MAGNIFICENT COURSE – ENORMOUS POTENTIAL

Under the impetus of José Juan Hidalgo, founder and president of Globalia Group, the Estepona Golf course is set to be reborn and re-discover the place it deserves in Europe’s number one golf destination. It has two of the most important qualities in order to be transformed into a success story: location and design.

Estepona Golf has always been a hugely popular course, especially among visiting players looking for an excellent golf option at very reasonable prices, but the course’s significant potential encourages even greater ambitions.

The design is well-varied – with no two holes alike– and the course is short (5,520 metres from the white markers) and a good challenge for all players. It is a layout that doesn’t require great power, but it does call for a good strategy and accuracy. In short, it has all the main ingredients for the enjoyment of all.

The greens are straightforward and not excessively complicated, but their key defences are based on them being fast. Another feature that makes this course particularly special is that on practically all the holes you can enjoy sea views. In addition, the terrain is slightly elevated and the temperatures are always milder than in lower areas.

The course can be played comfortably on foot, with the holes featuring very gentle slopes, except at specific points and with some having slightly longer distances from green to tee. That is the case from the 2nd to the 3rd, the 11th to the 12th and, especially, the 7th to the 8th, as the latter was redesigned and changed from a par-4 to a par-3, greatly improving the hole and avoiding a tee shot that was over-complicated. In any case, I would recommend renting a buggy to fully enjoy the experience.

As a result of the redesign, the course now comprises five par-3s, four par-5s and nine par-4s, and the par is 71.

The clubhouse has an attractive and spacious terrace, where pares 5 y 9 pares 4, el par del campo es 71.

La casa club tiene una terraza fantástica, muy amplia, donde tomar un refrigerio o comer después del juego, con vistas al mar, una vez más, y con un entorno más que agradable.

La tienda está bastante bien surtida y, junto a ella se exhiben maquetas y presentaciones del impresionante desarrollo inmobiliario que el grupo propietario está llevando a cabo en el entorno del campo y en otras ubicaciones nacionales e internacionales.

En cuanto al juego, el recorrido tiene algunas calles con pendientes laterales que deben ser tenidas en cuenta a la hora de decidir el golpe. También en ciertos hoyos hay que acertar con la elección del palo de salida, que no siempre será el driver. Es un campo estratégico que exige jugar con cabeza.

Los hoyos están medidos a entrada a green con dobles estacas, a cada lado de la calle, en color rojo a 150 metros de entrada a green y en azul a 100 metros desde el punto en el centro de la calle de la línea que une las estacas.

Muchos greens están ligeramente en alto, pero son nobles y no hay zonas de escapada en caso de que la bola no quede en la superficie del green. No hay trampas ocultas ni elementos artificiales para castigar tiros que no sean perfectos. Nos encontramos you can enjoy refreshments or lunch after a round, with sea views (once again) and pleasant surroundings.

The shop is well stocked and alongside are displayed models and presentations of the impressive real estate development that the ownership group is undertaking around the course and in other national and international locations.

As for playing the course, it has some fairways with side slopes that must be taken into account when deciding on the best shot. Also, on certain holes you have to carefully choose the right tee shot, which is not always to use a driver. It is a strategic course that demands you play with your head.

The holes are measured to the entry point of the green with double stakes on each side of the fairway: in red at 150 metres from the green and in blue at 100 metres from the point in the centre of the fairway on the line that joins the stakes.

Many greens are slightly elevated, but they are in excellent condition and there are no escape areas in the event of the ball not staying on the surface of the green. Furthermore, there are no hidden traps or artificial elements to punish shots that are not perfect. It is a very pleasant and top-class course to play, and one that can provide a good result and plenty of enjoyment.

The first three holes are a prelude to the course’s great diversity. The first, a short par-