Located in a privileged setting halfway between Cadiz’s finest beaches and Alcornocales Natural Park, the five-star Fairplay Golf & Spa Resort is only 20 minutes from Vejer de la Frontera township, 30 minutes from the stunning Palmar beach and just over an hour from the Málaga coast. Nearby are several top-class courses – in the Sancti Petri urbanisation, on the Atlantic coastline in Cádiz province, and in the Campo de Gibraltar area.
Determinedly bearing the “Slow Life” flag, the resort’s philosophy is based on changing back a gear, relieving stress and enjoying life more.
This philosophical positioning predominates throughout the resort, from its 2,000 square metre-plush spa with an Aquamedic circuit, treatment rooms and jacuzzis to 18 holes with tee times every 12 minutes. The idea is that players enjoy their round with complete peace of mind.
The course is in the vicinity of the natural park, home to countless bird species and a rich and varied Mediterranean flora. The hotel has 134 exclusive rooms with different styles of suites divided into seven Andalucian-themed courtyards. Everything is taken care of in minute detail… the décor of the rooms, the large terraces and the majestic views over the Janda lagoon.
Asked what makes this resort different from other golf courses in Andalucía, Fairplay Golf & Spa Resort director Alberto Lloret Pascual says, “We offer varied, unique and tailor-made amenities and services. On the one hand, players have access to interesting packages either at our course or in collaboration with other courses in the area. Those of our visitors who are especially familiar with wellness tourism have at their disposal more than 2,000 square metres of spa facilities, circuits, aesthetic, facial and body treatments and therapies, and a wide range of fine-tuning programs.
“On the other hand, we have collaboration agreements with various leisure activities companies. With Fairplay Golf & Spa Resort, you can take a plane flight and view the Costa de la Luz and white villages, arrange a horse ride on the edge of the Celemín reservoir, take a boat ride or enjoy various nautical activities.”
Behind Fairplay’s varied amenities and service, there is a very clear message based on “Slow Life”. How do you promote this?
The idea is that clients only have to think about what really matters to therm. We try to return to the origins of life, with a “Disconnect to Reconnect" insight. We live in a world saturated with information, in a hurry, and sometimes it seems that we live with the autopilot on and don’t live life to the full, just see life passing by day after day.
We are committed to putting on the brake, forgetting a little about everyday stress and thinking again about us, about our needs, about what really matters. Reconnect with your hobbies, and the many activities and sports we offer our guests; reconnect with your body in our wellness area; reconnect with yourself by spending a wonderful and unforgettable stay at our resort. In addition, we have three restaurants offering diverse culinary options, where you can savour Mediterranean cuisine with five-star quality standards.
Many people would still be unable to place Benalup on a map. What can you tell us about your location?
Sincerely, I think it is one of our best arguments for staying here. We are close to the beach, without having to suffer the bustle of a front-line hotel. We are in the mountains with the comforts of a five-star resort. We have our own golf course and in less than an hour and a half you can access golf courses located in Jerez, Santi Petri and Sotogrande and on the Costa del Sol. Our location is one of the best arguments for end customers, as within just a few kilometres there are varied options for sports, gastronomy and leisure.
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THE GOLF COURSE
The Fairplay layout is one where players can see it is the perfect plot to build a golf course. Everything is based on combining the harmony of nature with the design of each of the holes, providing players with a pleasant surprise, and creating a layout with extremely varied and attractive holes in an environment where tranquility prevails.
The 18-hole, par-73, 6,072-metre course is the work of Paul Rolan, a renowned Belgian designer who worked on designs in his country with Robert Trent Jones. Apart from the course’s integration with nature, it also stands out because from all the tees you can see the elements that come into play on the course, and your shots are perfectly visible, which helps players plan a game strategy.
On the front nine, the holes are intertwined with lakes and an olive forest that is typical for the area. The fairways are quite pleasant to walk because of the lack of steep slopes. Where the fairways cross next to the lakes, several holes require interesting shots to reach the green.
The second nine is somewhat different: it has three par-fives, and many of its holes are played with elevated tees that invite you to hit a potent drive. The fairways are flanked by olive groves and underbrush in the areas with the most extreme rough.
The resort has a great practice area with a covered driving range and several putting and chipping greens. In the academy area there are three short holes, 70, 60 and 50 metres, suitable for groups of beginners.
Héctor Llanza, director of the practice range, highlights “the incredible natural character of the plot and its perfect combination with the layout to create a comfortable experience for players”.
During the most recent renovation work carried out on the layout, in 2017, “small touches were made to achieve adequate distances from each tee platform and make each of the holes attractive and fun”. In this way, "a very rewarding course was created, with holes combining difficulty, skill and recovery."
As for the environment, he says, “We are committed to restoring the native vegetation and it has been integrated into the layout. In terms of maintenance, work is being undertaken daily to maintain one of the highest quality levels in the area, in accordance with the five-star resort to which we belong.”
What differences can be viewed here with respect to other courses in the area?
Landscape-wise, due to our location in the adjacent area to Alcornocales Natural Park, the ecosystem is more similar to the courses of Sotogrande, so the presence of low-lying kermes oaks, olive trees and Mediterranean underbrush is featured. That is why we are somewhat different from other Cádiz-Atlantic courses that are close to the sea. At the same time, as we are a hotel resort, we have a strong commitment to service, which is also a major bonus for clients. All of this makes Fairplay a hugely attractive option for many golfers who visit Cádiz province and want to enjoy a different golf experience.
What are some of the customary comments by clients about the course?
The first is the tranquility. And then they are surprised to find a course with this high level of maintenance. Other comments highlight the beautiful views from some of the holes over the Janda valley and Alcornocales Natural Park. And many others love the fluidity of the pace of play, because sometimes they come from more crowded areas.
