Aloha Golf will host the Open de Andalucía for the third time in 2012 with a strong international field returning to one of the Costa del Sol’s most prestigious and long established venues.
As one of Spain’s most well renowned golf course architects, Javier Arana died nine months before the course was completed, but his stamp remains all over the layout which sports a selection of beautiful tree and plants that are assured to blossom throughout the year.
One of the standout examples of this rich flora and fauna on show at Aloha grows on, and lends its name to, the 13
th
hole. The centenary Carob tree in question, pictured above, was also named the ‘Best Botanical Specimen on the Costa del Sol in 2006.
This final Arana design is therefore guaranteed to provide beautiful views, while also ensuring a stern test, with tight fairways that demand accurate shot making as well as green complexes which require particularly strategic approach play.
Lee Westwood won the inaugural event in 2007 round this layout, and he is quick to praise its design, saying: “Aloha is a traditional course, where instead of booming drives you need to use your head, as well as all the clubs in the bag. This is a course that makes you think.”
This is a sentiment echoed by the man who followed in Westwood’s victorious footsteps a year later: “Aloha suits my game perfectly, I’m a big fan of the course” says Frenchman Thomas Levet. “When I won the Open de Andalucía (in 2008), I felt it had been built specially for me.”
The event will once again be promoted by Spanish golfing hero, and Costa del Sol resident, Miguel Ángel Jiménez who is quick to praise the event’s return, after two years up the coast at the Parador de Malaga Golf.
“Aloha has a fantastic maintenance team and the course is always in top condition – It’s not long, but it is very technical”, said Jiménez. “This is one of my favourite golf clubs and the people here are great.”
Overall this will be the sixth staging of the event on Spain’s southern sunshine coast, and after a three year hiatus, Aloha Golf will welcome back the cream of European golf for what is set to be a beautiful, yet testing, week.
