Almería / Murcia GOLF COURSE OPTIONS

SANTA CLARA GOLF GRANADA, in the municipality of Otura,is situated just outside the beautiful and cultural city of Granada, within half an hour of the Ski resort and still only 35 minutes from the coast.  It is in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada with amazing views of the snow capped peaks from every hole. The course is challenging for all players with many water hazards and bunkers in the front 9 and long undulating fairways and lake on the back 9.  

Inspired by the famous desert courses of Arizona & California, the par 72 international championship Indiana course is the first desert course in Europe and has been built to full USGA specifications and the quality standards of these desert courses, now famous for the quality of golf that they offer. It presents unforgettable views and golf of such a dramatic nature that it can be said to have taken not only desert golf, but also golf in general in this part of Spain to a new level of excellence.

Its immaculate fairways are set amongst massive rocky outcrops, streams and dry rivers. The vivid contrast of the 'desert springs' and the emerald green fairways with the arid landscape of cactus, rock and flowering desert, is stunning at all times of year. The whole golfing vision is framed within a panorama of landmark mountain ranges.

Over 600,000 cacti and other desert plants grow progressively more dense and troubling the further your shot is off the fairway so the course is both demanding and exhilarating, providing a variety of shot making challenges to test the skill level of every player, from the beginner to professional.

Alhama Signature is considered one of the best golf courses in Spain.  Designed, directed and signed personally by Jack Nicklaus. Alhama Signature golf course is long and spectacular, with 5 lakes, original circular tee boxes, wide fairways and fast greens.  At Alhama Signature you will find 116 bunkers of varied and interesting shapes as well as a landscape that retains the entire native flora, and other species indigenous to the area, making Alhama Signature a Natural Reserve.  Alhama Signature is a major challenge for both amateur and professional golfers. The perfectly calculated design forces you to think carefully about course strategy and management. It is a par 72 and the course measures 6,884 meters from the back tees.

El Valle Golf is located in a beautiful valley of natural desert.  The fairways curve perfectly around limestone mountains creating a harmonious layout in a natural setting.  Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the variety of its terrain gives the course great personality and holes of singular beauty.  Golf on this course is based on numerous strategic elements that challenge the golfer.  The course places importance on precision not power and favours the golfer that can control their game.

Designed by Nicklaus Design, La Torre Golf course offers 18 holes, par 68 with 4 sets of tee boxes. It has more than 5 hectars of bunkers that separate the holes, creating a strategic design where shot selection is most important. Also, a dense grass surrounds the bunkers which creates the optimum wind shot effect. Therefore, the course offers difficult conditions but also impeccable surfaces that make the course a pleasure to play. La Torre Golf is ideal for both mid to high handicap golfers. At the same time, La Torre Golf offers a challenge to experienced golfers where from the back tees they will have to play very strategically in order to find the fairways. To complete the package, La Torre Golf offers magnificent practice facilities which makes it a must for all golfers. 

The design of Saurines Golf by Nicklaus Design has great similarities to the desert style golf courses of Las Vegas and Arizona but with a Links course philosophy.  Its character is undulating fairways placed between dunes of sand with impressive rolling greens.  This course has very few bunkers but it does have a very large, 6 acre, centrally placed lake that comes into play on many holes. Since its opening in 2011 it has already become a symbol of the entire area. 

Hacienda Riquelme Golf is an 18 hole, par 72 course, in a naturally beautiful area. The course has been designed with a high respect for the native flora and fauna. The course weaves its way through many wild flowers and olive trees, and its wetlands and lakes are home to a variety of plants and waterfowl. Hacienda Riquelme Golf is one of the areas most unique golf courses.  The great diversity of the bunkers and their positioning add plenty of difficulty and requires dexterity when playing them as some of them are up to 3 meters deep. The subtle and random contours of the greens give special importance to the short game, whilst the wide fairways give all golfers the opportunity to enjoy the course.

This course is located right beside the Caleia Mar Menor Golf & Spa Resort.

Dave Thomas designed the front nine holes to need accurate tee shots in order to put the ball on the fairway. Greens are well protected by bunkers and the surrounding lakes. The back nine was designed by Jack Nicklaus and has wide fairways. Again the greens are protected by strategic bunkers. Nicklaus's own "Amen Corner" deserves a special mention as holes 13, 14, & 15 are surrounded by a spectacular lake making these three holes a real challenge. 

Excellent practice facilities include driving range, putting green and chipping green.

Host of the final of the EUROPRO Tour of 2011.

Las Colinas Golf & Country Club has a par 71 18 hole championship golf course which extends across the a 330 hectare valley between the hills and near the sea, adapts to the unusual lie of the land and blends naturally into the landscape.  The width of its fairways, the design of its extensive undulating greens, and the numerous tees at each hole give it great versatility and mean that it is suitable for professional competitions, while also offering any player a pleasant, enjoyable and affordable game.  There is a full range of amenities around the Club House, with a golf academy, a driving range of natural lawn, a putting green and an approach area.

You can also stay in an apartment or villa at Las Colinas Residences.

La Manga Resort is home to three 18-hole golf courses, each with its own particular style:

The North Course, designed by world-renowned golf course architect Robert Dean Putman.  Palm trees, lakes and natural storm gullies known as 'barrancos' are key features of the North Course, which is slightly shorter than the South, with tighter fairways and larger greens.

The South Course, also designed by Putman and later remodelled by Arnold Palmer.  At almost 6,500 metres from the white tees, it has water hazards on 15 of its 18 holes, wide fairways and a good combination of short and long holes. The front nine is particularly challenging with two par 3s in excess of 200 metres and some daunting par 4s, which call for accurate driving between lakes and bunkers. The back nine, although shorter, has a number of intriguing dog-leg holes.

The West Course, designed by Dave Thomas.  The West Course, with its frequent changes in elevation, offers a different set of challenges. The front nine demand accurate driving to avoid the 'barrancos' (natural storm gullies), while the back nine, up amongst the hills, are more open but nonetheless challenging.  The West Course has recently been included in the Top 100 best courses in Europe and all three courses included among the 40 best in Spain.

Last, but by no means least, the 18-hole pitch & putt course was designed by the legendary five-time major winning golfer, Severiano Ballesteros.  The Pitch & Putt is great for sharpening your short game.  The par 3s are particularly well designed, with excellent greens for putting and water obstacles.  An enjoyable round in a beautifully landscaped setting amongst the palm trees.