Golf Girona

Designed by the prestigious architect F.G Hawtree, who describes it " one of my finest creations". Strategically placed artificial lakes add to the ongoing challenge to golfers of all levels.

It has a privileged position in a splendid climate, where you can enjoy playing golf all year round. There are direct links to the A-7 motorway and all the most important communications infrastructures of the area. The course takes full advantage of the local topography and the natural shape of the terrain, the result being both elegant and pleasing but at the same time offering a challenge to golfers of all levels, It is completely isolated from the urban life of Girona.

Perhaps a touch out-dated in terms of the facilities on-site, the charm of the club centres around the course and it's layout. Tight, curvy holes weave up and down and through the tree-lined landscape, resulting in 18 holes that may not be the longest but will test all levels of golfers.

You will need your recovery shots to be on-point at Golf Club Girona, highlighted by the tight par-4 second hole. 'Threading the needle' doesn't begin to describe the accuracy required here to have a clear sight of the green. The cramped layout of the course is demanding but forgiving also. Errant shots will be met with a lie on pine-needles or even better still, an adjacent fairway.

Several trees have been left in the fairway to create an added obstacles throughout the course. Some do add character, others seems to just block both the view and natural shot to the green, notably the par-5 fourth hole.

However, with just one tree on the left side of the fairway, the par-5 ninth hole will certainly be a topic of conversation post-round. A partially blind tee shot leads you back towards the clubhouse and what will be one of the most visually stunning approach shots you will face all day. With a lake on the left, and out-of-bounds right, the second shot is a 200-yard plus approach to a green perched high in the corner of the front-nine, over a 60 foot gulley. Regardless of how successful you are on 9, you will be talking about it in the 19th.

The course does settle down in on the back nine, providing an array of holes that sweep through the trees on the lower area of the property, highlighted by three holes. The 13th and 18th holes are two demanding, tree-lined par-4s that required 4 quality shots to match par. The 13th hole backs up to large lake, creating a dramatic, testing approach shots whilst no good score is assured until you are through the tough finishing hole.

Additionally, the 180-yard par-3 fifteenth hole sits in the lowest portion of the course and features one of only two lakes on the course. Whilst hopefully not in play for the better players, the lake does add to the visual appeal of the hole, especially from the more elevated tees.

Overall, the course takes a while to really impress, but the back nine's design and densely tree-lined holes ultimately leave you enjoying the round. In fact, we would say 7 of the best 9 holes on the course await you on the second nine.

To be honest, the greens were great and some of the best we found in the area. The course and club are a little dated, in need of some upgrading, but if you are in the market for a good value round of golf, we recommend you check it out. There are some very affordable sleep, eat and play offers available.