Christopher Columbus sailed from very close to here to discover the new world. Also nearby is Rocío, site of the most popular and attractive romería (ecclesiastical pilgrimage) in the world. However, what really is on the doorstep of Golf Dunas de Doñana is the famous nature park that gives the golf course its name. Its fairways border this protected area, where nature reigns and the park is home to species of fauna that are unique in Europe. In fact, the golf course is located in a truly privileged area. Sevilla is just under an hour away, and the course is within 50 metres of the longest virgin beach in the world: dozens and dozens of kilometres within Coto de Doñana and many more in the direction of Huelva. The beach is continuously bordered by stunningly beautiful sand dunes and vegetation; while the white sand and transparent blue sea are incomparably attractive.
Playing the course is almost like walking through the nature park. Holes four and 13 border the Coto; and it is quite common to see deer and other animals between shots. As the course is located so close to the park, nonaggressive and experimental techniques were used in the construction – making it a purely ecological layout.
Matalascañas, the municipality that takes in Dunas de Doñana, is located in the imaginary apex of the Doñana district, which includes such towns as Bollullos, which produces one of Spain’s best wines, Almonte, El Rocío, Mazagón, Punta Umbría, etc. In addition to the district’s natural attractions, the gastronomy here is something else: the best fish, the best seafood (who hasn’t heard of Huelva’s famous “white” prawns”!), the best ham…
Now, the town hall is acquiring Golf Dunas de Doñana to guarantee its continuity and provide the district with another eminently attractive tourism option, with great potential.
On this occasion I was accompanied on my round by the course’s pro, Rafael Barrero Multo, who was a great help thanks to his huge knowledge of and familiarity with the layout, on the outskirts of Parque de Doñana. “You have to take this course seriously and think about how to play it. Above all else, you always have to hit the fairway,” he explained. Some of the fairways are narrow, with very entangled rough and a lot of vegetation along the sides. If you hit a good tee shot, the approach shot to the green is not too complicated. There are not all that many bunkers, the greens and large and the landing areas are fair. You can putt very well.
This is a course which, due its proximity to the sea and the effect of the winds, could be considered to be a links. The vegetation that covers the course and borders its fairways is mainly composed of “sabinas”, a species of low pine. Water comes into play on quite a few holes, especially in the area of the fourth, fifth and eighth and the tee area of the 11th, where various lakes are located. There are also two others that don’t come into play so much, for instance the 18th.
It is an easy course to walk, with hardly any slopes. Most of the tees are slightly elevated, which ensures good visibility for the drive, although always with a landing area very tightly bordered by the aforementioned pine trees. If you miss the fairway it is difficult to recover the shot.
The first is a par-4, 338 metres (all the distances mentioned here are from the yellow markers), with a moderate dogleg right. If you want to take full advantage of the hole you have to hit over an area of trees, and if you make it past the pines – and this is certainly possible – the second shot is not very complicated. The green is large, with bunkers to the left and right but an easy way through.
The second, another par-4, of 306 metres, has a very narrow fairway and you have to hit your drive where it narrows most! The best option is to use a 3-wood. Although a short hole, if you miss the fairway even a double-bogey could be a good result.
The third, a 310-metre par-4, has a dogleg right at almost 90 degrees. If you are a bighitter, you can try to hit over a lake and leave a very short second. If not, it is best to play a hybrid and leave the ball 130 or 140 metres from the hole.
The fourth is the first par-5, measuring 493 metres and stroke index 1. The difficulty is in how you plan your shot. If you are able to keep the drive in play, as there is out of bounds on the left, and you limit yourself to a 3-wood and don’t take any risks, there could be the chance of a birdie. The green is very well protected by a lake that virtually surrounds it.
The 165-metre par-3 fifth is possibly the most attractive hole on the course, with the green on an island. This means you are either on the green or your hopes are sunk in the water.
The sixth is a 438-metre par-5, and perhaps the least complicated hole on the course. The fairway is very wide and just about the only one that doesn’t punish a mistake, as the fourth fairway is to the right and you can play from there. However, hit a wayward shot to the left and you are in trouble: the pine trees and mountain can make life impossible.
A 353-metre par-4, the seventh has a dogleg left, with a very narrow landing area. If you fail to hit over a moderate rise you don’t have a good look at the green. It is not a completely blind shot, but almost.
The eighth, a par-3 of 156 metres, has a green that is almost completely surrounded by water, except for the front area. If the flag is at the back and you go for it, there is not much margin for error behind the hole.
The 399-metre par-4 ninth is a fairly complicated hole – in fact, stroke index 3. It is long and the wind is nearly always in your face, which makes the green an even longer shot away. You should be able to hit a good drive without any problems, but the approach to the green has out of bounds to the right and behind.
On the other hand, the 311-metre par-4 10th is an easy hole. The only problem is out of bounds to the right. The fairway is wide but the green has three platforms, almost the only with such movement.
The 11th, a 347-metre par-4, has water all along the left and out of bounds on the right, a fair distance away, so you have to hit a good drive. The green is very well protected by bunkers on the left and right. The green on another par-3, the 162-metre 12th, is well guarded by bunkers on the right; while there is out of bounds on the left.
The 493-metre par-5 13th has a straight and wide fairway, with only out of bounds on the left. It is index 2, mainly because the green is partly surrounded by water on the right and at the back.
A par-4 of 326 metres, the 14th is a very precise hole. An iron or hybrid is advisable for the drive, if you want to keep the ball on the fairway. It is a short hole and if you try to hit it too far you could cross the fairway and even lose your ball, as there is a moderate dogleg left.
On the 338-metre par-4 15th, if you want to want to shorten the hole you have to hit an almost blind tee shot, as the fairway bends slightly to the right. Those who are familiar with the hole know you have to aim over a pine tree that acts as a reference point, and your ball will be perfectly positioned. If you don’t follow this path the hole could become very long.
The 16th, a 158-metre par-3, is a complicated hole, although it is rated stroke index 12. There is out of bounds to the right, barely five metres from the green, and also on the left. You make the green or you are lost.
The 293-metre par-4 17th is a very attractive hole, with a raised tee which enables you to see the whole fairway. A good drive will make it a relatively uncomplicated hole.
To end the round, a 489-metre par-5 with the widest fairway on the course. This is an excellent final hole for a layout that gives you the feeling you have been in a nature sanctuary.
