The Golf Courses of Javier Arana

Javier Arana (1905-1975) is widely recognized as Spain’s most brilliant golf course architect. His designs are regularly ranked among the best courses in Continental Europe and his masterpiece, El Saler, is regarded as one of the great courses in the world. Despite his wonderful architectural legacy, he remains a relatively unknown character for most golf enthusiasts. Throughout a life dedicated to golf, Arana stood out in all aspects of the sport: amateur champion, captain of the Spanish national teams, international referee, greenkeeper and founder of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation. In all, fifty years of experiences shaping an extremely iconic design philosophy which has endured the test of time while maintaining all of its architectural interest. This book provides a comprehensive view of his life and work in order to vindicate Javier Arana’s role as a key figure in the development of golf in Spain and provide a greater understanding of a unique body of work that continues to attract golfers from all around the world.