GOLF FEATURE ALOHA GOLF Left to right: Rafael Fontán (President), Richard Katz (Former President), Angel Chacón (Green Keeper),François Pedrix (Vice-President), Jose Luis Mangas (Sport Director), Miguel Angel Jiménez (Best Spanish player), Fermín Muñoz (Restaurant Manager), and Luis Navarro (General Manager).
Aloha Golf 35 years of golfing excellence WORDS CHARLOTTE FERREY - PHOTOS GREGORY KORVIN
In 2008, the players of the European Tour ranked Aloha Golf N°1 in Europe for the best hospitality, catering and tournament facilities.
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loha Golf is in a prime location, in the heart of Nueva Andalucía’s prestigious Golf Valley, just a stone’s throw from Puerto Banús. The club opened in 1975, some 35 years ago, making it one of the most established and popular golf courses on the Costa del Sol. With superb facilities, Aloha Golf boasts an immaculate 18-hole par 72 course, a golf school, an 8-hole pitch and putt and a putting green. The superbly appointed clubhouse features a pro-shop, swimming pool, sauna and a bar and restaurant with large sunny terraces overlooking the golf course. Aloha’s 18-hole golf course was designed by Spain’s finest architect, Javier
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Arana, who has been responsible for the design and layout of many prestigious courses, including El Saler in Valencia and El Prat in Barcelona. Sadly, Javier died just before Aloha Golf first opened in 1975, making it his last golf course project during his hugely successful career. Aloha Golf was officially opened by Angel de La Riva, President of The Royal Andalucían Golf Federation who was the first person to drive the very first ball. In the early years, Aloha Golf Club was run by Banco de Bilbao, but in 1983 when real estate development projects surrounding the course were close to completion, the golf club began to transform into a social club for local residents and members. Since 1986, the club has been run by an
assembly of shareholders and influential club presidents have included Jose María Ibarrondo, Conde de Perlac, Colin Sheppard, Richard Katz and Jose Ignacio Abad Rico. Since February 2010, Mr Rafael Fontán Zubizarreta has been the club’s official President. Over the last 35 years, Aloha Golf has been honoured to welcome international royalty. The club has been enjoyed by HM Juan de Borbon, Prince Claus of Holland, Prince Edward of England and the King of Malaysia, to name but a few. Aloha Golf has become synonymous with international competitions and prestigious golfing events. Highlights include hosting the Spanish Amateurs Championship (1978), the Match Amateur (Spain v England 1993), the second International
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