It is a real honor to be able to host, one more year, an international women’s golf tournament in Barcelona for the Let Access Series 2021: the Santander Golf Tour Barcelona.

Real Club de Golf El Prat has been selected, once again, to host another tournament of the Let Access Series and the Santander Golf Tour. Together with Real Club de Golf La Peñaza are the only courses in Spain to organize a tournament for a European tour that brings together great golfers not only from Europe, but also from around the world.

Under the name of Santander Golf Tour Barcelona, ​​the tournament will be played from the 20^th– 22^nd of October at Real Club de Golf El Prat and will also be the big final of the tour. Without a doubt, there is no better venue to end a long-awaited season like 2021 than in the best golf facilities in Barcelona.

After a difficult year, where most of the 2020 season had to be canceled due to the Coronavirus pandemic, we must be grateful for the effort made by the Santander Golf Tour in organizing high-level women’s golf tournaments. Our Club is proud to be the one to welcome female golfers to Barcelona.

Alícia Garrido, executive director of Deporte & Business, promoter of the Solheim Cup 2023, the Santander Golf Tour and two LET events in Spain:

“Being able to count on R.C.G. El Prat to host a tournament of the Santander Golf Tour is always a luxury. But the fact that the tournament is also part of the LET Access Series, makes it one of the most important events of the season. We are doubly grateful.”

Championship course for Ladies Golf

Our Pink course, the favorite lay out of its designer Greg Norman, is well prepared to offer a demanding and fun course to the players.

In the first 9 holes, fairways are narrower and delimited by forest where the driver is not always the best option. Even so, the course is long and the greens are quite big and fast. The second nine holes, are more demanding and require a good strategy from the tee box where recovery shots play a key role in ensuring a good score.

Alícia Garrido also believes that the Pink course is perfect for female professional golfers:

“The pink course is one of the professional players’ favorite lay out, and I am convinced that this year we will have some of the best female golfers of the moment playing it. The tournament will be the grand finale of the LET Access Series, so we will have the opportunity to meet the future stars of the world of golf. I would love for members of El Prat to take the opportunity to see first-hand the incredible golf that the pro golfer have to offer. “

Santander Golf Tour Barcelona

The tournament will have a total of € 35,000 to be distributed among the ladies who make the cut. In 2019, the Swedish player Johanna Gustavsson won the tournament and when we spoke to her, she told us that her favorite hole was the 18th where she won the playoff:

“It’s a good hole because when you play it you have two options, either you look for the green or you make a safe lay up. I have chosen the second option because the green area is very complicated if you go straight for it”.

In addition, the Swedish player also told us about her opinion of the pink course:

“The Pink course is very interesting and full of challenges, especially from the tee. Also, the last 9 holes are very different from the first 9! I loved it. When I arrived at the Real Club de Golf El Prat I felt very comfortable with the course, the greens were much better than I would have imagined and my game has benefited from those good sensations. In the second 9 holes, there are many more slopes and you must have a very cool head to play them, position yourself on the good side of the green and know how to miss your if you must. I have hit every tee with a drive, even if it wasn’t necessary, but I thought it was a good challenge for me because it is very narrow and I wanted to practice for the Women’s Spanish Open”.

Real Club de Golf El Prat has always supported women’s golf and, this 2021, will continues to do so. Moreover, Barcelona is great for golf, not only for their amazing golf courses but also because everything that surround the city, the proximity to an international airport or the beach. At RCG El Prat we are proud to organize the final of the Ladies European Tour Access Series 2021 once again. We hope that both the players and the members enjoy three intense days of the best golf.

The Spanish Amateur, or Copa S.M. El Rey 2021, will take place from the 3rd to the 7th of March 2021 at Real Club de Golf El Prat. A tournament that gathers the best golf amateurs in Europe that will compete for the trophy and to earn points for the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) Ranking.

The best amateurs come from different parts of Europe as Germany, Sweden, France, Belgium or Portugal. In 2020, the tournament was played in Sevilla and the winner, José Luis Ballester, is back to defend the title. Who is going to be the new champion?

The first two days of the Spanish Amateur is stroke play and there will be a cut of the best 32 players. After that, the rest of the days are played under match play.

You can follow the tournament with its livescoring here.

And for more information, you can visit the Spanish Federation website.

Playing golf in Barcelona is safe again, and that is what Turisme de Barcelona has confirmed after obtaining several certificates that proves it. It is great news for the golf industry, and especially for our golf course in Barcelona.

Barcelona- El Prat Airport, safe airport

Real Club de Golf El Prat is 30 minutes away from Barcelona Airport, one of the most important international airports in the world. Recently, with all the COVID-19 restrictions, Barcelona El-Prat Airport has obtained the Airport Heath Accreditation by the Airport Council International (ACI), and has been declared “Safe Airport”. The ACI enables airports to demonstrate that they prioritize health in a measurable and established manner. In addition, it helps Barcelona airport to validate their own measures and hygienic processes offered to the traveling public.

What is more, Vueling has expanded his connectivity from Barcelona Airport to other routes in Europe. The Spanish airline now will fly as well to Denmark, Sweden and Norway. With these new routes, the Scandinavian golfers will be able to play golf in Barcelona from this February at special prices. Also, during the summer time, the airline will also fly from Barcelona to other cities of these Nordic countries.

IATA Travel pass, a new way of traveling

IATA has presented a mobile app that can be used by any passenger who want to be inform of any restriction or law of the country prior to travel. Therefore, the IATA Travel Pass offers sensible information such as:

1. Sanitary norms of the country visiting and documentation required at destination
2. Test centres to get tested or get a vaccine.
3. Labs that give passengers the ability to share their test and vaccination results in a verifiable, safe and privacy-protecting manner
4. Digital passport, which verifies required information on destiny and shares information with the authorities to ease the trip.

It is an easy way for visitors to have all the information, documentation and test required by the country of destination. It is a free digital platform that won´t share personal information with a third party. This app will be available by the second trimester of 2021, and might be integrated in airline companies so the travellers can decide which one they want to use.

Preventive measure continues in Barcelona

Even though there is an increasing number of vaccines applied throughout the world, the strict entry measure will stick around until, at least, beginning of March. Passengers coming from Brazil, South Africa and United Kingdom, due to the new types of the virus, will have special measure.

At the same time, hotels in Barcelona are starting to open and offering rooms for all the golfers that decide to play our golf courses. For all the players who want to visit the city after a round of golf, 75% of Barcelona city’s cultural facilities are open. In addition, 99 congresses are confirmed for this 2021, also great news for the business.

Barcelona, Premium Tourism

We are proud to be one of Barcelona’s tourism interest, as golf in Barcelona is increasing its popularity. And also, because Turisme de Barcelona was given the distinction of the Institutional Honour Member of the Luxury Spain Association.

A prove that Barcelona is a safe city is that the CEO of GSMA, John Hoffman, has confirmed that next June the 2021 Mobile World Congress is coming back. Great news for golfers who attend this congress because Real Club de Golf El Prat is just 30 minutes away with easy access from Barcelona. Golf is perfect to get away from big events and enjoy outdoors activities.

Chinese golfers in Barcelona

Turisme de Barcelona has announced a strategy for the Chinese market coinciding with the Chinese New Year and it cannot be more right. At Real Club de Golf El Prat we have an important number of Chinese members who have come to play golf in Barcelona and have loved it. Moreover, we have new reciprocal agreement with Mission Hills, an impressive and exclusive golf resort in China that, for being member at Real Club de Golf El Prat will have access and special rates.

We are positive about welcoming golf players in Barcelona because of the measures that, as a golf club, we have taken to make our players feel safe.

From February 12th to 14th, the Barcelona Men’s and Women’s Championship 2021 was held at the best golf course in Barcelona, Real Club de Golf El Prat.

The past year has been difficult due to the pandemic, so it was a great satisfaction to be able to celebrate an International tournament valid for the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) at Real Club de Golf El Prat in Barcelona.

First day at Barcelona’s golf championship

The first day was played with great enthusiasm and excitement. A total of 99 players from all over Spain and Europe came to play golf in Barcelona for three intense days. Most of them played their first tournament of the season since many competitions were forced to cancel in 2020. Thus, all players were excited to play in a high level layout as it is the Pink course of the Real Club de Golf El Prat. Greg Norman’s most demanding design is located just 30 minutes from the city of Barcelona, ​​an advantage for all those players who came from all over the world.

Second and Third day

The second day of the tournament was key for all the players. Only the 46 best men and the 16 best women made the cut and had a chance to win the tournament on the third day of play. The other players had to finish the golf tournament earlier and were able to enjoy the city of Barcelona.

The third day of play, the weather did not help and the rain and cold complicated the game. Even so, Victor García Broto, a member of the Club, managed to sign a round under par. In addition, he was the only one who shot three rounds under 72 with a total of -8 to win the tournament. Victor also won with a total advantage of 13 strokes, without a doubt, a tournament to remember.

“Today’s round was tougher. It was windy and rainy so the round was quite uncomfortable but the game was very orderly. I have missed in the places I had to miss. I am very happy with my game. ” – Victor Garcia Broto

As for the girls, it was Marina Joyce who took the title home. The young golfer played very solid and showed great mental strength on the course. On the last day, she came to the 1st tee six strokes behind the leader, and ended up winning by four strokes. A great comeback to be proclaimed champion of the Barcelona`s Championship 2021.

Both, she and Víctor emphasized the good condition of the course and the speed of its greens.

“The golf course looks fantastic. The greens are very fast, especially the first two days, but today with the rain they got a little slower, but the truth is that the course is spectacular”. – Victor Garcia Broto

We hope to see these great golfers playing on this golf course in Barcelona again next year. Real Club de Golf El Prat is always proud to host tournaments of this level.

Barcelona’s International Men and Women Championship 2021.

You can find the leaderboard and tee times of the Barcelona’s Championship.

Men’s leaderboard FINAL

Women’s leaderboard FINAL

Tee times Sunday 14th

Men’s leaderboard 2nd round

Women’s leaderboard 2nd round

Tee times Saturday 13th

Men’s leaderboard 1st round

Women’s leaderboard 1st round

Tee times Friday 12th

Players at 2nd February at 17h

See the Championship rules (Spanish)

THE REAL GOLF CLUB EL PRAT BEGINS ITS SEASON WITH TWO INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS VALID FOR THE WAGR

Real Club de Golf El Prat kicks off th season 2021 with two international tournaments that count towards the World amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).

Due to the current pandemic, any competition that is not professional or amateur at an international level had to be suspended. Many companies dedicated to golf events have been forced to suspend all activity and this has also had in impact on golf clubs.

Golf tournaments at Real Club de Golf El Prat

The most exclusive Club of Barcelona hosts around 80 amateur tournaments every year so that members and visitors can test their game on the two courses designed by golf legend Greg Norman, the Pink and the Yellow courses.

The demanding and technical Pink is an opportunity to play a competition course near the city of Barcelona where great golfers, like Severiano Ballesteros or Tom Watson, have competed and won.

The wider and more affordable Yellow is the perfect course for any level of player who wants to enjoy a course in great conditions and still shoot a good score. In 2020, the yellow course has been remodeled, with Greg Norman’s supervision, with the intention to have a more sustainable golf course and improve its playability. The plan includes the reduction of the number of bunkers and the re-design of some others but maintaining the level of play, among other things. Without a doubt, it is the right time to come and play Barcelona´s best golf courses.

Among the large number of tournaments organized at El Prat there were competitions such as the Audi Tournament, Audemars Piguet Tournament, or internationally amateur championships that can only be played in high-level courses as Real Club de Golf El Prat in Barcelona.

Men’s and Women’s Individual Barcelona Championship 2020

From February 12 to 14, 2021 the Men’s and Women’s Individual Barcelona Championship will be held on the Pink course. A total of 90 players, 69 gentlemen and 21 ladies, will compete in a tournament valid for the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). Therefore, the elite of amateur golf will meet at Real Club de Golf El Prat to perform at their best in a 10 times European Tour venue in Barcelona.

In order to registrate to the competition, players can do it before February 8th by clicking here.

Spanish International Amateur Championship 2020

And this is not the only tournament to start the year off. In fact, from March 3^rd to March 7th, the Spanish International Amateur Championship, “ La Copa S.M. El Rey 2021” will be hosted at Real Club de Golf El Prat. What is more, the event counts for the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and the best amateurs in Europe will gather at the Real Club de Golf El Prat to compete at the highest level in Europe. In this case, the tournament is only for men with a maximum handicap of 1.4 and a total of 90 players.

Thus, players who meet the requirements mentioned above can register through the website of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation before February 3, 2021.

Bruno Rosal, President of the RCG El Prat Competition committee “Despite the times we are living in, it is a satisfaction that a golf course in the province of Barcelona is hosting two tournaments of great importance at an international and national level. The course is in perfect condition so that the best amateurs can play their best golf.”

Entries open to the Barcelona’s International Men and Women Championship 2021.

You can sign up to the Barcelona’s Championship that will be host from the 12th to the 14th of February on the Pink course at Real Club de Golf El Prat.

To enter, click here. 

Players at 2nd February at 17h

The maximum of players is 90. (69 men and 21 women)

PRICE
Members at RCGP: 30€
No RCGP members: 95€
No RCGP memers boy/girl category and below: 65€

See the Championship rules (spanish)

Golf has become even more popular this 2020 after the pandemic of Covid-19 and one of the main reasons is the fact that is played outdoors and individually. Two facts well appreciated nowadays in consequence of the situation that has affected our world and the multiple confinements that we had to live as a desperate attempt to reduce the numbers. Therefore, golf is one of the safest sports to practice in 2020 and still in 2021.

Playing golf at RCG El Prat is safe

The fact that golf can be played outdoors has been key to encouraging many players to retake the game, start for the first time or visit the golf course even more. The golf business has notice an increase of the number of players during this 2020 who want to enjoy the peaks of playing golf in Barcelona. Plus, it is known that outdoors the virus do not survive as much, something great at any time of the year. In addition, after the hard months of confinement, who did not want to enjoy nature and fresh air? i9It is not only healthy for the body, but also for the mind and soul.

What is more, the Real Club de Golf El Prat has enhanced the natural safety of golf through specific measures against Covid. Some examples are the use of masks and hand sanitizer, enable prepared areas of the Club House, encouraging online booking to get a tee time or organizing specific areas to leave the golf equipment for disinfected procedures. Those are measures implemented since the course, located a few kilometers from Barcelona, reopened ​​in June and the feedback has been very positive.

Playing golf is healthy

Several studies show that golf is healthy and can extend the life of its players up to 5 years, according to Dr. A. Murray. Above all, it is recommended for patients with cardiovascular, neurological or mental health problems because it is practiced outdoors, with low impact and that requires a mental effort to hit the ball.

Thanks to its low impact, the injuries that can be caused by playing golf are low, which is why its practice is recommended at all ages, especially from 65 years and up. On the other hand, injuries that someone might suffer are due, in most cases, to performing the movement wrong.

Regarding mental health, during these months of health crisis and according to WHO studies, there has been a growth of mental problems cases caused, among other things, from both physical and mental isolation. Golf requires concentration and allows the player, for several hours, to escape from day to day problems and enjoy the surroundings and the company (with a safe distance, of course).

Increase of golf players in 2020

Being able to practice a safe sport today has been positively reflected in the number of players with an increase of golf licences in Spain with a total of 271,788, which represents a positive growth of 0.1% compared to 2019 ( 318 more licenses according to the Real Federación Española de Golf).

At Real Club de Golf El Prat we have had also new members joining our Club and enjoying our Greg Norman’s golf courses. Its ideal location near Barcelona and the high quality of its courses are a great attraction for golf lovers.

This 2021 we hope to offer fun and excellence to all our players and visitors who are encouraged to continue practicing their favorite sport. In our Club, we will continue to work on safety, not only for our players, but also for the whole society so together we can overcome this situation.

The Real Club de Golf El Prat is once again a pioneer in the Spanish golf industry. In this case, with an Ecobunker project, which is part of a Sustainable Golf Course Plan. The goal of the Barcelona golf course is to have the most sustainable course possible by reducing maintenance hours and the amount of water and preserving the native fauna of the region.

One of the actions of this plan has been the remodelling of the yellow course, improving its playability with the reduction of a large number of bunkers, always with the approval of its designer Greg Norman. Another action has been the implementation of Ecobunkers, a type of sustainable bunker that reminds us of the best courses in England.

The first golf course to use artificial bunkers in Spain and Portugal is from Barcelona

For the first time in Spain and Portugal, a golf course introduces artificial bunkers on its course. The Real Club de Golf El Prat has been in charge of bringing this project to Spain and the result has been very satisfactory.

This project is about designing and building bunkers with recycled materials. The design of these bunkers is based on revetted bunkers that we can find basically on courses in England. The construction method of this type of bunker is made  by depositing a stacked layers of turf at different levels, creating a “ladder” along the entire side of the bunker. Therefore, a framework is built between the roots and the sand that keeps the bunker wall compact, giving it a perfect appearance, as well as facilitating the good condition of the bunkers.

Ecobunkers in Barcelona

In the case of the Ecobunker, the idea is the same, with the difference that the layers of turfs are artificial. Then, artificial turf is recycled from sports courts and used to create the artificial revetted bunker wall. By doing so, the particular wall is fixed, looks good and only needs minimal maintenance.

Our greenkeeper, José Gómez, with more than 35 years of experience, highly values ​​the implementation of this type of bunkers.

“The implementation of the Ecobunkers can be an interesting project for the future to integrate it into our Sustainable Golf Course plan due to its multiple benefits.”

What’s more, our Sustainable Golf Course Plan is in its final phase, and it is looking very nice where all type of players will enjoy the modified design.

Ecobunker Maintenance

Most importantly, its maintenance is minimal, which reduces its cost as well as the hours invested in keeping it in perfect condition, according to our golf course expectations. By reducing maintenance hours, our staff can focus on other aspects of the course that requires time and dedication.

“This type of construction of the bunker walls significantly reduces the maintenance of these areas by reducing mowing, erosion and entry of clay soil that contaminates the sand, as well as reducing the application of sanitary phytos and the amount of irrigation . With this method you can invest your efforts and resources in doing other important tasks on the course. “

Another aspect to take into account is the impressive looks of this ecobunker. The views transport us to the best golf courses in England, where the large bunker slopes in perfect condition are a delight for any golf lover.

As always, the Real Club de Golf El Prat adapts to new times and to the latest technology to offer its players the best golf conditions near the city of Barcelona.