The Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters celebrates its tenth edition, all held in the Sotogrande area (San Roque), and returns to the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande with a spectacular line-up led by Jon Rahm, a two-time major winner and the top-ranked Spanish player in the world. All of this was discussed at the tournament presentation, where spectators were encouraged to enjoy it from October 17 to 20.
Once again, representatives of the entities and institutions related to the tournament took advantage of the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters presentation to demonstrate their closeness to golf. Once more, through a professional tournament, this sport shows its roots and clearly demonstrates its tourism, economic, promotional, and cultural potential. It is the sixth year that Estrella Damm, the premium beer brand of the Spanish company Damm, gives its name to the tournament and reaffirms its connection and support for the sport and golf.
Kostka Horno, manager of the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, wanted to highlight the club’s history and the players who feature in the record of tournaments held at the Cadiz club. The impeccable course by Robert Trent Jones, the first European design by this renowned architect, returns to the forefront of golfing news.
“The Estrella Damm NA Andalucía Masters offers us a great opportunity to showcase our course to the world, a gem by Robert Trent Jones from 1964, completely restored in 2015, which many fans were unaware of. We have a great tradition in amateur competition thanks to the Copa Sotogrande, but it had been 40 years since we hosted a professional tournament.”
“We are confident that this second edition will be a great success like last year and will help us position ourselves among the best courses, as well as boost Sotogrande and San Roque as a golf destination.”
There have already been 66 DP World Tour tournaments held on Andalusian soil, to which must be added events such as the recent Solheim Cup, the Ryder Cup, or a good number of other professional circuits. Additionally, Andalusia is a regular host of high-level amateur events such as the Copa Sotogrande, also held at the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, all initiatives that clearly demonstrate the close relationship between Andalusia and golf.
“Golf tourism is fundamental in our strategy due to its ability to counteract seasonality. For the first time, we have managed to grow the first and third quarters of the year more than the second, which corresponds to the summer months,” indicated Arturo Bernal, Minister of Tourism and Exterior Andalusia of the Junta de Andalucía.
“We receive a million players a year who generate revenues of 2 billion euros and provide jobs for around 50,000 people. Golf is an industry in Andalusia and we are now working especially to attract Generation Z, which is the future.”
“Golf is also a model of sustainability, and this course is an example. 80% of the 120 Andalusian courses irrigate with reclaimed water, and the rest do not because they still lack the necessary infrastructure. The commitment of the golf sector to the environment is undeniable.”
José María Zamora, tournament director of the DP World Tour, gave a comprehensive overview of the tournament’s line-up and wanted to highlight the importance of its position in the calendar, as it will be vital for those fighting to enter the circuit’s play-offs.
“I would like to highlight the enormous contribution to golf made by the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande thanks to the Copa Sotogrande, one of the best amateur tournaments played and won by many DP World Tour players.”
“This year we are going to host a new event of the G4D Tour (Golf for Disabled), the circuit for players with disabilities that shows the most inclusive side of golf.”
José Crespo, president of the Committee of Professionals of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, emphasized the importance of tournaments like the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters for fans, and their value in popularizing golf and complementing the initiatives launched by federations such as the Andalusian one.
“From the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, we highlight the importance of a tournament like the Estrella Damm NA Andalucía Masters to promote this sport among the youngest and develop talent.”
“It is impressive the number of boys and girls who play golf in this area and will have the opportunity to see their idols up close. The golf talent pool is vital, and this tournament is a great boost to our sport.”
Paula Conesa, third vice president of the Provincial Council of Cádiz, also wanted to emphasize the weight that initiatives like the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters have in the promotional strategy of the institution she represents.
“This tournament contributes significantly to increasing the prestige of our province and making it a benchmark in organizing major events.”
“Next week we are going to be the European capital of golf, and that is a very important lever for tourism throughout the province. There is no better marketing campaign.”
Finally, Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix, mayor of San Roque, closed the event by emphasizing the character of his municipality and the weight that golf has in its history, marked by the courses it hosts and the significance of the tournaments they host.
“San Roque is an unparalleled golf destination with nine extraordinary courses, including a municipal one, La Cañada, which has a school attended by more than 300 children. Additionally, we enjoy 300 days of sunshine a year and an average temperature of 24 degrees.”
“We have great experience in hosting major golf tournaments, and the important thing is to extend the sporting and tourism impact far beyond the competition days. The tournament has a potential audience of over 400 million viewers worldwide.”
“I encourage all fans to come and enjoy not only golf but also our gastronomic and leisure offerings.”
As all the members of the presidential table made clear, the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters has become a powerful sporting, cultural, and tourism engine for San Roque, Cádiz, and Andalusia, attracting quality tourism and becoming a global reference.
Its position in the calendar, in the decisive phase of the season (in the so-called Back 9 of the DP World Tour calendar), has allowed it to attract a top-level line-up featuring the best Spanish players and a good number of international stars.
Among them is the presence of Jon Rahm, a two-time major winner and the best Spanish player in the world ranking, Ángel Hidalgo, champion of the Open de España recently held in Madrid, Adrián Otaegui, winner of the tournament in 2022, or the internationals Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard, Matteo Manassero, Niklas Norgaard, Victor Perez, Thorbjorn Olesen, or Matt Wallace.
