Next week, Paula Hurtado from Colombia, will be playing in the ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters, at the headquarters of the Ladies European Tour, Buckinghamshire Golf Club, just a few miles from London.
Although she will be thousands of miles from home, she can count on the support of her boyfriend, Ricardo Nabarro, a 6-handicap golfer, as he acts as her full time caddie when she competes in tournaments. The ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters will be particularly special as it’s an event for all the family to enjoy.
Paula, tell us how you met Ricardo.
I was playing in a tournament at our home club, El Rodeo, in the city of Medellin, which has two courses. We met over there and started going out. There were a couple of tournaments in the US and Ricardo was going to caddie for Monday qualifying and after that, it’s really fun to have your boyfriend travelling with you. If you have someone who knows how to play golf and has been playing for a long time, it’s very nice.
How does he help you on the golf course?
Paula: I have a hot temper on the course so sometimes it’s hard to handle me, but he knows how to do it, so it’s fine. I love travelling with Ricardo, even if he’s caddying or not. I like to be with somebody. By yourself is really hard.
Ricardo: I enjoy it a lot. All the time, we go to a tournament and we try to have fun and enjoy it. I try to help the most I can. Sometimes we have troubles on the course but it’s funny and I like it.
How are you enjoying your time on the LET?
Paula: I love it. Actually, compared to some tours I think this is the one that is more of a family and we all know each other. Everyone says hi to you and the people in the organisation are really nice. They try to help you all the time. Sometimes when I play on other tours I feel lonelier than here, because here I feel like I have a family.
What is the best part?
Paula: We go to some many cool countries and you never see such amazing things and fun places. You can bring your family to explore the areas and the resorts.
Ricardo: Everything on the Ladies European Tour is amazing. I like it very much. The only thing for us is that it’s very far away, but I prefer 100 per cent the LET than other tours because when Paula says family, all the people are so friendly and want to help you. The staff from the LET are very friendly amazing people and you can talk, speak and go out. I like it.
What makes the LET different to other tours?
Paula: You see all of the girls, when people ask for an autograph or something, they just sign and they have no problem, even if they have a bad day on the course, they still have time for people. There are no barriers. I’ve had a lot of problems with my trips and sometimes arriving to tournaments late and the staff has been very helpful.
Would you recommend coming to a tournament?
Ricardo: Of course, 100 per cent. If they want to have great fun, then they can. I recommend it to people to come along.
Paula: I recommend to come and watch the players, walk on the course and have fun.
When I was seven none of my family played golf. All of his family are golfers, but my family, there is no-body. Our home course has different sports so I just started playing by myself and I liked it. Most kids have different tempers, so when somebody doesn’t like too much action, golf is the perfect one.
Buy tickets for the ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters at http://tickets.sky.com/Golf/.
More information: www.ladieseuropeanmasters.com.
