‘Golf Course Review of the Month for October – Saurines de la Torre by Mike Probert (sponsored by Costa Blanca Green Fee Services).For this month’s course review we will visit the new course at Saurines de la Torre owned by Olagolf Murcia and which only opened at the beginning of October 2010.
Introduction
This golf course is located only 20 minutes drive from San Javier airport and the beaches of the Mar Menor and close to the town of Roldan and is one of the many courses in the area designed by Jack Nicklaus.
Contact Details
Saurines de la Torre, La Terraza de la Torre Sur.
Telephone: 00 34 968 041 765 or E-mail
reservasgolfsaurines@olagolf.esWeb-site:
www.olagolf.es or
www.irmgolfexperience.comDirections
Travelling on the AP7 motorway from either the North (direction Cartagena) or the South (direction Alicante) leave at exit 782 onto the C-3319 signposted Balsicas-Murcia and continue for approx 6km as far as the exit for Roldan. Take this exit and follow signs for Roldan which take you immediately over the C-3319 along which you were travelling. Continue in the direction of Roldan and after a few roundabouts you will see La Terrazas de la Torre Sur on your left and take the last exit from the roundabout.
Course and Clubhouse Facilities and Services
This course has only recently opened and there is no clubhouse as such but a temporary building houses the pro-shop which at the time of the visit was still awaiting the arrival of the stock and there are no catering facilities yet in operation.
Prices
Standard Green Fee (18 Holes) = €65*. Buggy Hire (18 Holes) = €35.
Trolley Hire = €4. Electric Trolley Hire (18 Holes) = €10. Club Hire Prices (set) = €25.
*There is a discounted green fee rate of only €46 per person available from Costa Blanca Green Fee Services on 966 704 752 or 661 345 931 and who can be seen at
www.costa-blanca-greenfees.com.
Handicap certificates are required to a maximum of 36 for both men and ladies and soft spikes and a strict dress code is compulsory
Course Review
The course is a par 72 measuring 5,938 metres (6,531 yards) from the yellow tees which is relatively short by modern standards but is ideal for resort and society golf.
Unusually the course is very lightly bunkered has only two lakes but one of these measure some six hectares in size and plays a strategic role on a number of key holes which wrap themselves around this vast expanse of water. While being promoted as a desert style course by the designer it actually gives a ’links’ feel with many of the holes snaking between ‘dunes’ with rolling fairways and undulating greens. The par 5 holes all measure under 480 metres and so are reachable for the longer hitters wanting to give the ball a ‘belly wobbler’ but danger lurks for the errant shot particularly on the opening hole. The par 3 holes will give society organisers a problem for nearest the pin prizes with two of them over 200 yards in length and even the 6th which is the shortest at 126 metres (138 yards) is over water to a long narrow green making accurate club selection critical. The course greens are undulating, elevated and with many run off areas on the aprons and had only been hollow tined 10 days before our visit but all of the holes had already closed and the ball was running at approx 10 on the ‘stimp’ meter which bodes well for the future.
At the time of the visit the course was still awaiting a number of course signs and some of the temporary next tee markers caused confusion amongst our group but this situation will soon be resolved by the course owners. In summary this course is ideally located with easy access and with competitive prices available from agents such as Costa Blanca Green Fee Services should be played if you are on holiday in the area and will be included in the schedule of many local societies.
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.
