Tag Archives: Javier Reviriego

Golf Courses and resorts, Sustainable Golf

Sustainable Golf – The Real Club Valderrama, an example of environmental management

October 11, 2021 – Real Club Valderrama, an essential partner and venue for all the editions of the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters held to date, is a clear example that aesthetics can go hand in hand with competitive demands, a circumstance that is reflected year after year in the scoreboard. In addition, its magnificent presentation has been accompanied for more than 25 years by an impeccable environmental management, certified by international entities of recognized prestige.

Real Club Valderrama was the first golf course in Europe to obtain the Audubon International certificate of environmental excellence in 1995 and since then it has passed all the annual evaluations that confirm it as a reference in terms of commitment to the natural environment. In addition, the club also obtained the recognized ISO 14001 environmental management certificate in 2008.

Since its inception in 1992, the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP) has served to integrate biodiversity stewardship and environmental protection into the implementation of good housekeeping practices at golf courses. The environmental management system is based on the following elements: water conservation, environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, rational reduction in the use of chemicals, reduction in fuel consumption, and outreach and education.

Regarding water, in 2016 the Real Club Valderrama installed one of the most advanced irrigation systems in the world with which it achieved a 19% saving in consumption, but efforts in this area are constant, as Javier Reviriego, general manager of the club, explained.

“We have finished the construction of a 55,000 cubic metres lake that will collect rainwater and water from drains in the field. We will be able to fill it with rainwater during the winter and use it in the summer, which gives us a good buffer for consumption peaks,” Javier Reviriego points out.

“Then, in many areas of the field, especially areas that don’t come into play under the trees, we have decided to remove the irrigation to stop the grass from growing and replace it with crushed cork oak bark (mulch). Mulching allows us to save a lot of water, products and fertilizers. Technically, it looks very good and does not break up the natural landscape at all, and it has allowed us to cancel almost 400 sprinklers on the field without affecting the game”.

In addition to the water collected in the lakes, the irrigation water comes from its own wells approved and validated by the Confederación Hidrográfica del Sur, and the Sotogrande wastewater project is being developed, thanks to which the club will be able to use tertiary treated water from nearby towns to irrigate most of the course. In addition, the implementation of new grass varieties will also help to limit consumption.

“We are doing many tests with new varieties of grass that tolerate more the lack of water and shade, such as zoysia. These are varieties widely used in the United States in climates similar to ours and we have done a test in the short game area and, if it works, we will implement it in the rest of the course,” says the general manager of the Real Club Valderrama.

With respect to wildlife, a team of experts monitors the status of all existing wildlife species at the Real Club Valderrama and takes care of their protection in the various habitats and sanctuaries located on the course, inventorying and tracking them. In addition, the cork oak grove is regularly cleaned and pruned and more than 90% of the shrubs and flowers on the estate belong to plants native to the Mediterranean region. Wildlife habitats containing any endangered species of flora or fauna that are threatened by golfers and maintenance activities have been designated “environmentally sensitive areas” and golfers are not allowed access to them.

On the other hand, the maintenance machinery is equipped with GPS devices that monitor routes and applications to optimize the routes used on a daily basis. With this detailed monitoring, adjustments are made to the operators’ routes in order to reduce them and thus limit fuel consumption. In addition, the machinery fleet is being renewed with electric and hybrid devices, another measure aimed at reducing fuel use.

Since the 1980s, Real Club Valderrama has also been a pioneer in the monitored application of organic products for pest control and has progressively reduced the application of chemical products in a controlled manner, reducing their use until their total disappearance. At the same time, work is regularly carried out to improve soil health and advanced practices such as modification of organic content, aeration and improvement of water infiltration are carried out to maintain a living and heterogeneous biotic soil community.

Of course, golfer support for the environmental management program is essential for its long-term success, which is why the staff at Real Club Valderrama is particularly involved in communicating the importance of environmental management at conferences, forums and in the media. Awareness and dissemination of the projects undertaken are essential to avoid clichés and stereotypes and to ensure that the efforts of the club, and the world of golf, are well received by society.

Pictures: ©RC Valderrama

DP World Tour

European Tour – The Andalucia Masters has been postponed due to the ongoing threat posed by Coronavirus

March 17, 2020 – The Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation, which had been scheduled to tale place from April 30-May 3 at Real Golf Club Valderrama in Spain, has been postponed due to the ongoing threat posed by Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The decision was made in consultation with tournament stakeholders, the Junta de Andalucía, Real Club Valderrama, the Sergio Garcia Foundation and title sponsor Estrella Damm, in light of travel restrictions in Spain.

Discussions are ongoing with all parties looking into the possibility of rescheduling the tournament at a later date.

Javier Reviriego, the General Manager of Real Club Valderrama, said: “We are deeply concerned by the current developments related to Coronavirus and we believe postponing the event is the best decision. We will work jointly with the European Tour and our sponsors to find a new date in the calendar to host this fantastic golf tournament. All of us at Valderrama look forward to hosting players and fans when we put this exceptional situation behind us.”

Keith Pelley, European Tour Chief Executive, said: “We are all taking a day-by-day approach at the moment and we continue to assess the impact of Coronavirus on all our events, but following discussions with all parties involved, it was clear that postponing the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation at this point is the correct course of action. Public health and well-being remains the absolute priority for all of us.”

Fitting & Demo Days, Golf Companies, Golf Courses and resorts, Honma Golf

Honma Golf – Real Club Valderrama continues as official club of Honma Golf with new fittings

March 13, 2018 – Real Club Valderrama and Honma Golf, two premium brands in the golf industry, came together at the end of 2017 to improve the experience of playing golf at the iconic golf course. The golf clubs are for sale and rental at its award-winning pro-shop, and there are new fitting sessions coming up on 28th and 29th of March.

Real Club Valderrama, one of the top private golf clubs in the world, has a partnership agreement with Honma Golf that makes it an official club for the products of the prestigious Japanese brand. The multi-year contract includes preferential conditions for the new products of Honma in the golf shop, sets of rental golf clubs for different levels of play (the BERES 06 Series for men, seniors and ladies), and the use of the modern practice facilities at Valderrama to test the performance of its luxurious clubs.

“We are delighted to partner with a premium company like Honma. They are known for designing and crafting the finest golf clubs in the world and they are a perfect fit for our members”, said Javier Reviriego, CEO of Real Club Valderrama.

“We share many of the values that Honma is well known for and we are convinced that becoming an official partner will enhance our reputation as a club. We are excited about presenting the brand new Honma product range in our pro-shop. We will also be offering our worldwide visitors the possibility of renting Honma clubs to enhance their experience at Valderrama.”

Alejandro Sánchez, General Manager of Honma Golf Europe, commented: “We are extremely excited about introducing our products at Real Club Valderrama. We are convinced their members and visitors will enjoy testing and owning our handcrafted clubs and that they will take advantage of our personalized fitting sessions. It is a great honour to be associated with one of the most prestigious golf clubs in the world. We share the same respect for tradition and for the constant search of excellence and quality in golf.”

The new Honma Golf collection, with the BERES 06 and BeZEAL 535 Series of drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and irons, is now available at Real Club Valderrama. Various personalized fittings will be carried out throughout the year, the first this year taking place next Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th of March. These will be very exclusive sessions, for reduced groups and with no time limit, in which Honma Golf will recommend the most suitable product for each player. In these sessions, quality in customer service is the most important matter.

Follow all the news of Honma Golf in:

Golf Companies, Golf Courses and resorts, Sustainable Golf

Textron – RC Valderrama invest in the E-Z-GO ELiTE golf cars

September 7, 2017 – Real Club Valderrama, host of the 1997 Ryder Cup, is the first golf club in Spain, and one of the first in Europe to purchase a fleet of the recently launched E-Z-GO ELiTE golf cars. Local dealer Greenmowers made the delivery.

Real Club Valderrama has purchased 40 E-Z-GO RXV ELiTE golf cars with integrated Textron Fleet Management GPS (TFM GPS). The ELiTE series from E-Z-GO features Samsung SDI lithium batteries which require zero maintenance and comes with a five-year warranty. The new golf cars charge in half the time and require less out-of-wall power than leading lead acid competitors.

Javier Reviriego studied business administration and golf club management at Florida State University and has been the general manager at Valderrama for more than six years. Commenting on the new fleet, Javier said: “Valderrama has been setting the benchmark for golf courses across Spain and Europe since the 1980s. It is important that we continue to be ahead of the game and provide the best possible quality for our members. We invested in the E-Z-GO ELiTE series as the Samsung lithium batteries are a huge step forward. It is a new era for golf cars, and we are proud to be amongst the first to offer the new technology on the course.

“We first started using E-Z-GO five years ago. We tried other golf cars, but the quality of the E-Z-GO vehicles was the best. I first heard about the new ELiTE series at the PGA show in Orlando earlier this year, and I knew Valderrama had to be the first to invest in the new technology. As a club, we are very environmentally conscious, so the fact that the new golf cars take half the time to charge saves us a lot in energy.”

The batteries in the ELiTE vehicles are controlled by an advanced Battery Management System that monitors efficiency, temperature, state of charge and the health of the batteries. These batteries have been used to safely and reliably power electric cars, e-scooters and power tools, providing consistent performance that does not fade over time.

“The lighter batteries have significantly reduced the weight of the golf cars, which protects the turf on the course,” Javier Reviriego continued. “We spend a substantial amount of time and resources to present the best possible playing conditions, so this will certainly make a difference.”

Javier Ramírez, Managing Director at Greenmowers said: “We are pleased to have sold the first fleet of E-Z-GO ELiTE golf cars to Real Club Valderrama. It is a prestigious course, and it is a great honour to provide the club with the new vehicles. Greenmowers has had a relationship with Valderrama since 2003, and we look forward to supporting it for many more years to come.”

At the first picture, left, Javier Reviriego, General Manager at Real Club Valderrama with Javier Ramírez, Managing Director at dealer Greenmowers. At the second, a selection of the 40 E-Z-GO RXV ELiTE golf cars in front of the famous green of the 17th hole.

Golf Courses and resorts, Golf Turism

Costa del Sol – Course managers forecast a magnificent Year for Golf in 2015

Valderrama-Costa-del-Sol

Golf course managers highlight the good figures recorded in 2014 and predict a significant increase in the number of rounds played in 2015.

February 25, 2015 – Most of the Costa del Sol’s golf course managers are predicting a significant increase in the number of rounds played in 2015, with an improvement on the figures for 2014 – which was the best year for golf since the start of the crisis in 2009.

According to the IAGTO, Spain is the preferred destination for Europeans wanting to play golf, especially the Britons, Germans, Scandinavians and French, and within Spain the Costa del Sol continues to lead the way among European golfers’ preferences.

This privileged situation for the Costa del Sol, as Europe’s premier destination, is confirmed by almost all golf course managers in the area, who noticed an improving trend last year and envisage good prospects for 2015.

JAVIER RIVIRIEGO, general manager of Royal Valderrama Golf Club, says 2014 was clearly the best of the last six years, with an 18 per cent increase in revenue in comparison with 2013. In addition to more visitors, this rise was influenced by a higher average green fee and more sales in the shop. For 2015, the perspectives are “very good,” as the rate of bookings is even higher than in 2014.

LUIS NAVARRO, manager of Rio Real Golf, the Marbella club which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary, estimates an increase of 10 per cent in 2015, in both number of green fees and revenue, in comparison with 2014. Last year an increase of 6.6 and 6.7 per cent, respectively, was recorded in relation to 2013.

ULF SVENDSEN, manager of Los Arqueros, says revenue for 2014 was higher than for the previous four years, and the number of rounds also increased, to more than 36,000. For the current year, the perspectives are “even better”.

ANDRÉS SÁNCHEZ, manager of Atalaya Golf, indicates that in 2014 his club’s revenues rose by six per cent, and there were five per cent more rounds played at the two courses. As far as 2015 is concerned, he is optimistic. “The perspectives are good and we are hoping for two per cent higher revenue than in 2014.”

DAVID RAMOS BUTTERWORTH, manager of El Paraiso, notes that 2014 was “much better” than 2013, which had been a great year for the club, with revenue similar to that recorded in the years before the crisis. The perspectives for 2015 are “even better”.

MELISSA GALLARDO, commercial manager at Lauro Golf, says 2014 was a “year of recovery”, with an increase in the number European golfers compensating a fall in Spanish numbers. For the current year, the perspectives “are good for a boost to golf tourism”, although she is concerned about the construction of 15 golf courses in Morocco, “which is why we believe that only the application of appropriate tax measures -she is referring to IVAVAT- will enable us to remain a competitive market”.

MARCO POLACCI, official representative in Spain of the IAGTO, notes that “without a doubt 2014 was a better year than the previous one, with rises in general of three to six per cent in the number of golfers travelling to Spain. Golf tourism has been recovering since 2012, with small increases each year, and the same trend is forecast for 2015. There are areas in Andalucía which still haven’t recorded these rises and they need a little more time to reach sustainable levels.”

IGNACIO DEL CUVILLO, manager of Royal Guadalmina Golf Club, reports that in 2014 this Marbella club – with two 18-hole courses and one nine-hole short layout – recorded an increase of six per cent in the number of players in comparison with 2013. For this year, he predicts a 10 per cent rise in foreign golfer totals and five per cent in Spaniards.

ANDREAS HAGEMANN, international sales manager at Villa Padierna Golf Club – a complex with three 18-hole courses (Flamingos, Alferini and Tramores) and the Michael Campbell Academy – says that in 2014 the number of golfers rose by eight per cent and revenue by 13 per cent in comparison with 2013. For the current year, he forecasts growth of eight per cent in player numbers and 15 per cent in revenue.

Picture ©Michael Denker