La Cala Resort, located between Málaga and Marbella in southern Spain, has reopened its Europa course following renovation work.

The final phase of the project at the resort saw Europa’s greens and bunkers worked on. Following their completion, all 54 holes at La Cala have now been renovated, with the America course finished in 2018 and the Asia layout in 2019.

Europa’s greens were transformed to bermuda grass in August 2020, with the putting surfaces having a full year to mature.

New bunkering has also been installed across Europa this summer, while all existing bunkers have been renovated with a focus on aesthetics and consistency. Sand has been replaced so it matches the bunkers on Asia and America. There have also been small design changes with some bunker sizes reduced and other bunkers removed.

“We are thrilled with the work that has been completed on the Europa course and are excited to reopen to golfers,” said Sean Corte-Real, director of La Cala Resort. “The last 18 months has, of course, been challenging for us as it has for so many, but we are delighted to have a positive story to tell. It has allowed us to complete a significant project and to offer a hugely enhanced golfing product. Every cloud has a silver lining.”

La Cala has also recently worked to improve the playing surfaces on the Asia course, with rough and untidy grass areas replaced by wood chips and pine needles.

“It makes for a cleaner surface under the trees,” says Corte-Real. “It’s easier to find balls, but most importantly it gets rid of a lot of useless green areas that we now don´t have to mow and water. Imagine the water and fuel saved doing this! We are very conscious of sustainability at La Cala.”