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NH Almenara Golf

Originally designed by Dave Thomas with 18 holes, a further were added in 2001 and the combination offered is now widely considered pretty well perfect. The original opening 9, dropping down through local trees like cork oak, contrast the second 9, which drop down again to some vast lakes.
Some of the tee shots, particularly from the most recent 9 holes with the lakes coming into play, are simply awesome.

There is something inviting about a golf course which opens with a par-5 and, although where the name came from is immediately apparent, the loop called Los Pinos is no exception. There are lines of pine trees in all directions while the view out over the Mediterranean is quite spectacular. From the elevated tee the wide expanse of fairway stretching out in front seems impossible to miss but then the gaze rests on a lake to the left and somehow the tummy muscles tighten. In truth only a bad hook will bring the water into play but many of us can produce that shot easily. If the wind is against, the second shot will be played down into a valley from where it is just a short pitch up to a long but narrow green.

The fourth is a par-3 and what an eye-catching hole it is. Played to an elevated green framed by pine trees, care must be taken not to over-hit as, a mere eight metres behind the putting surface, the ground runs severely downwards and into a hazard. On the left of the green a deep steep-sided bunker awaits but there is plenty of room on the right.

The well signposted drive to the Los Lagos course passes along a path (bordered by a neatly trimmed hedge) beside the entrance roadway.

The par-5 fourth of the Los Lagos loop features the lake from which it gets its name; a huge expanse of water which stretches out on the right and must gobble up golf balls at an alarming rate. About 150-metres from the triangular shaped green the lake eats into the fairway leaving a playing area just twenty paces wide. The par-4 fifth measures 396-metres and is shaped like a boomerang. From an elevated tee the drive is to a fairway below which then dog-legs 90 degrees to the right. Take a moment to savour the view of the stunning forestry on the left and enjoy the quietness which seems to envelop this area of the golf course. From the dog-leg it is 150-metres to the slightly elevated green which contains two tiers.

The seventh, a par-3 measuring 164-metres, is quite a delightful hole. With water seemingly lapping at the feet the tee shot is across a lake to a large guitar shaped green surrounded by trees.

THE 19TH HOLE

The changing rooms have been tastefully furnished with plenty of lockers and swanky showers but the seating is somewhat sparse.

Sitting out on the veranda of the restaurant, beneath a large parasol, the view out over the Sotogrande Estate, with the Mediterranean shimmering in the background, is captivating. Where I come from this would be referred to as the 19th hole but at Almenara it is referred to as the 28th! The smoked salmon and creamed cheese (on wheaten bread) can be recommended and the view alone is worth whatever the bill may come to.

• Holes - 27
• Par - 72
• Clubs hire - Yes
• Buggy hire - Yes
• Hand Cart hire - Yes
• Restaurant - Yes
• Bar - Yes

 

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