In modern golf, victory no longer belongs to the longest hitter but to the player who misses less near the hole, and that is precisely where training facilities are beginning to truly change. The Range Marbella has taken a step in that direction with the opening of its new state-of-the-art artificial chipping & putting green developed by the specialist company Econatura. An installation designed not to simply expand the practice area but to adapt to how players actually learn today. The reality is clear: more than sixty percent of shots in a round are played around the green.
Training to play better
For years, practice facilities focused almost exclusively on distance, long fairways and balls flying high, while the space dedicated to the part that decides the scorecard remained secondary. The new green changes that approach because the objective here is not to strike the ball better but to play better, and the surface allows short shots to be repeated under constant conditions: running chips, spinning shots, long putts and pressure putts that can be executed exactly the same every day. What matters is not only practicing what later happens on the course, but doing so under identical conditions, without changing moisture, bumps or irregular growth, with the ball rolling the same today as it will six months from now.
Artificial stops being a substitute
For a long time, artificial greens were seen as functional but unrealistic substitutes. Technical development has changed that perception. Econatura has developed fibres and densities capable of reproducing real green speeds and consistent ball behaviour. The surface does not try to imitate a specific natural green but to behave like one perfectly maintained every day of the year, something particularly relevant for academies and regular players who can train technical memory without adapting each session to a different surface. The roll is constant, the response predictable, repetition reliable and training meaningful, which ultimately shows on the scorecard.
Sustainability as a consequence
To the stability of the installation comes an increasingly relevant factor: maintenance. Resource consumption is virtually eliminated as there is no need for irrigation, pesticides or fertilisers and conservation tasks are reduced to a minimum. This is especially significant in warm climates such as the Costa del Sol where water management conditions the future of many facilities.
The morning ritual at The Green
The experience at The Range Marbella extends beyond practice. Overlooking the new chipping area, the terrace at The Green offers a quiet start to the day just minutes from some of Marbella’s finest golf courses. Breakfast here feels unhurried and uncomplicated, built around fresh ingredients and carefully selected products. Eggs prepared to preference, Greek yogurt, the increasingly popular açai bowl and a range of lighter, health-focused options create a simple yet considered menu designed for golfers who value balance as much as performance.
The atmosphere remains relaxed, the setting open and bright, and mornings unfold with the view of players refining their short game just a few metres away. Open daily from 8:45, The Green serves breakfast, brunch and lunch, turning a training session into a complete ritual.
A change of concept
With this new area The Range Marbella not only expands its facilities but defines its model. The driving range serves mechanics while the green serves playing golf, and more players, from amateurs to professionals, understand that strokes are truly saved in the short game. The new chipping & putting green stops being a complement and becomes the centre of training, the place where golf is decided and where learning can unfold in its broadest sense.