Photo caption: Sean Corte-Real, General Manager of La Cala Resort.
- The Europa Course will welcome 75 of the tour’s leading players from 26 to 29 November for the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España presented by Oysho, the closing event of the Ladies European Tour season
- Sean Corte-Real, General Manager of La Cala Resort: «Europa is a course that rewards smart thinking as much as execution»
The Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España presented by Oysho 2026 will bring the closing event of the Ladies European Tour season to La Cala Resort, in Mijas, where the Europa Course will test 75 of the tour’s leading players from 26 to 29 November. Course preparation, a tournament-specific layout and the involvement of every department at the resort are central to preparations for a week that its General Manager, Sean Corte-Real, sees as an opportunity to establish La Cala as a leading venue for international professional golf.
For Corte-Real, hosting the tournament builds on the resort’s ongoing work: «We have been involved in promoting women’s golf for years, and the game is enjoying a period of significant growth and visibility». The European tour’s arrival will also make the competition part of daily life at the resort. «Several players will be staying at the resort itself, with services tailored to their schedules. Our guests, meanwhile, will be able to experience the Open up close. During those days, the tournament will become part of life at La Cala», he explains.
From a playing perspective, Europa will demand much more than distance off the tee. «Hitting it long is not enough: the course demands control off the tee, good positioning and precise approach shots», says the General Manager. Undulating, well-protected greens, the River Ojén coming into play on several holes, and changes in direction and elevation will force players to weigh their decisions carefully throughout the four rounds.
One distinctive feature will be the finish to each round. The usual routing will be adjusted so that the current 17th hole, a par five, becomes the 18th during the tournament. «A player who needs to make up a shot will have one last opportunity to attack, while anyone arriving with a lead will have to decide how much risk to take. The leaderboard could change right up to the final hole», Corte-Real predicts. Nevertheless, he believes the overall performance will be decisive: «The title will depend on who manages the course best, stays consistent and makes the right decisions over the four days».
Preparations build on the investment made across the resort’s three courses over the past five or six years. For the tournament, the greens will be slightly faster and firmer, while the fairways will be cut to the height specified by the Ladies European Tour. In the days leading up to the event, the team will also work with agronomists and greenkeepers from the Royal Spanish Golf Federation to make the final adjustments. «We want the course to provide a demanding, balanced test and to showcase the quality our guests experience throughout the year», he notes.
The operation will involve the entire resort, with Europa dedicated to the competition while the America and Asia courses, hotel and restaurants remain open as usual. Coordinating transfers between the practice facilities, the first tee and the rest of the resort, alongside transport for spectators from La Cala de Mijas, will be one of the main challenges. «We will strengthen our maintenance and security teams. The key is to anticipate every detail and maintain our service standards throughout the week», Corte-Real explains.
Holding the event in late November also offers an opportunity to showcase the destination to international markets. The General Manager highlights how tournament coverage will show the course in excellent playing condition at a time when winter restricts golf in other European countries. «That visibility can generate new visits and influence golfers’ choice of destination for their next golf holiday», he says. For La Cala, he adds, the tournament broadens its exposure in Spain and its key markets, while reinforcing the ability of Mijas and the Costa del Sol to host major competitions.
Corte-Real knows what he would like to hear once the trophy has been presented: «That spectators felt welcome and enjoyed both the tournament and the resort». His ambitions also extend beyond the week itself: «We want those who already play golf to leave wanting to return, and those who do not yet play to have discovered a sport worth getting into».
The latest news from the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España presented by Oysho is available at openfemenino.com, on Twitter @Openfemenino, on Instagram @spanishopen and on Facebook @openfemenino. The tournament is supported by Andalucía and Costa del Sol as main sponsors, alongside Oysho as naming partner and official apparel sponsor. Mijas Town Council, San Miguel, Solán de Cabras, Audi Safamotor, Bodegas Homenaje, Essse Café, Greenmowers, Kyocera, PING, Reale and Swing Line also provide essential support for the tournament. LET, RFEG, RFGA, La Cala Resort and Deporte & Business collaborate in its organisation.