Enjoying golf in an enviable natural setting, with spectacular views to the mountains and sea (including the Rock of Gibraltar and Moroccan coastline), and also being able to play without having to rush, relaxing and avoiding the possibility of other players lurking closely behind..this is a privilege that very few golf courses can offer. But all of this, and much more is available at Marbella Club Golf Resort.
The Marbella Club’s golf course designer, Dave Thomas, who died in 2013, is highly regarded in the world of golf. As a player, he reached two British Open play-offs and was a regular member of the Ryder Cup team. His marque as a golf course architect and designer can be found on over 100 courses around the world. Possibly his most famous work is associated with PGA National course and The Belfry.
Dave Thomas was delighted to join forces with Marbella Club Hotel, ¨The opportunity to design and supervise the construction of a course in keeping with the tradition and prestige of the Marbella Club was irresistible. The course will rank amongst the best golf courses in Marbella and Spain,¨ he said at the time.
The picturesque first hole typifies the quality of the courses’ design with beautifully contoured fairways and immaculate greens, marking the beginning of a memorable round of golf. The 18 holes measure in excess of 6,000 metres and comprise water features and demanding bunkers, a trademark of the course designer, encouraging players to search for the most advantageous approach shot.
Bermuda 419 grass has been utilised on the fairways and tees, and a blend of three kinds of grass on the ante greens with a relatively new strain of American grass on the greens.
The computer controlled irrigation system, alongside the latest in fairway moulding and contouring techniques, allows for the course to be maintained in impeccable condition for year-round play.
The front nine provides the unique experience of three consecutive par-fives, which not only represent a severe test early in the round but also offer some of the most picturesque scenery of the golf course. The tee on the seventh is the highest point on the course and provides a panoramic view of the coastline, Gibraltar and across to Africa.
Combining length with clever placement of bunkers and water hazards plus intriguing green designs, the par-73 course culminates in one of the most dramatic 18th tees in Europe. One of many elevated trees, the par-five, reachable in two for some pros, is a memorable final hole.
With limited play and 12 minutes between tee times, over-crowded rounds are not a concern at the Marbella Club golf course.
Owners at Marbella Club Hills, as well as guests of Marbella Club Hotel & Puente Romano Beach Resort Marbella have the privilege of enjoying the exclusive benefit of complimentary green fees: at Marbella Club Hotel.
At this golf club, golfers receive a level of service to be expected of a five-star golf resort. At the Marbella Club Golf Resort, staff collect your clubs and place them on your buggy to remove any stress or strain associated with more commercial clubs. Here nothing is too much trouble, so you can relax and focus on your game.
The clubhouse is a superbly located thatched cottage overlooking the Marbella Club golf course and the lake of the first hole, offering the perfect surroundings to relax and unwind after a round.
On cooler days, the open log fire with rustic style furniture provides the atmosphere of a hunting lodge in keeping with the early aristocratic traditions of the Marbella Club.
The pro shop offers a range of branded merchandise of the highest quality. Nike, Bobby Jones, Callaway, Footjoy and Titleist are some of the prestigious brands stocked, together with a carefully selected range of ¨The Marbella Club Golf Resort¨ apparel with the instantly recognisable logo of the club, featuring the original family crest of the Hohenlohe family.
¨A Great Job¨
The club manager Rod Bastard is extremely proud of Dave Thomas’s design. ¨He did a great job here and, from a beautiful but difficult plot of land, he created a great course, very playable for golfers of any handicap and with some spectacular views. All the balls bounce to the fairways, all the greens take the ball well, and the fairways are well isolated and surrounded by nature. ¨
Rod does, of course, highlight the 18th for its spectacular views towards Gibraltar, and mentions the seventh and 13th as other stand-out holes, also par-fives, ¨which give you the option of playing safely and calmly, but also aggressively if you want to¨, as well as the ninth, a downhill par-three with a stream.
¨The course is actually quite varied and great fun for players,¨ he says, also noting the tranquil ambience that prevails on the course.¨ Here you have the feeling of being able to relax, of comfort and playing golf almost by yourself.¨
The average number of players per day at Marbella Club golf is 70, ¨when other courses have 180 to 200,¨ he emphasises. Nothing like tee times every 12 minutes and sharing the course with only 60 to 70 players - a real luxury.¨
High Standards of Excellence
The owners spare no expense when it comes to maintaining the high standards of excellence that define the resort. ¨Considerable funds are being invested in equipment,¨says Rod. ¨We have reached an agreement with Toro to buy quite a lot of equipment, as we are always committed to updating the fleet depot to ensure a high level of course maintenance is sustained.¨
The Marbella Golf Club general manager notes that, especially over the last couple of years, the course has been in extraordinary condition¨. In that respect, ¨We carried out some major work last summer, changing all the fringe areas of the greens to Bermuda and cleaning up the rest of the course. Ninety-nine per cent of the course has the same species, which gives it a particularly attractive look, and the greens have been spectacular for four years now.¨
As for the golfing layout in general terms, Rod says, íƒt is a very attractive course, really spectacular, extending over different levels but the holes are very open, quite wide. The golfing experience is extremely pleasant because players feel they are alone on the course, very peaceful. The homes that can be found in some parts of the course are large, with low construction density, and you have a sense of relaxation, tranquility and comfort, and that you are playing almost by yourself for the whole round.¨
Other aspects that help create this soothing sense of calm include the times between rounds (12 minutes) and the lack of overcrowding, with no more than 80 players a day during the high season - which is exceptional. ¨Most times,¨says Bastard, ¨there is an average of 30 players out on the course, and that’s the way we want it to be because people can have a peaceful round and fully enjoy this magnificent layout.¨
Courtesy of Andalucá Golf
