Rod Bastard, director of Marbella Club Golf Resort, a professional golfer and hugely experienced as a golf course manager, has launched a series of articles describing what he believes to be the best holes on the Costa del Sol.
It would be remiss of me to do a series of articles on golf course design without talking about Royal Valderrama Club. This emblematic golf course has been frustrating and outfoxing pros and amateurs alike for years now. Don’t be fooled by the immaculate greens and carpet-like fairways: this golf course has teeth and consistently produces the highest cut mark on the European Tour.
I always liken this course to playing chess with golf clubs. Not only do you have to be in the correct part of the fairway, but you then also must be a specific distance from the hole. A good round on this course is amazingly rewarding, if very rare.
For me one of the standout holes at Valderrama is the par-5 fourth. From tee to green, it’s a beauty along the whole of its 516 yards (472 metres). Standing on the tee the whole test is laid out in front of you. The tee shot is inviting, slightly downhill with a large fairway bunker down the left, but plenty of room to entice you to go for a big one. Beware as OB is lurking right, not too far into the lovely cork trees.
Once on the fairway the test really does begin. Very few longer hitters will be able to go for it but, should they attempt the shot, the green nestled into the hill is framed majestically with a large oak tree on the left and the most wonderful sparkling, babbling waterfall on the right. Left looks safe but miss your second there and there is little chance of stopping the ball on the green.
Simple – just lay up. Well okay. A good lay-up will leave a wedge shot into a two-tiered green, and all the time that waterfall is whispering negative thoughts in your mind. There are few outcomes here: could be a birdie but most likely a memorable headache. For me this is a perfect example of aesthetics blending with technical challenges.
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San Roque Club Old Course
Staying down the Sotogrande end of the Coast, I had the privilege of playing the newly renovated San Roque Old Course. Indeed a treat, and the attention to detail, quality facilities and service are second to none. This course has leapt in among the best on the Coast, and is up there with the best in Spain overall. Of course, I had played the original Dave Thomas design and it’s always tempting to compare old and new, which is fun but can also be unfair as we are in different times.
One of my favourite holes on the course is the current second, formerly the 11th. At 443 yards (405 metres) this hole has been modified and widened off the tee but – as the hole curves gently round to the left and has a left to right camber on the fairway – the tee shot is a test for all. You could try to play it conservatively with less than a driver off the tee but this will leave you with a long shot in, usually into the prevailing Levante (easterly) winds – not a good option.
Right, so we bomb a driver down the left side – job done? Not at all, because waiting for you is one of the loveliest second shots you will find. You look slightly down on the whole green surface, sprawling bunker to the left, huge oak trees and then the magnetic pond kissing the right edge of the green. This large, gently undulating green looks inviting but make sure your clubbing is correct as the tight run-off areas can catch you out. I love these pure, honest holes that hide nothing. They just ask you to hit the right shot.
