RYDER CUP 2018: PHILIP REIDwalks some rough, wild, undulating terrain on the outskirts of Madrid which is the site of Spain's bid to host the 2018 Ryder Cup.
WE ARE standing on an elevated piece of terrain on the outskirts of Madrid, a place known as Tres Cantos to be precise. Robin Hiseman, an English golf course designer, is talking about the natural beauty of the site which is one of those bidding to play host to the 2018 Ryder Cup when he is interrupted by the appearance overhead of an eagle which hovers momentarily before flying off to do whatever such birds of prey do. Nevertheless, it is a moment worthy of catching your breath.
The brief silence which follows as we watch the eagle fly away from the spot, known as The Pulpit and due to be the second tee on the course, allows everyone to soak in what lies below: a rough, wild, undulating terrain with the smell of thyme and lavender capturing the senses. This is a course that has yet to be built, and, yet, the wildness of the place, is one reason why Madrid is very much considered one of the frontrunners for hosting the Ryder Cup in seven years. The decision will be made in London on May 17th, just ahead of next month’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, and the five contenders are: France – Le Golf National (Albatross Course), Paris; Germany – The Audi Course, Wittelsbach Rohrenfeld, near Munich; Netherlands – The Dutch, Spijk, near Gorinchem; Portugal – Herade da Comporta Golf Resort on the Alentejo coast, near Lisbon; and Spain – Club de Campo Tres Cantos, Madrid.
Bro Hof Slott in Sweden, which was part of the original bidding process, withdrew its application in midstream. This is the first formal bid process undertaken by Ryder Cup Europe, one that started at the end of 2008. Richard Hills, the Ryder Cup director, has called it a “hugely challenging and stimulating process” which involved site visits to all of the potential candidates and, perhaps a sign of the times, a requirement of all five countries to sign what were called Conditional Host Agreements which means that, when the 2018 host venue is named next month, it becomes a fully binding legal contract.
The successful country will be entering into a multi-faceted agreement, lasting a minimum of 12 years which involves backing tournaments on the main tour, the Challenge Tour and the Seniors Tour in that time span. It’s a big commitment, with the hope that the Ryder Cup itself and the legacy of staging the event will reap its own rewards.
There is no course, yet, in Madrid. In fact, the French bid – with its choice of venue in Paris a host venue for the French Open for every year bar one since 2000 – is the only course built and with any tournament tradition.
The Dutch course, designed by Colin Montgomerie, is seeded and near ready to play, but the Spanish, Portuguese and German bids are in the blueprint stage and ready to proceed.
The Madrid bid is one that could have the analogy of a dark horse which comes late on the inside rails. It has a lot going for it, not just the obvious enthusiasm of everyone involved in it but also an unspoilt location – yet close to the teeming metropolis of Madrid with access to transport infrastructure that includes trains and motorways to the heart of the city inside half-an-hour’s drive – that is currently home to sheep and cattle and also used for pursuits such as hiking and mountain biking.
Hiseman, who works for European Golf Design, has adopted a minimalist approach towards earth moving in an attempt to retain the character of the natural terrain on this site 19 kilometres north of Madrid. Want a comparison? Some 400,000 cubic metres of earth was moved to create the 18th hole alone at Celtic Manor; here, Hiseman envisages a project that will involve total earth moving of 200,000 cubic metres.
“We are only going to move earth if we have to. For the most part, we will follow the natural contours and preserve the indigenous vegetation outside of the playing corridors.
“It is not untypical for a new championship golf course, developed on agricultural or ex-industrial land, to require an earth moving volume of several million cubic metres to reshape and sculpt the land for the purposes of an attractive golfscape . . . (at Tres Cantos), we will move just 200,000 cubic metres and that is mostly accounted for by the construction of the lakes in which we have to store our irrigation water. This is a Ryder Cup venue that has the preservation and enhancement of the natural environment at the very core of its ethos,” explained Hiseman. He added: “Our design has already passed a rigorous Environmental Impact Assessment and our innovative water capture and recycling scheme quite literally defies gravity to ensure that we get the most out of every drop of rain water.” In what he calls the “soul” of the course, the final five holes, Hiseman has also used a natural amphitheatre to create a par three 16th late in the round to be known as The Bull Ring and which will be able to accommodate 25,000 spectators. The idea is to recreate the atmosphere similar to that of the 17th at the Phoenix Open.
Joining us as we negotiate the terrain in 4x4s and on foot is Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano. “It’s my first time seeing it, and I like it. I can already see the holes. We can make what we want of this. It could be a beautiful, well-treed course but, for a Ryder Cup, we would need it to be open and it would be superb. The crowds would love it,” remarked the Spanish golfer.
And, as we look down towards the shepherd herding his sheep on what will be the 10th hole, and across to the snow-peaked Sierra Guadarrama mountains in the distance, it is hard to believe that this land – found after a series of sites were looked at by the bidding committee – is so close to Madrid and yet retains a ruggedness at odds with a major city. “We unashamedly wanted to create an old fashioned course, very different to the style of (previous) venues. We hope it is appealing to the Ryder Cup committee,” observed Hiseman.
One way or another, and regardless of whether Tres Cantos gets the nod, the Hiseman course will be built. As Gonzaga Escauriaza, the president of the Spanish Golf Federation put it, “we honestly believe we cannot produce a finer bid. This site cannot be bettered. We cannot get it closer to the city. We cannot find so many (hotel) rooms near the course. We cannot offer a better course. We are strong supporters of the European Tour, with seven events this year and many every year. How can we better this? I do not know.”
RYDER CUP 2018: THE CANDIDATES
France
Le Golf National,
Albatross Course, Paris
One of the first stadium courses in Europe, the National has played host to the French Open 10 of the past 11 years dating back to when Colin Montgomerie won there in 2000. Ironically, Monty – designer of the Dutch course – has stated publicly that Paris is likely to get the 2018 nomination.
Soccer player Patrick Vieira and England rugby player Johnny Wilkinson are among sportsmen from other codes to have backed the Paris bid. The French Federation has promised to build 100 driving ranges and as many short courses (par threes) around the country to develop golf as part of the Ryder Cup's legacy.
Germany
The Audi Course,
near Munich
The German car manufacturer is financing the construction of this proposed course, and it also has the backing of Wittelsbacher Ausleichsfonds (the investment company of the former royal family in Bavaria). The location is approximately 80km from Munich, with German architect Thomas Himmel pencilled in as course designer. Bernhard Langer has been to the fore in promoting the bid.
Netherlands
The Dutch, Spijk
Considered the real outsider in the market, the Dutch is a Colin Montgomerie "signature" course co-designed by Ross McMurray of European Golf Design, who was responsible for remodelling Celtic Manor ahead of last year's event. Its location close to Amsterdam is a plus, but, with no Ryder Cup history in the country, it may be left waiting.
Portugal
Herade da Comporta Links,
Alentejo coast
A project with serious intent, with a Tom Fazio-designed course (his first in Europe) in conjunction with Ross McMurray of European Golf Design and backed by the financial clout of the Espirito Santo Group. The course, to be developed as part of a three-course resort on the Alentejo coast, approximately an hour south of Lisbon, has a spectacular setting overlooking the Atlantic. Has the backing of Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, who hails from nearby Setubal, into the bargain.
Spain
Tres Cantos,
Madrid
Designed with the Ryder Cup in mind on a site north of Madrid, with immediate access of transport infrastructure (the train stations are within walking distance to the course), this bid has gathered steam in recent months and could be the closest runner to favourites Paris. Has the backing of Seve Ballesteros as well as Athletic Madrid and Real Madrid.
