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S P E C I A L R E P O R T C O S T A D E L S O L Clockwise from left: Alcaidesa’s links-style course; bunkers on Finca Cortesin; La Reserva de Sotogrande Golf Club; Hole 17 at Valderrama; finca cortesin el paraiso A Cabell Robinson course, this one is even longer at 7,500 yards, with 100 bunkers, and as such, requires careful tee selection. It’s typical Robinson, in that it uses the natural terrain and strictly local plants and trees in the overall plan. This design clearly impressed Volvo Event Management, for starting this October, it will stage the Volvo World Matchplay Championships. This event used to be held at Wentworth, and before this, Volvo held an end-of-season major at nearby Valderrama, so Finca Cortesin, a new course, has made the big time in no time. Part of the reason for this is the quality of the development, and being Spain, this includes housing, with the golf director trained in Florida and bringing with him American-style service such as buggies sent out with complimentary water and fruit. The only drawbacks are the long distances between some greens and tees, so those
buggies are essential. However, there are good mountain and sea views, and the
location, on the Casares road near Sotogrande, is away from traffic and very quiet.
T: 00 34 952 937 7884. www.fincacortesin.es Located between San Pedro and Estepona, this is a Gary Player course with great sea and mountain views, and some equally good holes. It has a fine Spanish-style clubhouse, although most of the members and visitors seem to be British. The pro is an Englishman as well, an engaging character famous for attempting to play a world-record number of holes at the floodlit Dama de Noche course in Andalucia in a 24 hour period. With multiply tees, this is a course that will appeal to all kinds of clients, including couples, who can enjoy a challenging, but enjoyable round, catch a glimpse of the bird life by the water hazards, then relax on the patio of that very convivial clubhouse. T: 00 34 952 883 835. www.elparaisogolfclub.com la reserva de sotogrande golf club Working our way what seems north, but is in fact east, La Reserva is a Cabell Robinson design, just across from the NH Almenara Hotel, which makes a fine base for golfers playing courses this end of the coast. It is a blistering 7,400 yards, with ample, perfectly
shaped fairways and good greens. The imposing
clubhouse tells golfers that this is an upmarket place,
and lower handicappers will be more comfortable here.
Mind you, there are five tees per hole, so a good range
of golfers can play here if they are not too ambitious
when choosing their tees. Greens are large and three-putting is common. The terrain is rolling, so buggies
are a good idea. There are another 27 holes laid out
around two lakes, the work of Dave Thomas, plus
the Sotogrande Golf Academy with a floodlit driving
range and two rooms equipped for swing analysis. The
hotel also has a spa and there is a private beach club.
T: 00 34 956 785 252. www.nh-hotels.com ABTA Golf 2009 65 |