As LIV Golf Andalucía approaches at Real Club Valderrama from June 4–7, VictorPerez reflects on why La Reserva Club has become part of his preparation routine overthe last few years — and what makes Sotogrande such a unique place for professionalgolf.
Your relationship with La Reserva Club goes back quite a few years now. What firstbrought you here?
I think I first came here around 2019. My wife and I already spent time in the Marbella area, and I was looking for a place where I could properly practice from a performance standpoint. That’s always harder than people think. Sometimes a place is convenient buttoo busy. Other times the facilities are good but the course doesn’t really give you whatyou need as a professional golfer. Then I came here and honestly… it just made so muchsense for me.
What makes La Reserva Club such a good place for professional preparation?
For me, it’s the flexibility of the course and the environment around it. It’s busy, but nottoo busy, so I can still access the course properly and work on specific shots. Nowadaysthat’s actually becoming harder for professionals. You can always find a driving rangesomewhere, but getting quality access to a course is different.
Here, I can practice in the morning, work on my short game and then go out on thecourse in the afternoon when it’s quieter. And the course itself gives you so manypossibilities. You can make it whatever you need it to be that day. If I want to practicelong irons, I can create those situations. If I want wedge shots, I can do that too. You can move around, repeat shots, work on different lies… it’s incredibly useful from a training perspective.
How important is variety in a course when you’re preparing for tournaments?
Very important. The course here gives you everything: uphill lies, downhill lies, narrowtee shots, wider holes, different pin positions… and that’s exactly what we need as professionals. The driving range is flat, but golf isn’t played on flat lies all the time. Here you’re constantly adapting. The greens are challenging but fair, which I like. They’re not extreme, but they make you think. And because the course isn’tovercrowded, you can actually stop and repeat shots if you need to. That’s extremelyvaluable.
Preparation in modern golf has changed a lot with data and analytics. How does thataffect your practice routine?
There’s so much data in golf now. For example, before going to a tournament, I alreadyknow the kind of shots I’ll probably need that week. So when I’m practicing here, I can recreate those situations. Maybe on a normal round you’d hit a wedge into a green, butI’ll move the ball back and turn it into a five-iron approach because that’s what I’ll needthe following week. That’s why having access to a course like this matters so much.
What does a typical training day at La Reserva Club look like for you?
Usually I’ll start with gym work first thing in the morning. Then I come to the club, practice before lunch, spend time on short game, and afterwards I’ll have lunch here. The food’s amazing. Then generally I’ll go out on the course in the afternoon and workon whatever I need that day. Sometimes if conditions are calmer in the morning, I’ll goout earlier and play a quick nine before the members make the turn. It’s a really goodsetup.
Do you have a favourite hole at La Reserva Club?
I’d probably say 15. It’s a really strong par 3. From the back tees you’re always hittinga full iron into a large green with different pin positions that completely change theshot. And then once you move further through that area of the course, you start seeingthe ocean more and more. That whole corner of the course is beautiful.
And now with LIV Golf Andalucía approaching at Valderrama, does being based herehelp?
Absolutely. It’s great to already be in the area, feel comfortable and prepare in anenvironment you know well. Valderrama is a course we all know and respect, so havinga place like La Reserva Club nearby to prepare properly definitely helps. Hopefully itleads to a very good week.