Tag Archives: RCG El Prat

DP World Tour

DP World Tour – All the data you need to know about the 2026 Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship

May 4, 2026 – The DP World Tour is coming to Europe for the first time this season, with the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship taking place from May 7-10 at the Real Club de Golf El Prat (Barcelona). Tickets (with a 25% discount for federation members, 50% off for young people aged 13 to 17, and free entry for children under 13) can be purchased here or at El Prat ticket office throughout the tournament.

  • This is the first edition of the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship, the tournament that kicks off the DP World Tour’s European Swing and marks the start of the Road to Ryder Cup 2031. The five editions of this tournament will serve as the ideal prelude to the 2031 Ryder Cup, to be held at the Camiral resort.
  • The Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship brings together 156 participants and offers $2,750,000 in prize money and 3,500 Race to Dubai points (585 for the winner).
  • The opening day of the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship, on 7 May, will coincide with the fifteenth anniversary of the passing of Severiano Ballesteros. On this date, tribute will be paid to Seve, an indispensable figure who transformed the history of golf. His passing also coincided with the 2011 Spanish Open at the Real Club de Golf El Prat.

The players will honour the ace from Pedreña by wearing navy blue and white, an outfit in which Ballesteros starred in some of the most memorable moments of his career, such as his victory at the 1984 Open Championship at St Andrews. Furthermore, before the first tee shot on Thursday, the starter will honor his memory.

The tribute to Seve will also be visible at various points around the course, with images displayed at the tee of the 1st hole, on the 18th green, in various strategic areas of the course and in the practice area. From Monday to Thursday, the flags on holes 9 and 18 will be dedicated to Seve and, from Thursday onwards, hole 5 will commemorate his Major victories: the Open Championship (1979, 1984 and 1988) and The Masters (1980 and 1983).

  • The Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship kicks off on the Pink course at one of Spanish golf’s leading clubs: the Real Club de Golf El Prat. This Greg Norman-designed course is a par-72, 6,453-metre layout.
  • With over a century of history and having hosted more than 250 amateur and professional tournaments, the Real Club de Golf El Prat, now firmly established as a European benchmark, once again welcomes the DP World Tour.

The El Prat facilities have hosted ten editions of the Spanish Open, with winners such as Peter Alliss (1956), Peter Thompson (1959), Guy Wolstenholme (1963), Dale Hayes (1971), Brian Barnes (1978), Severiano Ballesteros(1981), Thomas Bjørn (1998), Jarmo Sandelin (1999), Thomas Aiken (2011) y James Morrison (2015).

El Prat also held other international events featuring the best players of the time, such as Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Raymond Floyd, Tony Jacklin, Tom Watson and Severiano Ballesteros. Some of these events included the 1977 Barcelona Cup (won by Tom Watson) and the two editions of the Johnnie Walker Trophy invitational tournament, won by Lee Trevino and Peter Jacobsen in 1980 and 1982 respectively.

In the 1980s, the Real Club de Golf El Prat maintained a very prominent presence on the European Tour/DP World Tour calendar, thanks also to the Sanyo Open, held between 1983 and 1986, with Des Smyth, Sam Torrance, Severiano Ballesteros and José María Olazábal as winners; and the Torras Hostench Barcelona Open, won by David Whelan in 1988.

  • Since 1972, the year the European Tour/DP World Tour was officially established, Catalonia has hosted a total of 28 tournaments, half of which have taken place in Barcelona.
  • The 156 players come from 29 different countries across five continents: 108 from Europe, 18 from Africa, 12 from Asia, 11 from the Americas and 7 from Oceania.
  • The country with the most players is Great Britain with 28 (19 from England and 9 from Scotland), followed by Spain with 24, South Africa with 17, France with 14, Sweden with 10 and Italy with 9.
  • The following players stand out in the home squad, all of whom have won titles on the DP World Tour (the number of titles on the tour is shown in brackets): Pablo Larrazábal (9), Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño (7), Adrián Otaegui (5), Rafa Cabrera Bello (4), Jorge Campillo (3), Nacho Elvira (3), Adri Arnaus (1), Ángel Hidalgo (1), Alejandro del Rey (1) and Eugenio Chacarra (1).
  • Also worth noting is the presence of Ángel Ayora from Málaga, who has been outstanding in his short professional career. With ten top-10 finishes on the 2025 DP World Tour, Ayora finished second in the Sir Henry Cotton Award for the Rookie of the Year and ended the Race to Dubai as the highest-ranked Spaniard in 20th place.

  • The field also includes the Spanish players Albert Boneta, Alfredo García-Heredia, Iván Cantero, Joel Moscatel, Jose María Serra, Manuel Elvira, Pablo Ereño, Quim Vidal, Rocco Repetto Taylor, Santiago Tarrío, Sebastián García, Vicente Mestre Carceller and Víctor Pastor.
  • If any of the Spanish golfers were to win, it would be Spain’s 214th victory in the history of the DP World Tour.
  • Five players who have represented Europe in the Ryder Cup will be competing in the tournament: Francesco Molinari, Bernd Wiesberger, Ross Fisher, Edoardo Molinari y Rafa Cabrera Bello.
  • Five golfers who have won events on the Rolex Series are also competing in the tournament: Rafa Cabrera Bello(Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open 2017), Francesco Molinari (BMW PGA Championship 2018), Brandon Stone (Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open 2018), Bernd Wiesberger (Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, Italian Open 2019) y Paul Waring (Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship 2024).
  • The Real Club de Golf El Prat is hosting six winners from this season’s DP World Tour: Jayden Schaper (Alfred Dunhill Championship y AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open), Nacho Elvira (Dubai Invitational), Freddy Schott (Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship), Dan Bradbury (Joburg Open), Bernd Wiesberger (Volvo China Open) and Mikael Lindberg (Turkish Airlines Open).
  • The field for the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship includes 14 winners of European Tour/DP World Tour events held in Spain.

Richard Sterne (Open de Madrid 2004)
Ross Fisher (Volvo World Match Play Championship 2009)
Matteo Manassero (Castelló Masters Costa Azahar 2010)
Francesco Molinari (Reale Seguros Open de España 2012)
James Morrison (Open de España 2015)
Andrew Johnston (Real Club Valderrama Open de España 2016)
Rafa Cabrera Bello (Acciona Open de España 2021)
Jeff Winther (Mallorca Golf Open 2021)
Pablo Larrazábal (ISPS Handa Championship in Spain 2022)
Adri Arnaus (Catalunya Championship 2022)
Adrián Otaegui (Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters 2022)
Yannik Paul (Mallorca Golf Open)
Ángel Hidalgo (Acciona Open de España presented by Madrid 2024)
Julien Guerrier (Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters 2024)

  • The tournament squad includes seven players who took part in the Seve Trophy, a team competition between Great Britain and Ireland and Continental Europe. They are Ross Fisher (2009, 2011), Scott Jamieson (2011, 2013), Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño (2007, 2009, 2013), Pablo Larrazábal (2011), Joost Luiten (2013), Matteo Manassero (2011, 2013) y Francesco Molinari (2009, 2011, 2013).
  • The tournament features 70 players who have won DP World Tour events (number of wins in brackets).

Pablo Larrazábal (9), Bernd Wiesberger (9), Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño (7), Francesco Molinari (6), Joost Luiten (6), Marcel Siem (6), Richard Sterne (6), Adrián Otaegui (5), Matteo Manassero (5), Ross Fisher (5), Alexander Levy (5), Rafa Cabrera Bello (4), Guido Migliozzi (4), Richie Ramsay (4), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (4), Jorge Campillo (3), Nacho Elvira (3), Edoardo Molinari (3), Ewen Ferguson (3), Antoine Rozner (3), Dan Bradbury (3), Dylan Frittelli (3), Brandon Stone (3), Daniel Gavins (2), Eddie Pepperell (2), Paul Waring (2), James Morrison (2), Renato Paratore (2), Grant Forrest (2), Johannes Veerman (2), Shubhankar Sharma (2), Lucas Bjerregaard (2), Fabrizio Zanotti (2), Jayden Schaper (2), Ockie Strydom (2), Shaun Norris (2), Adri Arnaus (1), Ángel Hidalgo (1), Alejandro del Rey (1), Eugenio Chacarra (1), Freddy Schott (1), Maximilian Kieffer (1), Nicolai Von Dellingshausen (1), Yannik Paul (1), Junghwan Lee (1), Jeff Winther (1), Niklas Nørgaard (1), David Law (1), Matthew Baldwin (1), Scott Jamieson (1), Ryggs Johnston (1), Sean Crocker (1), David Ravetto (1), Julien Guerrier (1), Martin Couvra (1), Romain Langasque (1), Andrew Johnston (1), Marcus Armitage (1), Todd Clements (1), Rikuya Hoshino (1), Yuto Katsuragawa (1), Darius Van Driel (1), Daniel Van Tonder (1), Dylan Naidoo (1), Jacques Kruyswijk (1), Joakim Lagergren (1), Marcus Kinhult (1), Mikael Lindberg (1), Sebastian Söderberg (1) and Simon Forsström (1).

  • The Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship features one Major champion (Francesco Molinari, 2018 Open Championship) and two PGA Tour winners (Francesco Molinari himself, with three victories, and Luke List, with two).

Francesco Molinari (Quicken Loans National 2018, The Open Championship 2018, Arnold Palmer Invitational 2019).

Luke List (Farmers Insurance Open 2022, Sanderson Farms Championship 2023).

  • This week, nine winners of elite tournaments (amateurs and professionals) will be competing in the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship at the Real Club de Golf El Prat: Pablo Larrazábal (2002 Barcelona Championship) Nacho Elvira (2007 Spanish Open), James Morrison (2015 Spanish Open), Iván Cantero (2016 Barcelona Championship and 2016 Inter-Regional Men’s Team Championship), Manuel Elvira (2016 Inter-Regional Men’s Team Championship), Joel Moscatel (2015 Barcelona Championship and 2020 Catalonia Open Championship), Ángel Hidalgo (2022 PGA Barcelona Open hosted by Pablo Larrazábal), Quim Vidal (2024 Catalonia Professional Championship) and Vicente Mestre (2024 Spanish Interclub Championship).
  • In addition, six golfers who are members of the Real Club de Golf El Prat will be competing in the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship: Pablo Larrazábal, Quim Vidal, Joel Moscatel, Albert Boneta, Vicente Mestre Carceller and Josep Maria “Pep” Serra.

ENTRY LIST

The Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship, a DP World Tour tournament included in the Race to Dubai as the first event of the European Swing, is held thanks to the essential collaboration of the Real Club de Golf El Prat. It is sponsored by Estrella Damm and will kick off the Road to 2031 Ryder Cup, a journey that will end at the 2031 Ryder Cup to be held at Camiral.

DP World Tour

DP World Tour – The Road to the 2031 Ryder Cup begins at the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship 2026

May 4, 2026 – Tickets for the inaugural edition of the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship, a new DP World Tour event to be held at the Real Club de Golf El Prat from May 7-10 and marking the start of the Road to the 2031 Ryder Cup, are now available and can be purchased here.

Barcelona will be the first stop on the European Swing of the 2026 DP World Tour, an unmissable event for fans wishing to see Pablo Larrazábal, Ángel Ayora, Nacho Elvira, Ángel Hidalgo, Adri Arnaus, Eugenio Chacarra, Jorge Campillo and Rafa Cabrera Bello, as well as many other international stars, in action.

Members of the Spanish Golf Federation will enjoy a 25% discount on tickets, young people aged 13 to 17 will receive a 50% discount, and children under 13 will be admitted free of charge. Tickets will also be available to purchase at the course ticket office.

Hospitality tickets, also available on the tournament website, offer a more comprehensive experience of the tournament, with amenities such as reserved parking; all-day access to the hospitality area in the clubhouse overlooking the practice area; an outdoor terrace; breakfast and lunch; a complimentary bar; and exclusive access to the bar on the 18th green.

The Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship, a DP World Tour tournament included in the Race to Dubai as first event of the European Swing, is held thanks to the essential collaboration of the Real Club de Golf El Prat. It is sponsored by Estrella Damm and will kick off the Road to 2031 Ryder Cup, a journey that will end at the 2031 Ryder Cup to be held at Camiral.

DP World Tour

DP World Tour – Quim Vidal explains the Pink Course for the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship at RCG El Prat

April 15, 2026 – The Pink Course at the Real Club de Golf El Prat will host the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship, which is set to take place from May 7-10. Designed by Greg Norman and opened in 2003, this 6,453-metre par-72 course winds through beautiful woodland but punishes any mistake without mercy.

Quim Vidal, a member of the Real Club de Golf El Prat who is competing in his first season on the DP World Tour, gives us the lowdown on the challenge awaiting the players in Barcelona.

“The Pink Course is very technical; you must place the ball in a specific spot every time and I don’t think long hitters have an advantage. Some of the tees are tricky and, above all, the greens are very undulating, and if you lose your concentration, you can really get into trouble around them,” warns Quim Vidal.

It was precisely the demanding nature of the courses that led this young Barcelona native to join the club.

“It’s perfect for training; it prepares you for any professional-level course in all areas of the game. If you train at El Prat, you’ll do well on any course in the world; it’s very comprehensive and has wonderful facilities.”

Since the announcement that the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship would be held at El Prat, Vidal has been taking every opportunity to practise on the Pink course and has a clear idea of the shots that will make the difference. The trickiest on the front nine, in his view, is the hole 2 tee shot to a narrow par 4 surrounded by trees.

“It’s tricky, with a crosswind; you have to clear a bunker, there’s water on the right and woods on the left – you have to be very precise,” he explains.

View of the hole 2 at Real Club de Golf El Prat (photo © RCG El Prat)

“On the hole 6, a very long par 3, you’ll be hitting a 4-iron into a headwind, and if you hit a bad shot and end up in the sand, you could start sending the ball all over the place,” he adds.

The tee shots on holes 7 and 8 are also crucial, as Vidal tells us.

“You can easily end up in the woods, and if that happens, the best thing is to get back onto the fairway or try to get as close to the green as possible. Don’t do anything crazy: try to get an up and down for par or bogey and move on to the next one. If you manage to keep it on the fairway every day on these holes and on the hole 2, you’ll be saving a lot of strokes,” he warns.

The two par-5s on the front nine — holes 1 and 9 — can offer a breather, “especially the 9, which is more manageable”. Holes 4 and 5 also allow you to make up ground if you’re on the fairway, but from the 10 onwards the pressure mounts. “On the back nine, you can get into trouble at any moment if the wind is blowing.”

Moreover, the wind is a key factor on the course designed by Norman.

“It’s not the wind itself that’s the problem, but its intensity. There isn’t usually much in the morning, but it picks up from midday onwards. If the course is firm and the wind is blowing strongly, some holes —such as the 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14— can become extremely tricky. Everything will depend on the course conditions; for example, the 11th hole, normally an accessible par 3, turns into a monster with a headwind if they set the green very fast.”

View of hole 17 at Real Club de Golf El Prat (foto © RCG El Prat)

On the hole 13, also a par 3, “more than one player is going to get into trouble,” he predicts. “If you miss slightly to the left, you’re done for. If the green is firm, it’s a very tricky shot,” he adds. To his list of nerve-wracking shots, we must add the second shot on the 14 in windy conditions —a par-4 dogleg to the left through trees; the tee shot on the 15, with woodland and bunkers on both sides; and holes 16 and 17, the longest on the course, “though not the most tense”.

For Quim Vidal, there is no doubt that this course can offer a great spectacle.

“It’s always possible that a player might have the week of their life and pull ahead, but if the leader doesn’t reach the back nine with more than a four-stroke lead, anything can happen. You can’t let your concentration slip for a moment.”

Few players get the chance to compete on home soil during their first season on the DP World Tour, as Quim Vidal will, an experience he is truly looking forward to.

“It’s really exciting. There’s always extra pressure because you want to do well, but I think it works in your favour because you’re more focused; sometimes pressure is a good thing. The most important thing will be to enjoy the whole process – the course, the people, signing caps for the children, them coming to watch us… the result that week will be the least of it.”

His excellent 13th place at the Hero Indian Open is a real confidence boost just a few weeks ahead of the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship.

“I knew I could have a good tournament at any time, but achieving it helps a lot for the ones to come. I made the cut in China, I’d been playing better; it all helps to build momentum.”

Tickets for the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship (with a 25% discount for federation members, 50% off for young people aged 13 to 17, and free entry for children under 13) are available here.

The Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship, a DP World Tour tournament included in the Race to Dubai as the first event of the European Swing, is held thanks to the essential collaboration of the Real Club de Golf El Prat. It is sponsored by Estrella Damm and will kick off the Road to 2031 Ryder Cup, a journey that will end at the 2031 Ryder Cup to be held at Camiral.

DP World Tour, Golf Courses and resorts, Sustainable Golf

Golf and Nature – RCG El Prat, the Catalunya Championship venue, a model of environmental stewardship and biodiversity

March 21, 2026 – The Real Club de Golf El Prat, host venue for the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship 2026, a DP World Tour event to be held from May 7-10, is a prime example of how a golf club can act as a catalyst for improving local biodiversity and generating a positive impact from an environmental, social and economic perspective.

The origins of this management model date back to the 1990s, when the expansion of Barcelona Airport forced the RCG El Prat to relocate. The construction of the new facilities at Finca Bonvilar, in an ecological corridor between two nature reserves, posed a huge challenge due to the project’s environmental requirements. This necessity gave rise to a management model closely linked to sustainability which, over the years, has become a benchmark for the golf sector.

The requirements faced by the Club were aimed at restoring the native Mediterranean landscape, enhancing the biodiversity of the surrounding area and ensuring that only reclaimed water was used for irrigation.

To restore the estate’s original landscape, which had been damaged by the encroachment of species such as the white pine, the Real Club de Golf El Prat planted 8,000 holm oaks and 1,500 common oaks, as well as various types of shrubs. It also set aside 20 hectares for growing cereals, which provide food for birds and other animals that live in or pass through this natural area.

As a result, now there are 25 hectares of woodland and a significant increase in animal species such as the song thrush, the long-tailed tit, the treecreeper and the blackcap among the birds, as well as the squirrel, the fox, the wild boar and the Mediterranean mole among the mammals.

For Ariana Martín, General Manager of the RCG El Prat, “environmental requirements are not a burden, but an opportunity to grow in a responsible and competitive manner. Our members and customers greatly appreciate our commitment to sustainability, which has become yet another reason for them to come and enjoy our facilities and events”.

Water management is one of the cornerstones of the RCG El Prat’s environmental commitment; the club uses only reclaimed water for irrigation. The club has built a treatment module at the Terrassa–Les Fonts wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), some 8 kilometres away, where it carries out tertiary treatment that allows the water, which was previously discharged into the sea, to be reused.

In addition, the Club has a treatment plant on its own premises where it recycles all the water used in the clubhouse, which is also used for irrigation.

As José Gómez, Head Greenkeeper at the RCG El Prat, explains, “this regeneration process is costly, but it provides us with nutrient-rich, high-quality water for the course. Of the estate’s more than 200 hectares, we only irrigate 63, and our aim is to reduce consumption as much as possible. To optimise water use, we have installed a new irrigation system, Lynx, which has enabled us to save 20%. Furthermore, we have a weather station and use portable sensors that measure soil moisture, allowing us to fine-tune irrigation requirements.”

Alongside water, energy is another key resource when it comes to designing a sustainable management plan. In recent years, the Club has installed 600 solar panels with the aim of reducing CO₂ emissions and improving energy efficiency.

All these practices were recognised in 2022 with the Biosphere Certification, which the Club renews annually. Biosphere is an international label that accredits organisations that meet the criteria and requirements of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The RCG El Prat commitment to making a positive impact on the local area is reflected in the 360 Sustainability Programme, which combines environmental initiatives with a range of social and economic activities.

As Ariana Martín explains, “we have a public golf course, El Vallés Golf, which runs a school where many children are introduced to the sport and learn its values. We have also built paths that run around the entire estate and are open to anyone who wants to enjoy a walk or a bike ride.”

In his view, “the golf industry is very conscious of sustainability because it is a sport deeply rooted in nature, and hosting a major event such as the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship gives us the opportunity to showcase this commitment”.

Pictures: ©RCG El Prat

DP World Tour, Golf Courses and resorts

DP World Tour – The Real Club de Golf El Prat, Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship venue, over a century serving European golf

March 7, 2026 – The Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship begins its journey at one of the leading Spanish golf clubs: the Real Club de Golf El Prat. With more than a century of history and experience organising more than 250 tournaments, the Barcelona club once again welcomes the DP World Tour, consolidated as a European benchmark and ready to expand the legacy of its century-old history.

Founded in 1912 as Barcelona Golf Club and later renamed Golf Club de Pedralbes, it initially had a nine-hole course located in the upper part of Barcelona. The growth of the city and the burgeoning popularity of the sport forced the club to seek a new location, which was found in El Prat de Llobregat, from where it took its final name.

The prestigious architect Javier Arana designed the new course, which opened at the end of 1955. A year later, it hosted the 1956 Spanish Open, a tournament that marked a turning point in the Club’s international profile.

The El Prat facilities hosted eight Spanish Opens, with winners including Peter Alliss (1956), Peter Thompson (1959), Guy Wolstenholme (1963), Dale Hayes (1971), Brian Barnes (1978), Severiano Ballesteros (1981), Thomas Bjørn (1998) and Jarmo Sandelin (1999).

The best players at the time, such as Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Raymond Floyd, Tony Jacklin, Tom Watson and Severiano Ballesteros, competed at many other international tournaments held at El Prat. Some of these events were the 1977 Barcelona Cup (won by Tom Watson) and the two editions of the Johnnie Walker Trophy invitational tournament won by Lee Trevino and Peter Jacobsen in 1980 and 1982.

In the 1980s, the Club held a high profile on the European Tour schedule thanks to the Sanyo Open, played between 1983 and 1986, with winners such as Des Smyth, Sam Torrance, Severiano Ballesteros and José María Olazábal; and the Torras Hostench Barcelona Open, won by David Whelan in 1988.

The expansion of Barcelona Airport forced the Club to seek a new location, which was found on the Bonvilar estate, a 220-hectare plot located in the ecological corridor linking the Parc Natural de Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac and the Parc Natural de Collserola, between Terrassa and Sabadell.

Australian champion Greg Norman was responsible for designing the 45 holes that make up the current club, which opened in 2003. The Pink course stands out for its demanding nature and beauty and will be the venue for the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship from May 7-10.

The new facilities made their debut as DP World Tour venue with the 2011 Spanish Open, an edition that is particularly memorable for all fans because during the tournament Severiano Ballesteros sadly passed away. Thomas Aiken was the winner that year and England’s James Morrison won in 2015.

The Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship joins the 250+ tournaments held at the Club throughout its history, including those on professional men’s and women’s tours as well as numerous elite amateur events.

As Bruno Rosal Garcigoy, president of the Competition Committee at Real Club de Golf El Prat, explains, “the club has always been synonymous with high-level competition and, since its inception, has contributed players to all national teams. We are the most successful club in the Spanish Interclub Championship, and at the professional level, many members have earned his playing rights in the European Tour/DP World Tour.”

In his opinion, holding this new tournament will help to continue fostering enthusiasm among the youngest fans. “Children have always watched the best players of the moment at the club, and with this new event that we are hosting, we are continuing that tradition.”

DP World Tour

DP World Tour – Spanish trio Pablo Larrazábal, Nacho Elvira and Angel Ayora, set for Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship 2026

January 26, 2026 – Spanish trio Pablo Larrazábal, Nacho Elvira and Angel Ayora will return to their home country for the inaugural edition of the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship at Real Club de Golf El Prat in Barcelona from May 7-10.

The Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship 2026 will be the first tournament on the European Swing and Real Club de Golf El Prat will host a DP World Tour event for the first time since the 2015 Open de España. Tickets for the event can be purchased here.

The tournament is new to the 2026 Race to Dubai as part of the Road to 2031 Ryder Cup, following the agreement announced earlier this summer that the 2031 Ryder Cup will be played at Camiral in Catalunya, with Spain becoming the first continental European country to host the biennial contest twice.

Nine-time DP World Tour winner Pablo Larrazábal was born in Barcelona and he is excited to return to his home course, Real Club de Golf El Prat, which he grew up playing on.

The 2008 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year winner is looking to use home comforts to his advantage in Catalunya and win in Spain for the second time in his career having triumphed at the ISPS Handa Championship 2022.

“Real Club de Golf El Prat is a special golf course, and it is a terrific venue for the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship. It’s one of those golf courses where there’s no such thing as a bad hole. You have 18 great holes,” said Pablo Larrazábal.

“I’m fortunate enough to have won on home soil in the past, but to win in my hometown in front of my friends and family would be very special.”

Nacho Elvira has enjoyed a terrific start to the campaign, securing his third DP World Tour title at the 2026 Dubai Invitational, and the 38-year-old is hoping to add to his trophy cabinet in Catalunya.

“I’m very excited to play in the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship,” he said. “It’s always special to play in Spain and I’m really looking forward to it. I have never won on home soil and that has always been a goal of mine.

“This event gives us the opportunity to play on one of the best courses in the country and it is going to be a great week.”

Angel Ayora earned his DP World Tour playing privileges after finishing fourth on the HotelPlanner Tour’s Road to Mallorca Rankings in 2024, and he has not looked back since.

The 21-year-old went on to finish in 20th position on the 2025 Race to Dubai Rankings, which included a top ten finish at the Open de España presented by Madrid, and he is relishing the prospect of playing in front of home crowds again in Barcelona.

“I’m excited to have the chance to play at home in front of some big crowds. I had a great experience in Madrid last year and I finished in the top ten,” he said.

“Real Club de Golf El Prat is a fantastic golf course, and it is going to be another memorable week. I’m very excited to get to Barcelona in May.”

Jorge Villavecchia, CEO of Damm, said: “We are proud to be the title sponsor of the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship for the next five years and we are looking forward to delivering a world-class sporting event at the wonderful Real Club de Golf El Prat, showcasing the region of Catalunya to a global audience.

“It is also fantastic to see players such as Pablo, Nacho and Ángel competing in the event, underlining the strength of Spanish golf and adding to what promises to be a very special week. We have enjoyed a successful and fruitful partnership with the European Tour Group for many years, and we are delighted to continue with this new event.”

Pancho Schröder, President of Real Club de Golf El Prat, added: “We are extremely proud to be hosting the DP World Tour’s Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship, and it is a true recognition of the prestige of Real Club de Golf El Prat.

“The tournament will once again place Real Club de Golf El Prat on the international map of professional golf, and it reaffirms our reputation as one of Europe’s leading golf clubs. It will also provide us with a unique opportunity to further enhance our facilities while strengthening the legacy of our members at the very heart of the club.”

Tickets for the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship can be purchased here.

Golf Junior

Juniors – Luis Masaveu, winner of the Faldo Elite Series at RCG El Prat

February 25, 2023 – Luis Masaveu has been proclaimed the winner of the international junior Faldo Elite Series competition held at the Real Club de Golf El Prat, in Barcelona (Spain). The player from Madrid finished with 139 shots (-5), with a last round of -4. The Faldo Elite Series at the RCG El Prat have been played over 36 Medal Play holes on the iconic Pink course of the Barcelona club.

Yesterday the day has been very even, different players have been exchanging the lead throughout it. However, Luis Masaveu has known how to play the final part of the round very well, making three birdies in the last four holes, including a birdie on the 18th that has given him victory.

The second place has been for the Valencian Rubén Lafuente, who has finished with 140 shots (-4), and the third has been for the Ukrainian Greg Grinberg, with 141 (-3). The leader of the first round, Marcel Fonseca, did not have his best day and finished fourth, with 136 (-3).

This was the first date of the eight held by the Faldo Elite Series during the season. After these eight appointments, the final will be held in Florida (United States), in January 2024. The best final classified will have exemptions from the Challenge Tour for events in 2024. The Faldo Series held at the RCG El Prat have been a success in the participation, organization and the level of game of the players.

Golf Courses and resorts, Greenkeepers, Sustainable Golf

RCG El Prat – Greg Norman signs the renovation of the Yellow Course under a new Sustainability Plan

May 10, 2021 – The Real Club de Golf El Prat, in Barcelona (Spain), designed a new Sustainability Plan including, among other things, the renovation of the acclaimed Yellow Course.

The prestigious Catalan club took advantage of the pandemic to work on one of its two championship courses to make it more sustainable as well as improve its playability.

The maintenance staff was able to complete the work ahead of schedule without bothering too much our players and the course is now ready for the golf season.

The objective of this Sustainable Plan is to reduce the economic and environmental impact by eliminating some bunkers, modifying others and remodeling fringe areas. Other advantages of this project are the reduction of water consumption, energy and fuel for machineries, and nutrients or phytosanitary products to apply to the course. All of these procedures produce a more “eco-friendly” golf course.

The golf legend Greg Norman was in charge of designing the two golf courses that form RCG El Prat, the Pink and the Yellow. It was in 2004 that, after a match between him and Sergio García, the Catalan club was open to the public.

Greg Norman, who led the renovation, said: “I want to thank very much the Club for entrusting us redoing the 45 holes a few years ago, we had a fantastic journey on that trip relocating the golf courses, but the most important thing that we have come away from all this, is  the sustainability and the playability of all 45 holes. I am proud of the fact that we delivered that to such a great Club.”

Besides improving the sustainability, we wanted to maintain the original design as much as possible. That is why the removed bunkers were turned into rough areas maintaining the original shape.

Around the greens and their sides, the rough areas have been increased to reduce run off. But new maintenance standards are establish for greens, fairways and rough, so that they are always in the best shape as possible. For the entire 2021 for example, greens will be aerated using a new machine that, in spite of having very low impact on green’s playability and not preventing the game, ensures surface quality and speed.

Overall, 56 bunkers have been removed and 31 modified and the players’ feedback has been very positive.

This plan does not only deliver a more eco-friendly course with an improved playability, but also offering members and visitors of RCG El Prat a more varied golf club. Especially, those playing multiple rounds will benefit from the variety of layouts with a demanding Pink course or the easier Yellow, making sure they make the most of their experience.

Golf Courses and resorts, Golf Turism, Travel

RCG El Prat – Re-launch of the complete Resort experience with La Mola

May 7, 2019 – Golfers can now enjoy a complete Resort experience by playing the exclusive Real Club de Golf El Prat, at Barcelona and a 10-time host of the Spanish Open, while staying in Campus La Mola, the perfect base to enjoy one of Europe’s most respected golf courses.

The new exclusivity agreement between the two has further strengthened El Prat’s portfolio of hotel partners and has made it easier for visitors to enjoy its Tour-proven facilities by partnering with the onsite hotel.

Marcello Della Vecchia, director of sales and marketing at El Prat, said: “The product El Prat-La Mola is highly ranked among European golf Resorts and this renewed partnership will further enhance the experience for our golfers as they will enjoy the freedom afforded by close proximity to our courses.”

Guests will enjoy La Mola’s semi all-inclusive board including breakfast, daily aperitif with wine, cava and & chef choice snacks as well as unlimited beer, soft drinks and tea/coffee throughout their stay.

The four-star modern building boasts 185 bedrooms, 3 bars, restaurant and is home to a wide range of services for relaxation and health including spa, infinity pool, steam baths and fitness centre.

A three-night stay at the onsite hotel on a semi all-inclusive basis per person in a double room, two green fees and buggy transportation to the course and back start from €384 (£332), while five nights with three green fees is from €618 (£535) and a seven-night stay with five green fees is from €918 (£794).

Dating back to 1912, El Prat is one of the oldest courses in Spain and remains one of only a small number of clubs to have been granted “Real” or Royal status by King Alfonso XIII. It has hosted the Spanish Open on 10 occasions and has welcomed some of the biggest names in golf, including home legends Severiano Ballesteros and José Maria Olazábal, eight-time Major winner Tom Watson and European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjørn.

Set across the 518-acre estate of BonVilar – just 35 minutes from the centre of Barcelona – El Prat makes clever use of its 45 Greg Norman-designed holes, over an exciting, varied mix of three highly acclaimed courses: the Pink – ranked the fourth best course in Spain by Golf Digest magazine – Yellow and Green. It is listed 16th in Golf World magazine’s coveted ‘Top 100 Resorts in Continental Europe 2018’ rankings and 19th in National Club Golfer’s ‘Top 100 Golf Resorts in Continental Europe 2018/19’.

Golf Companies

EGCOA – The VISION 20/20 project for golf development, introduced in Barcelona

EGCOA-VISION-2020-2

November 12, 2014 – The 9thEuropean Golf Business Conference hosted by the European Golf Course Owners Association last week in Barcelona (Spain) has been hailed as ‘the best to date’ with over 500 golf courses represented from 27 countries. The EGCOA’s VISION 20/20 project, which was developed to provide a roadmap for the sustainable development of the European golf industry, was unveiled at the event and was received with open arms by the professionals. The message from the U.S., from China, from all over Europe was the same: Yes, there are problems but there are also answers. The project provided the platform for what was truly 3 days of inspirational solutions for the European golf business.

Day 1 opened at RCG El Prat, with the 6th edition of the European Multi Course Owners meeting. The meeting played host to representatives of the Europe’s leading multi course owning organizations who gathered to discuss and collaborate on solutions to run more profitable & sustainable golf facilities.

Day 2 was opened by EGCOA president Alexander Baron von Spoercken who gave delegates an insight into the latest developments in the European golf industry laying the foundation for the unveiling of the VISION 20/20 project results.

Revealing VISION 20/20

Sander Allegro, the projects lead consultant opened the session with an animation video developed by the EGCOA which summarizes the results into the key opportunities for the future of European Golf. With communication being an essential factor in sharing the projects outcomes, the EGCOA along with their national owners associations launched www.thefutureofgolf.eu to provide an interactive platform for the industry to get inspired and interact. The site is full of useful tools, best practices, initiatives & statistics.

Opportunity #1 – Friendship

People are loyal to people and the basic human need to connect & be part of a peer group or tribe is one that will be fundamental not only in attracting new players to the game but also to keep them in the game. Printed in large text on the conference book was a quote from Simon Sinek that summed up the importance of Friendship & human connection: “When people are financially invested they want to return, when people are emotionally invested they want to contribute”. Lodewijk Klootwijk, EGCOA director, shared real life examples of tribal marketing from leading organizations around the world highlighting the power of this basic human need & the immense power it has to engage.

Opportunity #2 – Fun

The message delivered in this session was clear, golf needs to spice up the game, lose some of the entry hurdles and focus on the promotion of the many existing and possibly new fun factors that golf can offer. While in Europe there are quiet a few initiatives to make the game more fun & appealing, the U.S. is without a doubt leading the way. Mike Hughes, CEO of the NGCOA (USA) shared with delegates some of the perception changing, fun initiatives and programs developed by the NGCOA and its partners to drive participation and engage youth golfers and families.

Steve Mona, CEO of the World Golf Foundation outlined how they are changing the perception of the game in the USA from one that is often perceived to be slow, boring expensive and difficult. He shared with delegates the importance of engaging the participation of the media in refining the message of golf to promote the social, health and fun factors that can be enjoyed by all ages.

Opportunity #3 Flexibility

With loyalty on the decline and the speed of change on the increase, the modern consumer wants to keep their options open. Membership packages, playing formats, dress codes, etc., should all be adapted to players’ needs and expectations. Tenniel Chu, Vice Chairman of Mission Hills, in China, gave some vibrant illustrations of how this parameter had helped his father succeed where so many had forecasted failure. He insists that golf needs to be less exclusive and more inclusive. Mission Hills have been so successful with this approach in China that they forecast 26 million golfers by 20/20, The day was closed with the conference dinner reception and EGCOA Awards Ceremony.

Opportunity #4 Family & Female

Day 3 opened with the big discussion on family and females in golf. Scilla Hokholt, EGCOA board member and Chairman of the Norwegian Golf Course Owners associations opened a panel session with the question ‘Is golf really female & family friendly?’ A leading panel of golf course owners & industry partners agreed that special attention needs to be paid to the female sector. When consulted, the ladies say their prime concern, especially for newcomers, is to “feel comfortable”. In general, they are less competitive than the men and control the vast majority of budgetary decision making in the household making them a key market to focus on.

A Sustainable Future for Golf

Now, as sustainability concerns and expectations rise across all aspects of life, the golf community is well positioned to proved environmental and social benefits. Golf course owners are the gatekeepers to millions of acres of land and view this responsibility as one that should be managed with care and respect. Kelli Jerome, Director of Operations for the Golf Environment Organization summed up where sustainability can fit into all 4 key opportunities of the VISION 20/20 project.

Geoff Russell, of www.golfbusinessnews.com closed the conference with an insightful and humorous summary of the week’s events. The day finished in the Barcelona sunshine at the Greg Norman designed, RCG El Prat.

More information on the VISION 20/20 project at www.thefutureofgolf.eu.