Jon Rahm, José María Olazabal, and Adrián Otaegui tell us about their favorite golf courses in the Basque Country
Jon Rahm, José María Olazabal, and Adrián Otaegui tell us about their favorite golf courses in the Basque Country
Golf is a sport with a long-standing tradition in the Basque Country, a land of great players who have made history like Jon Rahm, José María Olazabal, and Adrián Otaegui, known as “El Pirata” (“The Pirate”). Larrabea, Zuia, Jundiz, Izki, Seminario, Royal Society of Golf of Neguri, Meaztegi, Uraburu, Palacio Urgoiti, Derio, Basozabal, Royal Golf Club of Zarauz, Goiburu, Irelore, and Royal Golf Club of San Sebastián make up the sport’s wide variety of offerings in the region. But who better than the aforementioned star players to describe the characteristics and beauty of the courses?
Jon Rahm, the most successful Basque golfer, invites fans of this sport to visit the region not only for its courses but also for everything surrounding them: “At the courses we have in the Basque Country, you will get the chance to enjoy holes where you can play while watching the sea or amongst lush and dense forests, in unique landscapes with designs and layouts of the highest quality. In addition to having fun playing golf and in order to really get to know the Basque Country, you should not forget to visit the rich cultural heritage we have and, especially, to enjoy our internationally renowned cuisine. I say all this thinking about my own experience, since I started playing at a very young age on the beautiful course at the Larrabea Golf Club, where I got my start with the game. I have been enjoying golf on the magnificent courses of the Basque Country since that time.”
The living legend of golf on the world scene, José María Olazabal, has designed courses all over the world from the Maldives to China; and he has also left its mark at home, designing the landscapes of Uraburu and New Royal Golf Club of San Sebastián Basozabal. This is how the athlete explains his connection with the region: “For as long as I can remember, since when I was just getting my start taking my first shots at the Royal Golf Club of San Sebastián in Jaizkibel at the age of four, I have seen, over the years, how the number of courses in the Basque Country has increased. All of them have their own characteristics and personality, and I am sure that even the most demanding of players will feel totally satisfied on these courses, enjoying holes where they can find what they have always been waiting for. And, in addition to playing golf, in the Basque Country you will discover a host of great experiences with nature in its purest state, the ancestral culture of our people, and our rich gastronomy all being present so that your visit is perfect.”
“El Pirata” (“The Pirate”), who has a special place in his heart for the Goiburu Golf Club of Andoain, describes his love for the region in the following way: “Sport, sea, and mountains. Enjoy and become excited with the experience of being able to play on a different course every day. The Basque Country has a great variety of courses, each of which is integrated into the regional landscape, giving them their own personality and charm. I invite you to discover where my passion for this sport began. The Goiburu Golf Club, which I am still a member of, saw me grow as an athlete and is the headquarters and origin of the ‘Peña El Pirata’ (‘The Pirate Social Club’). Nature that exudes life – this is the origin of our renowned gastronomy. I invite you to enjoy a golf experience in my land.”
On the coast or inland, Basque golf courses are located in privileged settings due in large part to their early establishment. The Basque Country has three hundred-year-old clubs: Royal Golf Club of San Sebastián (it was inaugurated in 1914 in Lasarte and in 1929 it took on the name of Royal Golf Club of San Sebastián, being moved to its current location in Jaizkibel in 1968), Royal Society of Golf of Neguri (founded in 1911 in Lejona and moved in 1961 to Punta Galea), and Royal Golf Club of Zarauz (inaugurated in 1916 by King Alfonso XIII and Queen Maria Christina). Today, Basque golf clubs receive visitors from all over the world who are amazed by their layouts as well as everything else that the Basque Country has in store off the course.
Golf
