Mason Jones (Reporter)
VALDERRAMA Golf Club founder Jaime Ortiz-Patino has sadly died at the age of 82.
Ortiz-Patino, known to friends as Jimmy, passed away at the Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella on January 3 with no cause of death disclosed.
The 82-year-old is credited as one of the driving forces behind bringing major golf to Spain, with Valderrama being the first course to host the Ryder Cup outside of the British Isles on this side of the Atlantic.
“Valderrama is his masterpiece, his legacy,” said 2012 Ryder Cup captain Jose-Maria Olazabal.
“He wanted to make it a very special place, and he did it.
“He put Valderrama and that part of Andalucia on the map.”
“This is a very sad day, not just for Spain but but for the whole golfing world,” added Sergio Garcia, who won the 2011 Andalucia Masters at Valderrama.
In addition to the 1997 Ryder Cup, Ortiz-Patino saw 16 Volvo Masters, two World Golf Championship events and two Andalucia Masters tournaments held at his course.
A visionary well ahead of his time. May Mr Ortiz-Patino RIP.