We interview Javier Marroquin.
The PITCH and PUTT golf course is located in the Sierra Cortina Urbanisation and has brought a new leisure activity to the area.
To find out more about this golf course we spoke to Javier Marroquin one of the managers in charge of the course who explained the characteristics and details of the course.
How did the project start?
Well this project actually requires less land than a traditional golf course. We are talking about 6 hectares in total instead of the 50 or 60 hectares that a conventional golf course requires. When we first visited the urbanisation and saw that there was some land available we put forward our idea which of course would add value to the residential complex. Work commenced in 2006 and to date we are still working on the project although we have permission to operate since 2008.
What advantages does this course have?
It has more advantages than the traditional golf course. The first is that it is a more economical sport to practice with the average price of 15€ per round. It also takes up less time. In approx 2 hours you can enjoy a game of golf instead of 4 hours for the conventional game. You also don’t need a perfect technique which means quicker learning period and greater enjoyment.
What type of people use this course?
We have a varied clientele. Generally residents with medium skills to those who wish to take up the sport for the first time. Saying that, we do not have a client profile and we strive to maintain these clients and to motivate others with tournaments, competitions and activities.
What needs to be added to your installations to complete your offer?
A Social Club and practise courts. The ones we have at the moment are provisional. We also hire all the golf equipment which is very popular with our visitors, especially our British clients that book their holidays with this service included.
Have you been hit by the financial crisis?
Golf is a popular sport; players are still attending especially those who are now not able to practise traditional golf so in that respect we have gained and not lost. Golfers want to practise their favourite sport and we are an alternative to the traditional round of golf.
How important is this type of initiative to the area?
I think that these projects are the way forward. They are generally large investments from the private sector and closely connected to the housing market. The high price of land along with the situation in the housing market means that these projects add extra value to the properties. The idea for these projects originates in Cataluña where there are 35 courses such as this one and nearly 40,000 players. In the Valencian Community there are only 7 such camps all of them 9 hole except ours which has 18.
What about maintenance? What is needed to maintain the installations?
Basically once the green is sown it is watered every evening in sections. Each area is connected to a weather centre that collects all the necessary data about the course and then waters each area according to its necessities. The water used in this process is residual.
Leticia Murillo.
