Official presentation opens the LET’s season-ending tournament at La Quinta Golf & Resort on the Costa del Sol
With over 70 golf courses, the Costa del Sol – also known as the Costa del Golf – is the top European destination for golf lovers. There are very few locations that combine so many attractions in the same place like the province of Málaga does: outstanding golfing facilities, the wide range of activities on offer and an excellent climate that means you can play golf all year round.
Golf is an important driver of wealth and employment in the region and the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España Femenino, which will be played at La Quinta Golf & Resort from Thursday, will be a sporting spectacle of the highest level.
Representatives of the main tournament sponsors, Tourism and Sport Andalucía, Tourism Costa del Sol and the Municipalities of the Western Costa del Sol, gathered to lend their support to the tournament at an official presentation on Monday.
Andalusia is the Spanish region with the most golf courses (nearly 120), including 74 which stretch along the coastline of the Costa del Sol, from Nerja right down to Sotogrande.
Monsalud Bautista, Malaga’s Regional delegate of Culture, Tourism and sport in Andalucía, stressed the importance of hosting world-class events in the region, saying: “This important tournament shows the capacity of Andalusia as a whole and the Costa del Sol in particular to host events of the highest international level. We are hospitable, we are able to offer an image of an advanced and committed society, in this case through top sporting competitions, and local girls are going to be very close to their idols, which will encourage them to follow and continue practising sport for the long term.”
Arturo Bernal, General Director of tourism of the Costa del Sol, continued: “This Spanish Women’s Open is a clear example of public-private co-responsibility, and our efforts to create large events with guaranteed success. More than 22,000 people came to last year’s tournament, which highlights its direct impact.
“Golf is a tourist and economic activity of the first magnitude for the Costa del Sol – Costa del Golf. More specifically, 62% of the women’s golf events are made in our region thanks to the recognition of institutions and federations, a clear positioning that I hope generates many more joys in the near future.”
Bernal concluded by wishing the local players the best of luck and dedicated the tournament to the memory of the young Spanish golfer, Celia Barquín, who recently passed away in tragic circumstances in the USA.
Gonzaga Escauriaza, president of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, added: “Celia united us not only through her talent, but also through her joy and infectious smile, and she undoubtedly had the talent to be here, today.”
He continued: “There have been 16 editions of the Spanish Women’s Open, since 2002, and the results are there. This time, we would like to highlight not only the presence of Azahara Muñoz and other Spanish players of great quality, including Luna Sobrón and Maria Parra, but also the presence of great legends like Laura Davies. It is an excellent opportunity to see her play, a real gift for everyone,” he said, in the presence of Pablo Mansilla, president of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, and Mark Lichtenhein, Chairman of Ladies European Tour.
Manuel Cardeña, CEO of Acosol, pioneers in the use of recycled water on golf courses in Europe, highlighted the magnificent opportunity posed by this sporting event to highlight “the importance of golf course irrigation through recycled water. Golf is a sector that represents many jobs and generates wealth for the whole of Andalusian society, so we are obliged to champion projects like this Spanish Open. We are delighted to be supporting female golf of the highest level.
“We are responsible for 500 golf courses which are irrigated with regenerated water, which is not only good for the environment, but increases prosperity,” he added.
José Luis Gómez, managing director of La Quinta Golf & Country Club, thanked all the parties involved for selecting La Quinta as the venue for the Spanish Open, which will showcase the region to the world.
In addition to the Spanish Women’s Open, the Costa del Golf has also hosted major international tournaments such as the Ryder Cup, the Volvo Masters, the AmEx World Championships, the Volvo World Match Play Championships, the World Cup of Golf, the official presentation opens the LET’s season-ending tournament at La Quinta Golf & Resort on the Costa del Sol.
