Los Barrancos de La Zagaleta, Marbella, Spain

PROJECT - La Zagaleta is a huge private estate containing two 18 hole courses prividing a most secluded retreat for some of the wealthiest individuals in Europe.

The first course was designed by The Californian Architect Bradford Benz in the 1990's with the design and construction of Los Barrancos commencing in 2002.

Mountain courses are not easy or cheap to build and Los Barrancos took 5 years to construct at a cost of over 21 Million Euros. This is one of the most challenging sites to be provided to a golf course architect where the aim is to create a playable course which also somehow blends with the landscape. Steve Marnoch of golfmarnoch Limited took the project over from G&M Ltd and completed the development which has a breathtaking list of statistics;

• - 2 million cube of soil and rock moved
• - a road tunnel formed to reach the new clubhouse which runs underneath the practice area
• - earthworks reaching depths in places of 40m plus
• - 0.75 kilometres of shaped rock wall 6m height above ground with four metre deep foundations

After working successfully in an environment like this the 'extreme' experience is proving invauluable when advising clients what to expect when conceiving a golf course in the mountains.

What has emerged at Los Barrancos is a stunning new course which the members can enjoy for the future.

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"Club de Campo La Zagaleta is spectacular. It is one of the most beautiful and exclusive private clubs in Europe and has two very unique golf courses. We are committed to enhancing the quality of golf operations and delivering two perfectly conditioned courses for the membership to enjoy,"
commented Bruce Glasco following the announcement of La Zagaleta to the Troon Golf portfolio.

"I have known Steve Marnoch, ...both professionally and personally for 6 years. During which time I have found him be competent and a pleasure to work with... Steve Marnoch has exhibited a tenacity of character and great inherent love for what he does in creating this course and overcoming the difficulties of the appointment."
William RIDDLE, Member of La Zagaleta & primary client for the members

"Every part of the design has obviously been intricately thought through"

"The second hole is a beautiful par three", "cork oaks at the rear, it is a gem"..."contouring of the green is mesmerising in its detail and planning, and sets the tone for almost every hole that is to follow"

"Every one (green) is unique to its own setting, and is designed to work with that particular hole and will never be seen again or replicated"

"an undeniable masterpiece of creative and engineering skill"
Eat Golf May/June 2006

"...to build a golf course on so extreme as site is a major achievement for any architect"

"...both the fourth and fifth are terrific risk and reward holes"

"...the par three sixth is perhaps the best example-that could happily sit on a Scottish Links"
Golf Course Architecture January 2007

"The par four eleventh hole, though, is my favourite on the golf course. It is classic strategic golf, and a very attractive hole"
Adam Laurence, Editor, Golf Course Architecture January 2007

Links

www.lazagaleta.com/golf-losbarrancos.htm

Articles

Click on a publication below to read the article in full

	Golf Course Architecture, January 2007
	EATGolf!, May 2006
	Golfers & Co, February 2008

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