I Play the Best Rated Golf Course in Europe!

I Play the Best Rated Golf Course in Europe!

This is a bucket list golf course, Valdorama here in Spain. Welcome to live golf and Lucia. Now, this golf course is often rated as number one golf course in Europe. And already I can tell why. In fact, the driving range was one of the best driving ranges I’ve seen in the whole of Europe. This place is spectacular and somewhere genuinely I’ve always wanted to come and play and can’t believe I’ve not done until this moment right now. Break 75 here in Spain ahead of Live Golf and the Lucia. I’m excited. I really am. This course out of all the golf courses we play this year on live. This is the shortest length golf course at just over 7,000 yards past 71. So you think surely Rick, you got easily enough of a chance to break 75. However, it’s also the tightest, narrowest, most undulating, most challenging, shot shaping ability golf course we play all year as well. So, without further ado, we’re here on the first hole, par four. I mean, just look at this. It is It is spectacular. These trees are stunning. I’m excited about this. I really am. I’m just going to rip it down the first. Well, my my trick is driver driver hasn’t been my friend recently. I need to just hit it hard. Just hit it hard. That’s all I can do. Okay. I’ve actually just switched back to 3wood. Looking at it, the widest part of the fairway is probably about 250 260. So, I’m going to go with 3-wood. Oh, pushed it. Pushed it. Right. Okay. Might have been a bit of tree trouble early doors here at Valderama, but we’re off this place. Oh my goodness. It’s unbelievable. It really is. That wasn’t the best T-shot. Just pushed it a touch. Just left it a little bit open. It’s a shame cuz on the range I probably just had my best practice session I’ve had. Not even ever had like Oh no. Definitely the best practice I’ve ever had. Okay, this isn’t the the most ideal start. I’m going to have to hook a gat wedge. Oh, it’s unbelievable. Keep hooking. Yeah. Getting a thumbs up. I don’t think that’s a thumbs up as if it’s close, but I think it’s a thumbs up that it’s found. Oh my gosh. So, it’s not only is it really, really, really, really, really tight this golf course. I’ve now just realized the greens are tiny. This green is so slim from right to left. Land it short. Hopefully run it on. Oh. To be honest, I just hit it really nice. The one time I didn’t want to hit it pure. I hit it absolutely pure and it literally middle stumped that branch. I wasn’t even I wasn’t even going anywhere near that. Okay. Up and down for bogey on the first. Oh, that that would have been a four. That literally was off the planet, off the tea. Did a what I thought was a great recovery shot, but missed the green. Hit an overhanging branch. Nearly chipped it in for four. You know what? All things considered, we’ll walk off with a five there on number one. Second hole, 421 yards, par four. There’s a big tree in the middle of the fairway. You got to just stay left of that. I’m I’m not going to wimp out on driver today. That’s the plan. I’m just going to hit it hard. Cover the tree. It did clip a tree, but should be all right. Okay, just in left rough again. Tactical. I’m in the shade. No harm done. Uh beautiful actually. Shot into green. Two more yards and I’m literally two more yards to the right and I’m I’m perfect. 10 more yards to the right and you actually get blocked out by that massive tree. Um 169 yards to the pin. It’s going to go a nice eight iron. Oh, chunked it a bit. Travel. Wow. Wow. I chunk that a lot. Okay. Oh boy. I mean, this is like this is like a putting green. Oh my goodness. It’s actually made a pitch mark. I’m actually going to repair that. What can be done from here? It’s not bad. Okay. A little up the hill right to left. Greens look out of this world. How did that stay out? Just a little bit soft on speed. Oh, if I’m going to shoot a decent a respectable score around here today, this has to be working for me. That felt nice. I could have just been a little bit more aggressive. Okay, par three, third hole. Pins 180, but here is Caddy just tell me told me you really just want to land this on the front of the green. So, I’m going to hit seven iron. Beautiful par three. Oh, please be the number. Please be the number. Sit. Oh, it went big. And by the way, today, right now, as we’re filming, all be it is in the afternoon, it’s nearly 6:00 p.m. It’s 38° C. So, I’ll put the Fahrenheit mark there. Tell you how how hot that is in Fahrenheit for all my US audience. But it’s hot. Very, very hot. Okay, just off the back of the green. This green’s tiny for a par three of that length. Like, if it was this size green, I’d imagine I would have been 120 yards. That wasn’t a bad shot. Anyway, it sat up unbelievably behind the green. Let’s see if we can uh let’s see if we can threaten the hole. I’m going to try and draw it off this lie because it just I don’t want it to run up the face too much. Oh, a bit heavy-handed. Okay, little up the hill right to left. Come on, putter. Rescue me today, please. Okay. Okay, Valdderama. Is this how you want to play? Is this how you want to play this game? I get it. I get it. I hear you. And I’m up for it. I’m up for the challenge. Three bogeies, three holes. This is This Father Armor is just toying with me right now. She’s playing with me. Right. Fourth hole, par five. Iconic hole on this golf course. Left side of the fairway. Let’s smoke it. Let’s get a birdie. Great drive. That’s what we need. That’s what we need. Right. 252 yards into this par five. I absolutely know that right is is game over. It’s beautiful water hazard. If water hazards could be beautiful. I’m going to go at the bunker, left side of the green. If it cuts a little bit, it’ll be on the green. If it doesn’t, it’s going to go in that bunker. Cut, cut, cut, cut, cut, cut, cut, cut, cut. Do your best. I don’t think it’s horrendous. And it might not be in the bunker. Oh my goodness. This is crazy. So, my ball’s in the bunker now. It’s a practice day, so they’ve not they’ve not rate the bunker perfect, but I’m not in a footprint, thankfully. I’ve basically got to splash it out. If this goes over the other side of the green, it’s in the water. I mean, I know some golfers that would have hit it too hard, it would go in the water. Wow. Okay. Got to be perfect. It’s got to land just just on the green. I was holding my breath. It just hit the little down slope as it actually got on the green. I was a bit scared for a second then. Come on, Shields. I mean, I’ve played this hole. Almost perfect. Let’s roll it in for the birdie. Such a nice put. Really, really thought that was a perfect put. Okay. P Power everybody. It’s taking the fourth hole, but we’ve got a par on the scorecard. Come on. Fifth hole, par four. Dog leg left. Couple of bunkers you need to avoid. I’m just going to hit threewood. Another beautiful hole. Gorgeous. I mean, for Valder Armor, this is wide. Really wide. So, I need to take advantage. I mean, it’s a gorgeous hit. Hopefully it lands straight in the fairway. Nice. Let’s go. Shields here. Okay, after a really nice 3-wood just to the corner of this dog leg. I mean, this is gorgeous. 105 yards. Pin looks like it’s at the front. I’m just going to hit a little 50. Little little fiddy in there. Oh, kick the bank. Hit the bank. Ah, Rick. Pulled it. Okay, just pulled it. Just found green side bunker pin high after the last bunker shot. This is very easy. I just can’t really afford to do is hit it past the pin cuz it rolls down a big hill. Ah, no, no, no, no, no, Ricky. No, no, no, no. It’s good job I didn’t do that on the last cuz it would have been in the water. Sit down. Oh, Rick. Terrible. Oh, it’s a disaster. An absolute disaster. Oh, six from nowhere. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Okay. Part three, six hole. Absolutely gorgeous looking par three. Um, we need to we need to forget we’re playing Valdderama. Forget I’m playing one of the most beautiful golf courses in the whole of Europe. Forget I’m playing one of the tightest golf course in Europe. Just playing golf. Ball, flag, club, hit. Go. Par three. Nine iron. No. Ricky Shields. Don’t miss the green with a nine iron. Wow. Liking my time on the beach today. Listen, when you’re in Spain, you want to be on the beach. That’s what I’m That’s what I’m doing at the moment. Third bunker shot of the round. Stop. Yeah, it’s pretty good. Okay, pretty much dead straight down the hill for par. We’re going to fist pump pars today. Okay. 7, par 4, 490 yards. Dead straight. That will work. That will work. Nice. And I think I might be in the fairway and in the shade. It’s all coming up roses now. Okay. After a great drive, I’m still 197 yards away. So, five iron in hand. Just going to go center of the green. Don’t go straight at him. Could have done without that. Okay, just at the back of the green. I can’t believe that five iron went long if I’m honest with you. Oh, look at this for a lie. I just got to get it on and let it roll down. A I mean, it’s doing well. It’s kind of done unbelievably well. Okay, downhill. Tiny bit off the left. Literally just got to get this ball started. Did not feel comfortable. Felt like I wasn’t aiming left enough. Ah, okay. Man, just a just a slight miss club in. And it’s an easy an easy bogey. Eighth hole, 351 yards. Threewood and I need to be on that right side of the fairway. Come on, Rick. It’s easy to make bogeies around here and it’s not easy to make birdies. So, we need to we need to do something. Get past that tree. Get past it. Oh, that’s really good. Yeah, that’s really, really good. Okay, come on then. Let’s go. Okay, after an unbelievable T-shot round the corner, A1 position. Quite literally, the guys will snatch my hand off for this position over the weekend. 83 yards away. Let’s see. Let’s Let’s do something proper this time. Let’s stick one close. Lob wedge in hand. Go a little bit short. I’m looking forward to seeing a few of the long hitters going for this green on over the weekend. Bryson will definitely be able to get here. Okay, up the hill right to left. Let’s see one drop in the hole. Oh, didn’t quite hit it. Didn’t quite hit it. If I’m not mistaken though, it’s the first routine par we’ve had. Fairway green two puts. Possibly the easiest on the golf course. But either way, we’re off. Okay, now we’re talking. Look at this. Look how tight the shoot is out of this tea box. Wow. So good. I’m going to 3-wood. It’s the widest part of the fairway down here. Come on. Let’s Let’s play some golf. Last 10 holes. Let’s try and shoot level par from here. Stay on that left side. Sit. Oh, that’s unlucky. Might have to do a little bit of drawing for my second shot. In a bit of trouble. We’re in a little bit of trouble. It’s my ball. That’s the flag. The ball can see the flag, which is a benefit. You got this huge tree here just to the right and then a massive overhanging tree just to the left. I don’t think I can hit it that low for that long. No, of course I can. It’s 160. Just going to chip a five iron. Just got to stay really low. Uh weirdly anticlimatic. Okay, so it’s up here. It’s not too bad actually. Uh could really do get this up and down though. So I’m just on the cut between the fairway and the first cut of rough. Land it on. Get it to grab its feet. Go really close to the hole spin. That might have just run off the green annoyingly. Okay, come on Rick. Need something to happen on this front nine. That is a tough nine holes of golf. But what’s worrying, I actually don’t feel like I’ve done that much wrong. The the one shot I wish I could take back off that front nine. I wish I could take the second shot back into five. Middle of the fairway. Just made power on the par five. Starting to build a bit of confidence and then missed the green. Feel like if I’ had hit the green there or at least got out up and down out the bunker, could have built on that momentum. feel that was a real pivotal point in this round. But as you can see, it’s just so easy to drop shots around this golf course. Like bogeies are easy and birdies are hard. Like really hard. Okay, 10th hole. Um, joking apart, I do actually think this back nine is harder. So, come on, let’s go. 390 yards, par four. Little bit wind off the right. So, dog leg to the right, water right, water left. Threewood off the tea. Looks a bit hot. Sit. Yeah, that’s good. That’s very good. It’s going in that bunker. It’s a very, very long hit. It’s not about the score today. Exactly. It’s It’s easy to say when you’re seven over. It’s not about the score today. It’s about the sunshine, the golf course, and the vibes. Been with your pals, and they’re they’re immaculate. So, let’s go and shoot under parat. Okay. Did just stay short of the bunker thankfully. I absolutely annihilated that 3-wood off that tea. Okay. 109 yards to the pin. You know, I was just saying then this is as as daft as it sounds. This is a golf course I think I can score well around. And that’s mad to say I’ve hit some I’m hitting like nice golf shots. It’s just you’ve got to be on the green. So, let’s hit greens. Let’s not worry about too much of the flag. Let’s just hit greens. Nice gap wedge. Let’s just hit greens and then we we can worry about the putting later. The good news is I’ve hit a green in regulation. The bad news I’ve left myself a really difficult put down the hill swinging from right to left. about three quarters of the way down this port, it then goes really downhill. So, I just need to dolly this down there and hit that slope. Hit that slope. Go in. Oh, that was a gorgeous port. That was an absolute gorgeous putt. Exactly how I read it. Down this hill just breaking. But it just it just broke past the hole. Oh yeah. Oh, okay. Paro, let’s go. Let’s go. Bat nine. Let’s be having you. Okay. 11th hole, par five, 557 yards. I mean, looks pretty much just dead straight. Let’s rip it. Let’s rip it and go. Come on. Don’t like the look of what’s over there. Okay, found it. Fine. Just on the bank here on the left. 277 yards. I’m going to try and rip a 3wood at it. Oh my god, that’s good. Go ball. That’s going to get there. Go. Yeah, I mean that was ripped. Fair play. Fair play to the lad who seven overpar. Nice second shot just at the front apron. I mean this is just like dreams. This turf is just gorgeous. Let’s do something with it. Oh, pushed it. I mean, that’s wild how far right that is, isn’t it? Yeah. Yeah. At least you’re honest. Okay. Well, at least I’m pin high. Got to take the positives. Um, right to left. Not much apart from that. Be really nice to get a birdie on this back nine. And why not now? Ricky, Ricky, Ricky. Just didn’t trust the read. Over exa like exaggerated the read too much. Got to trust your feet. Okay, level through two on the back nine. No harm done, but should have been a pickup birdie on that hole there. Par three, 12th hole, 212 yards. Just going to rifle a five iron at it. Greens are key. Oh, it’s beautiful. Get up. Yeah, really nice shot. Okay, real good look at birdie here on number 12. Up the hill ever so slightly left to right. This would be a nice one. This would be a real treat. I can’t say. And to be honest, Matt, the camera guy, said that they were just watering this green just before we came on it. And it’s definitely just a touch slower than the others. Okay, three holes of about nine played. Three pars. Come on then. Let’s keep that momentum. Okay. 13th hole, 418 yards. Par four. Just another just gorgeously framed hole. I’ve got to It’s not about avoiding the trees. Obviously is, but it’s also like you could be in the fairway and be behind a tree. You got to find the right side of the fairway. In this instance, it’s the center of the fairway you need to find. It’s left, but I think that’s okay. Yeah, I think left your friend down here. I like the fact I hit it hard. That’s what I wanted to do. Been hitting it too soft at the moment. So, I quite like the fact I whacked it at least. Right. I’m in I’m in a whole world of issues here. In a whole world of issues. There’s a sign down there, a little advertisement board that says vineyards. I’m going to go at that and try and hook it with a seven iron. To be honest, even if I hit it at that, I might just try and hit it at that because that’s not a bad leave. Hit the sign. I tell you what, I’m really happy with that. Right. Come on. Nice little up and down here to save par. Literally, that was the sign I was going for and I nearly hit it. Sick of these chips not threatening the hole. This is going to go in. It came out so fiery. Pretty straightforward put. Oh, nice. It came out a bit dead from where I managed to get the ball to in two. Should have been at least on the green and put him for for par. Okay, come on then, Rick. So, back to I’m not back to anything. I’m eight over. So, currently I have to par in to break 80. 14th hole, 370 yards. Par 4. Oh, please. Kick left. Kick left. Kick left. Kick left. Should be okay. Okay, this is the wonderful world of Alderama. I’ve actually found the fairway. I thought I might have been right rough, but you’ll see from this angle there is a tree in my way. I don’t know if I can get over that tree. I think I should be able to. 115 yards. Gat wedge. Can I get over that tree? Yeah, I’ll try and fade it a little bit. Get a bit more extra height on it. I think I can get it over that tree. Oh, Rick, you’ve hit the wrong got over the tree. I got over the branch I’m trying to get over and I hit the branch that’s not even in my line. So, it landed in the bunker, came back out to the flat part. Oh my gosh, another tree in my way. All right, forget the tree. Would I Would I hit the tree? I feel like I would spin. It’s really hard because you’re trying to like play with so many different shot ideas. Like I’m trying to play it lower, but I need to play it high to make it stop quick. It’s a real It’s a real mental challenge when you’re out of position on this course. Okay, this really could do going in for the challenge. Well, just to keep the score respectable down the hill. Falling right. Fall right. Okay. Up the hill. Right to left. Important port. They all are now at this stage. Okay. In for five. Worked hard for that five then in the end. So, I’m now eight uh nine over. Got to shoot under par from this point to break 80. Can be done. However, I’ve just realized there’s a 230 yard par three coming up next. Let’s go. Okay, 15th long par three. Actually zapping it though with the pin at the front at 214. I’m going to rifle a five iron straight at it. If I can hit the five iron like it on uh 12, I’d be very happy. Get there. Cover that bunker. Cover that bunker. Cover that bunker. Oh, I have I just didn’t quite strike it. I have spent a lot of time on the beach today. I’ll be emptying my shoes out later. I’ll be building sand castles. Okay, come on then, Rick. I need to do something here. I need to hold a bunker shot or something. Not a lot of green to work with, though. Yeah, really nice shot. I’m wanting more at the moment, though. I’m needing more. But we’ll take that fast down the hill. Tiny breaking left. Very good. up and down if I do say so myself. Keeps a dream alive. We’ve got to shoot one under for the last three holes to break 80. And honestly, after that front nine, I would snatch your hand off with a score that starts with a seven to finish this round. Come on. 16th par 4, 433 yards. The next hole is the iconic par five 17th. Come on. Just needs to give myself a decent look for birdie on these next three holes. Just got to stay inside that tree on the right. Should be good. Yeah, should be good. All right, I think take your medicine. Get on the green. Make your part here. Sun, go down a little bit more so I don’t I’m not blinded. Right. I actually thought I did a great drive. I thought I was in A1 position. Just rolled off the fairway and ta there’s another tree. It’s weird. It’s like for me I I often play a lot of my golf out of this first cut of rough. I don’t hit the fairway often and I’ll sometimes spray it, but I’ll hit this first cut of rough a lot. Feels like that’s where you get really penalized. Oh, just going to have to chip and hook a pitching wedge here and try and find the green. I can just see the flag, but I’m going to have to manipulate it a little bit. Could be really good. Be amazing. Be amazing. Be amazing. Oh, hello. Guess who’s back? Back again. I meant to hit the tree too, obviously just to slow the ball down a little tiny bit. Wow, what a result. I actually weirdly thought I was even closer than this. But we’ve got a look. That’s all we can ask for at this late stage down the hill, left to right. This would give me a real nice little cushion playing the last two holes. Wow. That is cruel. That is really cruel. That was such a nice put. That was such a nice put. Wowers. Wowers. Wowers. By the way, and this might be the wrong time to say this, I’ve played this same golf ball all the way around and actually on the side JCB Golf and Country Club because I was in a media day recently. I got some balls and a reminder that the next live event after Ander Lucia is JCB Golf and Country Club in the UK. If you want tickets, click the link down below. It’s an unbelievable event. Third week of July, I think things kick off on the 25th of July on the Friday. It’s going to be an epic weekend. Get involved. JCB Golf and Country Club. Link in description to get your tickets. Right, come on. Two more to go. I need to be one under. Come have a quick look at this. There’s a little sign here on the back of 17th T. Three golfers have recorded. Albatross on this hole. Miguel Ankell Gimenez 28th of October. Gray McDow and Hayden Portius. We actually played with Hayden Portius. Do you remember he um Sam Horfield’s mate? Yeah. God, that’s wild. Um, we need one more. There’s going to be four golfers on that list soon. This is the hole. This is what Valdder Armor is famous for. This very hole. Come on, Rick. We’ve got to be two under through the last two. Oh, it’s really good. Cover that bunker. Yes. Yes. Come on then. Come on then. Let’s do something here now. Right. Really good drive. 250 yards to the hole. I’m blinded by the sun. Uh, as you’ll see from the drone footage, everything short and left is wet. And you’ve got to carry it up onto the green. It won’t run up. So, this is going to be everything I’ve got plus the kitchen sink. And it has to be at the flag or just missing. Right. Come on. I’m really not going to know because it’s absolutely into sun into the sun. Anyone hooking left towards 18? I’ve actually hit it so far left. It’s safe. It’s nearly on the 18th T. But look at this little pin eye to the pin. I absolutely rifle that 3wood to be fair. Right, come on then. This needs an up and down for birdie. That’s so much spin. Right, we’re putting for birdie at least, but I needed to be a lot closer. But this is just my range. Big sweeping right to left downhill. Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow, Rick. I thought I tapped it. I honestly thought I’d tap that. Looking from this side now. It’s a lot more downhill than I expected. Come on, Shields. Big put. Keep the dream alive. Uphill, left to right. Knew I was going to do that. I knew I was going to hit it soft. Oh, that’s annoying. Not when I needed to three put. Oh, okay. last hole. That bogey on the last has just killed our dreams. It’s been good though. It’s been a really, really good course. One to be honest, I don’t think anyone would play well the first time they played it. Like, you have to know it. Obviously, I’m literally not being guided out here today. Just freewheing it. Um, let’s make power on a hit. Well, birdie will get me at 80. Carrot. Big thud. Oh, trees. 16. Uh, 176. I’m going to hit eight iron. Come on, Shields. One time. Like, it can’t be that hard, can it? One time. Just go in the hole. Go in the hole then. Go in the hole then. Sit. How is that not stopped? Come on then. Let’s ship it on the last. Oh, it’s good for speed. Ah, good. Very good. Very, very good day at the office. But a tough day at the office. I mean that that is a golf course you need to know. And I didn’t know. Now I know. Let’s knock it in for an 81. You know what? I’m really not that disappointed. I’m not. Two doubles on the car. Uh two doubles or one double? one double on the card. Unbelievable venue. Like unbelievable. And actually, I think from a spectator standpoint, one of the best. So, even if you’re in the UK and you’re watching this video, fly over here for Sunday because it is honestly I think this is one of the best setups of anywhere that we’ve been to so far. Borama bucket list ticked off. I need to play it again. I need to play I might actually play it tomorrow thankfully. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll play better tomorrow. See you soon, guys.

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In this video Rick Shiels takes on Real Club Valderrama at LIV Golf Andalucía. Valderrama is known for being one of the hardest & best golf courses in the whole of Europe and the world! Can Rick Shiels Break 75 at this amazing golf course?

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Hi I’m Rick Shiels, welcome to my channel! This YouTube channel is designed to help you play better golf, also to help you enjoy your golf more!

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