La Manga Golf Club
Cartagena, Murcia, Spain
La Manga Club is surely one of Europe's finest golfing destinations with 3 championship courses, each offering its own distinctive style and terrain.
First class practice facilities, which include a renowned golf academy, 80 bay driving range, chipping and putting greens, as well as an 18 hole par 47 pitch and putt course.
South Course
Designed by Robert D. Putman
in 1971 and remodelled by Arnold Palmer in 1992, La Manga Club's famous
South Course has undergone complete refurbishment and re-opened on Friday
6th August.
The main changes involve more water being brought into play, more tree
planting - which will affect the overall playing strategy on the course
- as well as considerably more movement on the greens. Coupled with the
re-positioning of a number of tees, these improvements make for a more
modern course lay-out, which will above all, provide a more interesting
examination for the discerning golfer.
The South is La Manga Club's classic championship course and is probably
one of the fairest tests of golf one can find. At 6,499 metres from the
white tees, whilst being accepted as a top-calibre championship course,
the South Course also provides a thorough test for players of all levels,
from the scratch player right across the handicap range.
Located in the centre of the
valley, with wide palm-fringed fairways and water hazards that come into
play on 15 of the 18 holes, the South Course holds few hidden dangers.
Its many strategically positioned water hazards and bunkers will certainly
punish any wayward shots. The front nine are particularly tough, with
two par 3’s over 200 metres and some daunting par 4’s which
will demand accurate driving between lakes and bunkers, requiring long
irons or fairway woods to the green. The back nine, although shorter,
has a number of intriguing dog-leg holes. Special attention should be
given to both the 11th and 12th holes, which demand precise club selection
to greens across water. The large waste area on 14 will provide “food
for thought” for most players, and is followed by the par 4, 15th,
which fully justifies its stroke 1 rating. The new stream bordering the
16th Green feeds a newly constructed lake protecting the front of the
green, which will require 100% concentration from all golfers. The par
5 18th, with water on both sides of the fairway and a ravine just short
of a well-protected green, will prove to be a particularly stern finish.
The South Course has been the venue for many major professional tournaments;
Spanish Opens (both ladies’ and men’s), PGA Championships and
Qualifying Schools for both the men’s and ladies’ European Tours.
In addition, it remains the firm favourite of many companies throughout
the world as the perfect venue for their corporate events.
18 holes, Par 72
g White Tees 6,499m Par 73 VC 74.3 Slope 138
g Yellow Tees 6,127m Par 73 VC 72.5 Slope 134
g Blue Tees 5,749m Par 73 VC 76.7 Slope 141
g Red Tees 5,139m Par 73 VC 73.2 Slope 129
Note: La Manga South Course closed for maintenance 21-25 April 2008 and 22-26 September 2008.There will be some sand in evidence on the greens for a some days after maintenance.
North Course
Also designed by Putman, the North has just undergone complete refurbishment, which, amongst other improvements, has created more interesting greens with much more movement. More undulating than the South, the North offers a different, yet no less challenging round of golf. Relying on precision rather than length, an added challenge is provided by the barrancas or storm gullies that snake their way through the course.
18 holes, Par 71
g White 5780 metres, SSS 70
Note: La Manga North Course closed for maintenance 31 March - 4 April 2008 and 1-5 September 2008. There will be some sand in evidence on the greens for a some days after maintenance.
West Course
This Dave Thomas designed course is set amid pine woodlands and presents frequent changes in elevation. This is a deceiving course that demands the occasional blind shot, where a tight front 9 contrasts with a more open, but nonetheless challenging back 9.
18 holes, Par 73
g White 5971 metres, SSS 72
Note: La Manga North Course closed for maintenance 12-16 May 2008 and 13-17 October 2008. There will be some sand in evidence on the greens for a some days after maintenance.
Golf Academy
5 day golf school, Monday-Friday 09.00-12.00
Special golf packages for clients staying at Hyatt Regency La Manga and Las Lomas Apartments.
Tournaments: every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 3 euros entry fee.
Located at “A” on Costa Blanca / Costa Calida map
