The San Roque Club is a prominent golf club located in San Roque, Andalucía, Spain. It is renowned in the golfing community, particularly for its Old Course, which has hosted numerous prestigious tournaments and continues to attract a global audience of golf enthusiasts.
The Old Course at The San Roque Club is especially notable for its challenging layout, which is designed to test the skills of experienced golfers. This course is steeped in history and has seen many high-level tournaments take place on its fairways. Golfers are advised to prioritize accuracy over distance, especially on the front nine, as narrow fairways and strategically placed hazards can significantly impact their score if not navigated precisely.
Precision and Prestige at The San Roque Club
One of the standout features of the Old Course is its signature hole, known for combining natural scenery with a demanding design. This hole often includes water hazards or unique elevation changes, requiring precise and strategic shot-making. It presents a significant challenge even for the most skilled golfers, while also offering a memorable and picturesque experience that is often highlighted by the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape.
The San Roque Club also offers a variety of member benefits, including discounts and access to training classes. These training opportunities range from one-on-one lessons with PGA Professionals to group clinics and junior golf programs, catering to golfers of different skill levels and helping them to improve their game. This commitment to providing quality training and development opportunities further enhances the club’s reputation among golfing communities worldwide.
In summary, The San Roque Club in San Roque, Andalucía, is a distinguished golfing destination, best known for its challenging Old Course. The course’s demanding layout and rich history make it a favorite among experienced golfers. Additionally, the club’s commitment to providing extensive training options and member benefits solidify its standing as a premier golf club. The signature hole of the Old Course stands out for its combination of strategic design and natural beauty, offering golfers both a challenge and a visually striking experience.
Baviera Golf is located in Caleta de Vélez, a region in the province of Málaga, in Andalucia, Spain. The course offers a variety of features that cater to both casual and seasoned golf enthusiasts. The location provides a combination of mountain views and glimpses of the Mediterranean Sea, enhancing the overall golfing experience.
Great Golf Experience Between Sea and Mountain Views
The course is known for its good quality and service, which accommodates all players. This implies a focus on maintaining the grounds and providing a pleasant environment for golfers. The course is described as very walkable, making it accessible for a wide range of players. Throughout the course, golfers can enjoy views towards the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, creating a visually appealing setting as they play.
When playing at Baviera Golf, it is suggested that golfers think strategically at the tee box. Sometimes, using a driver is not the optimal choice. This indicates that the course layout and hole designs may require more precise shot placement and club selection. Additionally, some greens are well protected by water hazards, adding a level of challenge and requiring careful planning from golfers.
Baviera Golf also offers twilight sessions, providing an opportunity for golfers to enjoy the course later in the day. This can be particularly enjoyable as the natural lighting changes, likely enhancing the visual appeal of the course. The course’s varied features and strategic challenges contribute to a comprehensive golfing experience suitable for a broad range of players.
In summary, Baviera Golf, situated in Caleta de Vélez in Málaga, Andalucia, offers quality service and a walkable course with mountain and Mediterranean Sea views. Golfers are advised to make strategic decisions at the tee box, particularly considering water hazards near some greens. The availability of twilight sessions provides additional flexibility for players. The combination of these features makes Baviera Golf a noteworthy option for golfing in the region.
Arzaga Golf and QC Termegarda (Photos: AZALEA (left) and Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Style and class in an oasis of tranquillity
From the nearest airport in Verona, it takes three quarters of an hour by car to reach the QC Termegarda Spa & Golf Resort, which is surrounded by 144 hectares of parkland in a completely tranquil setting. The 78 rooms and suites are spread over three buildings with direct access to an exceptional Spa world.
It is part of the QC Terme group, which was founded by the brothers Saverio and Andrea Quadrio Curzio in Bormio in 1988. Today, 12 wellness centres and hotels belong to the largest Italian wellness group. The newest members are located on Grovenors Island near New York and the resort here in Calvagese de la Riviera, which opened in 2022.
As soon as I drive up the narrow avenue to the 15th century Renaissance building, I feel a sense of well-being that intensifies as I pass through the huge entrance door. My inner clock is immediately set to calm and serenity.
Driveway and entrance to the resort (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The open-plan reception of the five-star resort appears rather inconspicuous in the imposing entrance area supported by tall pillars.
Feel good from the very first moment (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The extraordinary aesthetics of this stylish, classic ambiance continue up the marble staircases into the rooms.
Moving in through a bygone era (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The historically frescoed walls of the five different room categories, the heavy curtains and the floors covered in fine woods or natural stone are further characteristics of this impressive retreat.
Plenty of space in a dignified atmosphere (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Contrasts increase the appeal
I take the lift from the hotel reception to the area of the Arzaga Golf Club, two floors below. This is characterised by a huge, open-plan golf floor with round arches and stone cladding that echoes the architecture of the main building, but is otherwise a complete contrast to the rest of the hotel.
Bright and inviting (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Here I come across modern changing rooms with a straightforward design, a transparent glass golf reception area, an inviting Pro shop, two cosy lounge areas with colourful, modern seating elements and huge TV screens.
The restaurant ‚Bistro’ with bar and adjoining terrace is on the same level. Everything is stylish and flooded with light.
Renowned golf course architects
The view from the restaurant and the terrace of the four golf holes (#1, #9, #10 and #18) stretching out below is magnificent. They are part of the course designed by Jack Nicklaus II, who is responsible for two 9-hole loops of the 27-hole Arzaga Golf.
Jack’s son has created an American-style layout characterised by wide, open fairways. Strategically placed bunkers and numerous lakes and ponds, which come into play on seven holes, require special care.
The holes are generously designed and lead through mostly flat terrain. The five different tees offer something suitable for every HCP class. It is a typical par 72 resort course with a length of 5,960 metres from the yellow tees. It has a length of 5,180 metres from the red tees. It is a pleasure to play and allows a good score, provided you avoid the abundance of water. Again and again, the course offers marvellous views of the mountains in the background.
Green of hole #6 and hole #7 carry over the water (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The front nine of the Jack Nicklaus Course ends with a beautiful view of the elevated resort buildings.
Numerous bunkers and water also at hole #9 (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
At the tenth hole you need to cross a bridge after the Tee.
Nice bridge on #10 (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The 18th fairway, the signature hole, is a worthy finale. The drive is best placed on the right-hand side of the fairway, as the hole to the green is flanked by twp ponds on the left-hand side.
The remaining nine holes are thanks to South African golf legend Gary Player. The round bunkers, some of which are crater-deep, are one of his famous challenges. The par 36 course begins steeply uphill behind the hotel building. It has a length of 2,860 metres from the yellow tees and 2,495 metres from the red tees.
From the highest point of the course, you play the tee shot of the first hole deep into the fairway, which is laid out as a dogleg to the right. If you leave the bunkers on the right out of play, the green is reachable with the second shot.
A smart start to the round (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
After the third hole, the course opens up. The beautiful flowering plants that surround the fairways and give them natural contours are striking. This is also the case on 4th fairway, which has it all. At 538 metres from the yellow tees, it is the longest and most difficult hole of the round, which requires a precise shot past a pond into the green.
Natural boundary of the fairways (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The best example of the designer’s preference for deep bunkers is the 7th fairway. There are five of them in the drive’s landing zone.
Danger on all sides at hole #7 (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The 8th is a beautifully laid out par 5 dogleg left. After the tee shot, the course leads deep down the hill and ends in a green surrounded by dense trees.
Best to stay left with the second shot (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The round ends with a par 3 that runs above the car park with a beautiful view of the hotel and the local church. Its laterally sloping green is well defended on the left-hand side by numerous bunkers. If you don’t hit it in the right place, the ball rolls down.
Unusual – a par 3 at the end (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The two courses are in very good condition. Despite some inclines, they are walkable as most of the holes are flat. Electric trolleys and buggies are available in large numbers. However, the latter are only permitted on the paths.
Perfect training conditions
The spacious practice facilities at the Arzaga Golf Academy include a huge practice bunker as well as large chipping and putting greens. The panoramic view of the mountains towering in the background from the sloping driving range is spectacular. No other practice facility in Italy offers such a view.
Downhill Driving Range (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The academy is technically state-of-the-art. It is equipped with Trackman, BodiTrack Golf System and SAM PuttLab. There is also a golf simulator in the hotel building.
In addition to two Italian PGA pros, the coaching team includes Texan PGA Pro Lukas McNair, who has worked with renowned teaching pros in the USA in recent years. He was part of the recognised Hank Haney Construction Team for more than 10 years. All Pros are available for individual and group training sessions for both beginners and advanced players.
SPA OF WONDERS
The idea of the Quadrio Curzio brothers was to revolutionise the tradition of the classic Roman thermal bath therapy ‘salus per aquam’. This means ‘health through water’. The aim is to create places of extreme beauty with a remarkable aesthetic effect, where body and mind can regenerate.
It is difficult to make the right choice from the extensive range offered by the resort’s huge wellness centre. Thirty different options are available to external guests day or overnight guests. These include various panoramic pools, whirlpools, steam baths, saunas, fragrant relaxation rooms, massage and beauty treatments. All of this is spread over a multi-storey indoor area and enchanting gardens surrounded by hedges and featuring impressive statues.
Numerous outdoor and indoor pools (Photo: AZALEA)
I was particularly impressed by the Atmospheric Pool. While extreme weather situations are projected onto the walls of the room and run past, incredible masses of rain pour down on the bathers from the ceiling. You can no longer see your hands in front of your eyes and experience water in a new dimension.
A great experience in the atmospheric pool (Photo: AZALEA)
A special resort offer is the Aperiterme Aperitif with sparkling wine and finger food served daily between 5.00-8.00 pm. This is available to both hotel guests and day guests at the Spa. It is taken in a bathrobe in the café and in the resort’s inner courtyard. Feasting in fluffy white has its own special flavour.
Eat with your eyes
The Italian cuisine at the resort more than lives up to its excellent reputation. The culinary journey of indulgence begins with the varied breakfast, which offers many delicacies that not only tantalise the palate but also impress visually. I could quickly get used to the various chocolates and cakes.
Inviting presentation for breakfast (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
It is as well as this attention to detail that strikes me positively, as in many other areas of the resort. Be it the presentation of sweets and fruit at breakfast, the preparation of lunch dishes by a waiter at the table or the artistic decoration of our magnificent dinner. Everywhere I go, I encounter aesthetic and appealing impressions.
Culinary delights too (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The food on offer leaves nothing to be desired. I particularly enjoyed the daily changing homemade pasta and the tartare made from the best dry-aged beef, which is stored in a special cooling and maturing cabinet.
Bravissimo QC Termegarda! My senses got their money’s worth and the golf rounds on the two varied and different courses were great fun.
Pula Golf Resort and Club de Golf Alcanada. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The Early Bird Catches the Worm
The plane takes off on time from Cologne-Bonn airport just before 5:30 a.m. After a smooth flight and a one-hour car journey across the island, I’m sitting on the inviting terrace of the Pula Golf Resort in the east of Majorca just over three and a half hours later.
I enjoy the pleasant temperatures in the morning sun and the hearty breakfast. Freshly fortified, I pick up my electric cart and hired clubs and play my first relaxed round on the adjacent golf course.
#18 in front of clubhouse and driving range. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Vamos a la Playa
With a German club member, I make a short trip to the nearby Los Pinos Beach in Son Servera, whose Bar Playa is known for its delicious fish dishes. Here, we savor freshly caught grilled sole with a glass of crisp white wine.
The view of the turquoise-colored Mediterranean Sea is just as magnificent as the laid-back ambiance. The aroma of freshly roasted garlic pervades the bar, which is popular with locals and foreigners alike, and whose attentive and friendly staff exude pure joie de vivre.
Perfect lunch on a beautiful beach. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Spanish, English, and German are spoken. A number of our compatriots have purchased property in this charming and peaceful area of the island and opted for membership at Pula Golf.
The resort, owned by the Sala family, is the ideal base for exploring the golf courses in the east and north of the island. Their son, Arnau, runs it with great passion as General Manager. Ten of the 31 rooms are located in the Majorcan-style manor house dating back to 1561, in front of which is the putting green. The stylish building and its small chapel are also used for wedding celebrations.
Stylish manor house and chapel from the 16th century. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The remaining accommodation units are divided between superior and deluxe apartments, which are located opposite the manor house at ground level and surrounded by magnificent nature, which is where I stay. It is modern and functionally furnished and is situated right next to one of Majorca’s typical windmills. Green fees are free for guests of some room types.
Apartements surrounded by natural vegetation. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
A total of 24 golf courses are spread across the island. With the Golf East Mallorca packages, you can play Pula Golf and the nearby courses at the Club de Golf de Son Servera and Capdepera Golf at discounted rates. A round on the course of Club de Golf Alcanada, which has been recognized as the number one on the island many times over and enjoys an excellent international reputation, is also possible.
Location, Location, Location
Less than an hour from Son Servera, Majorca’s top club is located in the far north of the island with a fantastic view of the bay of Alcudia. On the small offshore island that gave the club its name, there is a lighthouse dating back to 1861, which was manually operated until 1960 when automation took over. As a tribute to this historic lighthouse, the Club de Golf Alcanada incorporated it into their logo.
Always the sea in view. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Opened in 2003, its owner, Hans-Peter Porsche, recruited Robert Trent Jones Jr. to design the course. The par 72 course is 6,559 meters long from the back tees and offers views of the sea from 17 holes; the only course on Majorca that lies directly on the coast.
The layout of the course is varied. Most of the holes lead uphill and downhill, sometimes through valleys and ravines. The course is surrounded by a dense tree population including pine and olive trees as well as holm oaks that flank the fairways.
Old trees surround the fairways. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
I particularly enjoy the tee shots from the elevated tees into the steeply sloping fairways, while the bunkers placed in the center of the fairways, typical of RTJ Jr., are also one of the standout characteristics of the course.
The challenging course requires a strategic game. The first five holes are particularly tough, with mental strength required on the holes where ravines (barrancas) have to be overcome.
Not forgetting the firm and fast greens, which have a stimpmeter of 11.0 on our round, meaning that two putts is a great result! The minimum HCP of 33 for men and 35 for women is fully justified.
The condition of the tee boxes, fairways, and greens, including the clubhouse and various practice facilities, is immaculate. This also includes the Toptracer driving range, which was the first of its kind on Majorca. In particular, the perfect conditioning of the bunkers with their precisely cut edges and finely raked sand is also striking, thanks to more than 20 greenkeepers. Too beautiful to play in.
Too beautiful to play in. (Photo: AZALEA)
Host of the Rolex Challenge Tour Finals Supported by The R&A
The club, a founding member of the Leading Courses of Spain, is delighted to be hosting the final tournament of the Road to Mallorca tournament series in 2024 for the fourth time since 2019. At the end of October 2024, the 45 top-ranked players will compete for one of the 20 tour cards that entitle them to participate in the DP World Tour the following season.
German Golf Director Kristoff Both can think of no better way to promote the club than through the repeated live TV broadcasts on the four tournament days.
The club has also attracted attention in the past with the Spanish Senior Championship and one of the most recognized men’s amateur tournaments in the world, the International Spanish Amateur Men’s Championship Copa S.M. El Rey, held here for the second time in 2024.
We pass the attractive halfway house, the Lighthouse Bar, after #9 and a second time after #15, offering refreshing hot and cold drinks and tasty snacks.
The club has been using recycled wastewater from the neighboring hotels in Alcudia to irrigate the course since 1990. Indeed, the club has been regularly awarded the annual Q Calidad Turistica seal for quality, service, and the environment since 2010. Tetra Bricks have been used instead of plastic bottles since 2019, and water stations at various points on the course ensure you can refill your own drinking bottles during your round.
Everything at the Highest Level
After a challenging round of golf, a great lunch awaits us on the clubhouse terrace in a fantastic location. Soaking in the marvelous view over the bay, I particularly enjoy the excellent Pulpo a la Brasa and the spicy Gambas al Ajillo from the numerous excellent tapas on offer.
The aesthetics found throughout the club grounds are unrivaled. Eye-catchers include the starter’s house and the iconic clock from the American watch manufacturer VERDIN. This includes, for me, the colorfully designed pro shop, which is located together with the restaurant in a Majorcan-style building dating back to the 17th century.
Inviting starter house and pro shop. (Photo: Azalea)
More Than a Golf Course
Back at the Pula Golf Resort, I see for myself to what extent the aforementioned slogan is true. The small outdoor pool is just as inviting as the fully equipped Gym & Spa with indoor pool, sauna, and state-of-the-art training equipment, which is complimentary for hotel guests. I don’t make use of the resort’s own physiotherapist or the various beauty treatments on offer.
Completely relaxed, I look forward to dinner in the S’Era de Pula restaurant, as the resort also knows how to impress with its cuisine. After an aperitivo at the bar, it’s not easy to choose from the Mediterranean cuisine with local produce from the 6,000 square meter fruit, vegetable, and herb garden where organic cultivation is a top priority.
Restaurant in typical local style. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Sustainability plays an important role at the resort, where a circular economy is practiced. The resort is the first ‘Competitive Regenerative Hotel’ in the whole of Spain to have its own golf course. Measures include the avoidance and reduction of plastic, including the refilling of drinking bottles with still and sparkling water throughout the property, the use of solar energy, and the use of recycled water on the golf course.
Sustainability on the golf course. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
European Tour Course
Pula Golf has existed since 1995 and owes its original design to Francisco Segalés. The course was redesigned between 2004 and 2006 by two-time Masters champion and 23-time winner on the European Tour José María Olázabal. Oli transformed it into a 6,297 meter long, par 72, championship course from the back tees.
His last Tour victory on this course dates back to 2005, when he won the Mallorca Classic, which took place here between 2003-2007. The current layout has been in place since 2010, when some final adjustments were made. This was followed by the 2013-2017 Olazábal & Nadal Invitational, a Pro-Am tournament in favor of the Rafa Nadal and Sport Mundi Foundation.
Photos of former champions adorn the clubhouse. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
I agree with the owner’s description of the course in the Birdie Book as ‘Challenging but fair’ and ‘Tough Par, Easy Bogey’.
The course is divided into three distinct areas that can be reached through tunnels that pass under roads. Each hole has its own character.
Most of the holes lead uphill and downhill through open terrain. The course is characterized by several elevated tee boxes, greens that can be played blind, numerous bunkers, and two lakes with watercourses. The fairways offer plenty of approach shots, while there is no rough worth mentioning. Fairways, greens, and bunkers are in well-kept condition, with only the tee boxes needing some room for improvement. Overall, the course is fun to play.
Constantly uphill #10 and downhill #16. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Pula Golf was the first course on Majorca and the second in Spain to be equipped with a Trackman driving range. This is double-decked and is located between #1 and #18 right next to the clubhouse.
Two-level tees. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
I enjoyed my golf trip to the Germans’ favorite island and can highly recommend this perfectly run resort with its great service and attentive staff.
On the way to the airport, I pass Manacor, the third largest town in Majorca. It is particularly famous for its industrial pearl production. Another attraction is the impressive training center of tennis’s great Rafael Nadal.
Sports enthusiasts should visit this center and the adjoining Rafa Nadal Museum Xperience. It offers numerous interactive opportunities to practice different sports and provides an overview of the champion’s greatest successes.
Majorca’s most famous sportsman. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Rafa is a passionate golfer with a HCP in the low +range. However, his extraordinary swing is probably not on any golf pro’s training program.
Golf Travel to Ras Al Khaimah: Longest golf course and highest peak of the VAE. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The Al Hamra Golf Club is hosting a DP World Tour tournament for the third time. After the first two tournaments in Dubai, the European Tour is making a stop in the northernmost of the seven Emirates as part of the International Swing, which is being organised for the first time this year. We make our way there and land in Dubai in less than six hours, and from there, we continue northwards by car in just under an hour.
Impressive architecture in a style typical of the country
Everything here is more tranquil than in the neighbouring Emirate of Dubai. No skyscrapers dominate the skyline, instead more normal sized buildings. One of the few exceptions is the five-star luxury hotel Waldorf Astoria, built in 2013 in the shape of an Arabian palace, which can be seen from afar.
An architectural masterpiece. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
An extensive renovation of the hotel, part of the Hilton Group, was completed just in time for the tournament. Several areas, including some new ones, now shine in new splendour. Its tastefully furnished 203 rooms and suites offer plenty of space and views of the sea or the golf course.
Imposing reception area and impressive lobby. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Our welcome at the hotel is extremely warm. As soon as we enter the lobby, we are overwhelmed by the magnificence and opulence of the palace and the hospitality of the staff. In the centre of the lobby sits a remarkable giant clock, a trademark apparently of every Waldorf Astoria hotel.
Our room is decorated in subtle colours whilst the bathroom, on the other hand, is a different story altogether with its black marble and golden mosaics. From the box seats on the terrace of our extensive room on the 7th floor, we enjoy a panoramic view of the second and third holes of the Al Hamra golf championship course.
King Premier Golf Course View Room. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Tournament with strong German participants
As accredited representatives of the press, we are up close and personal for the two final rounds of the tournament. Although admission is free, the reasonable number of spectators allows us to experience the golf professionals up close. The winner of the tournament is the Dane Thorbjørn Olesen, who prevails over his compatriot Rasmus Højgaard with a sensational 27 under par and is the proud recipient of the winner’s trophy. We follow these two and Frenchman Frederic Lacroix in the last flight on the final day from the start and are repeatedly impressed by the incredible length of their shots.
Olesen goes into the final round with a four-shot lead over Højgaard. He halved this lead on the second hole with an unexpected double bogey. At the eighth hole, both are level on 22 under par when the preliminary decision of the tournament is made. Højgaard misses his tee shot and makes an unexpected bogey on the par 5. Olesen, on the other hand, bangs his second shot next to the flag and holes out for an eagle. Out of the blue, he is three up again. Højgaard never recovers from this and finishes the tournament six shots behind his direct rival.
Beaming winner and enthusiastic volunteers. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Five of the German professionals make the cut. Max Kieffer and Yannik Paul played outstanding final rounds of six and four under par respectively and shared a fantastic fourth place with three other players on 17 under par. Marcel Siem manages an eagle on the final hole, which catapults him up to tied 37th place, where Freddy Schott also finishes. Max Rottluff is tied 59th.
Golf Travel: A sporting challenge for all HCP classes
We play the par 72 course, designed by the internationally recognised golf course architect Peter Harradine, on the days following the tournament and can now see for ourselves what a great achievement the professionals have accomplished. Whilst they had 7,400 yards (the longest course in the UAE) to cover, we have 6,703 from the white tees and 5,815 from the red tees. Indeed five different tees offer a suitable challenge for every skill level.
The mostly flat course, which was established in 2007, continues to be in sensational condition during our rounds and everything is top-notch and well maintained. This makes golfing fun. The course is run by Troon Golf, a company that stands for top quality. We encounter wide fairways, huge bunkers and large, firm and fast greens.
Unsurprisingly, there is plenty of sand on a course surrounded by desert. A total of five million cubic metres were moved to build the course. The fine powder in the bunkers, next to the fairways and in the numerous waste areas makes playing from these a real challenge. The neighbouring development with mostly two-storey buildings in the typical local style is discreet and at a sufficient distance from the fairways.
Sand to the max. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The routing runs through four interconnected lagoons in the Arabian Gulf, which often come into play. This is the case for the first time on the third hole. On the right-hand dogleg par 5, the tee shot has to be played over the damp water, as does the shot into the green. For us, this hole is one of the most beautiful, also because it offers a great view of the Waldorf Astoria.
A rocky road to the green of hole 3. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The other holes are mostly dead straight and allow for a good score.We also like the tenth, where we have to place our shots into the green perfectly over a frontal water hazard and a bunker behind it.
Attention at hole 10. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The 18th hole is the crowning glory of the round. The 576-yard, par 5 is accompanied by the bright blue waters of the lagoon over the entire right-hand side. The opposite side is lined with trees that reach right up to the huge bunker in front of the green. The slightly elevated green, which rises towards the back, allows an aggressive attack that can be rewarded with a birdie or at least a par.
Full concentration at the final hole. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Afterwards, we enjoy a refreshing beer on the terrace of the clubhouse. The building’s normality is impressive and it doesn’t stand out due to its size or unusual architecture.
Our evening round under floodlights is an interesting experience, even if it is not easy for us to get used to the unfamiliar circumstances at first.
Nightgolf – a special experience. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
The Al Hamra Golf Club attaches great importance to sustainability. It is the first golf club in the Middle East to be run completely plastic-free. It sets a new standard in this respect and thus contributes to the global environmental protection initiative.
Records by the dozen
After our laps, we enjoy the hotel’s own stretch of beach and the adults-only Sunset Beach Lounge with infinity pool. A promenade is being built between the beach and the hotel complex, connecting the neighbouring hotels and inviting walkers and joggers. From here, it will be even easier to watch an absolute highlight along the coast. Stretching for more than 4.5 kilometres, Ras Al Khaimah’s famous New Year’s Eve Fireworks displays have achieved several Guiness World Record titles for five consecutive years.
Like everything else in the hotel, there is plenty of space in the two pool areas and on the beach. The sun loungers and parasols are generously placed apart from each other and offer plenty of privacy. Everything here is also extremely well maintained and of a top standard.
Top culinary delights too
The Waldorf Astoria Hotel has eight restaurants, bars and lounges. The elegant Lexington Grill & Bar offers the finest Wagyu dry-aged steaks and seafood, the UMI serves Japanese delicacies, the brand new Azure serves Mediterranean dishes and the Beach Club Lounge has a little bit of everything. Everywhere we go, we encounter high quality, although this comes at a price, higher than what we are used to in Germany.
The attentiveness , friendliness and politeness of the entire staff is striking. We quickly become accustomed used to their constant smiles and the reserved, warm demeanour, which we would not want to miss.
Plenty of adrenaline on a ride into the depths
Another world record is held by the Jais Flight zipline on the nearby Jebel Jais in the Hajar Mountains. From the start at a height of just under 1,680 meters, you can plunge headfirst into the depths for almost three minutes at a top speed of up to 160 km per hour. With a length of more than 2.8 kilometres, it is the longest of its kind in the world.
Not for the faint-hearted. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
To get in the mood for this adrenaline rush, the toboggan run located on the way up is ideal for reaching a maximum speed of 40 km/h downhill.
Who brakes is a coward. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
After these experiences, we stop at the highest restaurant in the United Arab Emirates, which is named ‚1848 by Puro‘ after its height above sea level. The view from here of the Hajar Mountains stretching out before us is sensational.
However, a stay in the mountains offers much more. Various trekking tours and survival training courses lasting from several hours to a full day are offered here. You spend the night in tents in appropriate camps. The annual Highlander adventure attracts a large number of enthusiastic nature lovers who push themselves to the limit in the rugged mountain landscape.
Ras Al Khaimah holds another unique experience, as it was here that pearls were dived for several thousand years ago. Today, the pearls are cultivated in a lagoon. We take a traditional boat from the harbour to the floating information centre of the Suwaidi Pearls Farm, where we learn all about pearl diving and cultivation. Suddenly, a huge flock of flamingos flies past us. The pearls obtained from the oysters here have a maximum size of 13 mm. We are lucky because in the one we are allowed to harvest, we find a small specimen that we can buy.
Unique in colour, shine, size and shape. (Photo: Juergen Linnenbuerger)
Haste is the order of the day
Our stay in RAK was a complete success. In addition to the golfing highlights, we got to know parts of the Emirate that we hadn’t expected, but we were absolutely thrilled by them. The unaccustomed tranquility and deceleration we encountered were a pleasure.
This may change in the future, as the construction boom has also started here. Tourism currently accounts for 5% of the gross national product. There are currently around 8,000 hotel rooms, but the aim is to increase this share to 30 % by 2030 and double the number of rooms. So let’s head to Ras Al Khaimah before things get too developed there and perhaps one day become just as hectic as in the neighbouring Emirate of Dubai.
Juergen Linnenbuerger, Cologne/Germany, February 2024
Stadium Course at Camiral Golf & Wellness (Photo: Jacob Sjöman)
As it prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2024, Camiral Golf & Wellness has continued its reign as Spain’s No.1 Golf Resort in the new World Top 100 Golf Resorts, published by Golf World. Part of the European Tour Destinations network, the resort formerly known as PGA Catalunya, has risen in the new listing, placing 17th, reinforcing its position as a must-visit destination for discerning international golf travellers.
The Camiral Golf & Wellness at the gates of Girona
Golf World’s Top 100 Resorts editor, Chris Bertram, said: “Camiral Golf & Wellness has been one of Europe’s leading golf destinations for over two decades, but it is now so much more than ‘just’ one of the best places on the continent to play the game. Its two world-class golf courses and the two onsite hotels – the uber-stylish and luxurious Hotel Camiral and the beautiful LAVIDA – and the amenities they boast, have turned it into a first-class contemporary leisure and wellness resort that is attracting an ever-increasing number of international customers.”
Tour Course at Camiral Golf & Wellness. (Photo: Jacob Sjöman)
A recent investment in sustainability, which will help reduce water consumption on both the Stadium and Tour courses by 35%, includes the implementation of a more drought-and heat-resistant turf variety, a reduction in irrigated areas, and a study to update the resort’s irrigation system with the latest water-saving technology.
It is the latest action that has helped Camiral Golf & Wellness also earn a place in the inaugural ‘Green 100’ listing by Today’s Golfer magazine, in association with GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf, recognising the most sustainable golf venues in Europe.
Commenting on this latest global accolade, David Plana, Camiral Golf & Wellness CEO, said: “For more than two decades, we have sought to offer guests and residents the finest resort experience in Spain, and this has been duly confirmed by the new World Top 100 Golf Resorts listing. As we welcome our landmark 25-year milestone, we continue to invest to elevate the visitor, resident and member experience. During 2024, projects will include the renovation of our Clubhouse at the beginning of the year, the implementation of a Trackman range in our Golf Hub, as well as continued work around the resort to ensure that we are operating sustainably – all demonstrating our long-term commitment to being a leading international golf and wellness destination.”
The 5* Hotel Camiral at Camiral Golf & Wellness. (Photo: Jacob Sjöman)
Beyond the fairways, Camiral Golf & Wellness offers many sport and leisure facilities, a wide range of dining experiences and luxurious wellbeing treatments at the state-of-the-art Wellness Centre, where guests indulge in treatments from whole-body cryotherapy to holistic massages.
Located just outside the gastronomic city of Girona and just one hour from Barcelona, Camiral Golf & Wellness is a world-class retreat for golfers, sports enthusiasts, wellness retreat seekers and their families.
he "signature hole" 16 (par-3) of Apes Hill Barbados, designed by Ron Kirby. (Photo: Azalea)
Golf course architect Ron Kirby in an interview about his jobs on the golf course, his style as a designer, the influence of well-known architects, sustainability and the redesign of Apes Hill in Barbados.
Ron Kirby: “Get any job you can on a golf course”
What made you decide to get into golf design?
Ron Kirby: My career began with a talent I had for sketching when I was a teenager, just north of Boston. If you had the means, you could get to the Museum of Fine Arts for free art lessons on Saturday mornings. My brother and I would ride the subway to get my art lesson, so I knew how to sketch and handle a brush. Later I won a caddie scholarship, and I went to greenkeeper school.
When it snowed in the winters, I went to Florida – where my dad had a club pro job – and I realised that the movie stars in golf were the course designers. There was a centrefold in Sports Illustrated with two architects who were the flavour of the month: Robert Trent Jones and Dick Wilson. They were superstars.
Define Ron Kirby’s style…
Ron Kirby: I’m just looking for fun, different holes to build. I look for a chance to make the short holes more exciting and I always want to make something that’s fair for the player. Because I was a greenkeeper, I want to build things that can be maintained, kept neat and manicured.
Tell us about the people you’ve worked with over the years. Who were the most influential and why?
Ron Kirby: Trent Jones was a visionary. He could take any piece of ground and he would get the best layout – he knew how to put the holes in the right position for the wind, the sun direction, and his routings were very good. Another thing I learned from working with Trent Jones is that he didn’t do it all. He did the layouts, but he had a team of people working for him. You need good staff. And I had a lot of good staff.
I’ve also worked with Jack Nicklaus, who would always get the best sites and the best budgets. Nicklaus was a finishing school in golf design because of his strategy. He knew what a golf ball could and couldn’t do.
What advice would you give other designers from what you’ve learned?
Ron Kirby: Respect the ground. Try and make your golf course fit. It’s a lot of fun being a golf course designer, but you’ve got to be patient to get the right assignments. I’m proud that I got a chance to put my two cents in. The best thing to do is get any job you can on a golf course – even pulling the carts out. I grew up on a golf course, and I’ve never worked anywhere else.
Apes Hill Barbados: Stunning views and fun holes
You have just completed work at Apes Hill in Barbados – what hole there most reflects your style?
Ron Kirby: The second, for sure. It was a par three; now we’ve got a two-way hole. We extended the green and moved the tees back. It was almost an unplayable par three: into the wind, uphill… nobody would love this hole, so you’d play two holes and already you didn’t like the course. We turned it into a really fun, friendly par four. You have a chance to get out of there smiling. I didn’t have to go too far to find a hole I would love.
The idyllic par-4 2nd hole of Apes Hill Barbados. (Credit: Azalea)
How did you bring to Apes Hill what you learnt from designing Old Head?
Ron Kirby: Old Head is basically an island connected with a little isthmus at the gate. But you have almost 360° of cliffs, so you try to get as close to the cliffs as you could to use those features. When I saw Apes Hill, you’ve got some super vistas. You can look at two oceans in some places! So, I said, “all we’ve got to do here is make sure that players can take in the vistas”.
What is your message to everyone who is about to experience Apes Hill?
Ron Kirby: Well, if I could meet every one of them, I hope they would buy me a beer and say I did a good job. I want people to enjoy their game and want to come back again.
The 14th hole of Apes Hill. From the tee you have a great view over the east coast of Barbados. (Photo: Azalea)
Over the years, what’s changed with sustainability and what have we done here at Apes Hill?
Ron Kirby: Sustainability means don’t build anything that you can’t maintain. Number one was the bunkers – we couldn’t maintain those, so we’ve eliminated two thirds of the bunkers. That’s cut back on the maintenance of the bunkers, the sand and erosion, and of course the irrigation. Zoysia grass is tolerant to drought, so we don’t have to keep pumping water on to keep it green and alive, it will maintain itself. We’ve taken away around 1,000 sprinklers, reducing irrigation by a third. Supply here is from a huge lake, which collects the mountain rainfall instead of letting it run off into the sea, millions of gallons. There will also be a par 3 for kids and families.
Tell us a bit about that…
Ron Kirby: We’ve taken inspiration from some of the world’s most famous par-three holes. It’s great for the kids and the families to go out and have fun, but a lot of golfers will say, ‘I’ve never played the Postage Stamp, I’ve never been to Royal Troon”, so they can come here and try it. We also built a 19th hole similar to the famous 17 th hole at TPC Sawgrass, where it’s so dynamic because it’s an island green. You’re either on the green or in the water.
Was it a priority to make the holes diverse enough that people of different skill levels could play?
Ron Kirby: Yes. We only needed four tees per hole, but we put them in spaces where they could cover all types, of players, from guys who can hit it pure to the average guys and then the poor players like me. We have friendly tees for the ladies, challenge tees for the better ladies’ players. It’s fun for everyone. Pick your poison and see where you want to tee it up from.
How do you feel about the finished product?
Ron Kirby: What we’ve done here is the result of a lot of hard work and it wasn’t an easy job. The weather was hitting us hard with storms, Covid delayed us… but I’m proud to be part of it. I can sit back and say this is one of mine. I can say that about maybe 150 golf courses, but this is a special one.
