Have You Played This Jose Maria Olazabal Golf Course

Two-time Masters champion and Ryder Cup icon José María Olazábal has described his pride at once again seeing the first golf course he designed this week hosting the Ladies European Tour’s La Sella Open.

Le Sella was created more than three decades ago, with the projected beginning in 1992 and located within the mountainous region of Dénia, Alicante, and nestled in the unparalleled beauty of Montgo Natural Park.

Despite initially designing the course to suit the needs of golfers at the time, Olazábal said: “30 years later, seeing that it hosts a well-established women’s tournament and that the players are genuinely happy to play a course like this, well, that’s what I’m most proud of.

“Whenever I walk a course I’ve designed, my mind goes back and I remember the origins, the goals we had. And as the years go by, seeing how a course matures, improves, develops and becomes more refined, all those memories and emotions come back, and they make you feel proud of the work done.”

The 27-hole course, the largest on the Costa Blanca, underwent a full redesign in 2021 led by Olazábal which helped reinforce the course’s refined and technical layout combined with an environmentally sustainable approach.

Olazábal, who captained the European Ryder Cup team to the Miracle of Medinah in 2012, has emphasised the importance of not only providing a platform for women’s golf to thrive, but also producing a course worthy of hosting players of the highest calibre.

“I believe women’s golf is at an incredibly high level globally and I don’t think it always gets the recognition it deserves – especially here in Spain, we have great female players who need opportunities to prove their talent and capabilities.”

In 2023, Spaniard Nuria Iturrioz staged a thrilling comeback victory after going into the final round four strokes down, before beating Germany’s Laura Fuenfstueck in a dramatic playoff. The 2024 edition also saw German teenager Helen Briem claim her first LET title in her debut event after turning professional just a few months prior with a flawless final round of six-under-par.

“It’s essential that they have tournaments of this calibre, and that they’re played on courses in excellent condition,” Olazábal said.

“When I hear feedback from the players, they love it – they enjoy it, and they feel it’s worth playing a course of this quality and in these conditions.”

Olazábal believes the course is a demanding one to play, offering a combination of challenges to both one’s long and short game, particularly with the undulating greens that require accurate approach shots.

“What type of player does this course favour? As with everything in this sport, someone who hits it long and has a good short game – that’s the player who will be best suited to this design.”

In addition to the course’s quality, the Spaniard also believes its uniqueness lies in its location, of which he has placed a lot of thought into when making key design decisions.

“What makes it special is the setting. We have the Montgó mountain nearby, and then the natural topography of the land.”

Regarding design, Olazábal said: “You must be as non-intrusive as possible with the surroundings and prepare the course in a way that ensures long-term sustainability – from the materials you use to design the course, to optimising water usage.”

The entire grounds have now been planted with Bermuda grass, a type known for its resilience to high temperatures and low water quality, less maintenance and fewer chemical treatments are required, benefiting both playability and environmental impact.

Whilst Olazábal’s pride in the course is undeniable, one of the main reasons he fell in love with the region and the club was due to the people.

“The people make you feel like you’re among family, and that is also an important factor when evaluating a golf course. In that sense, La Sella Open is truly special.”

These sentiments are matched by that of the players on the LET; voted ‘Tournament of the Year’ by the players themselves in 2023, and ‘Best Player Services in 2024,’ the La Sella Open is well-established as one of the most welcoming stops on the tour.

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