Ask any golfer to name a course in Scotland or Ireland, and most will have no problem in rattling off, maybe, a dozen or more of the championship links, which have virtually become household names.

Ask the same golfer to name a few courses on continental Europe -- perhaps Portugal, or France or Spain -- and you will more than likely be confronted with silence, until the golfer suddenly remembers the 1997 Ryder Cup and the Spanish course that hosted the event, Valderrama.

Sad though it may be, Valderrama is probably the only European course outside of the British Isles that has garnered any kind of name recognition among Americans. But let's not dwell on the negative side of things and instead look at the many reasons why Valderrama deserves to be top gun on continental Europe.

Before its climb to center stage for the Ryder Cup, Valderrama was already an established big name in Europe and regular host to the European Tour's flagship tournament, The Volvo Masters. In 1997, when the Valderrama Golf Club won its bid to host the Ryder Cup, Volvo took its showcase event an hour's drive North to Montecastillo.

After five years at Montecastillo, Volvo returns to its original home on Nov. 7 when Valderrama hosts the Volvo Masters for the 10th time.

What makes this Robert Trent Jones layout special enough to be sought after by Volvo, selected by The Ryder Cup and chosen by the World Golf Championships-American Express Championship in 1999 and 2000? Plenty.

Ranked at the top of Golf World Magazine's Top 100 courses of continental Europe for each of the past eleven years, Valderrama happens to be one of the most exclusive private golf clubs in all of Europe. The members, under their energetic and determined president, Jaime Ortiz-Patino, have spared no expense in building and maintaining an immaculate golf course and a club that respects the traditional virtues of golf, like no other outside the British Isles.

Prior to the 1988 Volvo Masters, Patino brought Robert Trent Jones back to refurbish and toughen up the course. This was done to such an extent, many of the players arriving for that inaugural tournament had never seen such immaculate fairways and greens. Those who had played in the U.S. Masters were quoted as saying this course was even better than Augusta National.

Determined to have the perfect golf course, Patino then brought Seve Ballesteros in to make further improvements to Jones' design and redesign, and Ballesteros left his indelible mark, most notably on No. 17.

At first sight, Valderrama gives the appearance of being a gentle and rather agreeable course, but nothing could be further from the truth. As every player discovers, this is a test for even the best, with level of difficulty enough to shatter the nerves of the calmest.

With carefully thought-out fairways, nearly 100 bunkers, elevated greens all closely guarded by cork oaks and a generous helping of water hazards, this is a thinking-man's layout, where accuracy is essential.

Not surprisingly, with the reputation the Valderrama Golf Club has built for itself, there are many who would be thrilled at the opportunity to play it for themselves. But this remains a very private club, and the members really prefer to keep it that way.

Despite this, they also recognize the fact that they have in many ways built a national monument and feel some responsibility to allow others to share in their treasure.

A limited number of visitor times are permitted on weekdays, between noon and 2 p.m. Starting times are at 15 minute intervals. There is a very strict dress code, and the maximum handicap requirement is 24 for men and 32 for women.

Not surprisingly, the law of supply and demand requires early application to even have a chance of playing what is a very special golf course.

For more information on ways you can include Valderrama in a Spanish golf trip, click here.

© 2005 David Brice / Golf International Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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