IN an intriguing break with the pattern of recent stagings, Ryder Cup year has opened with fighting words not by the opposing captains, but by the owner of the host venue. As it happens, Jaime Ortiz Patino, billionaire president of Valderrama, saw fit, in a faxed message yesterday, to attack the critics on a broad range of issues.
Since Valderrama was confirmed as the venue in May 1995, repeated doubts have been expressed about its fitness for such an important event, largely because of its location on Spain's Costa del Sol. And Patino was particularly angered by a statement from Tony Jacklin that "Spain can't organise a raffle."
Jacklin made the criticism in the course of an interview he gave to an American golf magazine. While not naming the Englishman, Patino has responded: Firstly, let us lay to rest for once and for all the unpleasant, nay ridiculous myth started by a former Ryder Cup captain who clearly should know better."
He went on: How sad that these nonsensical ideas should persist. Do we have to keep reminding everybody that the World Cup soccer and Expo 92 were enormously successful and that the Barcelona Olympics were the most successful games ever held anywhere, before or since? No other country has hosted three such events in such a short timespan."
The criticism by Jacklin would have been especially hurtful for the fact that he is more familiar than most, with the Sotogrande area. He was director of golf at Valderrama before Patino bought the club and was later involved with San Rogue nearby.
Meanwhile, far from being overwhelmed by the influx of 37,000 people for the Ryder Cup, including workers, Patino claims that up to 300,000 could be accommodated within a 50-mile radius of the venue. "The population of Marbella rises in the month of August from its official census of 90,000 to 350,000," said the Bolivian tin magnate.
He also pointed out that Expo `92 in Seville was visited by four million non-residents of the city and that the annual motorcycling grand prix at Jerex attracts in excess of 150,000 fans.
Patino then dealt with allegations that Valderrama, being tree-lined, was a poor viewing course. He said: "There are difficult areas but grandstand viewing will be provided for up to 11, 000 spectators and for the first time at a golf tournament (in Europe), there will be three Jumbo screens enabling spectators to follow the action as it unfolds elsewhere on the course." This facility was, in fact available at the 1995 Ryder Cup at Oak Hill.
He went on: "We are working with the government agencies concerned to ensure smooth access (to and from Valderrama). Where possible, visitors will be encouraged to use the Ryder Cup bus transportation system which is being set up to bring people from their hotels to the course. For those who have to use cars a 4.000-space car park will be provided."
Conceding that fans would be staying over a wide area and probably paying high prices for their accommodation, Patino explained: "Spain has a market economy and the government does not intervene or try to exert control over prices for hotels or other accommodations.
"It is perfectly logical that hoteliers will be reluctant to tell their lifelong suppliers of clients, the tour operators, that for the week of September 22nd they wish to withdraw their hotel from its annual, on-going obligation. For this reason, room allocations for the Ryder Cup have been hard to come by and the Ryder Cup accommodation bureau has contracted the QE2 and other ships." The "floating village" will be harboured near Gibraltar.
Patino then dismissed criticism of the par-five 17th, which Colin Montgomerie claimed was the worst hole on the European Tour. After his ball rolled off the green into a lake in the final round of the Volvo Masters last October, the Scot slammed the design skills of Seve Ballesteros, suggesting the hole could turn the Ryder Cup into a lottery.
"Ever since the radical change in 1993, we have introduced a series of modifications and improvements," said Patino. "Seve Ballesteros, who designed the hole, has been closely involved in this process, which continues today and will result in a further modified set-up for September 1997.
At the 1996 Volvo Masters the 17th yielded 62 birdies and four eagles. There were 51 bogeys, eight doubles and six others. The hole was played in par on 129 occasions. It was the ninth most difficult hole during the tournament."
Patino concluded by admitting that stories of fake Ryder Cup tickets were already circulating. "When we transmitted this information to Ryder Cup Ltd they replied that the (real) tickets have not yet been printed," he said. "The message is clear. Since access to the Ryder Cup is strictly limited, tickets should be purchased only from authorised sources."
