The passing of Jaime Ortiz-Patiño on 3 January this year marked the end of an era. Born in Paris in 1930 to what was then one of South America’s richest families, Patiño belonged to a mining dynasty that controlled not just Bolivia’s tin mines, but eventually much of the world’s trade in this commodity. With his father he shared a passion for golf that was eventually to define his life and become his greatest legacy.
Jaime Patiño made his mark first as a player and then more importantly as the man who made the Valderrama Golf Club one of the most prestigious courses in Europe. Taking over the club in 1984, he improved upon on the original Robert Trent Jones design and became renowned for his unwavering drive for perfection. Stories of him showing groundsmen how to cut the grass properly abound, but it was this determination that helped bring the Ryder Cup to Valderrama in 1997, a crowning moment for golf on the Costa del Sol.
In doing so Patiño, described by some as a very demanding man, played an important part in establishing Sotogrande as one of finest centres of golf in Europe, and indeed the world. His home facing the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande even included a ‘private’ tee-off point, a few steps away from his living room. Tough and demanding he may have been, but Jaime Ortiz-Patiño’s love of golf – and his contribution to the sport – are undeniable.
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