By Eloise Horsfield
MONTE Mayor golf club has sadly had to close – with no fixed plan to reopen.
The Marbella club, which opened in 1989, blames ‘disappointing operational results’ for the closure and said it will now concentrate on restructuring.
“Various alternatives will be reviewed during the coming weeks in order to come up with a viable way to continue operating the course and ensure investment value,” said club administrator Peter Geerlings.
“It will, of course, be re-opened as soon as practically possible,” he added.
“Awful news. It is one of the best courses in Spain,” commented Miranda Remie on the club’s Facebook page.
“We can only hope for a swift resolution and a new owner to restore this beautiful course to its rightful place amongst the top golf courses of the Costa del Golf,” said local man Reginald Hoare.
Not sure what a round of golf cost at Monte Mayor of late but expect it was very expensive. It does seem a Spanish thing though to increase cost of golf when trade is down.
Actually Mike, it wasn’t too bad last time we did it which would have been 3 years ago. In November it was about 55 euros including buggy (you cant play the course without a buggy).
It has been up to about 80 euros in the past.
Karl….photos coming through in a while
Paul
View from 18th Tee
I think most people who’ve played the course will remember this. It’s a Par 3, only about 120 yards
but the tee is high up with a drop to the green. Bunker and water to avoid. Used to be a great finish
if you got it right.
View of 16th Fairway
You have to climb up to the top, buggy path on the left, and fire the ball down the hill with a lake waiting for you by the green.
Long par 5 I believe. Spectacular hole to play.
View outside Clubhouse
This is the entrance to the clubhouse as you drive up. The gates were locked but the doors on the right were open.
Oh dear, oh dear this is very sad. Nature has really reclaimed the place. Surely someone could put up some money to save it. Perhaps a national campaign is in order.
Keith
Message received from Peter Schoenmakers
I played the course just a few days before the course was closed.
That day I talked to Derek Brown, former manager of Valderrama.
He was talking to the Monte Mayor manager that day.
I guess it was not a meeting with a nice ending for Monte Mayor.
The former owner was a dutchman and he got financial problems.
He owned courses worldwide but they all where financied by sale of the expensive villa’s.
So the crises ended up his ownerships…
Here some pictures I made on Nov. 18th 2011
heartbreaking
I believe the course has been put up for auction by the hacienda who now own it courtesy of unpaid mortgages. So far offers have not matched their expectations.
I would imagine that it would be important for the property developers to have a golf course so once the market improves we might see some action. It would take approximately 12 months to get the course back in a playable condition.
It is a shame to see the course in such a sorry state. I don’t recognise the bottom photo. Which holes does it depict?
Almost 12 months since the last post on here.
I was wondering whether anyone knew if the course had been bought and whether there are now plans to re-open it?
I have the opportunity to purchase a plot of land on the course but am nervous given the uncertainty of it re-opening.
Thanks in advance
Bernard
I’m going over on 15th Nov for a week. no doubt we’ll take a ride up there to see if anything’s happening. When you say ‘a plot of land on the course’ ??
Do you mean on the outskirts of the course?
What does the sales literature say about it?
You’re nervous about them re-opening it? Or not re-opening it?
Paul
Monte Mayor golf club has been bought recently. This will lead to a rise in the prices of the plots.
The course will require a lot of work and I would be surprised if it opens for use in the next 12 months
Wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole!
I would be more confident if the course was reopened.
The opportunity is currently off-market, it isn’t front line golf but you can see the course from it.
Who has bought the course?
Bryan – out of interest, why wouldn’t you invest there?
Thanks, Bernard
Phil,
Can you tell me who bought Monte Mayor?
Hi Peter
The identity of the buyers has not been announced yet.
Bernard I wouldn’t invest there because the course has never done very well or property, even during the boom years. Pretty area but too isolated, most Golfers don’t like it and many paths are dangerous. Too far from the Airport, shops etc.
Thanks for your thoughts Bryan.
Do you not see it being a good longer term investment?
The land seems cheap…
Whether it’s an investment opportunity or not depends entirely on what the development plans are. The course was busy but had mixed reviews. Yes, it’s isolated but that’s not necessarily an issue. The road is now fully made-up. I used to play the course when it was an unmade road…and there were plenty of golfers then. If the plan is to change the course then maybe that would help. Monte, love it or hate it, was unlike any other course on the Costa. That made it special.
The purchase of Monte Mayor Golf Club is now confirmed and is complete.
I understand the plan is to spend 2015 getting the course back to its previous condition and hopefully open for play in early 2016.
We had a word with a local at Cancelada when we were there in November. He said that the Spanish Government had acquired it because there was back tax owing.
Do you know who has bought it, Phil?
We took a trip up to have a look at the course and it was in a very sorry state. If the plan is to get it back for 2016 then there’s a tremendous amount of work needed. I’m no expert so maybe it’s do-able.
Paul
The course has been bought by a Russian individual. It has been closed since 2011 although it was being maintained for quite a while by the owners of Flamingo Golf Club ( not exactly sure why they were doing this ).I would say that for just over 2 years it has laid untouched.
I know the people that used to run the course on behalf of the previous ( Dutch ) owner and have been told that it would be possible to get it playable again by early 2016.
I guess with the right amount of workforce anything is possible.
I understand that more information will be released in January.
Very interesting. Thanks for that, Phil. No doubt we’ll be back there next November so we’ll have a trek up the mountain to see how it’s coming along.
Good to hear it’s going to open again !
Hopefully we hear more good news in January !
Phil,
Is there some news again…?
Has anybody heard further news on when the course is planned to be reopened?
Has an more direct access off the Motorway ever been explored?!
Thanks
Bernard
Having been quoted in the newspaper without any prior permission and been incorrectly described as “A source close to the club’s previous Dutch owners” I am reluctant to give any further information.
Some news about Monte Mayor ?