Golf - Los Arqueros Golf & Country Club

An exciting course winding through two valleys that offer impressive views down to the coast.

Designed by Ballesteros in 1991, the course appeals to attacking players prepared to make bold shots. Not very long, but sometimes tight with hazards constantly in play, which may lead to being overcautious. Since its purchase by the Taylor Woodrow construction group, heavy investment has been made to improve course conditioning and remove the unfair punishment of slightly mis-hit shots. Visible from the Ronda road.

Address: Ctra. de Ronda (A-397) km. 44,5. 29679 Benahavís, Málaga.
Directions: the course is on the Ronda road 5 kilometres from San Pedro Alcántara (km. 166.5 on the highway).

SOMETIMES DAUNTING BUT ALWAYS INTERESTING

By Eamonn Power

Los Arqueros was designed by Seve Ballesteros and is a golf course which is sometimes daunting but always interesting. Although a round will probably entail a few lost golf balls, the opportunity to savour the dramatic views presented during the journey will be reward in itself and sufficient to ensure a memorable day.

The impressive entrance precedes a roadway which sweeps hither and yon between, what seems like, thousands of apartments. Thankfully the direction to the golf club is well signposted otherwise getting lost, in a veritable maze of construction, would not be out of the question.

MEMORABLE HOLES

After a number of gentle opening holes the fifth is an attractive par-3 played across a valley to a green around which there are three serious looking bunkers. Standing on the tee of the long sixth the senses are assailed by the sight and sound of a huge lake and its duck inhabitants located on the right. The drive requires a left-to-right shape, over the edge of the lake, onto a reasonably wide fairway out yonder. Should the drive not fade just remain on the tee and hit another ball! The hump-backed fairway eventually leads to small circular green in front of which there is a large bunker while cheek by jowl with the left-hand side is a water hazard. The difficulty of the drive, coupled with the necessity for an accurate approach, rightfully earns the hole its index 1 rating.

The tee of the par-5 eighth provides a very daunting sight. While there is a strip of fairway stretching out ahead the eye immediately focuses on the imminent danger looming on the right. Trees, bushes, shrubs and a big lake seem to dominate the mind while the landing area appears to get smaller and smaller. From the dog-leg the fairway dives straight down to the bottom of a valley where more danger lurks in the shape of a water-hazard, before it sweeps up again to a small green bunkered on both sides. All-in-all a memorable hole made all the more so by the staggering views which surround. Indeed all the ups and downs of a round at Los Arqueros have the advantage of regularly providing quite spectacular views of the countryside with occasional glimpses of the sparkling Mediterranean in the background. This is especially true on the tee of the final hole where time should be taken to feast the eyes on the magnificent sights which surround. Trees of all shapes and heights, mountains and valleys are liberally interspersed with blazes of colour supplied by shrubs and bushes; it really is startling and so peaceful.

Los Arqueros is one of only two courses in Andalucia (the other being Islantilla in Huelva) committed to an environmental management system. This very laudable interest in the protection of the environment requires the management to make sustained use of natural resources and, as far as possible, encourage the reuse and recycling of waste and water; a policy which deserves both recognition and applause.

THE 19TH HOLE

The changing rooms are clean and tidy while the bar and restaurant has an area festooned with pennants from visiting football clubs among which those of Chelsea, West Ham and Yeovil Town are particularly noticeable. Lunch may be enjoyed on a patio overlooking the 18th green and the club sandwich is highly recommended.

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