Those Famous Spanish Golfers
December 2, 2009As I was having breakfast this morning I began to think about what it would be like to be a famous golfer like Tiger Woods. It’s funny how when one imagines such things our minds seem to travel in the direction of the U.S. and we often fail to remember the abundance of talent we possess on this side of the globe. Then I started to focus on each country in Europe and it suddenly struck me how many high class golfers have come out of Spain. We tend to receive so much hyped media from across the pond which focuses on American talent but, in reality, the European base of professional golfers is actually quite immense.
“To give yourself the best possible chance of playing to your potential, you must prepare for every eventuality. That means practice.”
These words of wisdom come from Spain’s Seve Ballesteros who is without a doubt one of the best golfers the world has ever known. He was also an excellent character to watch because of the high emotion he expressed towards his game and the passion for winning he displayed in tournament play. His skillful shooting has often been described as some of the highest quality plays the game has ever experienced. Seve has played golf since the age of 3 and it was a mixture of natural skill and pure determination that took him to the uppermost ranks of the game. He will be remembered as a legend in his home land.
José María Olazábal is also no slacker in terms of big contributions to the golf scene and in fact holds the world record for the putt completed over the longest distances when he made a shot which travelled the full length of a Concorde cabin (27 seconds). The plane was travelling at 1270 MPH affording him a total ball distance of just over 9 miles.
“I was just lucky enough to be born in the middle of a golf course. Before the course was built, that was a farm.”
And let’s not forget the highly talented Sergio García whose prowess has terrified and overshadowed some of Americas finest players. Sergio also began the game at the age of three and became famous for the “waggle” (gripping and releasing the shaft multiple times like it was a wet slippery fish) which he displays in the build up to a shot. Unfortunately, this often frustrated spectators who would sometimes yell for him to hurry up and “take the damn shot!” He also dated the famous tennis player Martina Hingis but remains a very wealthy bachelor with a passion for fast sports cars.
“My swing works for me, so why should I change it? I prefer to have a natural swing and play well rather than a perfect swing and not be able to play good.”
Spain is also a perfect paradise if you are thinking of a European golf vacation. They have some of the finest resorts in Europe one of which is the famous “La Manga Resort” which flaunts top class pampering with cutting edge, pristine golf courses. The region consists of three main golf courses. The South course, which had a revamp by the legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, is a tricky yet fair round of golf and definitely a memorable one. The North course, which is somewhat more difficult due to the “trick shots” which are often necessary, is more for the adventurous player. And the West course, which although possesses many par 3 holes making it more leisurely, also has very narrow fairways demanding more conservative tee shots. This resort is well worth checking as both the Spanish weather and hospitality must be experienced to be believed. Did I mention that the accommodation is top class? Combine that with top class 24 hour beach entertainment (including bars, restaurants and clubs) and you have a holiday to be remembered. Bienvenidos!
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