Julia López came to golf by chance. Opposite her home, in Benahavis, a practice area was built, and her parents took her there to try it out. From that moment, at just three and a half years of age, she became hooked and quickly showed a natural talent for the sport. Despite there being no other golfers in her family, her parents supported her passion so long as it wasn’t to the detriment of her studies. Now, she has just taken the first significant step towards realising her ultimate dream by obtaining a grant for studying at BLUME.
Full of excitement, committed and eager to learn, she has started the course fully aware that golf has just become much more than just a hobby.

It’s not easy to get a place at BLUME. It’s not enough to just have a good handicap; you also need excellent academic references. When her pa-rents answered the call from the Federation to tell Julia she had got a place, they couldn’t contain themselves and ran straight out to tell their daughter the good news, who at that moment was out on the course in a competition. They felt particular sa-tisfaction because it had not been an easy journey. A lack of understanding from her school friends and teachers made it difficult to combine studies and golf competitions. Many years’ effort and sa-crifice, since she became a Federation member at the age of seven, have now borne fruit and opened the doors to one of the most prestigious, high-performance schools in the world. “I couldn’t be-lieve it when they told me I’d got in. At first, you find it hard to adapt, because you’re not with your parents. You feel alone and have to do everything by yourself, but you soon get used to it. In any case, it’s easier because I already knew some pe-ople here, and because they’d already been here for a while, they could help me. There are four of us from Andalusia”, says Julia. She is well aware that she has just been ad-mitted to the school which has produced such high-profile players as Jon Rahm, Carlota Ciganda and Azahara Muñoz. The latter is her great idol, and she is conscious that she has been given a unique opportunity. “They are helping me a lot here, particularly with my putting game, which has always been my greatest weakness. They are also helping me consolidate my long game. I’m happy with that, because I don’t want to make too many changes to my game. I know the best teachers, coaches and physiotherapists are here, and they can help me with many things” she tells us. Anyone can see that her long game is very impressive. At just 16, she can hit a 280-yard drive. Her athletic body – she also plays football, paddel, and enduro with her father – means that she is in great shape and doesn’t have to spend time in the gym working out. When she finishes at BLUME, she aims to do the INEF studies in the US. Her extrovert and compassionate nature make her a natural leader who is well respected by her colleagues. She enjoyed watching the Solheim Cup with them. “We didn’t miss a minute on the final day. We were all watching together on the te-levision. When Suzann Petterson was about to putt, I was shaking with nerves. If I was in her shoes, wow! I don’t know how I’d have handled it. I’d have conceded the ball and said, “forget it, I can’t do it”, she laughs. However, we are sure that she would have sunk it because Julia is determined and disciplined; talents which will undoubtedly help her to continue with her success and fulfil her ambitions. “I want to play the European Tour and the Solheim Cup. That’s my dream”. We hope it comes true, and we hope to hear about all her successes in a long and fruitful career. Best of luck Julia.