The world’s third logical golf learning centre has opened at Golf Son Gual, Mallorca’s leading golf course.
Created by South African golf professional Robert Baker, logical golf is a simple teaching method that focuses on visualising the complex golf techniques and develops a greater understanding of the bio-mechanics involved in making a solid swing.
Baker has used the logical golf programme to work with – among others – four-time Major winner and former world number one Ernie Els; actors Sylvester Stallone, Michael Douglas and Samuel L Jackson; and sports stars Nigel Mansell, Charles Barkley and Wladimir Klitschko.
Currently there is only one other logical golf centre in Europe – in Munich – although a third is being created in Monte Carlo backed by financial support from the Monegasque royal family.
The Son Gual centre is ideal for golfers wishing to improve, whether they are beginners wishing to learn the basics or tour professionals looking to enhance particular elements of their game. Indeed, players of all standards have already booked intensive training weekends and weeks, while the centre has also been earmarked for winter training for national golf teams. The centre also includes a golf gym for improving fitness and a club-fitting facility to ensure maximum benefit is gained from the enhanced performance.
Golf professional Tim Holroyd, who runs the logical golf centre at Son Gual, said: “The location of the centre, at a championship venue like Son Gual, is perfect. It means that not only can we host intensive sessions for amateurs, but professionals can also come here and feel comfortable because the course is comparable with many Tour venues.”
His sentiments were echoed by European Tour pro Chris Wood, who visited Son Gual recently and wrote on his blog: “The place (Son Gual), which is just outside Palma, is immaculate, while the course is similar to the ones we play on tour.”
The €30m Son Gual golf course opened in 2007 and features large lakes, 66 bunkers, 800 olive trees – some over a thousand years old – wild flowers in the rough areas and vineyards in several areas around the course. Just four years after Golf Son Gual opened, it was recognised by Golf World magazine as the number one on the island and ninth best in Spain.
In May 2009 it hosted the Mallorca Senior Open and received gushing praise from a number of the participants: former Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam even compared the greens to those at Augusta National.
The 1991 Masters winner said: “It’s a bit like Augusta. There are a lot of slopes on the greens. You’ve got to get the ball on the right side of the hole – if you don’t you’ll be struggling. Miss it on the wrong side and you’re dead.”
Tennis superstar Rafael Nadal, who was born on the island and lives locally when not on tour, is a frequent visitor to Son Gual when his schedule allows and the club is a founder member of the Leading Golf Courses of Spain group – a guarantee of high standards.
Golf Son Gual www.son-gual.com