Golf - Arcos Gardens Golf and Country Estate

By Eugene McDonough

One of the newer courses on the Costa De La Luz is being developed in conjunction with the Landmark Land Company which has built over 20 such communities in the USA, including Kiawah Island. This is their first venture into the thriving Spanish market.

Address: Ctra. Algar, km.3. 11630 Arcos de la Frontera, Cádiz.

Situated 3kms outside the majestic white village of Arcos de la Frontera, the approach to the course is quiet and unassuming and gives no hint of the splendours that await as you drive up the long olive tree lined approach (there are over 2000 mature trees lining most of the fairways) to the imposing Hotel Cortijo Fain, which currently serves as the temporary clubhouse. Some parts of the building are over 300 years old. It is built in traditional Andalucian style with whitewashed facades and wrought iron railings, and it will become the heart of Arcos Gardens.

Being a relatively new course, there is some building and preparation work going on around the course, but when the new clubhouse and the first phase of houses are completed Arcos Gardens will be transformed into what promises to be one of the most visually stunning Golf courses in Europe.

The course is brilliantly laid out over 6750 metres with no two holes looking or playing the same. The designers have used the natural slope of the land to create character and interest. The slopes are long and gentle which makes this a good walking course until you come off the14th where there is a long climb to the highest points. The testing downhill par 3 15th hole is followed by the even more spectacular par 5 16th, with breathtaking views of the course set against the backdrop of Arcos and the surrounding hills. Such is the micro-climate of this area that the rough and the slopes were sown with a profusion of wildflowers, to enhance the colour and visual impact. Then it is downhill to the finish with an American-style 18th hole; water all down the left hand side and two long hits needed to reach the green. (Incidentally all of the water used on the course comes from a specially built recycling plant, which processes the waste-water from the town.)

The course was only fully completed and opened in October 2006, and as such there are one or two areas that are still maturing, but the greens were laid down 4 years ago to USPGA standard, and are now fully mature and very difficult. If you want to preserve your putting sanity, then keep away, but if you want to enjoy the challenge of greens that are kept to a minimum rating of 10 on the stimpmeter, then Arcos Gardens is quite irresistible. They are BIG, quick, and full of disguised slopes and humps and hollows.

This wonderful course will not be readily available to the general public in 5 years' time. When the majority of the low-density housing has been completed, Arcos Gardens will become a restricted members club only. So our advice is to take the opportunity to play this exciting new course now, with green fees from only 71€.

Good bar and restaurant facilities are available. Accommodation options consist of the Cortijo Fain boutique hotel and the newly opened Fairway Gardens townhouse hotel suites.
Stay and Play packages available.

Arcos Gardens Golf and Country Estate is located 3 Km outside Arcos de la Frontera on the Carretera de Algar, and is well signposted from the town.

For Information on golf and property Tel 956 704 131

Do not accept Golf Atlantee Tickets

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