For many of those of us who live on what is known as the western Costa del Sol, the “other” Coast – Axarquia, east of Málaga capital – seems a long way away. And that, without a doubt, is a mistake because the road connections are perfect and barely an hour from Marbella, for example, you can be at one of the area’s most attractive courses: Baviera Golf.
It is a course full of character, very popular, with an excellent price-quality relationship – and is run masterfully by the restless and very active Ignacio Iturbe.
Inaugurated just a short time ago, its clubhouse borders on perfection: architecture, adequate size, excellent services, etc. In addition to impeccable changing rooms, it has a gymnasium, sauna, jacuzzi, underground parking, which is excellent for summer, and something out of the ordinary – a nursery, which is available with a simple phone call.
Run by a well-known Málaga catering company, the restaurant is truly superb, both the menu and the service. In summer they are planning to open in the evenings as well, for dinner: initially on weekends and later every day.
Baviera Golf is also a hive of social activity. It has a children’s golf school, regularly attended by about 70 children; and another school adapted for children with handicaps and specific needs.
I was already familiar with Baviera Golf but it is a course that always surprises – and leaves no one indifferent. The day I chose for my round, at the end of May, was ideal – perhaps a little warm, but using a buggy no problem.
I was accompanied on my round by Miguel Ángel Natoli, one of the two professionals at Baviera Golf (the other one is his brother Ignacio). Miguel Ángel worked previously at Alhaurín Golf, in Marbella and in Germany, for 15 months.
Well-supplied with water – the day was hot and the sun heavy – we headed to the first tee. This is a very individual hole: a short par-4, 271 metres from the yellow markers, handicap 17 but requiring an accurate tee shot because there is sharp dogleg to the right. The trick is to hit to the centre of the fairway with a medium-iron, a 7 or 8, so as not to miss the fairway. You can risk using a wood, or even a driver if you force the slice, but the best option is the first one as it leaves a second shot with a 9-iron or maximum 8, to a large green on two levels.
The second, another easy par-4, of 258 metres and handicap 12, is also not too complicated. You have to take care if you hit to the right, where there is some danger. The fairway is narrow, with a bunker on the left, at the landing area, but any average player can hit over it. The second shot will be about 110 to 120 metres to the green, which is slightly raised, protected by a grass bunker in front. Beware if the pin is on the left because there is a bunker behind and this can complicate the second or approach shot, even though the green is fairly large.
The third is yet another short par-4, 288 metres, handicap 18 and downhill. The only difficulty is to the right where there is out of bounds. There is no hazard on the left, and even the possibility of using the seventh fairway, which rises parallel. The second shot is hit short, less than 100 metres from a green protected by a bunker on the left.
A 472-metre par-5, handicap 2, the fourth is possible the most difficult hole on the front nine. The secret with this hole is to play the ball strategically. You have to hit your tee shot to the left without trying for too much distance. There is an out of bounds to the right. You can hit a driver, 3-wood or even an iron, but avoiding a second shot that could go into the water or out of bounds. It is not a bad option to play for bogey here. On the third shot you have to beware the bunker that protects the green and water on the left, which cannot be seen clearly. In this area the fairway rises slightly and you probably have to hit one club more than you initially think because the Levante (easterly) wind is nearly always in your face.
The fifth is a 149-metre par-3. The tee shot is not easy – the hole is handicap 6 – as the green is one of the toughest on the course, with several slopes; to the left there are olive trees and to the right, a grass bunker which makes the approach shot quite difficult, depending on where the pin is placed. The green is protected in front by a sand bunker.
The sixth is a par-5, 500 metres and handicap 6. Netting prevents you from going right, and there are no serious problems on the left. There are two bunkers at the landing area, but it is not easy to reach them. The second shot is straight on a fairly wide fairway. The third shot is also not all that complicated, to a large green with various slopes, protected in front by a grass bunker, another sand bunker and a third one on the left.
The seventh, a par-4 of 280 metres, is rising, and you have to be careful to the right as there is out of bounds close by and it is easy to hit there. On the left there is a small pile of rocks, but an average player can hit over them. Using a driver is fine. The second shot is not all that long, but the green is elevated. To the left of the green, of average size, are two bunkers.
A 140-metre par-3, 140 metres and handicap 16, the eighth is not very complicated. The green is flat and of average size, and is protected in front and to the left by bunkers.
The final hole of the front nine, a par-4 of 320 metres and handicap 4, does – on the other hand – present some difficulties. It is also rising, with out of bounds close by on the right. To the left there is water, and the slope of the fairways heads in this direction, which means any shot slightly closed can end up in the water. As it is a long hole and rising, it is best to use a driver or 3-wood off the tee. The green is relatively small and very well protected by bunkers, as always.
The back nine of Baviera Golf has some slightly shorter holes, in general, than the first nine, but the fairways are more narrow and the greens are smaller. The opening hole, the 10th, is impressive: a par-3, 158 metres and handicap 11 with a large lake in front. This is the beginning of the course’s “Amen Corner” (10th, 11th and 12th). The shot to the green has to be accurate because in front is a very deep bunker, five or six metres, or very high grass. There is out of bounds to the right and another large bunker at the back. You should aim to the left.
The 11th is a par-4 of 283 metres, handicap 8. The fairway is fairly narrow. The safe route here is to the right where the fairway bends slightly – though you cannot see this as the area is hidden by a small hill. The best option is to hit an iron or fairway wood as the landing area is protected by a bunker on the left and lateral water all the way along the right of the fairway. The second shot has to be accurate, a 7 or 8-iron, if lucky, to a small green surrounded by bunkers.
The par-5 12th, 519 metres, is the toughest on the course – and, for very good reasons, handicap 1. There is lateral water from the tee to the green along the right. In the centre of the fairway there is the rising foot of the mountain, which also dictates how the hole is played. This hill is right at the landing area and leaves a fairway no more than 30 or 40 metres wide. It is, therefore, best to leave your shot a little short, where the fairway is wider, though slightly inclined towards the water. You should also avoid being ambitious on the second shot, as there is danger everywhere. The third will be a fairly long shot, but less difficult, to a flat green surrounded by two bunkers.
The 13th is easier, by way of compensation! A par-4 of 309 metres, handicap 9, it is rising, thus enabling the use of a driver as the fairway is fairly wide and you can also use the fairway of the next hole. The only problem is that if you don’t hit a good tee shot you could have a blind second to the green, which is surrounded by two dangerous bunkers.
The 265-metre par-4 14th slopes down and has water in front of the green. It is best not to hit a driver off the tee as it can reach the water. The second hole is short but with the difficulty of the lake and a large bunker behind the green, sloping towards the water.
A 146-metre par-3, handicap 14, the 15th is possibly the most attractive hole on the course. You have views over Torre del Mar and the Mediterranean and to the Sierra de Almijara mountains. The tee is elevated and there is a large lake in front of a very big green, with two bunkers to the sides.
The 16th is a par-4, 268 metres and fairly narrow. It is preferable to use a driver because there is a bunker strategically placed at the landing area. The second shot, rising, is not difficult with a medium-iron. To the right of this fairway there is water and to the left, the mountain.
A par-4, 372 metres and handicap 3, the 17th is another of Baviera Golf’s emblematic holes. The tee shot requires you to hit over a lake – which is impressive but feasible. At the landing area the fairway is a slight dogleg to the left, but you can hit your ball on to a large platform. Big-hitters can try hitting over the dogleg and leave a fairly short second shot. The short and relatively flat green is surrounded by bunkers. It is not easy to reach this green in two.
The final hole, a 288-metre par-4, is also a slight dogleg to the left. You can use a driver, hitting to the right because there is out of bounds to the left and bunkers. The green is large, on three levels, making the choice of club for the second shot difficult.
Baviera Golf was in perfect condition when I played it. It is an enjoyable course which is more difficult than it seems at first. As it is not all that long, it is a good test for your short game. The greens are certainly not easy; they are fast and require great care. Normally they are in very good condition.
The good thing about this course is that you nearly always leave with the feeling that you could have played it better, correcting the errors of your last round on a future visit – which is, without a doubt, an obligation.
