Premier Golf’s International Pro-Am in Spain
The chic, sun-splashed resort town of Marbella on Spain’s Costa del Sol was the destination for Premier Golf’s 8th international Pro-Am in May. From its famous La Fontanilla Beach to its historic Old Town, Marbella is a spectacular headquarter city for golfers.
“It was a terrific week of beautiful scenery, great golf and camaraderie and fabulous food and fine wines,” said Ann Mabry, managing director of Premier Golf, who hosted the May 7th to May 13th event.
This was the second time this beautiful stretch of coast in Spain served as the site for the international pro-am. It was a huge hit back in 2012 for “The Bullfight”. Not surprisingly, the 2017 version was dubbed “The Bullfight II.”
The opulent, 5-Star Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa along Marbella’s Golden Mile was home for six nights for the group of 68 golfers. Enveloped by brightly colored flowers, lush foliage and palm trees, the Puente Romano has a beachside swimming pool, luxurious spa and botanical gardens.
There were fifteen teams from Florida and two teams from California. Five of the seventeen teams were comprised of ladies. The format was “Two Net Best Balls of Four” each day of the four round event.
The Florida teams were comprised of club professionals and players from clubs like Bellair Country Club in Clearwater, Avila in Tampa, Innisbrook in Tampa and Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando. California’s two teams were from the Grand Golf Club in San Diego.
To acclimate to the new time zone and surroundings, the group played a practice round at the Marbella Club Golf Resort course, a post card beautiful layout with mountain views and Mediterranean Sea panoramas.
The inspiring scenery put everybody in a great mood and well prepared to tee up for the friendly competition.
Tournament golf was played on some of Spain’s most impressive, highly-ranked courses such as Valderrama Golf Club, a former Ryder Cup site; Finca Cortesin, a wonderfully manicured and maintained layout that opened in 2006; La Riserva Golf Club, where lush green rolling hills, mountains and spectacular sea views are the draw and Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, a classic design by Robert Trent Jones that opened in 1964.
Away from the fairways, participants enjoyed dining in restaurants overlooking the cobblestone streets of Old Town Marbella and in the decidedly upscale coastal village of Puerto Banus, the Costa del Sol’s posh answer to Monte Carlo. Rimming a marina dotted with huge yachts, Puerto Banus is a gathering spot for Europe’s rich and famous.
“Puerto Banus was just ten minutes away from our resort and everyone enjoyed the great restaurants, bars and shopping there,” said Premier Golf sales consultant Chris Gurney. “It was a great place to unwind and soak up the local culture after playing golf all day.”
Led by Bay Hill Club professional Kevin Crawford, the winning team included Scott Elliott, Tyler Owen and Brian Faust.
The low professional overall winner was Cary Splane, director of golf at Marsh Creek Country Club in St. Augustine, Florida.
“Every year the pro-am just gets better and better,” said Mabry. “We always have so many good times on and off the courses and we make amazing lifelong memories.”
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The 2018 Premier Golf International Pro-Am, the ninth annual, will be staged June 3-9 in Northwest England. Dubbed “The Royals Pro-Am”, the exciting program includes play on five championship courses, including Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool and Royal Lytham & St. Annes as well as 6 nights accommodations at the Hard Days Night Hotel in Liverpool. Some of the amazing off-the-course activities include a night of revelry at The Cavern Club, where The Beatles got their start, and a spectacular awards dinner at Liverpool Cathedral.
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