson (Dallimore Marbella) 46 points
Tom Harper & Bradley Smith (Blue Sky Homes) 44 points
Bernd Dellwig & Jarez Dias (La Cala Resort) 42 points
Carlo Mason & Richard Zulke (Blue Sky Homes) 41 points
Andrew George & Mike Smith (T5 Estates) 41 points
Closest-to-pin Chris McCarthy (Viva Estates)
Longest Drive Tom Harper
Irish Ladies train at La Cala Resort
The Irish ladies national golf squad has held a week long warm weather training camp at the largest golf resort in Spain - La Cala Resort in Mijas, Malaga. The 10 person squad was led by captain Lilian Starrett and national coach David Kearney.
“It is a terrific opportunity to start the season early and concentrate on the short game, which could not be achieved to the same extent in Ireland due to the weather conditions at this time of the year,” commented Lilian Starrett this week.
“The facilities on-site are second to none – three golf courses, the David Leadbetter Academy practice facilities and the hotel. Time is valuable on a week like this and the facilities and the professionalism of the staff ensured a tremendous amount of ground-work was achieved in advance of a busy season,” she added.
In addition to the Home Internationals, Ireland will send teams to the U21 & U18 European Team Championships in mid-July.
The panel of Senior and underage players was joined by national coach David Kearney who stressed the importance of individual physical fitness and short game technique at this time of year. This is the second consecutive year that the ILGU have opted for La Cala Resort as an ideal location to train their high performance athletes and plan to return next year. The complex is owned by the Irish insurance company, FBD Holdings plc.
III Parent & Child Trophy at La Cala Resort is big success
The III Parent & Child Trophy held on Easter Sunday at La Cala Resort, Mijas, Malaga was a big success with over 30 pairs taking part on the South Course. The competition allows parents to play with their children in a ‘greensomes’ medal format where they take every second shot. Organised by the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, with sponsorship from Bloc sunglasses and Ecco shoes, it is hugely successful and growing in popularity every year.
The trophy went to Alan Jewett & Sean Jewett on a nett score of 64. They won by 6 shots from Urban Lilja Robsahm and Leonardo Axel Lilja on 70. A separate category for non-related pairings went to Juan Rosa Rueda and Adrian Ronning on 70. Longest drive on the 13th went to Cecilia Gimilio Barbosan and nearest the pin on the 3rd going to Adrian Ronning.
Photograph of the winners taken at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy.
Bobby Davro Celebrity Golf Challenge at La Cala Resort
The annual Bobby Davro Celebrity Golf Challenge in aid of the UK-based charity, the Rhys Daniels Trust will be held at Spain’s biggest golf resort, La Cala Resort, Mijas, Málaga, from Thursday, June 1st to Sunday, June 4th. This is an extremely popular event and gives golfers the chance to tee it up with a showbiz celebrity or an idol from the world of sport. There are two rounds of golf planned on two of the resort’s three 18-hole courses, as well as a welcome dinner and the Butterfly Ball on Saturday night, June 3rd. Last year it raised over £110,000 (€160,000).
Already confirmed amongst the players are: Bobby Davro, Kenny Lynch, Roger Kitter, Dane Bowers, James Hewitt, Bob Wilson, Ian St John, Clayton Blackmore, John Gregory, Mike Newell, Steve Sedgley and Glenn Hoddle.
The Rhys Daniels Trust provides dedicated ‘Home from Home’ accommodation close to regional hospitals around the UK for families to use free of charge whilst their child is receiving life saving, often long term treatment a long way from home. Founder and Chairman of the charity, Barry Daniels, experienced the need for this service when his son Rhys was undergoing a bone marrow transplant in Bristol.
Packages with accommodation start at €715 per player and without accommodation at €490. For more information call the Rhys Daniels Trust Office on (0044) 1992 570550.
ex-England player & manager Glenn Hoddle at La Cala Resort during last year’s staging of the event.
III ASGA Trophy at La Cala Resort
La Cala Golf Club members dominated proceedings at the III ASGA Trophy held on the resort’s North Course on Saturday, May 21st. The association is for senior golfers, men over 55 years of age and women over 50. Almost 70 players took part with the main prize in the men’s’ and ladies sections going to La Cala members.
The Men’s Category 1 was won by the current La Cala captain, Bob Gordon. Playing off 18, he recorded 40 points to win by four from his vice-captain and ASGA president, Francisco Cervilla. The Category 2 was won by Robert Muller with 34 points off 24 handicap. The Ladies section also went to a La Cala member. Carin Olsson recorded 39 points off a 16 handicap to win by three from Shirley Ulliott.
Francisco Cervilla commented, “We had a great day and it was enjoyed by all. The course and the meal after the competition were both excellent.”
La Cala is one of 18 courses in Andalucía played by the association every year.
Photograph of the winner and runner up in Mens Category 1. (L to R: Francisco Cervilla & Bob Gordon)
Menschen Fur Menschen competition at La Cala Resort
On Thursday May 25th La Cala Resort, Mijas hosted a golf competition to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Menschen Fur Menschen (Humans for Humans) organisation and to raise funds for Ethiopia. The individual stableford competition was played on Campo Europa, one of three 18-hole courses in Spain’s largest golf resort. This was the first golf competition organised by the association. Event organiser Hatrry Scheller said it was a wonderful day. “Everything was great and we plan to hold more fundraising competitions in the future. We would love to return to La Cala, since everything is so professional at the resort.”
Menschen Fur Menschen was established by Karlheinz Bohm in 1981. The only son of orchestra conductor Prof. Dr. Karl Bohm and the singer Thea Linhard, he is a famous actor and achieved worldwide fame in the role of Emperor Franz-Joseph playing alongside Romy Schneider in the Sissi films released between 1955 and 1957
In 1981 he founded the Menschen Fur Menschen organisation and since then has spent a number of months every year living in extreme conditions in Ethiopia. The rest of the year he holds press conferences and meetings to raise awareness of the work of his foundation in the country. He has now spent nearly 25 years working as an unpaid volunteer, inspired by what he describes as rage for the injustice and the shocking discrepancy that exists between the rich and the poor. For more information on the organisation visit www.mfm-online.org.
The annual Peter Stock Memorial fourball held at La Cala Resort, Mijas, Málaga produced a most interesting and historic result when played in early June. This is one of the most prestigious events in the La Cala calendar and is a mixed, strokeplay fourball played over two days. For the first time ever the top three were all father & son combinations. Brian and Michael Gray won on 126, from David and Neil Millar on 128 with Damian Murphy Senior and Junior third on 133. The fourball was the last event in a week of competitions organised annually by Peter Stock’s widow, Joan.
La Cala Resort is now Spain’s largest golf resort with 60 quality holes divided between three 18-hole courses and a 6-hole par three layout. It is located between Marbella and Malaga airport.
Media Tournament returns to La Cala Resort
The ninth edition of the prestigious Gran Premio de España for the communications media returns to La Cala Resort on Saturday June 24th and Sunday 25th. This is one of the most important events of the year for the national media and over 130 players took part last year, including some of the biggest names in the world of Spanish journalism. These included Antena 3 news anchorman Matias Prats and Golf+ presenter Iñigo Dago, who are both returning this year. Last year was the first time the competition was held at La Cala and its return marks a major coup for the resort as this is one of the most prestigious events in the Spanish media and golfing calendar.
The competition will take place on two of the resort’s three 18-hole courses, Campo America (formerly North Course) and Campo Europa.Last year overall victory went to the satellite channel Golf +. They will defend their title and other confirmed teams include: TV3, Canal Sur, Antena 3, TVE1 & 2, Tele 5 and El Pais.
The event is sponsored by Audi and also promoted by the Junta de Andalucía and most of the players will stay in Hotel La Cala. Last year’s event was also filmed by Golf + for transmission on Canal 51.
Sixth David Leadbetter Championship is major success
The sixth David Leadbetter Junior Championship held at La Cala Resort’s Campo Asia on Sunday July2nd in Mijas was a major success with over 50 youngsters taking part. Limited to under-22s, the event was a vindication of the commitment of La Cala and the Leadbetter Academy to the development of junior golf in the area.
Head Teaching Instructor and Director of the Leadbetter Academy, Quintin ven der Berg said, “Since the inception of our first tournament in 2000 each year our junior event has grown into what has now become a regular fixture on the golfing calendar. The David Leadbetter Golf Academy is continually working to promote and develop junior golf within Spain, for this reason we have also recently launched our Club 20 and Future Stars Program. This will enable all junior golfers the opportunity to develop their game / skills irrespective of their standard of play”. For more information please contact the academy. Tel 952 66 9037 or e-mail lacala@imgworld.com
There was a wide range of prizes on offer and all the players also received a green fee for the La Cala par 3 course, free entrance to the Tivoli World amusement park in Benalmádena and to the Crocodile Park in Torremolinos.
RESULTS/RESULTADOS
Medal Play, 18 holes/hoyos
Handicaps 0—15
1ª Categoría – Girls/Chicas
1. Carly Bounton72 strokes/golpes
2. Lindsey Wilson81 golpes
2ª Categoría – Boys/Chicos
1. Gordian Barry70 golpes
2. Leonardo Lilja71 golpes
3. Connor Barry74 golpes
Stableford, 18 holes/hoyos
1ª Boys/Chicos, Handicaps 16—24
1. Greg Garrood36 points/puntos
2. Oliver Wilcox34 puntos
3. Bradley Gilks33 puntos
2ª Boys/Chicos, Handicaps 25—36
1. Daniel Porter51 puntos
2. Jack Garrood44 puntos
3. Jake Rose39 puntos
3ª Girls/Chicas, Handicaps 16—36
1. Aoife Barry31 puntos
Stableford, 9 hoyos
Handicaps 37-48
2ª Categoría – Boys/Chicos
1. Guillermo Moreno Pina20 puntos
2. Jordan Hodgson19 puntos
3. Jose I. Martin Rebollo 17 puntos
3ª Categoría – Boys & Girls without official handicapsChicos & Chicas sin handicap oficial
1. Bryan Candon Pineda 18 puntos
Overall Winners/Ganadores Absolutos
Leading Scratch Result, 18 holes Medal/Mejor Resultado Scratch Medal Play, 18 Hoyos
