Golf Breaks In Spain

Hotel Summary

With a five star rating, Hotel La Cala is one of the top hotels in Spain. It commands a central position between the golf courses. Built in a traditional Andalusian style and with 107 rooms, it has a choice of six different room categories, all of which have superb views of the golf courses. The choices range from standard twin rooms with balconies and terraces to superior rooms, deluxe rooms and junior suites.

La Terraza Restaurant offers fine dining with a range of dishes that reflect the local gastronomy of Andalucía as well as international influences. Patrons can choose to dine al fresco on warmer nights, while seated beside the beautiful moonlit swimming pool. For just a quiet drink or nightcap you can relax in the Lobby Bar or if you wish to use the internet, look at satellite TV or play interactive games you can choose Bar Califa on the ground floor.

The resort is the ideal base for enjoying your holiday. Just minutes from the coast and the towns of Mijas Costa, Marbella and Fuengirola, the estate is however totally removed from the bustle and hustle associated with the attractions of the coast. It is totally private allowing you to relax in one of the luxurious refurbished hotel rooms. Where else can you be only minutes from the centre of the action yet with the advantage of being able to shut out the distractions of the outside world – should you so wish.

Whether for business or pleasure, Hotel La Cala offers excellent facilities in a privileged location.

Golf Courses

Campo America

Opened shortly after Campo Asia, Campo America, formerly the North Course, is some 250 metres longer and carries a par of 73 (there are five par 5s).

The hilly topography is similar to Campo Asia and did not lend itself to the creation of any water holes. Carry shots across steep grunkle-covered side slopes more than make up for the lack of water.

The wide maintained fairway and rough areas and more “joined” fairways make this a slightly easier driving course than the South. There are fewer fairway bunkers as well.

Two, perhaps three, of the par 5s are reachable in two (holes 1, 9 and 15), and the par 3s are equally spectacular to those on Campo Asia.

Campo America requires accurate and well-judged shot-making on the approach as nearly three quarters of the greens are perched or slightly elevated.

Campo Asia

Campo Asia, formerly the South Course and opened 15 years ago, was one of the first courses built some distance from the coast and was one of Cabell Robinson’s first courses after leaving the Robert Trent Jones organisation.

The hilly site resulted in a relatively short (5925 m.) course. Both the fairways and smallish greens are well bunkered, and the majority of the tee shots, many of which are quite dramatic to comfortably wide landing areas, are either downhill or level.

Water is present on only two holes, the reachable par 5 fifth and the short par 4 twelfth. Approximately half of the approach shots are to elevated well-defended greens. The four short holes offer tremendous variety, and although some require a carry over native grunkle, all are easily reachable.

This is an exciting course which puts a premium on the approach shot.

Campo Europa

The Third Course – Campo Europa – was opened in March 2005. The fairways are generous from the tees and the greens are slightly larger than on the existing courses. They are not severely contoured but are well bunkered and will be easier for the average golfer. The par 71 course measures 6014 metres.

Course designer Cabell Robinson stresses the difference between the three courses: “The three courses in La Cala Resort are all very different in character. The new course is the most different of the three because of the river Ojen – the others are in the hills. They are three good challenges and none is over long. Yet they are all very different in character. It gives a great option to golfers to have three 18-hole courses to choose from.”

Cabell went on to stress the advantages of the new course for the average golfer:

” The new course is not only dramatic but will also be easier for the average golfer. The fairways are generous from the tees and the greens are slightly larger than on the existing courses.”

The Ojen river plays a part in eight holes, cutting across three fairways. There is one main bridge that measures 45 metres and four smaller bridges over the river. The design also features four tunnels for golf carts and maintenance machinery. In total there are concrete golf cart paths measuring 20,000 m2.

The 14th is at the maximum limit of what is allowed for a par 3 at 233 metres. The 11th is the longest hole. The par 5 measures 524 metres.

A lot of attention went into the protection of native plant species and indigenous plants such as Lavender, Rockrose, Rosemary and Palmettos were planted. Also planted were groves of trees, including Cork oak, Eucalyptus, Olives trees, Almond trees and Carob trees. In total 300 trees and 1,500 bushes were planted. No trees were removed and only one was transplanted.

Over 500,000 m3 of earth and 70,000 m3 of topsoil was moved in constructing the course The total area of land involved measures over 100 hectares. The actual golf course itself measures half of this.

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