LATEST
NEWS

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

La Cala reopens Europa course following renovation work

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.”

Previous Article Lester George completes first phase of Aspetuck Valley renovation
Next Article PGA National opens Andy Staples-designed Match course
Print
3149 Rate this article:
No rating
Slideshow HTML
  • La Cala
    La Cala Resort

    La Cala Resort in southern Spain has reopened its Europa course following completion of renovation work

  • La Cala
    La Cala Resort

    Recent work has included transforming grass on greens and renovating every bunker

ADd Image Credit here for home page
La Cala Resort
Richard Humphreys

Richard HumphreysRichard Humphreys

Other posts by Richard Humphreys
Contact author

Contact author

x
The April 2025 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now!
Magazine, News | Wed 16 Apr, 2025

The April 2025 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now!

Includes reports from Maggie Hathaway and Apogee, interviews with Martin Ebert and Dave Axland and a feature on golf art

Spring 2025 issue of ASGCA’s By Design magazine is out now
Magazine, News | Fri 14 Mar, 2025

Spring 2025 issue of ASGCA’s By Design magazine is out now

New issue asks whether the golf boom has led to an increase in municipal golf investment

FEATURE
ARTICLES

A masterplan of masters’ plans
Cohasse CC
Report | Mark Wagner

A masterplan of masters’ plans

Mark Wagner writes about the Tim Lewis-led renovation of Cohasse, a course that includes the work of Donald Ross and the sons of Frederick Law Olmsted

Quail Hollow: An interview with Tom Fazio
PGA of America/ Gary W. Kellner
Interview | Richard Humphreys

Quail Hollow: An interview with Tom Fazio

The architect talks about how this year’s PGA Championship venue has evolved over the past 30 years

Bringing golf to Benin
Afrikafun Production Stephane Brabant
Report | Richard Humphreys

Bringing golf to Benin

Jeremy Pern and Gregori International are creating the first 18-hole course in the West African country, on an ‘almost perfect’ site that also includes a sacred grove and voodoo shrines

The future of vegetation management on Melbourne’s Sandbelt
Lukas Michel/CDP
Opinion | Mike Clayton

The future of vegetation management on Melbourne’s Sandbelt

Mike Clayton discusses Alister MacKenzie’s transformative impact on Australian golf and how clubs can avoid repeating previous mistakes by establishing a long-term plan focused on indigenous plants

Maggie Hathaway: A force for good
Stephen Barton – Second Collective
On site | Adam Lawrence

Maggie Hathaway: A force for good

The reconstruction of the nine-hole course in Los Angeles is the golf industry at its best, says Adam Lawrence

Designs for the big screen
Pizá Golf
Interview | Richard Humphreys

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

The ties that bind
Crooked Stick
Opinion | Justin Olmstead

The ties that bind

Justin Olmstead of Profile Products talks about the relationships behind the renovation of Crooked Stick in Indiana

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz
Konrad Borkowski
Interview | Adam Lawrence

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Jim Wagner and Rusty Mercer discuss Kinsale design and build
Kinsale Golf Club
Interview | Richard Humphreys

Jim Wagner and Rusty Mercer discuss Kinsale design and build

Florida course is a tribute to the Golden Age designs of Raynor and Macdonald

Are bunkers getting too pretty for their own good?
Larry Lambrecht
Feature | Adam Lawrence

Are bunkers getting too pretty for their own good?

Is the beauty of bunkering being over-emphasised at the expense of its function, asks Adam Lawrence

Good Read: The Prairie Raynor
Grant Books Ltd
Good Read | John Moran and Rand Jerris

Good Read: The Prairie Raynor

John Moran and Rand Jerris share insight into their book about Seth Raynor’s design at Chicago Golf Club

Gopher Watch Competition – April 2025
Gopher Watch, News | Wed 16 Apr, 2025

Gopher Watch Competition – April 2025

Which course has Sandy the gopher visited this month?

MOST
POPULAR

FEATURED
BUSINESSES