Caddie's Role: A wet Friday in southern Spain to go with the wet Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and the elite of the European Tour found themselves with time on their hands, writes Colin Byrne.
In fact everyone had all day free due to the standard procedure of procrastination by the authorities when it comes to making a decision, given a glaringly obvious bad weather forecast for the whole day. The theory is to keep themselves and everyone else hanging in case there is a glimmer of change in the weather.
In America, where all the same pressures are put on the tour by sponsors and others with influence to get players onto the course, they are very decisive. The most I have ever waited in the States for a decision to be made is two hours.
Conveniently placed in lurk position on the veranda of the Valderrama clubhouse overlooking the courtyard I was motivated to quell my boredom and try to gain entrance to the main section of the exclusive clubhouse and peruse the extensive collection of golfing memorabilia that Jaime Ortiz-Patino, the president and owner of the Valderrama golf club, has built up over the years.
Don Jaime had just returned from his traditional morning jaunt around his sacred course to assist the PGA officials and green-keepers in cutting the holes for the day. There was something strange in the figure he cut in his bright green rain suit and galoshes. Fanatical, pedantic or just obsessive, call him what you want but the pins, which are set by the tour at every other event of the year, have to be vetted by Mr Patino.
He demands that the hole be cut in the middle of the strip cut by the lawn mower. A meaningless detail to the rest of humanity but of paramount importance to the boss.
The Augusta rainsuit betrays Patino's respect for the infamous haven of southern exclusivity American style. Control is of paramount importance over anything that happens on his estate. Such is the way at Augusta National, the place is founded on quirky rules and secret handshakes. But it does mystify me that someone who is as proud and adamant that his course rates amongst the highest worldwide and, according to some, the best in Europe, is seen in a Kermit the frog Augusta rainsuit. Perhaps for him he has not quite reached his dream of number one course.
Despite the frequent debate about the merits and downfalls of the Valderrama course, there is no doubt that Patino has got an impressive and arguably the best private collection of golfing memorabilia in the world. I was kindly granted permission to view the "museum" and talk to the curator, Titus Kendall.
Titus is a friend of the Patino family and an antique silver dealer from London. He was asked to build the Collection at Valderrama. Patino is a passionate collector in whatever he collects. It is a trait that runs in the family, his mother was a great collector of decorative arts and Jaime himself had an extensive collection of Impressionist paintings, antique furniture and silver. So when he bought Valderrama in 1985, the amassing of golf memorabilia started.
There are clubs and balls that are unsurpassed in rarity and historical significance. A spur toe light iron, alongside a square toe iron, next to a 19th century "Spode Imari" punch bowl adorn the long hallway into the main section of the clubhouse. Sir John Lavery's "Golf Links, North Berwick" hangs in the members bar. The famous "Golfers" from
St Andrews hangs around the corner.
Cleek water irons by Anderson of Anstruther, adjustable clubs from the 1890's, "feathery" balls from the 1840's, a mammoth niblick, rut irons, Tom Morris's signed '"feathery" and numerous other precious artefacts line the hallway in immaculate cases. Rare first addition books are stacked neatly in the bookcases. The PGA had taken up residence in the room that holds most of Patino's extensive Ryder Cup memorabilia. There is no doubt that time, passion, knowledge and an open cheque book have been a force behind the whole Valderrama set-up. The course is indicative of Don Jaime's eye for detail when it comes to works of art.
Valderrama is aesthetically very pleasing to the eye. The condition of the course tends to be well above the average in Europe. The undulation, the views, the olive and cork trees. The tees, the fairways, the fringes, the bunkers, the varying cuts of rough all look great. The attention to detail is painstaking. The owner is obviously a man of definition. It is one thing to appreciate art, it is another thing to actually understand it. It seems Valderrama, with all its beauty, is lacking the substance behind the pretty exterior.
Understanding the owner's passion for art I can appreciate how he views his own course as a masterpiece. A couple of decades of crafting and molding to shape what I would imagine he perceives as the ultimate in modern course architecture. Valderrama, in terms of beauty, style and form is a masterpiece. The problem being that it has to be played, not just looked at. There are too many quirky holes where chance over-rides skill and a good shot is not rewarded.
I left Don Patino's domain wondering about his creation, Valderrama. Is it his quest for immortality or just a phase he is going through before he starts another collection?
