 With both of our apartments being situated approximately equal distance between Alicante and Valencia airports we are able to offer ideal accommodation for the keen golfer to sample the various golf clubs in this beautiful area of Spain. It goes without saying that the Costa Blanca is not just a wonderful area to holiday with a sunny climate and plenty to do and see but it is without doubt also a golf players paradise. The Costa Blanca offers in the region of fifteen 18 hole golf courses within a 2 hour drive of Alicante. Of note is the fact that Seve Ballesteros has been involved with the designing of certain courses and some of the courses in this area regularly play host to Spanish national championships, and are ranked regularly amongst the top courses in the world. The following information provides a brief guide to several golf clubs which are within easy travelling distance of both apartments. Whilst every effort is made to ensure our detail is accurate we are obviously unable to guarantee this and would always advise direct contact with the clubs in order to double check current detail including availability and opening times and obviously costs. JAVEA GOLF CLUB Located close to Javea, this is an excellent course for the summer heat as walking the flat terrain, planted attractively with Mediterranean flora, requires minimal effort. Surrounded by pinewood it is sheltered from the winter wind by Cape San Antonio and therefore has a wonderful climate especially in the winter months. A 9-hole course, Javea has been designed to challenge with 34 bunkers strategically placed along its length. The 5th hole at 475 metres is the longest to contend with, the 6th hole, a par 4, requires from the golfer a precise drive to get around the difficult aspect. The 7th at 140 metres is the shortest. The clubhouse has excellent facilities including two bars and a restaurant, there is also a driving range with 20 bays, 2 putting greens, a chipping area and a practice bunker. Holes: 9, Course designer Francisco Moreno, 1981 Open all year. Contact details:- Javea Golf Club Carretra de Javea a Benitachell, km. 4.5, Apartado 148 03730 Javea - Alicante Tel : (96) 579 25 84 / 18 13 Fax : (96) 646 05 54 IFACH GOLF CLUB Situated in Moraira and forming part of a country estate this golf course offers spectacular views of the Rock of Ifach or to give it the full title Penon de lfach. Designed to be short and difficult, Javier Arana the course designer ensured tthat there would be plenty of obstacles taking advantage of the terrain along with narrow fairways and well placed bunkers. Javier Arana also made sure that players would need to use the full range of their clubs , exercising control in the short game. An excellent length in the summer heat, 2 rounds can also be accomplished easily. The 60 par, 9 hole course is made up of 6 par 3's and 3 par 4's. Players short on time but who relish a challenge will find this course to be deceptively tricky. Open all year, the course has a putting green and private lessons are available in English and Spanish Holes: 9 Course designer: Javier Arana, 1974 Winter: 07:30 - 18:00 Summer: 07:30 - 20:30 Open all year. Contact details:- Ifach Golf Club Urb. San Jaime ? Calpe, km. 3 03720 Benissa (Alicante) Tel. 966497114 Fax 966497114 LA SELA GOLF CLUB Situated on the slopes of a mountain lying next to the natural park of Montgo. Montgo is visible from our Denia Apartment and La Sela is an 18-hole golf course with a par of 72 which is to be found situated in a tranquil area. The Olive, Pine and Orange trees surrounding the course, provide for both wonderful scenery, but will catch out the less accurate players. The course is suitable for all levels, and for those with a knowledge of how to use the full range of clubs a decent score should be achievable.. Jose Maria Olazabal designed 9 of the holes, some requiring particular skill, as if you miss the green, the skills of a Championship player are needed to get back on track. For those who feel their skills need updating, then private lessons are available at this all year round course. Other services include a driving range with 25 bays, a putting green and practice bunker. Holes: 18, Course designer Juan de la Cuadra, 1991 Open all year. Contact details:- La Sella Golf Club Ctra La Jara-Jesus Pobre 03749 Jesus Pobre - Alicante Tel : (96) 645 42 52 Fax : (96) 645 42 01 Email: info@lasellagolf.comwww.lasellagolf.com OLIVA NOVA GOLF CLUB Situated close to the resort town of Oliva, this course has top class golf facilities and was voted the best of all Seve Ballesteros' designed courses. Ballesteros, said of this 18-hole, 72 par course "The Oliva Nova Golf Course offers great variety for all golfers. As it has short, medium and long holes as well as right and left hand dog leg fairways. A true but fair test for all golfers alike." Water plays a part in the difficulty of the course, with a number of lakes placed as obstacles along its 6,270 metres length. With 15 out of 18 holes effected in this way its not surprising that the Peugeot Oki Spanish National Championship has been held here on four occasions. Other facilities on site include a Golf Academy with a team of multilingual coaches, a driving range with 25 bays, two putting greens, two chipping areas and also two bunkers. The course is open all year. Holes: 18 Course designer: Severiano Ballesteros,1995 Open all year Contact details:- Oliva Nova Golf Club46780 Oliva Denia, Valencia Tel. 962257666 Fax 962857667 Email: golf@chg.eswww.olivanovagolf.com DON CAYO GOLF CLUB Located in the foothills of the Sierra Bernia mountains, this 9-hole course is close to the pretty coastal resort of Altea with its historic old town clustered around the white-washed church. Opened in 1974, this fabulous little course was designed by the architects Pedro Barber and Gregorio Sands and is a 'very strenuous' 72 par. The 5th, a 580 metre par 5, is a particularly difficult hole, as is the uphill 227 metre par 3 6th hole. Both of these alternate with recovery holes requiring precision to land the ball on the fairway. The 3rd hole is kinder and offers lovely sea views whilst from the 7th players can just make out the Marina Baixa and the mountains surrounding it. Open all year round and with 5 bays, it also has private golf lesson available in English, German and Spanish. Holes: 18 Course designer: Gregorio Sanz / Pedro Barber, 1976 Contact details:- Don Cayo Golf Club Urb. Sierra de altea Golf 03590 Altea (Alicante) Tel. 965848046 Fax 965846519 REAL DE FAULA GOLF CLUB Designed by Jack Nicklaus these two 18-hole golf courses are suitable for all levels of player. Located in a pine filled valley with views to the sea and mountains it covers more than 80 hectares and is 6,612 meters in length.Nicklaus's design of these US-style championship courses offers wide fairways, beautifully constructed greens and a measure of trickiness that keeps the most experienced player occupied. The Championship North golf course offers 18-holes with a par of 72, whilst the Executive South course has 18-holes and a par of 62. The clubhouse offers all the facilities players would expect and the courses are close to Benidorm thereby giving an ideal opportunity for any guests not wishing to be included in playing golf being able to shop or relax on the excellent Benidorm beach for the day. Contact details:- Real de Faula Golf Club Av. Eduardo Zaplana Hernández-Soro Partida del Moralet 03500 Benidorm (Alicante) Tel. 966813013 Fax 966 813016 EL SALER GOLF CLUB Voted the 2nd best golf course in Europe by Golf World, the El Saler course is located close to the Mediterranean, 20 km from Valencia amongst the pine forests of the Albufera National Park. Designed by Javier Arana, this 18-hole, 72 par course has held a number of Spanish Opens and is ranked No.29 in the world. So what can it offer? The fairways are outstanding, ample but with few off limits, and well positioned bunkers keep players on their toes. The room for error is small. The first 12 holes take the player through pine groves, with the last 6 arranged in a link style through dunes and along the scenic coastline where there is a punishing rough. The most difficult hole on the course is the 6th. A par 4 at 404 metres it doglegs to the left and requires the utmost effort to reach the green in two swings. The major difficulties and the length of the course all demand concentration and skill. The level of the game has to be kept high as the slightest mistake at the trickier holes may make it impossible to get back on track. With patience and attention - the player may leave the victor. Open all year this course has a handicap restriction of 36. Golf classes are available in English, French and Spanish and there is also a driving range (40 bays), a putting green, two chipping areas and two practice bunkers. Holes: 18 Course designer: Javier Arana, 1968 Contact details:- El Saler Golf Club Parador Luis Vives 46012 El Saler, Valencia Tel. 961611186 Fax 961627016 ALICANTE GOLF CLUB On the outskirts of Alicante City close to the 7km San Juan beach is a modern 18-hole golf course designed by Seve Ballesteros and opened in 1998. Incorporating lakes and artificial rivers into the design has increased the difficulty rating of the course which has a par of 72, with six par 3's, six par 4's and six par 5's. It is a gentle course to walk around and its flatness increases the visibility; the greens on all the holes can be easily seen. Of particular note is the 9th hole where Seve has taken license with an artificial lake, designed in the shape of an S, it gently curves around the green. Whilst on the 14th hole, golfers can enjoy having to clear the ball over a re-creation of Roman ruins. Open all year (except Christmas) it has a driving range with 70 bays, chipping area, practice bunkers and putting range. Private lessons are also available for adults and children in English and Spanish Holes: 18 Course designer: Severiano Ballesteros,1998 Contact details:- Alicante Golf Avenida Locutor Vicente Hipólito, 39 03540 Playa de San Juan ? Alicante Tel. 965155615 fax 965269728 email: central@hansaurbana.com BONALBA GOLF CLUB Stunning views are part of the package with this 18-hole golf course. Situated on the outskirts of Alicante City at the back of the golden sands of San Juan beach, the course can be enjoyed year round. The complicated design, giving a par of 72, challenges the golfer with strategically placed lakes, ridges and undulating greens. Home to many professional competitions including the Costa Blanca Challenge, the European Challenge Tour and The First Round of the National Professional Golf Circuit it attracts over 60,000 players each year. With a slope rating of 132 on the yellow bars, players can gauge how challenging it might be. The first nine holes are technical. Players have to clear three of the five lakes, whilst holes 6 to 9, with handicaps of 1 (par 4), 13 (par 3) and 3 (par 4) can make the difference to the best scorecard. Local golfers call these 3 'Amen Corner'! The remaining 9 holes, also technical, require more strength to the stroke to combat the strong breezes that make it difficult to reach the green. Overall the variety to the course ensures plenty of interest and the wide fairways and palm trees ensure a pleasant environment. Open all year, the course has a driving range (covered and uncovered), 3 putting greens, a chipping area and 2 practice bunkers. Clubs can be hired and private lessons can be enjoyed in English, French and Spanish. Holes: 18 Course designer: Ramón Espinosa, 1993 Open all year Contact details:- Bonalba Golf Club Casa Club Bonalba ? Ptda. Bonalba s/n 03110 Mutxamiel (Alicante) Tel. 965955955 Fax 965955955 Email: golfbonalba@golfbonalba.com GANDIA GOLF CLUB This 6 hole golf course near Gandia is perfect for beginners and players with little time who want a quick game of golf. The course is right on the cost, the Fairways are short and there are no trees or water-hazards. There is also an excellent Driving Range to practice your swing. Open all year. Gandia Golf Club Calle Camoni Viejo Grao de Gandia s/n 46730 Gandía ? Valencia Tel. 962873208 Fax 962961384 From our apartment in Cumbre Del Sol the following travel times by car would apply- Javea Golf Club is approximately a 10 minute drive away. La Sella Golf Course is approximately a 20 minute drive away. Oliva Nova Golf Club is approximately a 30 minute drive away. Real de Faula Golf Club is approximately a 30 minute drive away. El Saler Golf Club is approximately a 50 minute drive away. |