|
• Holes - 18
• Par - 72
• Clubs hire - Yes
• Buggy hire - Yes
• Hand Cart hire - Yes
• Restaurant - Yes
• Bar - Yes |
The Santa Maria Golf Course traces the contours
of a valley and offers distracting views over the Mediterranean.
Another design by Antonio Garcia Garrido, who made
the par 3 6th hole especially challenging. It is located on the
highest point of the course, before you need to tackle a formidable
tee shot down towards the guarded green some 180 metres away.
MORE FINESSE THAN BRUTE FORCE
Originally a 9-hole golf course, Santa Maria has come a long way since those far off days and is now a very respected course on the Costa del Sol. Santa Maria boasts an excellent clubhouse and the shop, where the check-in area is located, displays an enormous selection of logoed shirts and sweaters at very competitive prices.
MEMORABLE HOLES
The golf course traces the contours of two valleys, in which streams and lakes form natural hazards, and starts with a fairly straight forward par-4 requiring little more than a 3-wood and short iron. Then comes a par-5, something over 450-metres, which dog-legs slightly to the right. The fairway runs parallel to the first with the third hole sandwiched in between.
The fifth tee is located on top of the new motor-way, yet it is so well done the majority of golfers will be blissfully unaware of the cars whizzing along underneath their feet. This is a very good section of the course as the par-4 sixth hole, played to an elevated green, is followed by three excellent holes. The seventh is a terrific par-3 played from an elevated tee and this is followed by a par-5 which sweeps around to the right and requires two well placed shots to give a reasonable wedge to the green. The front nine closes with a par-4 where a tee shot will have to be hit well enough to enable it carry a fair distance over water while the second will need more club than the yardage suggests due to the elevated green.
Mainly due to a number of short par-4s, the front nine at Santa Maria require more finesse than brute force and the player who likes to “thunder” the ball will have to wait until the back nine before an opportunity to open the shoulders arrives. The 11th is a quite a spectacular hole and, although it may be for all the wrong reasons, the lake and waterfall beside the green are sure to create many memories. The fairway of the par-5 13th dog-legs at ninety degrees to the left but the second shot may be hit over the angle as the landing area is quite generous.
The finishing stretch of three holes at Santa Maria are quite strong and the obvious attention to detail taken by the green-keeping staff lifts the golf course above many others in the area.
THE 19TH HOLE
The restaurant has a large patio area with very comfortable seating. The varied menu is attractively priced and the service is attentive and courteous. Although Santa Maria has many members, the golf club management recognise the great necessity of income from green fees and takes pride in the courtesy extended to them. Long may that attitude to visitors continue.
Back to top
|
