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

Westenborg and Cestino team up for Spanish projects

Golf course architect Marc Westenborg has partnered with Jacobo Cestino, CEO of La Zagaleta Group, to work on golf course projects in Spain.

Westenborg has worked in the golf course design industry for over 25 years, including time as a design associate for Martin Hawtree and currently as principal of Westenborg Golf Design, where his clients have included Rockliffe Hall and Southport & Ainsdale in the United Kingdom and Dun Laoghaire, Cobh and Cork GC in Ireland.

“I met Jacobo 10 years ago when the Old course renovation project at La Zagaleta arose, where we remodelled most of the bunkers, created new tee complexes and completely redesigned the green complex on hole six,” said Westenborg. “I had the opportunity to work very closely with him, as well as playing golf on several occasions. Through that, we discovered that we had very similar ideas and philosophies regarding the game of golf.”

Read more: GCA reports from a visit to La Zagaleta in 2017.

Cestino was a member of Spain’s amateur golf team between 1993-2000, and has been managing director for various resorts and golf courses, coordinating a postgraduate programme in golf course management at Les Roches International School of Hotel Management in Switzerland, and becoming European Senior Champion in 2020.

“After many years working in the golf industry, many conversations with Marc, and exploring the market potential of new golf course projects in Spain and Andalusia, I have taken the step to partner with Marc because I believe there is a very hopeful horizon for new golf and renovations supported by the ‘Covid effect’ and the determined boost to the tourism sector,” said Cestino. “Renewing current courses and building new ones of the highest quality from a design point of view has become a necessity for those who want to continue competing.”

Westenborg and Cestino will collaborate on developing master plans for clients. Once a project is under way, Westenborg Golf Design will then prepare the more detailed designs and oversee the construction process.

Previous Article Construction of second nine continues at Vulintaba in South Africa
Next Article Royal Perth appoints design team for course renovation plan
Print
1954 Rate this article:
No rating
Slideshow HTML
  • Westenborg
    Westenborg Golf Design

    Marc Westenborg and Jacobo Cestino have teamed up for golf course projects in Spain

  • Westenborg
    La Zagaleta

    The par-three thirteenth at La Zagaleta, which was renovated by Westenborg in 2017

  • Westenborg
    Westenborg Golf Design

    Westenborg’s portfolio of new course designs includes Rockliffe Hall in the north east of England

ADd Image Credit here for home page
Westenborg Golf Design
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.