Golf News
Why pick Murcia for a golf holiday or a destination to purchase a holiday
home? Without doubt Murcia is becoming THE golfing holiday
destination in Spain presently offering more than 41 golf courses, with
more to follow. With the advent of a new road network and low cost
flights into the local airport of Murcia (San Javier) the Murcia region is becoming a popular destination for golfers, with many new resorts like Roda Golf and La Serena all offering excellent golf courses and facilities along with the more established golf courses at La Manga Club
and Campoamor.
Mike, our resident golf coach is
delighted to be part of the Murcia Golf team as
our golf course commentator on the majority of courses
available for play in Murcia as well as being our resident golf
psychology expert. Read Mikes tuition articles on the forum. His
expertise as a golf psychology advisor is in making the link
between the technical aspects of the golf swing with the
mental thoughts necessary for golfers to perform to the best
of their ability.
Article by Mike Probert
‘Golf Course Review – Las Ramblas by Mike Probert (sponsored by Costa Blanca Green Fee Services).
For this month’s course review we will visit the established course at Las Ramblas.
Introduction
Las Ramblas is part of ‘Grupoquara’ which also incorporates Villamartin and La Finca and is one of the more established courses in the region and is designed to be at ‘one’ with nature taking advantage of the local terrain while being located within a 10 minute drive from the local beaches, bars and restaurants and a 40 minute drive from Alicante airport.
Location and Contact Details
The ‘Las Ramblas’ golf course is located south of Torrevieja with excellent motorway links to both the North and South of the region.Telephone:966 774 728 Fax: 966 774 733 or e-mail: golflasramblas@grupoquara.com or visit their web-site at www.grupoquara.com.
Directions
Travelling on the N332 coast road take the exit at the South end of Cabo Roig signposted for Campoamor and follow the winding road for approx 5km until you reach a sharp downhill left hand bend and the ‘security lodge’ is to your left alongside the ‘canal. Continue on this road for approx 1.5km and you will see the course to your left and the clubhouse is located at the top of the hill.
Clubhouse and Course Facilities and Services
The clubhouse is newly built and has superb facilities and with views overlooking the course and the mountains and the reasonably priced bar restaurant make it an ideal place to relax after your round. The course has a driving range, chipping green and putting green and they have two qualified professionals providing lessons to golfers of various nationalities.
Prices
Public Men’s High Season Green Fee (18 Holes) = €50*
Buggies (18 Holes) = €25 Pull trolleys (18 Holes) = €4
*Discounted Green Fee rates are available from Costa Blanca Green Fee Services for individuals by calling 966 704 752 or 661 345 931 or e-mail info@costa-blanca-greenfees.com.
Course Review
The course at Las Ramblas was designed by Jose (Pepe) Gancedo, is a par 72 course measuring 5,824 metres (6,406 yards) from the yellow tees and was first opened to the public in 1991.The designer has used the local terrain and this hilly course wraps itself around the natural ‘rocky’ terrain resulting in a number of dog-leg holes with blind tee shots and drops in elevation from tee to green. The first time that you play this course you will find it a tough proposition and I call it Marmite golf because you will either love it or hate. Those golfers amongst you that like a challenge will wait with baited breath for your return visit so that you can take on the course again but those of you that hit the ball short and left to right may just find it a ‘bridge too far’.
The course designer has used Bermuda grass ‘through the green’ and Pencros grass on the greens which makes it a hard wearing ‘all year round’ grass which turns yellow/brown in the colder winter months as the grass becomes ‘dormant’ and still being playable does not look aesthetically pleasing on the eye BUT this is normal for most of the courses on the Costa Blanca during the winter months. My advice to all standards of golfer when playing this course for the first time is to hit the ball where you can see the largest expanse of fairway, even if this means putting the ‘big dog’ away and sacrificing length off the tee for accuracy and take absolutely no risks by trying to cut corners off the tee. The par 4 7th hole is a prime example of this as the hole is a left to right dog-leg with a ‘ravine’ on the right and a rock face to the left with the use of a 5 iron or lofted hybrid club being the order of the day from the tee to allow you any chance to play from the ‘cut and prepared’. Also the short par 4 9th hole also sums up this course because you can play the hole as a right to left dog leg around the lake or for the bigger hitter amongst you take direct aim for the green over all the trouble and a birdie awaits…but if you are off line…..reload. This course is enjoyed by tourists and residents alike and is one of those courses that you just have to play when in the area but can be a bit tough on the high handicap golfer.
This article was written by Michael Probert who is the published author of a book called a Golfing Guide to Murcia and published by Lean Marketing and more information on this book can be obtained by calling 966 704 752 or 661 345 931 or visit the web-site at www.costa-blanca-greenfees.com.
