The next instalment of the Triple A World Junior Golf Series is almost here and for our last three tournaments, we return to the home of the Jason Floyd Golf Academy – The San Roque Club.
After starting our series on The San Roque Club’s Championship New Course for the Triple A Masters back in October 2022, the Triple A series has been hosted at some of the best golf courses in Andalucía’s Costa del Sol, offering participants an opportunity to not only compete in WAGR events but to experience golf on a variety of some of the world’s best courses.
In December Finca Cortesin Golf Resort was our host venue to the Triple A European Championship. Participants had a fantastic opportunity to play this stunning course designed by Cabell B. Robinson – former colleague of famous golf course designer Robert Trent Jones. Finca Cortesin is a course that has not only hosted three previous Volvo World Match Play Championships but will be host to the 2023 Solheim Cup proving how prestigious and challenging this course is.
The Triple A World Junior Golf Series then moved to another of Spains most famous courses in January – Real Club de Golf Sotogrande where participants were treated to one of the most scenic courses in Spain that sits close to the coast in one of the world’s largest private urbanisations – Sotogrande.
The Triple A European Invitational offered players a unique experience on Robert Trent Jones’ first European Course design featuring challenging water hazards, Mediterranean fauna and coastal weather.
Now the Triple A World Junior Golf Series is returning home to another stunning Championship course that will be host to the Triple A European Classic, Triple A European Open and the final of the Triple A World Junior Golf Series.
The legendary Old Course at The San Roque Club is steeped in history, having hosted 15 European Tour Schools from 1993-2007 and the Spanish Open in 2005. Designed by Dave Thomas, players such as Miguel Ángel Jiménez have played the course and the chairman of the club was none other than Seve Ballesteros.
In our next tournament, the Triple A European Classic, competitors will take to the Old Course to challenge for the title of U21 boys and U21 girls European Classic winner, earning them WAGR status.
The course is beautiful with views of Sierra Bermeja providing a stunning background but it poses its own set of challenges.
Triple A European Classic
Our next Triple A junior golf event is almost here and already we are starting to see golfers such as Gustav Ordel and Chloe de Verner take a lead on the Order of Merit as the countdown to the Triple A World Junior Golf Series Final approaches.
There is still time for one of our Triple A competitors to take the title in both our Order of Merit and Final so our next three tournaments are sure to be nothing but exciting.
Next week, we’ll be posting our Old Course feature holes video featuring some of the holes around this amazing championship golf course. Our next three events will be held at this course so we’ll be positing a three part special for the Triple A Classic, Open and Final.
Before our video with Jason Floyd, we caught up with JFGA Instructor, Roy, to find out about his take on this amazing course. In our lasted Performance Code blog, Roy shares his thoughts on some of the key holes on this course that our competitors will want to pay special attention to.
C: Roy the New Course and Old Course at The San Roque Club are both Championship courses. What makes the Old Course so special.
R: The Old Course is a stunning course that has a rich history behind it. It’s a true championship course that will give our junior golfers competing in the Triple A European Classic a real challenge.
C: The European Classic is the first of our Triple A events of 2022/2023 to be held on the Old Course. How has the series been so far?
R: The series so far has been very exciting. This year Gustav Ordel has won three of the tournaments in a row – a first in the history of the Triple A World Junior Golf Series. It’s been very exciting to watch him play and see how far he’s come in his game.
C: The girls have also had a great year. What’s it been like seeing them compete throughout the competition?
R: The girls have really impressed on the course in the last three events. Chloe de Verner has played amazing golf. She won the first event but missed narrowly on the Championship and Invitational. Jackie Night and Julia Sanchez Morales played very well and were very deserving of the titles.
C: Do you have any predications for our next event at the Old Course?
R: I think the course is going to be more challenging than expected. We’ve had some winter weather here recently and that brings some unpredictable winds that could make some of the holes more difficult to get round.
C: Are there any names that jump out as ones to watch during the next event?
R: We have a lot of strong contenders in the boys and girls categories. I really couldn’t say but there is a chance for someone to take the title of the boys tournament this time as the favourite (Gustav Ordel) won’t be able to participate.
We’ve also had some brilliant golf lately at the academy. In our recent Tournament Travel Squad trip, Leif Breede and Camille Beuret performed very well in the U18 categories of the Atlantic Youth Trophy. Rijk Van Boxel and Maria Khristenko also performed well in the U14 category of the Portuguese Intercollegiate Open and Maria went on to win the U14 girls category of the Atlantic Youth Trophy. It’s going to be a very exciting competition as the final approaches.
C: Thanks for your insights Roy and we look forward to speaking with you during the tournament. Let’s have a look at your feature hole analysis of the Old Course and find out what some of the competitors can expect during next weeks competition.
Feature Hole Analysis with JFGA Instructor, Roy
Hole 1.
On the first hole you are faced with a risk reward tee shot. This dog leg left par 5 can tempt players to take it over the out of bounds corner and have a long iron into the green for their second shot to set up a potential eagle opportunity. Or players can opt for the safe option and not take on the out of bounds boundary and play the hole conventionally.
Hole 2.
This slight dog leg right is a tricky tee shot with the left side of the fairway being favoured. It’s the approach shot to this green that needs extra caution with any ball leaking right feeding into the lake.
Hole 8.
Another of the par 5’s to make the featured holes. Although not a long par 5 the narrow sliver of green that is shaped like an upside-down bowl has a big run off area left and run off area towards the lake on the right. Even if reachable with your second shot the smart option is to lay up, take your 5 and run.
Hole 12.
A stunning par 3 with an elevated tee looking down on what can be a small target, when the wind picks up any ball on this green is a well played shot. The player must then face a tricky green with many undulations.
Hole 13.
Par 4 – Another risk reward hole for longer hitters who can get close to driving this green. With out of bounds looming all down the right of this fairway the player must weigh up the pros and cons for attacking this green in one with the green severely sloping in many directions
Hole 17.
Par 5 penultimate hole, with out of bounds on both sides of the fairway. This tee shot can make or break a players scorecards. With a well placed drive this hole is easily accessible in 2 and almost guaranteed birdie but with an errand tee shot its a reload from the tee.
Hole 18.
The last of the day- long par 4 – usually into the wind out of bounds left and a difficult green to access with its protection coming from a bunker right and run off left and long players would accept 4 here everyday.
Many thanks to Roy for his Analysis. Stay tuned for our Feature Holes video with JFGA founder Jason Floyd, as we take a trip around the Old Course and look at some of the feature holes in more detail during our Triple A European Classic special. We’ll also have lots of new content on the way for the Triple A European Open and Final. To access this, make sure to follow our instagram @tripleagolfseries.
