Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

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

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

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

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

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

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

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
3180 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

Subscribe to the Golf Course Architecture newsletter


  • ©2025 Tudor Rose. All Rights Reserved. Golf Course Architecture is published by Tudor Rose.