Aloha Golf Club is in Marbella Golf Valley (Málaga). Golf Valley has one of the highest concentration of top quality golf courses in Europe.
The course was designed by one of the most prestigious designers of Spanish golf courses, Javier Arana.
Sr. Arana also designed El Saler in Valencia and El Prat in Barcelona. Aloha was the last project for Javier Arana who died in 1975, just as the course was about completed.
On 25th October 1975 the club was inaugurated by Mr. Angel de la Riva, President of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, who drove the first official ball at Aloha.
During the early years of the club, Mr. Enrique Canales added the par three course. Mr. Canales is Honorary member of the Club, as are golf professionals Mr. Diego Borrego and Mr. Miguel Angel Jiménez.
A unique Club
As the time went by and membership started to increase, a unique ambience was developed. This ambience is a feature of Aloha that makes it stand out from the surrounding clubs. Aloha has members of over 20 different nationalities.
Throughout its history, the Club has been honoured by the presence of personalities such as HM Mr. Juan de Borbón, Prince Klaus of Holland, Prince Edward from England and the King of Malasia. The Scottish actor Sean Connery made his home of Aloha and shared this special atmosphere with our members until not so long ago.
Golf history
Almost since its creation, Aloha has hosted highly prestigious tournaments, such as the Spanish Amateurs Championship in 1978 and the Match Amateur Spain v. England in 1993.
The II International Mixed Professional Golf Tournament was held in Aloha in 1989, which was won by Miguel Angel Jiménez and Xonia Wunsch.
The most senior golf tournaments held in Aloha were the Andalusian Opens (PGA European Tour) in 2007 and 2008, with the participation of the big names of the Tour.
The winners were two Ryder Cup players, Lee Westood (England) in 2007, who set a new record of the course with 65 strokes, and Thomas Levett (France) in 2008, who took victory in an exciting play off against the 19 year old Oliver Fisher.
A social club
Aloha Golf Club was run by Banco de Bilbao until March 1983, when IBSA came to the end of its real estate around the course and the club gradually developed into the social club that we have today. One thousand five hundred shares were then issued which were originally destined for 1.200 house owners with the balance going to existing players and members.
This took a little while to take effect and it was not until January 1986 that the first Assembly of shareholders was held to choose the first President of the Club, Mr. José María Ibarrondo, who was President for 5 years.
Mr. Ibarrondo was followed by Mr. Conde de Perlac, 7 years, and Mr. Colin Sheppard who took over for 3 years. From 1999 until 2008 Mr. Richard Katz was the President and his successor, Mr. Jose Ignacio Abad Rico, presided over the club until November 2009, when an election was organised.
On 16th February a new Board of Directors was elected and Mr. Rafael Fontán Zubizarreta has been the President since the
Related posts:
