Valderrama

[Matthew Parish]

Heading to Spain with a buddy and the wives and have a tee time at Valderrama.  Anyone have any thoughts or impressions they can share?

[Alfonso Erhardt]

Matthew,

Despite their recent efforts to clear up some of the fairways (the oaks are overgrown but under Spanish laws they cannot cut any down) by   some tees (noticeably the 16th), the course is still too narrow, so you will probably will not be needing your driver that much (if you want to score low). I played last week and conditioning was quite good for this time of the season, when greens are not usually at their best moment.

Are you playing anywhere else in the area??

Alfonso

[Niall C]

Matthew

I can't give you anything like as up to date as Alfonso as it was a number of years ago when I played it. My over riding impression of the course is that it had some of the best/most enjoyable par 4's I've played, some good solid par 3's and as I said on another thread, easily the worst set of par 5's on any top course I've played. As Alfonso said, the tress come into play but I don't recall having the feeling of being hemmed in.

If you can, see if they will let you play the par 3 course. I understand its usually reserved for members but well worth a knock.

Niall

[Alfonso Erhardt]

Niall,

I agree with you on the par 4s, which are probably the best feature of the course. I am not fond of the par 5s, nor the par 3s in the first round (holes 3 and 6), which I find a little dull, especially compared with the rest of the course.

Regards,

Alfonso

[Ron Csigo]

Matt,

One of our GCA members has a blog and recently played at Valderrama.  Here's the link.  Hope it helps.

http://top100golf.blogspot.com/2009/06/valderrama.html

[Matthew Parish]

Alfonso,

We originally had planned to do two days of golf, looked at Sotogrande, but the wives got a little budget conscious and actually wanted us to hang with them.  (Wierd!)  Then my buddy's sister decided to get married and made him push back his arrival date two days, so long story long. . . only one round in the cards.  The other course I looked at was Finca Cortesin.  Asthetically, it certainly looks appealling, but I have not seen any real critiques.  I know the Euro tour is doing their match play championship this year, but that does not mean much.  You got a recomendation in case our wives get sick of us?

Matthew Parish

[Alfonso Erhardt]

Matthew,

I wouldn't recommend Finca Cortesin. Although the maintenance is fantastic, the course is on a very hilly site and is certainly not up to the standard of the best courses in the area in terms of design (although its pretty good taking into account where it lies!!!).

If you do have the chance to play another round, I would try Sotogrande Old, although it might be quite crowded at this time of the season. The other courses in the Sotogrande area are fine, but at a completely different level. My favorite among the rest is probably San Roque or La Reserva.

Another alternative, which won't get you better golf than in Sotogrande, is going all the way to Marbella (30min drive) and playing there (Las Brisas, Guadalmina, Rio Real, Aloha).

Regards,

Alfonso

[Niall C]

Matthew

I have to agree with Alfonso about Finca Cortesan. When I played there (September last year) it wasn't even in good condition. Some nice holes on a difficult bit of ground but one where you would need to be an Olympic athlete if you were walking.

The guy who designed it (Cabel Robinson I think) also did Santana which is much nicer although he does tend to overdo the raised front on the greens, but a good course all the same. Its located down by the otherside of Marbella.

San Roque - another good solid course that they used to have the European qualifying school on. Haven't played the new course but it does look something like a marsian landscape covered in grass.

If you're willing to travel down Marbella way then Los Noranjos is another which I like, even though it plays through a housing complex (but then aren't they all).

Niall

[Ulrich Mayring]

What about Alcaidesa? It's should be a better drive from Valderrama compared to Marbella.

Ulrich

[Alfonso Erhardt]

Ulrich,

Unfortunately I have not played Alcaidesa, so I cannot comment on that one, although they tell me that the course is fine, but not up to the standard of the rest.

I have to say that Santana, which Niall has mentioned is a course I do like very much, despite the fact that a couple of holes are very similar to each other and that greens are usually very slow. A much nicer course from Cabell Robinson than Cortesin, although the property does help.

Regards,

Alfonso

[Niall C]

What about Alcaidesa? It's should be a better drive from Valderrama compared to Marbella.

Ulrich

Ulrich

One of the first courses I played on the Costa Del Sol many years ago. From what I remember its OK but not all that great.

Niall

[Mark_Fine]

"Bunkers in the Sky" as Mr. Jones called the trees, and lots of them.  First hole has one of the narrowest fairways I've ever played.  I've played the course three times and enjoyed each round as it has some very unique golf holes. 

[Adrian_Stiff]

Ive pretty much played them all, I am not sure any would get much architectural attention other than Valderamma, Sotogranda and Finca Cortesin, but its opinion, the new San Roque course is much better than the old one, La Reserva is a bit better too. The better courses are near Gibralta the ones around Marbella and up in hills and are courses for buggies, beers and a scramble, but Spain is lovely for the sun.

1. Valderamma
2. Sotogrande
3. Finca Cortesin
4. La Reserva
5. San Roque new
Las brisas I have not played, Santana, Aloha all sim level to San Roque new.

[Matthew Parish]

To all,

Thanks for all the input regarding courses in Spain.  I am keeping my fingers crossed I can negotiate a second round somewhere.  I will say that looking at the photos of Valderrama taken by GCA members, I am starting to get a little claustrophobic.