Between Spain and Portugal lies the Guadiana River. On its banks, and within a radius of about 30 kilometers, are more golf courses than you can shake a stick at. As a result, it's potential to find a place to stay from which you could reach and play 14 courses in as many days, without ever having to drive for more than 40 minutes.
The Guadiana river provides the border in the middle of Portugal and South Western Andalucia, or Huelva, in theCosta de la Luz. It is also the location for an very large estimate of top-notch golf courses, all within easy reach of each other. There is none of the high-rise hotel development here that you will find on the other Costas, since local government has insisted on the preservation of protected natural spaces.
Instead you will find a few engaging hotels, and a good choice of fairly new apartments and villas. The more temperate climate means that it is potential to play golf for most of the year, and, being in a river delta, the area is protected to a large extent from the strong winds that characterise this coast further south.
Penn Camera
All these courses are conveniently reached by the airports of Faro in Portugal, or Seville in Spain.
Golf in Portugal.
Castro Marim
This is one of the latest courses to play golf in Portugal, having opened in the year 2000, in an area of the Algarve that until recently had no golfing infrastructure at all. This 18 hole, par 72 policy has a very gorgeous setting in the peaceful climate of the eastern Algarve, gift players fabulous views over the Atlantic Ocean, the River Guadiana and the colse to nature reserve. The fairways have been made with Bermuda grass, whilst the greens are made with the new Penn A4 grass. Unless you are a mountain goat, it's advisable to hire a buggy, since parts of the policy are very steep indeed.
This golf policy offers challenges to all levels and abilities. In some places the layout is deceptive, and a well-struck drive could quite legitimately land in one of the attractive lakes. Its unique hidden irrigation law enables play even in the driest of weathers. A driving range, putting green and putting policy are also available for pre-round practice.
Benamor
The late Sir Henry Cotton designed this 18 hole, par 71 course. Sir Henry was apparently inspired by the ancient church, which is now situated next to the clubhouse.
The resulting layout offers a challenge to players of all standards. The policy is undulating, but although less hilly than the Castro Marim course, still offers remarkable views to the mountains in the north and the Atlantic to the south.
Indigenous olive, cork, carob, fig and almond trees, many of them centuries old, add to the beauty of the area whilst also creating natural hazards. In addition, water hazards and bunkers are strategically located colse to the policy to test your strategy and accuracy. The greens of Penn A4 are superb, and fairways of Bermuda Sahara furnish good opportunities for well-placed shots. There is also a driving range and putting green for you to get in a wee custom before you play the course.
Quinta da Cima
This 18 holes, par 72 policy is a great test of golf with dog-legs to the right and left, open fairways and well located bunkers and lakes. A stream with dams and permanent flowing water crosses holes 4, 5, 6 and 13. This is a true championship course. Watch out for the tricky par 5 16th hole, and expect some surprises on the 18th!
This policy offers fabulous views, and is an exceptionally gorgeous policy to play. From any point on the policy the views of the sea and the mountains are a delight. Century-old olive and carob trees and the typical orange groves furnish a truly peaceful feel to this fabulous course.
The greens have been seeded with Bent Crenshaw. Tees and fairways are seeded with Zoysia.
Two large driving ranges furnish magnificent views of the mountains as well as of the ocean.
The Robinson Golf Academy can be found on the second driving range, which is designed for custom with irons only. It comprises 3 greens and 6 tees for concentrated tuition.
Quinta da Ria
This spectacular 18 hole, par 72 policy is situated in the Ria Formosa Natural Park and spreads along a gradually rolling area down to the Ria Formosa itself, with a remarkable view of the sea and the Huelva coastline
It comprises two loops of 9 holes with each loop having 2 par 5's, five par 4's and two par 3's. Five lakes were strategically built colse to the course, near greens 5, 10 and 14. Hole 16, a par 5, is played in the middle of the two biggest lakes. The green of the par 3 17th brings one of the lakes into play and also has an island where a large estimate of local bird-life nests. Besides the beauty the lakes bring to the course, they are also used as water reservoirs for irrigation and are nourished by a stream, in play on some holes.
The greens, smoothly undulating, are well protected by bunkers. Greens, tees and fairways are seeded with Bent Crenshaw and the rough with Poa Pratensis with Fescues. There are wide fairways and well maintained rough, so the policy is suitable for the higher handicapper.
Although the policy is relatively new, it has been planted with more than 300 trees, such as olive and carob, in order to furnish a more established feel, and to utter the ancient border. From any point on the course, one can see both the mountains and the sea. The surrounding orange groves and vineyards contribute to make the landscape of the policy even more beautiful.
On this course, as with the Quinta da Cima, there will be no housing development, so there will be nothing except the fabulous views to distract you from your game. Together these two golf courses furnish a fine choice for golf holidays.
For golf in Spain, there are a estimate of equally gorgeous and equally engaging sites.
Isla Canela
This 18 hole par 72 links golf policy is located in an area of superior natural beauty, overlooking the Guadiana River. It was designed by Catarineu, and completed in 1994. It's set in a gorgeous landscape dotted with olive, orange and eucalyptus trees, and offers engaging and engaging play on its gradually sloping dunes.
Trolleys and buggies can be hired from the clubhouse; any way there is wee need of buggies since the entire policy is relatively flat. It extends over a salt marsh crossed by small seawater rivulets.
The gentle slopes are formed by dunes, and the policy provides a gorgeous landscape dominated by broom, eucalyptus, olive and orange trees some of which wish observation when playing some fairways. Overall, accuracy rather than length is key here.
Natural lakes border a estimate of holes, and the greens are commonly large and well protected by bunkers. The par five 7th is reachable in two, but the river to the right of the green is likely to catch the unwary. The building of strategically located tees means Isla Canela is enjoyable for golfers of all abilities. The club also offers very good custom facilities.
There is a permanent golf school as well as a golf shop, a bar and a restaurant. In increasing there is a swimming pool and two bowling greens next to a gorgeous terrace on which to sit and relax after a game.
Plans have been approved for a second policy on the island, together with a third a wee further up the River Guadiana at Costa Esuri.
Islantilla Golf Course
There are 3 isolate courses at Islantila, each surrounded by luxuriant vegetation with remarkable sea views.
"Course 1" is best suited to medium or low handicappers as it requires precision, stroke quality and skill.
"Course 2" is ideal for high handicappers, as, although it has a somewhat difficult beginning, there are fewer quirks and the layout is less deceptive to the fresh eye.
"Course 3" is the official 18 holes par 72 policy which requires significant skill, and is ideal for medium handicappers.
Established 1992 this golf policy has been the stage of important events like the "Campeonato de Espana de Profesionales", and the Pga European Challenger Tour.
In increasing there is a training centre, the Islantilla Top Golf Academy, which includes: -
· Individual and/or group lessons
· Weekend courses
· Digital video camera with exact golf prognosis software
· On policy lessons
· Clinics with pro guests
· Special junior programmes
· Golf club repair
· Pro shop
Nuevo Portil Golf Course
This 18 hole, par 71 policy has been relatively recently built. The organize is characterised by wide fairways and gradually sloping greens, and follows a path in the middle of pines and other local trees, beginning out in a wood of Mediterranean pines. It is a rolling type golf course, gift a pleasant walk for those not wishing to use buggies, and the Bermuda fairways, which are lined with indigenous vegetation, offer fabulous sea views over the heavy dune beaches that are close by. The tiered greens offer a tough challenge for birdie-seekers.
The club has a driving range, pitch and putt area, gym, sauna and swimming pool, together with a four star hotel and clubhouse with coffee shop, restaurant, pro-shop and all golfing facilities.
El Rompido
This 18 hole par 72 policy is the furthest east of all those mentioned in this guide. The involved legitimately comprises two courses, the former South policy and the brand new North course.
The South policy sits on the edge of a tidal lagoon overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, and sprawls over an engaging mix of parkland and marshland with some fabulous views - the walk from the 8th green to the 9th tee takes you over a 650ft pontoon right over the protected marshland where you can see freshwater crabs and an fullness of bird life.
The new North course, which only opened in June 2006, offers a wee more challenge. It has been designed by the notable Spanish golf policy designer Alvaro Arana. This policy winds through protected salt marshes, and offers a assorted range of hole styles. The front nine features a run of holes with very tight drives - a typical "risk and reward" opportunity 9; while the back 9 is shorter, but demands greater accuracy from the fairway into small target greens which are of a consistently high standard.
The involved boasts a five star hotel faultless with full condition spa, consulation and leisure facilities together with hidden beach club, football pitches, tennis and paddle courts and much more. Altogether, it comprises a fully equipped golf resort and spa perfect for a golfing holiday.
Convenient holiday location
For those finding for a holiday location that allows easy way to all courses, it would be difficult to beat the exclusive resort of Isla Canela. Situated on the beach by the pretty town of Ayamonte on the Guadiana River, it is well within an hour's drive of all the courses listed. legitimately the courses at Isla Canela itself and at Castro Marim, are both within 20 minutes' drive. In this wee resort you have the choice of 5 hotels, and a good range of rental properties with whether golf, sea or marina views, beginning from a humble one-bed apartment and progressing to a luxury 3 bed, 2 bath penthouse with fabulous views and a Jacuzzi on the terrace.
For non-golfing house members the beach apartments are ideal, giving quick and easy way to 7km of lustrous golden sand, with safe beaches for bathing. Small shops, bars and restaurants are all within walking distance, and the wee Andalusian town of Ayamonte is a short bus ride away. For days when you might be 'golfed out'(!) it's potential to join a guided coach tour of Seville, or even a jeep safari through the Donana National Park. River trips are also legitimately available.
Of course, that's if you don't want to just 'chill out' on the gorgeous beach!
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