Jack Nicklaus has created many excellent golf courses around Europe and Barcelo Montecastillo is one of them. However, Nicklaus regards this golf course as being one of his best creations in the continent, which is high praise indeed considering the quality of the Golden Bear’s courses.
This golf resort in the Costa de La Luz, in southwestern Spain, is set in Spain’s sherry and brandy producing region and was established in 1992. As one would expect from a golf course that has played host to the Volvo Masters Andalucia, the course is long, beautiful and demanding in equal measure.
The course, as with many designed by Nicklaus, allows you to see everything before you when teeing off. This makes it suitable for players of all abilities but due to the length of the course, which stretches to over 6,500 yards, you must play from the correct tee or face a very tough round of golf.
That’s not to say the course is generally easy because it is not. It is very undulating and you will want a buggy to reach the elevated tee boxes. This becomes increasingly evident through the back nine holes, where the undulations become more severe and more frequent.
The front nine holes are open and water only really features on the par-4 7th and par-3 8th holes. Water is present around the green at the 7th hole and comes into play on the tee shot of the 8th hole.
While water can cause problems, the large bunkers are the hazard that really captures the attention on this golf course. Be prepared for some very testing greenside shots over bunkers, some of which can be over 40 yards in length. The key is to plan ahead and use a strategy as to where best to leave your ball for the following shot. Thinking ahead will get you a long way at Barcelo Montecastillo.
Many of the tee shots offer more than one option, which is great fun and again this allows golfers to plan an approach of attack on each hole. The par-4 holes are excellent, with the par-3’s and par-5’s also adding to what is a tremendous golfing experience.
Thanks to the competitive pricing and all-inclusive options, it’s possible to book a stay at the resort over many days. With different options off the tee on several of the holes, you will never get bored, no matter how many times you play the course.
Often considered as being the Spanish golf equivalent of Wentworth in England, boasting a wide range of facilities including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, football pitches, tennis courts, a five-star hotel, and villas. Therefore, you could base yourself at the resort and enjoy both golf and other facilities.
