December 21, 2022 – Clayton, DeVries & Pont (“CDP”) has announced that Gonzalo Fernández Castaño has joined the firm to become its representative in Spain.

CDP’s partners have designed, renovated or restored some of the world’s best golf courses. 4 of its clients are listed in GOLF Magazine’s World Top 100, namely, Royal Hague and Utrecht de Pan in The Netherlands, and Barnbougle Dunes and Cape Wickham Links in Australia.

Its 3 founding partners have over 90 years’ experience in the golf course architecture industry. With clients in 13 countries on 5 continents, its 10 man team is one of the world’s most experienced practitioners.

Its activities in Continental Europe are thriving. At present, 9 of its clients are listed in Golf World’s Top 100 for the region, namely, Puerta de Hierro (Spain), Le Touquet La Mer and Hardelot Les Pins (France), Royal Ostend (Belgium), Hamburg Falkenstein (Germany), and Royal Hague, Utrecht de Pan, Eindhoven and Swinkelsche (The Netherlands).

Its activities in Continental Europe are thriving. At present, 9 of its clients are listed in Golf World’s Top 100 for the region, namely, Puerta de Hierro (Spain), Le Touquet La Mer and Hardelot Les Pins (France), Royal Ostend (Belgium), Hamburg Falkenstein (Germany), and Royal Hague, Utrecht de Pan, Eindhoven and Swinkelsche (The Netherlands).

Thus far, CDP has covered the Spanish market from its offices in The Netherlands and Germany. Going forward, Gonzalo will act as its representative in the country spearheading activities in this important market.

Gonzalo Fernández Castaño, representative in Spain for CDP, says: “I am delighted to be joining the CDP team. I have seen Frank Pont’s excellent restoration work at first hand at Puerta de Hierro, my home club for many years, and I am looking forward to working with him and Hendrik Hilgert elsewhere in Spain. Golf architecture has fascinated me for a long time.”

“As a tournament professional, I have had the privilege of seeing and playing courses around the world, including many of the very best. I am sure that CDP can provide its proven expertise to many other owners, developers and operators of golf clubs here in Spain. Although I shall continue to play on tour, I shall be devoting a significant part of my remaining time focusing on CDP’s projects in Spain.”

Frank Pont, founding partner of CDP, says: “Gonzalo is not only one of Spain’s best-known professional golfers, he is also a great admirer of classic golf architecture and a real joy to work with. I am thrilled that he has agreed to join our team. I am confident that his contribution will make a major difference to CDP and will significantly strengthen and deepen our activities in the Spanish market.”

Hendrik Hilgert, head of CDP’s activities in Continental Europe, says: “Frank and I and the rest of our Europe-based team are very busy with projects in various European countries as well as assisting our American and Australian colleagues with projects further afield. It has long been our intention to spend more time focusing on the Spanish market. We are therefore really pleased that Gonzalo has agreed to join us and become our representative there.”

About CDP’s Spanish team::

Frank Pont is based in Utrecht in The Netherlands. Along with Mike Clayton and Mike DeVries, he is a founding partner of CDP. He spends most of his time in Europe and the UK but is also working on projects in the US and Asia. He began a long-term restoration project at Puerta de Hierro in Madrid in 2019. He has also worked with various other Spanish clubs including Neguri, Malaga, Aloha and Vista Hermosa.

Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño continues to play on the DP World Tour on which he has won seven times. He has played over 450 golf courses on all continents and has long had a keen interest in golf course architecture. He has joined the CDP team and is now its lead representative for Spain.

Hendrik Hilgert is based in Frankfurt, Germany. He co-founded CDP‘s business in Germany with Frank Pont and acts as head of its business for Continental Europe. He is currently working on projects in Germany, Belgium, Ireland and Vietnam.