Les Roches in Spain launches Postgraduate Diploma in Golf Course Management

The new program will feature active industry professionals as faculty, with modules focused on the golf industry, agronomy and machinery, design, operations, and events. The global golf industry is gaining momentum within tourism, with Spain ranking as the preferred destination for golf enthusiasts in Europe. On the Costa del Sol alone, golf tourism generates around 1.5 billion euros annually and creates over 17,000 jobs.

Study in Spain: Les Roches, one of the world’s top institutions for high-end hotel management education announced a new course with a specialization in its Spanish campus: the Postgraduate Diploma in Golf Management.

Through Les Roches' newly launched program, starting in September, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the diverse golf industry in a key location. The study modules will focus on course management, design, and maintenance, as well as organizing and marketing golf tournaments. Throughout the course, students will have around 75 hours of practical classes and the opportunity to take a study field trip to Miami, another major hub for the sport that attracts more enthusiasts each year.

“The golf industry is a significant driver for the province of Málaga, both for its appeal and its economic impact and job creation. Last year, it hosted one of the world’s most important and prestigious tournaments, the Solheim Cup, bringing a return of 29.1 million euros to the city. This is just an example of what’s to come in this industry: the need for professionals to preserve and develop Marbella’s golf offerings. The direction and management of this sport involves analyzing and studying everything surrounding it,” says Carlos Díez de La Lastra, CEO of Les Roches.

Spain is hub of golf travellers

The golf industry is gaining strength within tourism globally. Spain is ranked among the top destinations worldwide for golf travellers, attracting around 1.2 million tourists annually, contributing over 12 billion euros. In Spain, on the Costa del Sol, which hosts the highest concentration of golf courses (70) in the country, golf tourism generates around 1.5 billion euros in annual revenue and creates over 17,000 jobs, according to the Costa del Sol Tourism Board.

The faculty for the Postgraduate Diploma in Golf Management will include some of the most prominent names in the industry, including Gonzalo Sánchez García, Javier Reviriego Boveda, Eugenio Rezola Murua, Emma García and Alicia Garrido.

“It is estimated that on the Costa del Sol, there are around 84 golf courses within a 150-kilometer radius, many of them located in the grounds of the best hotels. Therefore, Les Roches’ commitment is crucial for students aspiring to be directors of the best hotels to have a professional understanding of what a golf course is and how it is managed. My career in this sport has allowed me to understand its needs and challenges thoroughly, and I consider it essential to promote training and professionalization, as it is a sector related not only to hospitality but also to many other important areas such as catering, transport, and culture,” says Gonzalo Sánchez, professional golfer and current golf coach.

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