Win a trip to Europe's best golf course -- Valderrama

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Special to PGATOUR.COM

Valderrama's course has been described as power and subtlety rolled into one.

Valderrama's name is synonymous with quality and excellence, and the course remains the benchmark by which all European courses are judged.

Valderrama has glamour and celebrity status, but, paradoxically, it also has traditional values. From the moment you enter the club grounds, usually with an unmistakable feeling of excitement mixed with trepidation, the understated splendor of the clubhouse and the attention to detail that is evident from the impeccable condition of the course let you know you are in for a very special experience.

The ancient cork oaks and olive trees strategically placed around the course that canopy the fairways and define target areas; the immaculately manicured greens (Bernhard Langer described them as "so good, you can start celebrating when the ball is six feet away"); the trademark Trent Jones bunkers and the wildlife sanctuaries around the course provide a breathtaking backdrop to a round of golf that will be hard to forget.

Valderrama's course has been described as power and subtlety rolled into one. It is a true test of thought and precision, demanding not only physical but mental prowess. You cannot let up for a moment: Apart from the demands of the course itself, the poniente and levante winds can take you by surprise and either boost or wreak havoc on your game. Sergio García said: "This is one of my favourite courses. It's great fun when you're playing well, but if it takes you by surprise ..."

Since 1991, Valderrama has been consistently voted by the golfing press as the No. 1 golf course in continental Europe, a position that has now been endorsed by Golf Monthly, the UK's most widely-read golf magazine, in its ranking of the Top 20 Golf Courses in Europe. Similarly, Valderrama is one of only two courses in continental Europe, and the only course in Spain, to have been awarded 19 out of 20 points (highest score awarded) in the last edition of the prestigious Peugeot Golf Guide.

The golf course was originally designed in 1975 by the famous golf course architect, Robert Trent Jones, who completely redesigned it 10 years later when asked to do so by the new owner, D. Jaime Ortiz Patiño. Since then, it has undergone several changes, and in 2008, Felipe Ortiz Patiño, President of the Club, engaged the services of world-renowned architect Kyle Phillips to make further changes to restore the spirit of the original Trent Jones design.

In its brief history, Valderrama has hosted some of the most important international tournaments, which makes it unique not only in Europe but throughout the entire world. The most notable of these was the unforgettable 1997 Ryder Cup, where the Europeans, captained by Severiano Ballesteros, beat the American team. It is the only time to date that the Ryder Cup has been played outside the United States or the British Isles.

From 1988 to 1996, and again from 2002 to 2008, Valderrama was host to 16 editions of the Volvo Masters, the final event in the European Tour circuit; it also hosted the first World Golf Championships (world series) in 1999 and 2000, which were the only editions of the World Golf Championships to have been played on European soil under a Stroke-Play format.

Valderrama has given a roller-coaster ride to the professionals over the years, especially at the notorious 17th, but the general consensus amongst the players is a resounding thumbs up. Ian Poulter named it as one of his three favourite courses in the world, and Padraig Harrington also names it amongst his favorites, saying it is "a good, challenging course". Mike Weir put it in a nutshell, describing it as: "... proper golf. Every shot is a challenge. Every shot is a potential disaster."

In short, Valderrama's superb design, unmatched conditioning, history and sheer 'wow' factor all make for a spine-tingling experience that is hard to forget, whether you are a world-class professional or a high handicapper.

You could win a dream golf trip to Valderrama Golf Club or one of four other spectacular international golf destinations in the FedExCup Global Golf Sweepstakes. The Grand Prize is a trip for you and three guests to your choice of one of five beautiful countries: Australia, Canada, Scotland, South Africa or Spain. Plus you'll each get new TaylorMade golf clubs, including the R9 Driver and Burner Irons. Enter now at www.fedexcup.com for your chance to win!