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Rio Real Golf

This course has been in existence for over 50 years and named after the Real river, which comes into play on several of the fairways. It is a scenic course even though it is, on the whole, flat.
On the par 3 sixth be wary of the out of bounds on the right and the river on the left but, with the right club, you should reach the green - if not you´ll need skills to get out of the surrounding bunkers.
The par 5 thirteenth is the longest and most spectacular hole. Imitate Tiger Woods by reaching the green in three strokes if you can.

Memorable Holes

From the very first tee the maturity of the course creates a marvellous feeling of well-being although the relatively gentle opening hole may tend to lull the golfer into a false sense of security. The trees lining both sides of the second fairway have spread their branches ever wider over the years and a faded drive is favoured: anything hooked could well be in dire trouble as the river, from which the course gets its name, meanders down the left. The par-4 fifth is a dangerous hole as a faded drive could well sail out-of-bounds while the putting surface is surrounded by majestic trees which have spent many a year gazing down on golfers searching for their golf balls in the flowing waters of the river. The following hole is one you either love or hate: a sharply uphill par-3 of 140-metres bordered on the right by apartments. The final hole on the outward journey is a par-5 played back up towards the club-house while, in the background, the mountains seem to tower over the stately trees.

Every golf course is entitled to at least one bad hole and the 10th at Rio Real would feature prominently in any list of the worst golf holes on the coast. 220-metres from the tee, the fairway dog-legs sharply right leaving a short pitch to the green. A golfer not able to hit the ball that distance will be in no-mans land as a club with sufficient elevation to clear the trees on the right will not be long enough to reach the green. The only answer is to play it as a par-5 which is somehow annoying on a hole measuring just 326-metres. The 11th is probably the most dramatic hole on the golf course. From an elevated tee the drive must carry out over the tops of trees as it whizzes down into the valley below. The hotel borders the left-hand side while there are seven big trees, and a plethora of their smaller brethren, on the opposite side. The river reappears across the front of the green and, while it may appear insignificant from down the fairway, it does require additional carry of twelve metres. The par-3 14th has a big house on the right which was the long-time home of Hollywood screen star Deborah Kerr and her husband. The 14th is played out through an avenue of trees onto a fairway, moving gently to the left, while the par-5 15th wanders all the way back down to the edge of the N340 where motor cars, whose drivers are oblivious to the beauty which surrounds them, zoom past. Rio Real, designed by Javier Arana, has been in operation since 1965 and renovations and modernisations in recent years have made it one of the leading courses on the coast.

The 19^th

Upstairs in the restaurant I eased myself into a wicker chair on the terrace. Immediately a waiter appeared to take the order and, in jig time, a welcome sparkling water arrived followed by a succulent fillet steak served in Arab bread. While enjoying these treats my memories were of playing a course which seemed to envelop me in a cloak of tranquillity as I wandered below the endless lines of towering trees.

From the moment of arrival in the car park you get the immediate feeling that the staff at Rio Real take care of their visiting golfers. From the excellent locker-room facilities, where plenty of sparkling white towels are available, to a first class check-in area and finally a delightful restaurant where simple snacks are so well presented, everything is geared to make the visitor feel welcome and at home.

• Holes - 18
• Par - 72
• Clubs hire - Yes
• Buggy hire - Yes
• Hand Cart hire - Yes
• Restaurant - Yes
• Bar - Yes

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