On leaving Marbella that overcast day in mid-January, I thought: “What a day to have chosen to play golf!” It was drizzling and cold. I had reserved a tee time at Costa Ballena Golf Club, located between Rota and Chipiona, near one of the finest beaches in Cádiz province. My mood began to change as I drove in the direction of Jerez via the Ruta del Toro (Route of the Bull). The landscape was full of meadows and I could see herds of fighting bulls grazing peacefully on other side of the highway. When I arrived at my destination, barely one and a half hours later, the weather was completely different. The magnificent sun shone and the sky was so blue it seemed to have been touched up by Photoshop. I was happy not to have succumbed to my doubts a couple of hours before that had almost made me turn around.

It is well worth visiting the Cádiz coastline, where the landscape, the seaside towns and the ambience is so different from the Costa del Sol.

It had been more than 10 years since I had played at Costa Ballena, though I had visited on various occasions – albeit without leaving the clubhouse.

Obviously, the course had changed radically: the vegetation had grown and expanded a lot; and the general aspect was impeccable. They had also added nine holes, a practice area, possibly the best in Europe, and another nine par-3 holes.

Costa Ballena is one of the designs that gives most pride to José María Olazábal. It was inaugurated 12 years ago and is part of a tourist and residential complex extending over 500 hectares, with superb hotels and various urbanisations. The playing area is extensive and open, occupying one-fifth of the macro-project initiated by the Orleans-Borbón family and the Junta de Andalucía (regional government).

This is probably one of the courses in Andalucía that most resembles an “American style”, something like Doral’s Blue Course, with a lot of water, wide fairways, some next to the sea, and tropical vegetation including a huge palm forest that lines most of the layout – which is almost flat and easy to walk.

The person in charge of the caddy master office and shop, had everything ready for my day of golf: a new and very clean buggy, card of the course, etc. First impressions on arriving at a golf club are very important, and Isabel makes you feel comfortable and welcome. This is much appreciated, as it is not always the case at other courses.

The La Ballena clubhouse is “hut style”, with a thatched roof and constructed in the old style of the marshlands. It offers all the services you would expect of a clubhouse – cafeteria, restaurant, etc. – and more, including a large gymnasium, as the high-performance complex is used on a regular basis by national teams from Sweden, Czech Republic, Finland, etc.

The official layout of this Cádiz province course is that comprising the first 18 holes. It is not long – you can reach the greens relatively easily with your second shot on the par-4s – but the rough is fairly complicated and the greens are fast and small.

The first hole is a par-4, 345 metres from the yellow markers (all distances quoted subsequently are from the yellow markers). The difficulty here is the out of bounds area on the right, which comes a fair bit into play, and the many olive trees on the left hand side of the fairway. A good drive will leave a 7 or 8-iron to a small green well protected by bunkers and on two levels.

The second is a long par-3, 205 metres, where – depending on the wind – you will need a 3-wood or, at least, a hybrid or 2-iron. There is a large bunker behind the green, so best not to hit long! The green is one of the largest, but with significant undulations.

The third, 322 metres, is one of the shortest holes on the course, with a dogleg to the right. A good drive will leave a short second shot to a green protected by bunkers on the right.

On the 371-metre, par-4 fourth it is important to hit a good drive, as always, because otherwise you will be left with a very long second to a green with bunkers on the right but a comfortable approach on the left.

On the fifth, a 500-metre par-5, you have to take care with the out of bounds area on the left and the bunkers located at the landing area. For the second shot, water on the right enters into play, so it is unwise to be too aggressive on this hole. Reaching the green in two is very difficult.

In playing the sixth, a 147-metre par-3, it is essential to check the pin position because there could be a difference of three clubs. You will have to hit over a water hazard to reach the green.

The seventh is handicap index one, a 408- metre par-4 with a dogleg to the right. It is best to hit to the right of the fairway to try to shorten the hole a little. The second shot is always going to be difficult: a long iron to the toughest green on the course, divided into two levels.

The eighth is a par-5 “recovery” hole, where the most difficult shot is the drive – a bunker awaiting you near the landing area. For the second, you need to avoid water on the left.

The ninth is an easy par-4 to end the front nine. With a good drive, the second shot is short to a green protected by bunkers on the left and right. Avoid hitting too long as there are mimosas at the back.

From the tee of the 10th, a 435-metre par-5, there is a lake lying in wait on the right, though a good drive opens up the possibility of hitting your second to the green with a shot that won’t be all that long, perhaps a 4- iron or a hybrid, though a bunker at the front can make things difficult.

The 11th is a 342-metre par-4. With a Levante wind (easterly) it is very accessible, but longer when the Poniente blows from the west.

The 12th is an attractive par-5. It measures 474 metres and is like a typical Florida hole, with the fairway bordered by palm trees. From the tee there is an out of bounds area on the right; and for the second shot you have to hit the ball to the left-hand side of the fairway, as this opens it up considerably and on the right there are bunkers that prevent a shot to a green that is, perhaps, the flattest on the course.

The 13th is a difficult par-4, handicap 6, with incredible views of Cádiz Bay and the Costa Ballena beach. With a Levante wind it becomes a hole from hell. The wind also has an impact on the next hole, a 187-metre par-3. With a frontal wind blowing it is interminable.

The 15th is the easiest hole on the course, a 305-metre par-4, but be careful if you slice it, as a lake awaits you.

The only difficulty with the 135-metre par-3 16th is a lake you have to hit over, which intimidates a lot of amateurs. The green is one of the most difficult on the course, with two platforms and bunkers protecting it.

The 17th is a short 295-metre par-4, where it is advisable to leave the driver in the bag to avoid a bunker on the right and water on the left.

The 388-metre par-4 18th is fairly difficult due to the long second shot to a green very well protected by bunkers. With the flag at the back, it is best to hit two clubs more than you would initially think, as it is one of the largest greens on the course.

One of the most pleasant memories of my round at Costa Ballena was the perfect state of the fairways, an intense green contrasting with the Bermuda grass of the rough, which is a lighter tone. For me, the key holes on the course are, without a doubt, the seventh, 12th and 16th.

After the round, I had a magnificent lunch in one of the best clubhouse restaurants I can remember being in. Varied and exquisite, the menu has nothing to envy of any other restaurant, of any category.

I left Costa Ballena with the solid promise to myself to return soon. The journey from the Costa del Sol is quick and well worth it.