Golfers in search of an authentic Spanish experience should make a beeline for the Andalucian region of Almeria, where a rich cultural heritage and an exceptional culinary scene combine with a collection of great hotels and golf courses to create a truly unforgettable holiday
EASTERN ANDALUCÍA’S UNDISCOVERED GOLFING GEM
While many travelling golfers are happy to settle by the swimming pool or the bar,
or both, between rounds of holiday golf, there are plenty of sun-seeking golfers with a slightly more worldly outlook who are prepared to momentarily drag themselves away from the lounger to check out their local environment and to discover that while golf courses are there to be played, there are also untold sights, sounds and smells to discover that can’t be experienced from inside a golf buggy.
If that latter part of that paragraph applies to you, even on those occasional rest days between rounds, then I promise you’re going to like Almeria – a lot.
Nestled in Spain’s southeastern corner, exactly half-way between Malaga to the west and Cartagena to the east, Almería is becoming an increasingly popular destination for those wanting to get away from the big cities and experience Spain’s slower pace, while still enjoying the finer things in life.
Boasting a dramatic and diverse landscape that switches between charming coastal towns and sweeping beaches to sleepy hill-top villages with far-reaching views, the region’s commercial and cultural hub is Almeria.
With a bustling port that can trace its history back to the 9th century when it rose to prominence as a trading post handling silk, oil and raisins, among many in-demand goods, mainly shipped in from North Africa.
Its Moorish influences are much in evidence today, most noticeably in the impressive Alcazaba, a well- preserved fortress that looks out of a city whose charming streets and squares are home to vibrant cafés, bar and restaurants, where locals rub shoulders with a small but growing number of tourists who are attracted to the area.
Just along the coast from Almería is Cabo de Gata, a national park known for its stunning beaches and rugged coastline.
Crystal clear waters make it ideal for scuba diving and snorkelling, while birdwatchers will also be in their element in the region’s largest nature reserve. Perfect for those looking to relax and unwind, with the shoreline dotted with luxury beach hotels that further enhance the experience, Cabo de Gata is not to be missed.
Almería’s golf scene reflects the region’s varied landscape, offering a range of courses from coastal layouts to desert fairways and plenty in between.
Alborán Golf, situated conveniently close to Almeria, and not far from the beach hotels in Cabo de Gata, offers the ideal layout for easing yourself into a golf trip to the region.
Designed by Ramón Espinosa, this superbly-maintained, publicly-owned course features 18 holes that blend seamlessly with their Mediterranean surroundings.
Generous fairways and accessible greens make it a suitable challenge for higher handicappers, while its length of the back tees ensures it can also test the best.
With affordable green fees and a welcoming clubhouse serving a tasty array of local dishes, Alboran is a joy from start to finish.
And you won’t have to travel far to find other great course to play. Playa Serena, located just a short drive from the city, provides a pleasant coastal experience with views over the Alboran Sea, while Almerimar and La Envía are additional options, although slightly more rough and ready, they nevertheless enjoy fine views and great scenery.
To the north of Almería, where the landscape turns more arid, golfers can discover a range of desert-style courses, including the Indiana Course at Desert Springs, which,
as the name suggests, was inspired by the desert courses of Arizona, where bright green fairways contrast vibrantly with the surrounding arid landscape of cactus, rock and flowering desert.
Designed by Peter McEvoy, the lush, rather narrow fairways of this 18-hole course are set amongst dried riverbeds, hardpan and man- made lakes, so the contrast between manicured playing areas and the surrounding wasteland could hardly be any starker.
Accuracy is everything as the penalty for straying off the grass into the cacti and rocky scrub is inevitably severe.
For a similar, yet sufficiently different desert-style challenge, head over to nearby Valle del Este, where the rise and falls in the landscape have been used to great effect by architect José Canales, with most tee boxes played from an elevated position where the landing area for the tee shot is wide and in full view.
There are uphill fairways and the occasional semi-blind approaches, but in the main, the challenge is laid bare.
The course is an integral part of a large hotel and residential complex and its fairways are routed in a figure of eight between and around these buildings with water hazards incorporated into half a dozen of the holes.
And any golf trip to this part of Spain should not miss out on a round at Aguilón Golf. Located less than a 15-minute drive inland from San Juan de Los Terreros, the most easterly coastal village in Andalusia, the 6,350-yard course is set on a narrow strip of land wedged in between a dramatic mountain range and the Mediterranean Sea.
Highlights include the first of the par threes, the 190-yard 3rd, which feature a pond to the front and right and five bunkers to the left and rear of the green, and the 520-yard, par-5 9th, where the fairway crosses a dried-up creek twice before heading between two lakes to a long, narrow green.
On the shorter back nine, you’re treated to a thrilling tee shot across a deep barranca at the par-3 12th; a couple of water-threatened approaches to the par-four 13th and par-three 14th; then more shots across another barranca between the short par-four 13th and the par-three 17th.
The round culminates in the 508-yard 18th which veers past water on the right then another couple of lakes on either side of the fairway before arriving at the final green.
Whether exploring the historic city, enjoying local cuisine, or immersing yourself in the stunning landscapes, Almería promises an enriching and enjoyable visit.
To find out more, and to book your next golf trip to Almeria, visit www.golfinspain.com/eng/land/almeria24/
Or scan the QR code below.
