Golf Club Valderrama Est. 1985

This fabulous layout is one of the world's great courses; understandably it is often ranked No.1 in continental Europe. Always immaculately maintained, Trent Jones' superb design winds its way over gently undulating terrain, through a former forest of cork-oak trees. These wonderful old trees can seriously block your way to the green if tee-shots are wayward, on several occasions you'll need to flight your approach shots over them to land safely on the lightning fast greens. Just missing the putting surfaces will not help your score - around the greens is thick grass (like chipping out of wire wool), as well as slick and sloping aprons that front the greens and plenty of bunkering. If you can safely negotiate the front-nine (and maybe birdie the famous par-5 4th ! - La Cascada), the back-nine will put your game through an even tougher examination. The course opens out at the par-5 11th to reveal spectacular views over the Mediterranean (and more wind exposure), before closing in again, with a fabulous finish. Most dangerous of all on the closing stretch are the infamous deadly duo - the par-4 16th and par-5 17th - how many rounds have foundered at one or both of these challenging holes ? You will be hard pressed to shoot your handicap on a first or subsequent visit, but Valderrama is more about treading the hallowed (and springy) turf and, for a few hours at least, being in one of golf's most special places.