Each week the European Tour travels throughout Europe and beyond to some of the world’’s finest golf courses with pristine greens and fairways expertly prepared to meet the high standards required to host a Tour event. But many of the courses only meet those lofty standards thanks to the expertise of the European Tour Agronomy Department.
In the months preceding the Turespaña Masters - Open Andalucía, the Parador Malaga del Golf course was transformed from a holiday resort course to a venue equipped to host world-class players in pursuit of a first-class event thanks to the work of the European Tour’’s Agronomy Division, led by Richard Stillwell, and the co-operation and commitment from Paradores.
When European Tour representatives first visited the course in November there was barely a 50% covering of grass on a course pounded by over 300 rounds a day. A total of 15 greens had been relaid, and although 14 were in reasonable condition, one of the greens had only been relaid in October but had not been finished.
Over the next few weeks a programme was drawn up by Stillwell and some 3 million pesetas invested by Paradores to upgrade the course. Greenkeeping Assistant Martin O’’Rawe moved on site for three months to implement the programme.
Tournament director Miguel Vidaor and Stillwell made the decision to reseed the whole course, including all the fairways, semi-rough and rough, and to level all the tees. Three had to be rebuilt while the remaining 15, at one stage unplayable, were levelled. The unfinished green was completed while the tenth green, one of the three originals, was brought up to the standard of new greens.
After a visit from Miguel Angel Jiménez, who lives just a few miles from the course, it was agreed to change the layout back to its original design, altering the eighth to a par four and the 14th to a par five.
Aeration and spike equipment, overseeders and scarifiers were purchased while other essential equipment was loaned from Textron. All the bunkers were re-edged and many re-defined after spreading beyond their original boundaries. All had to be cut out and turf laid around the edges. Sprinkler heads had sunk so had to be levelled.
Meanwhile the club gave their full co-operation and support to the work to aid the transformation of the course. The number of players allowed on the course was reduced to 100 per day and the course was closed completely ten days before the event.
"Our main decision was to revert to the original design," said Vidaor. "Miguel Angel Jiménez made a few suggestions to change the course which we implemented. But without the commitment from the club none of the work would have been possible."
Despite a cold winter the grass began to grow and Stillwell was able to move in and shape the fairways, transforming the course into a championship venue.
"It just shows what can be done with total co-operation and commitment from the host club," said Stillwell. "Our objective is to make sure each course improves year on year. You can’’t rely on the fact that because a course has hosted a tournament in the past it will still be up to scratch. That is not always the case. Over the past 14 years we have developed a relationship with most of the courses visited by the European Tour and they have learned to trust us. We are all striving towards the same goal - to provide the best possible courses for each and every tournament."
David Garland, Director of Tour Operations, added: "Our Agronomy Department, under the direction of Richard Stillwell, has yet again, as they have done over the last 10 years, completely transformed the golf course into a condition that is suitable for a European Tour event.
"The co-operation and commitment shown by Paradores in providing the majority of the funding and embracing the programmes of work set out by Richard and implemented by Martin O’’Rawe must be commended."
