Built in 1925 and inaugurated by the Spanish royal family in 1928, this is by far Málaga’s oldest course. Located barely five minutes from the airport and 10 from Málaga province’s capital city and Torremolinos, it has already hosted two European Tour events: the 1992 Turespaña Masters won by a very young Vijay Singh of Fiji; and the Turespaña Masters Open de Andalucía title in 1999, secured by Miguel Angel Jiménez. Next year it will once again be the venue for a European Tour event, the Open de Andalucía organised by Jiménez.
It could be said that the Parador is two courses in one: the original 18 holes, designed by Tom Simpson; and the more recent nine holes, links style, bordering the beach and built in the last decade. It is customary to mix up the three nine-hole layouts.
Another feature of the course, and an important one, is that no buildings come into play; there are no houses in view, no cement obstacles that necessitate tricky manoeuvres or leave an ugly visual impression. The only building is the complex is the hotel, the Parador, which is so strategically situated that some of the holes seem to start or finish there, though this – of course – is impossible.
This is a course that was built when space wasn’t the main problem. It is, therefore, very wide and fairly long, more than 6,000 metres on a flat plot of land, with no rises or drops – thus effectively reducing the distance travelled.
The fairways barely have any rough, though they are starting to create some now, in preparation for the next Open de Andalucía.
There are abundant trees, in spite of the course’s proximity to the sea, which harshly punishes the vegetation with its salinity and the Levante (easterly) winds. Major reforestation work is currently underway to replace trees that have fallen by the wayside over time and from suffering the effects of inclement weather. They are mainly eucalyptus, pine and mimosa trees.
The links layout, a par-34 designed by Juan Carlos García, is a lot shorter than its big brothers, but narrower and also quite complicated. The wind comes directly into play here.
From the Parador, before setting out to play, the course appears in superb condition, perfectly maintained, a fact confirmed shortly after when walking its fairways with the pro and greenkeeper, Juan de los Rios, who provides me with a true lesson in golf, in all its aspects: from playing the game to maintaining an “old” course in perfect state.
The first hole is a 437-metre par-5 from the yellow markers, with a moderate dogleg to the left. It is fairly easy, by distance and due to its wide and open fairway. The danger lies in the approach to a green protected by four bunkers and slightly inclined. Depending on the pin position, the approach can be tough.
The greens, in general, are large and attractive. It should be remembered that the course was built in 1925, when equipment was not like it is today. The length of the holes was, however, making it tough to reach the greens – so there could not be the added difficulty of making the slopes too sharp. Now, bit by bit, they have been changed to make them more difficult.
The second is a par-4 of 311 metres (all totals mentioned here, from the yellow markers) with out of bounds to the right, as well as a large bunker at the landing area. On the left there are tall pine trees. The green, one of those remodelled, has two distinctive ridges: one flat and the other more undulating. It is well protected by a half-moon bunker on the left and another smaller one on the right.
The third, a short (260-metre) par-4, is defended at the landing area by a bunker on the left and, for bigger hitting players, a lake on the right which extends all the way to the edge of the green. Just how much the water enters into play depends on the pin position. It is perhaps advisable here to use a 5-wood or even an iron, to position the ball well on the fairway and set up a comfortable second.
A long par-4 of 385 metres, the fourth has a moderately undulating fairway, mainly at the landing area. The green is flat and uncomplicated. The difficulty of this hole, handicap 2, is in the length and the undulations that complicate your second shot.
The fifth is another par-4, 372 metres, also undulating at the landing area, and with a moderate dogleg right from that point. The green has a large ridge and protective bunkers on the right and left.
The 149-metre par-3 sixth is difficult in only one aspect: a large bunker at the front of a flat and large green. There is out of bounds to the left and at the back.
The seventh, a 364-metre par-4, is handicap 1. There is the threat of a dogleg to the left, with out of bounds and three major bunkers waiting for the drive of average players. For big-hitters, there is another bunker on the right a bit further on. The second shot to the green is made awkward by a lake and stream on the right and bunkers on the left. In addition to the difficulty of the hole itself, the wind – especially the Levante – can make it even more complicated.
A par-4 of 334 metres, the eighth is relatively easy. Average players will find a large but flat bunker on the right, at the landing area, and big-hitters, another one on the left. The second shot is short, without any serious problems, to a green with a moderate ridge.
The ninth is a fairly long par-3, 184 metres, with wind having a major effect. Slightly elevated, the green can have some difficult pin positions. It is protected by two bunkers on the right and left.
The 10th, a 352-metre par-4, presents no problems from the tee. Just the same as almost throughout the whole layout, the fairway is very wide here, between 35 and 40 metres. A big-hitter could reach the three bunkers that cross the fairway. The green is slightly elevated and very flat.
The 11th is another long and tough par-3, 194 metres. There is water to the left and four bunkers protecting the green, three of them almost surrounding it. The wind and length can make it an awkward challenge.
The 12th is a long par-5, 482 metres, with the rarity of a narrow landing area, and the same fairway undulations we came across before. The third shot to the green can be quite difficult due to the deep ditches in front. The green is slightly elevated and fairly undulating; and deep bunkers protect it on both sides.
The 144-metre par-3 13th is one of the recently modified holes. Very narrow from the tee, it now has a very large green, particularly undulating on the left. Depending on the pin position, the hole can become fairly complicated due to bunkers on the right and left that protect the platform.
The 14th is a 454-metre par-5 that requires an excellent drive as, from tee to fairway, like on the links, there is a lengthy area of sand – and landing there can lead to unfortunate consequences. The fairway is flat but the green is protected by bunkers and water, meaning the second and third shots have to be very accurate.
The 371-metre par-4 15th is not an easy hole. For average players, the landing area is more or less flat but big-hitters could find themselves in a series of ditches that complicate the second shot. The green is an average size, and flat, but very well guarded by four deep bunkers on the left and right.
The 438-metre par-5 16th is possibly the easiest hole on the course. There is a bunker on the left to trap big-hitters, but little more. Water just before the green to the right hardly comes into play.
The 17th is a moderate dogleg to the right. A 311-metre par-4, it offers an open drive and a long and mildly narrow green, protected by three bunkers, two on the right and one on the left. Not too many problems here.
The last hole on the original Parador layout, a 393-metre par-4, has a series of ditches at the landing area which are fairly innocuous but can complicate the second shot – which is always going to be a long one to a green protected by bunkers.
But this superb course, a golf pioneer on the Costa del Sol, does not end here, as we have before us a new experience on the new nine holes of links. They are very different from the previous 18: shorter and narrower than those on the old course, and with small and undulating greens.
The 19th, or first on the links, is a 305-metre par-4. It is completely straight, with no problems at the landing area but a second shot that can be complicated by a large bunker that almost surrounds the green on the right and another deep bunker on the left.
The 20th is a 163-metre par-3, possibly the most difficult on the course. It is of average length but the green is very well protected by water to the right and at the back, and by a bunker on the left.
The 21st, a par-4 of 287 metres, completely straight, runs between pine trees and only presents potential problems on the second shot, due to the large number of trees.
The next hole is a pronounced dogleg right, a 313-metre par-4. The tee shot has to be hit through a tube of trees, and on the second you have to beware the large number of protective bunkers – nine in all.
The 23rd is a 299-metre par-4, with out of bounds on the left, but the drive is straight and no real problem. You have to take more care on the second to the green, however, as it is very, very well protected by a large and deep bunker on the left, just in front, and various others on the right and behind the green, which is very undulating and has some difficult pin positions.
The 272-metre par-4 24th is straight and has out of bounds on the left. The only difficulty is on the second shot, with a large lake on the right of the green.
A 297-metre par-4, the 25th is another dogleg right. You have to hit over a stream from the tee, but the fairway is just 100 metres away. There are no problems with an average shot but long-hitters might find themselves in a lake that crosses the fairway. The green is undulating and protected by a large bunker on the left.
The 26th is the shortest hole on the course: not even 60 metres, obviously par-3, but requiring great accuracy as the green is very small, with out of bounds at the front and a stream at the back.
To finalise this layout, the 27th, a 345-metre par-4, dogleg left, with a very narrow fairway and a stream running parallel from tee to green. There are intimidating large trees on the left. The green is not all that large and is very well protected by bunkers and a small lake at the back.
After an intensive day’s golf, on such a varied range of holes, arriving at the 19th – or in this case the 28th – is a welcome pleasure, among other reasons because the Parador, which underwent a major renovation not long ago, offers the best in gastronomy, from haute cuisine to snacks, as well as a moderately priced golfer’s menu that is changed daily.
Though officially a four-star establishment, the Parador in reality offers four-star service and amenities.
