In this year's edition of La Sella Open, the spirit of the Ladies European Tour is alive not only on the fairways, but also behind the scenes, where two exceptional women are taking the lead in areas traditionally dominated by men.
Jimena Blanco Jascheck, Head Greenkeeper at La Sella Golf, and Inma Pérez, Head of Security, will play a crucial role in ensuring the success of the third edition of the LET tournament. This year, the tournament will be held from Thursday, September 18th to Sunday, September 21st.
Voted Best Tournament of the 2023 LET Season and Best Player Service in 2024, the event in Dénia, Alicante, boasts a prize purse of 1 million euros, the largest in women's golf in Spain, and prides itself on being one of the main drivers of change in women's sport in Europe.
Jimena Blanco Jascheck has been the head greenkeeper for the La Sella Open for three years and has played a key role since the tournament's inception. While she leads the La Sella Golf greenkeeper team year-round, for the La Sella Open she also heads a team of six women from other courses in the region who have volunteered their time.
For Jimena, the road to get here hasn't been easy. She has faced various challenges with the utmost professionalism: “At first, the hardest thing was finding my place in a sector where there are still very few women. Earning respect through results, leading firmly, and demonstrating that passion and knowledge have no gender has defined me as a professional.”
Similarly, head of security Inma Pérez, who leads a security team of at least 15 members composed entirely of women, said, “Until very recently, security was almost exclusively in the hands of men. Today we are here, not to prove that we do it better, but to show that we are capable of doing it at the expected level.”
The pursuit of excellence in their respective fields has been key to Jimena and Inma's success. Achieving it in a tournament renowned for providing the best services in all areas of golf has given them an additional motivation.
Jimena points out: “Having the responsibility of leading the maintenance of such a prestigious field is an honor and a great technical challenge: it requires precision, coordination and passion.”
“This tournament not only highlights the sport, but also the role of women in it. Being able to contribute from my area, ensuring that the course is in perfect condition, is my way of celebrating and supporting this cause.”
In Inma's case, achieving excellence means maintaining a high degree of invisibility in her team's work. She adds: "We must always remember that security should go unnoticed, and if we manage to make the client forget it's there, we consider that we've done a good job. That's the sign that our work has been effective.".
As pioneers in their fields, both are committed to opening doors for the next generation. Their careers have been marked by determination, resilience, and a commitment to excellence—qualities they hope to see in the young women who follow in their footsteps.
Inma comments: "To gain the trust of others, the first and most important thing is that they trust in what they do and say, that they have confidence in their actions. And if we add empathy to that, we've already gained a lot.".
When asked what advice she would give to someone wanting to enter her profession, Jimena says: “I would tell them not to be afraid to venture into a world where they may not yet see many women. To study, to train, and to never stop learning from every experience in the field.”
“I think the key is to show ourselves united and visible. Each of us, from our own sphere—whether competing, coaching, organizing, or maintaining the field—plays a role in inspiring the next generation.”.
If we share our stories, collaborate on projects, and demonstrate that golf is an open space for everyone, girls and young women will be able to see themselves reflected and believe that there is also a place for them here.”.
SOURCE: Tournament Organization
