Voted “Golf Club Of The Year 2008″, the Los Naranjos Golf Club is one of the oldest and largest golf course situated in a 15-minute drive from Puerto Banus in “Golf Valley” Nueva Andalucía on the west side of Marbella. The course is also considered as one of the best designs of architect Robert Trent Jones Snr. A classic Jones design constitutes well placed bunkers, water cascades and long undulated greens.

Established in 1977, the 6457-meter long course has just undergone some kind of renovation with additional greens and automated irrigation system. Over the years, it has been famed itself as one of those few championship golf courses in Spain for its first-rate facilities.

Moreover, the maintenance of the original and natural atmosphere has further added weight to its uniqueness and popularity. As per the words of the club owner Lennart Hall: “Los Naranjos is unique and special in the way it makes you feel at home, always extending a friendly welcome to each and everyone .“

Starting with a short opening hole with an elevated green alongside a large bunker on the right hand side of fairway, the 18-hole course is not that easy for all golf enthusiasts for its unusual, rather two different characteristics. While the second hole is a long one of par 5, the 10th hole guides you through a narrow entrance with bunkers on left and right.

The good mixture of holes brings a very massive ordeal even for a professional golfer. For example, the 9th hole which nicknamed “The Challenge” can be quite confusing for some in the midst of the huge bunker on the left side of the fairway, along with green slopes and a bank drawing inward at the back.

If you are scoring well in the first half, it’s not that simple to continue playing with the same pace. It would be quite fascinating to find that even as the first nine holes are a bit straight forward the latter half is challenging while playing through several orange groves, lakes, mounds, tunnel, and palms trees.

Designed with diverse terrains with strategically placed bunkers and lakes, Los Naranjos Golf club asks golfers to conduct a great mind work from shot to shot i.e. pretty fascinating, and drives you to manage your score according to your skills of play.

Facilities
Out of the golfing course, you can easily find a range of other facilities and services and one of those listed is the Club house which is open from early morning till midnight. Inside the club house, you can have a wonderful time while enjoying delicious Spanish cuisines at a restaurant or a massage or gym session at the fitness centre.

As part of a professional golfing venue, Los Naranjos offers service for corporate events and golf tournaments with guidance for individual golfers as well as groups. In addition, the Pro shop inside the golf club has the best stock of all latest golfing equipments and a lot of other items at competitive prices.

Address
Los Naranjos Golf Club
Apdo. 64, 29660 Nueva Andalucia
Marbella, Spain
Web: www.losnaranjos.com

Spain is a paradise for golfers of all ages and races. Folk come from the UK, Ireland, Holland, Germany-especially from the colder northern countries where the rain and cold can severely limit the golfing fanatic’s pleasure!

Here golf is an all year sport, only the odd very rainy day in November and February can stop play. Temperature is never a hindrance-you can always have lunch and chill out in the clubhouse pool during the midday heat of the summer months!

Andalucía and the Costa del Sol (or now as some of the motorway signs have it the Costa del Golf!) is a difficult place for a golfer –too much choice! There are over 30 courses and all are in beautiful locations and normally have spectacular sea views often right across the straits of Gibraltar to Africa. These great courses combined with the wonderful entertainments available for children i.e. the beach, the pool and riding-make Spain perfect for the golfing family as well as groups of friends.

The majority of golf courses have beautiful hotels on them often with very exclusive facilities such as Spas and health clinics. These can be expensive but most courses have “urbanisations” on them. These are purpose built apartments and houses which can often be rented out and some have great views over the greens.

For the dedicated fanatic buying a golf course property “off-plan” while it is still in the construction phase is often the most economic way acquiring a lifelong holiday home Towns and villages around golf courses offer slightly cheaper properties to rent or buy. If you are of a less adventurous nature and like your holiday planned for you, travel companies now offer all sorts of golf holidays from family and beginner’s packages to golf tour type holidays where you can move from one course to another to another in order to appreciate the variety and beauty of the Spanish courses.

Company and corporate holidays are offered too, which when combined with the sightseeing and the gastronomic opportunities, are an ideal way to motivate staff or impress clients!

As in the rest of Europe golfing is not a cheap sport (expect to pay up to 200 euros a round), but the courses are world class. The famous Valderrama course, home to the Volvo Masters, is also renowned for hosting the Ryder Cup and American Express championships in the nineties. Designed by Robert Trent Jones it really is a beauty.

The nearby San Roque courses, also breathtaking, are presided over by Seve Ballesteros. The Spanish Open was held here this year. The Costa del Sol is dotted with courses all the way along and lots more are in the pipeline if the planning and water situation can be solved. Golf is a big employer in this part of the world!

Other regions of Spain can’t be ignored; Murcia has the prestigious La Manga resort with three very fine courses, Almeria has desert golf courses complete with cacti and agave, Catalonia has excellent courses as does the Costa Blanca and all the Balearic and Canary islands.

A big golf growth area is the Costa de la Luz on the Atlantic Coast where life is still slightly more peaceful than the noisier Mediterranean resorts .Try the Dunas de Donaña in the Donaña National Park!

Altogether Spain has over 230 courses and counting! Enjoy yourself!