Renowned for its attention to detail, Finca Cortesin Hotel, Golf & Spa has won further acclaim after completing a comprehensive summer upgrade of its greens – to become the first golf course in Spain to feature a new, environmentally-friendly type of Bermuda grass on all its putting surfaces.
The exclusive Andalucian resort has put its putting surfaces on a par with some of the most famous venues in the game after relaying all 18 greens on its championship course, as well as the practice putting green, with a new variety of Ultra Dwarf Bermuda grass.
With the new grass being grown at a nursery in Plasencia, Caceres, in the centre of Spain, disruption for golfers was kept to a minimum with the course fully reopening barely a month after work began.
Some of the world’s most prestigious venues including Sawgrass, Quail Hollow and East Lake Golf Club have enjoyed huge success since converting to Ultra Dwarf Bermuda grass greens, and Finca Cortesin has received glowing praise from golfers who have already enjoyed the improved five-star golfing experience.
Michael Lenihan, publisher of Golf Management Europe magazine, who visited the resort at the start of the month, said: “I’ve travelled a lot to southern Europe this year, and I have to say that not too many courses I’ve played compare to the high standards that Ignacio Soto and his greenkeeping team have aspired to at Finca Cortesin.
“I was one of the first members of the golfing media to play the course following the summer renovation project, and I found the greens true and fast which, given the fact they were hollow-tined less than 72 hours before I played, was quite remarkable.
“The overall condition and presentation of the course was first-rate, and comfortably on a par with some of the very best in the area, if not across Europe. Finca Cortesin is a truly world-class facility, both on and off the course.”
Designed by American Cabell Robinson, Finca Cortesin’s renowned par-72 championship course has hosted numerous high-profile professional and amateur tournaments including the Volvo World Match Play Championship in 2009, 2011 and 2012.
In addition to renovating its putting surfaces, the resort has also undertaken a comprehensive bunker drainage improvement programme this summer to reconstruct its bunkers using the renowned Better Billy Bunker system.
Finca Cortesin Hotel, Golf & Spa www.fincacortesin.com