I first came to Benahavis in 1994 and have now lived here for 10 years and never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that Benahavis would add golf as a major attraction to its well known reputation for good restaurants and bars. The municipality now boasts 198 holes(!) and one of the  prettiest driving ranges I have practised on has been built close to the heart of the village.  To give a better appreciation of the scale of the municipality the courses of Benahavis are Los Arqueros, Atalaya Golf, Marbella Club Golf Resort, Monte Mayor, La Quinta, Golf Club Los Flamingos, La Zagaleta and El Higueral.
Where the municipality is going regarding golf was demonstrated by the successful hosting of the “PGA Benahavis Senior Masters 2009” at La Quinta which was broadcast to 52 countries worldwide.
I have always been amazed by the ability of the Spanish people to pick up a club and strike a ball effectively. That skill will be preserved with the children of Benahavis being encouraged by the town hall to take free twice weekly lessons with the local professional Manuel Araujo .
My family’s roots are golf with my grandfather founding the John Letters Company with a local blacksmith in 1918. In the future I hope to share a few memories and stories I have been told regarding golf and the making of clubs. It is indeed extraordinary that the more I read on the history of golf the more it seems there is not much we have not seen before.
Peter Letters

ED SAYS… Peter will be starting a regular column in the next issue of the Golf News.