SPAIN-PORTUGAL PITCH & PUTT MATCH 2026

Check the list of winners below, in Related Content.

This weekend, January 17th and 18th, the fourteenth edition of the traditional Pitch & Putt match between the Spanish and Portuguese teams will take place. This time, the chosen venue is the Sherry Golf course in Jerez, where Spain hopes to avenge its defeats in the last two matches.

Specifically, the Spanish team is aiming for its tenth victory in one of the most prestigious international Pitch & Putt matches. To achieve this, they field a six-man squad comprised of César Fernández de Caleya, Noel Calzadilla, and César Crespo from the Canary Islands; Javier Pérez from Andalusia; and Antón Pérez and Hugo Carro from Galicia, with Juan Manuel Matilla serving as captain.

The forced absence of José María Ortiz de Pinedo, number one in the National Ranking, does not diminish the potential of a group that includes the current Spanish champion, César Crespo; the current Spanish Mid Amateur champion, César Fernández de Caleya; or the winner of the last Ranking Final, Noel Calzadilla.

As in previous editions, the International Match will be played over three rounds, the first two (fourball and foursome) on Saturday and the third (singles) on Sunday. The team that reaches 6.5 points will win, and in case of a tie, a playoff will be held.

Spain clearly dominates the list of winners

This Match has been held since 2007 – making it one of the oldest duels in continental Pitch & Putt – with the exception of the years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018, 2021 and 2025. To date, the record reflects a clear Spanish dominance: nine victories to four for Portugal.

The history of the match began with a Spanish victory (5.5-6.5) precisely at Quinta de Lágrimas, where Spain achieved its second international success six months after defeating France. Since then, Spanish dominance has been clear, with three more consecutive victories in 2008, 2009, and 2010, although the scores were mostly close.

The match returned to the calendar in 2014 with a 7-5 Portuguese victory, but a year later Spain regained its dominance on the Quinto Coto Golf course itself. In 2016, again at Quinta de Lagrimas, Portugal secured its second victory, winning a playoff after overcoming the lead Spain had built up in the first round.

In 2017, the Spanish team secured a resounding 9-3 victory at the Juan Antonio Samaranch Sports City in Madrid, a success they repeated in 2019 (5-7), this time on the Portuguese courses of Quinta do Fojo and Citygolf. In March 2020, Spain triumphed again at El Campanario Golf (Málaga) by 9-3; in 2022, after a two-year hiatus due to health reasons, the match returned with a Spanish victory (8-4) at Amendoeria Golf (Portugal).

The last two editions, those of 2023 and 2024, have fallen on the Portuguese side, hence the Spanish team is looking to break the dynamic at Sherry Golf.