The course is set up to be fair to most players with different tee areas depending on ability and often slightly elevated into wide fairways. The approach to the greens are well protected. There is good use of fairway bunkers, pot bunkers and elevated greens greens forcing every shot to be considered in terms of risk and reward.
The course feels similar to the championship course at Montecastillo in Southern Spain which was also set up by the Nicolas team. The course is not quite so long nor does it have the big carries and is a little flatter.
The course is operated by the Golf Park Group that run the Moraleja course in Madrid, (the Spanish Open was recently held here) and who are also the company behind the new championship course in Malaga, Finca Cortesina (link to golfmalaga – finca cortesina) which promises great things.
The course is built over natural rolling woodland and special attention has been made to protect the natural fauna and wildlife. The unspoilt natural surroundings are a perfect backdrop to a pleasurable round of golf.
The track opens with several straight rewarding holes to easy you in. Water comes into play on 7th and 8th, causing a challenge off the tee. These two holes can easily have the ability to rip your scorecard apart if your over ambitious having snuck in a few decent scrores already ! Water also appears on the 15th and 16th easily spoiling a good round for the under cautious.
The use of several tee areas allows the course to be played by all standards, though low and medium handicappers will more appreciate the challenges the track offers. For higher handicap players try playing off the blue or red tees, this will allow you to play the type of approach shots that the designer planned and the pros have to execute.
The course is easily walkable which saves on buggy costs and uses the natural contours of the woodland to make for an enjoyable walk, except for maybe the 7th and 8th, which skirts the road. There is little real estate development surrounding the course which gives it a open feel.
The clubs house is spacious with a terrace overlooking the course. Excellent changing faciilites and showers.
The course has a large practice range, off mats, part of which is covered (tokens must be purchased from the club house).
Hole 1 Par 4
Slight dogleg right, protected by bunkers on the right hand side. Comfortable starting hole. Approach is protected by deep bunkers front right. The solitary pine tree in the fairway should not be a serious obstacle.
Hole 2 Par 3
A straight forward tee shot to easy you into the round. Though again to a green well protected by a bunker.
Hole 3 Par 4 375 mts
Drive protected by bunkers across the fairway. The approach is into a slightly tiered green with bunkers front left and at the rear. Two good hits are needed if you want to reach the green in two.
Hole 4 par 5
A straight hole. Drive to quite a narrow fairway , which does not open up much except for various landing zones. A fairway bunker to the left at around 200 mts will catch anybody that is to aware of the hedge that runs down the left hand side of the fairway. The fairway to the green drops away to a tiered green. Enjoy this approach as it is one of the few unprotected green you will encounter on this track.
Hole 5 Par 4 364 mts
Drive is to a wide fairway, but the landing zone is protected by bunkers both to the left and right both of which come into play.
If you manage to escape these the second shot is a long hit to a green with a narrow entrance guarded on the right with a pine tree and a front left bunker.
Hole 6 Par 3 172 mts
Tee shot to a small green, bunker to the right and trouble at the back so don’t be long on this one.
Hole 7 Par 4
First pressure shot from the tee. The lake to the right runs all the way down the fairway .The hole slightly bends to the right and depending on the pin position, an aggressive approach will require a close brush with the lake.
Hole 8 Par 4
Difficult hole, a good tee shot is need over water to two landing areas, with bunkers to catch anything too long.
Second shot again is over water to a small green, if the flag is to the left of the green an attacking shot to the pins need to be very accurate to hold the small amount of space between the water and rear bunker. Use your patience and one of your strokes on this hole.
Hole 9 Par 4
An easy par 4 after the last couple. Straight forward shot to a wide fairway, though don’t be too long as the fairway bunkers come into play. The second shot in to the green means clearing a front left bunker.
Hole 10 Par 4 340 mts
You’re required to take on the two fairway bunkers if you want to set yourself up for a decent second shot , downhill to a green protected by a front left bunker.
Hole 11 Par 5 440 mts
A nice tee shot from a slightly elevated tee set back in between pine trees., 3 deep bunkers cut across the fairway in the centre of the landing zone. The second shot is without difficulty if you have negotiated these. Third is into an elevated green with a large bunker at the front and a hedge at the rear.
Hole 12 Par 4 392 mts
Another fairway bunker needed to be taken on to set up a decent attempt at the getting on to the green in regulation.
Second shot need to be a long hit into a two tiered green protected by a frontal bunker.
Hole 13 Par 3 169
A pretty par 3, not too much trouble, the left banks falls away to the right.
Hole 14 Par 5 472 mts
Two decent shots will get you close to the green, but the approach in is narrow with little space to work with.
Fairway bunker at about 200 meters from the tee are the main danger from the drive.
Hole 15 Par 4
Water is back in play on this par 4, so if you’ve managed to keep it together up until now have a little patience.
A demanding tee shot is needed if you are going for the green in two. The second is to a green well protected by water and a narrow entrance. No bunker for a change !
Hole 16 Par 3 172 mts
Long par 3 over water with a bunker to the left, the side to be for safety.
Hole 17 Par 4
Good driving hole with bunkers both to the left and right to catch drives that are not straight.
Second shot is into one of the easier greens.
Hole 18 Par 4
Nice finishing hole that doglegs slightly to the right and leads back to the club house. A good tee shot up the left hand side of the fairway is the best position for the approach in with a long to medium iron.
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