La Duquesa Golf

PANORAMIC VIEWS
La Duquesa is not in the premier league of golf courses but much work has been done over recent years and the improvements certainly move it into the upper echelons of the division it does occupy. One of the last designs to come off the drawing boards from the Costa del Sol offices of Robert Trent Jones Snr, La Duquesa provides not only a stern test of golf but also panoramic views over the Mediterranean and Gibraltar.

MEMORABLE HOLES
The gentle opening hole, which is a fair old hike from the club-house, measures 313-metres and is played onto a wide fairway which slopes from left to right with a bunker on either side, about 200-metres from the tee. From there it moves gradually around to the right and rises up to a green which is deep but narrow and is bunkered all along the left. The ground to the right of the green drops away quite sharply while over the back is no better. Standing on the fourth tee it is immediately apparent why the hole merits a rating of index 1. Although it only measures 342-metres, the drive onto a very narrow fairway is quite daunting. Bushes and trees on the right offer nothing but havoc while the opposite side, beyond the buggy path, is out-of-bounds. The fairway slopes sharply from left to right as it dives down into a valley before rising up slightly onto a shallow but wide green which is well contoured and bunkered both front and back. If ever a straight drive were needed this is the hole to produce it.

The 14th is a par-5 measuring 466-metres and played onto acres of fairway travelling gently upwards and into the prevailing wind. Mountains form a most picturesque backdrop while the blades of the turbines of a wind farm seem to whirl lazily in their efforts to generate electricity cleanly. The fairway then swings around to the right and, still rising, meets an elevated and well contoured green which slopes from right to left.

The 15th is a short hole measuring 137-metres played to a green delightfully framed by mature trees. The putting surface slopes severely from back to front and is well bunkered while beyond the buggy path stand yet more white posts.

The signature hole on the golf course is the par-3 17th. Although just a mere 109-metres, it is worth playing La Duquesa simply to tackle this little teaser. The tee is perched on a balcony high above the green and concentration will be required to stop the eye being mesmerised by the panoramic views of sparkling sea and coastline which surround. There is a seat nearby where the visitor should relax and take a moment to savour the peace and tranquillity of the surroundings. The tee shot drops down dramatically into a valley where a shallow but wide green sits as if mocking the players’ efforts to hit it. The green is guarded on the front by a wide expanse of sand and a par on this hole will be a more than welcome result.

THE 19TH HOLE
The restaurant offers a very tasty and enticing menu all of which is reasonably priced and a table on the outside patio area gives an excellent view of the final green. Although not as well manicured as some others on the coast, La Duquesa is a golf course which gets better as you progress around it and many golfers will have abiding memories (some pretty horrific) of playing the 17th hole.