The first six days of December 2016 saw monsoon rains and floods sweep across the Costa del Solthat will be remembered as the worst since 1989. Many local golf courses suffered significant damage to the point of being closed down for weeks and months. ‘It was biblical’, exclaims John Wallace, head greenkeeper.’Our greens crew came in on the public holiday on Tuesday the 6th of December and worked flat out to make the course playable again’, explains Tony Girling, Chairman ofGreens.
El Paraiso was fortunate, even though much of the course was completely flooded and all the bunkers suffered wash out. The worst problem was on the 11th hole where a mass of small rocks and silt from a vacant building site swept across the fairway sadly the clubhouse did not resist the storms so well. Damage to the old Finca roof resulted in flooding of the kitchen, bar and restaurant and significant repairs were necessary. Fortunately the new enclosed terrace demonstrated its weatherproof qualities, and functions were able to be catered for. All of the El Paraíso staff, particularly the restaurant team and the caddy masters, put in many extra, voluntary hours during those hectic weeks. As members of the friendliest golf course on the Costa del Sol, we consider ourselves very fortunate to be served by such a loyal and hard- working bunch.
As for David Ramos-Butterworth, our Administrative Director, he has been dealing calmly and capably with each crisis as it unfolded and is spending hours on the complicated insurance claims.
‘Keep calm and carry on.