Alicante Golf:  An oasis in the city

HOLE 1 458 METRES PAR 5: ‘EL CHIRINQUITO’

THE COURSE allows the golfer to get into their game with a gentle par 5 that has plenty of room off the tee to hit your opening drive. A fairly straight hole with out of bounds left and right, the second shot is the one that has to be placed accurately to ensure a relatively easy third to a green with subtle borrows. Par should be accomplished by most players.

HOLE 2 332 METRES PAR 4 ‘LA CASCADA’

After the gentle opener, this is where the course starts to prove it is a challenge. Water all down the left makes players play towards the right hand bunker. Play just short of this to have the best angle of attack to a green that is full of gentle slopes that will gather a less than perfectly struck second into the water on the left or greenside bunkers right and long. Par on this hole is indeed a good score.

HOLE 3 134 METRES PAR 3 ‘LOS ARCOS’

The first of the par 3's is played from a slightly elevated tee to an undulating green that has several very challenging pin placements available. This hole usually plays downwind and providing the golfer keeps the thought of the water all down the left and in front of the green out of his head, is relatively easy to make par as its stroke index of 15 confirms.

HOLE 4 463 METRES PAR 5 ‘EL SUPERVIVIENTE’

A fantastic golf hole where every shot has to be played into the correct position if par or better is to be achieved. There is plenty of room off the tee for players to launch their tee shots. The second has to be played between the water on the right and the fairway bunkers on the left that will enable the player to hit a wedge or sand iron to another undulating green that demands a well struck shot if an easy birdie is to be found. Water comes into the front right of the green and continues around the back.

HOLE 5 382 METRES PAR 4 ‘EL PUENTE’

The hardest hole on the course according to the stroke index and one that anyone playing it will be happy to walk off with a par. A tee shot played just to the right of the distant fairway bunker gives the best angle into a green that slopes from back to front and runs diagonally away from the player from right to left. A good second shot has to be played to find the green in two and avoid the deep bunkers left and right of the green. The narrow entrance means that there is very little room to run the ball onto the putting surface. This is the hardest green to ‘two putt’ on and deserves its low stroke index.

HOLE 6 172 METRES PAR 3 ‘EL TOBOGAN’

A par three that is played from an elevated tee to an elevated green with two distinct levels: played into the predominant wind, the hole plays longer than it looks and says on the scorecard. The cavernous bunker on the right is one to be avoided.

HOLE 7 398 METRES PAR 4 ‘EL VIVERO’

At nearly 400 metres, this is a good green to find in two. A good long tee shot to as close to the left hand bunker as you dare will give the best line into wide green side to side but shallow from front to back. The second shot needs to be struck well to hold the green. Par will be relatively easy if the green is found in regulation.

HOLE 8 193 METRES PAR 3 ‘LOS GEMELOS’

A really good par three. When the pin is tucked behind either bunker, par is a good score. The middle of the green is readily available to those who wish to run the ball onto the green and take their chances on two putting for par. This, however, cannot be taken for granted because of the severe slopes to be negotiated to get close to the pin.

HOLE 9 499 METRES PAR 5 ‘SEVE’

A long par 5 that plays into the prevailing wind: a good tee shot over the tree in the centre of the fairway will leave a good angle to leave a fairway wood shot that can be hit fairly close to the green to provide a chance to set up a wedge shot close to the pin that should produce a birdie chance. Seve's S shaped lake, his trademark on his course designs, eats into the front left of the green and has to be avoided at all costs.

HOLE 10 447 METRES PAR 5 ‘EL HOTEL’

Stroke index 18 and the easiest hole on the course welcomes you to the back nine holes. A good par 5 that requires a tee shot between the two fairway bunkers that sit either side of the fairway. A wood to just short of the green will leave a wedge to a pin that can usually be attacked to set up a good birdie chance.

HOLE 11 382 METRES PAR 4 ‘LA SERRA GROSSA’

Another strong par 4 that is a straight hole with an undulating green that has many difficult pin positions. A good tee shot between the fairway bunkers will still see a demanding second shot if par is to be made comfortably.

HOLE 12 128 METRES PAR 3 ‘LA ISLA’

This is the hole that most people remember at Alicante Golf: a tee shot over water to a green that has a platform on the back right that will definitely bring the water into play that runs all along the right and to the back of this undulating green. A pin position on this part of the green and the very best players will be happy to walk off with a par. A bunker just to the left of the green means there is little or no bail out area.

HOLE 13 399 METRES PAR 4 ‘EL BOSQUE’

A fantastic hole that is tree lined and demands a good long straight tee shot over water if the green is to be found in regulation. The perfect line is to the right hand side of the fairway to avoid the trees and the bunker that encroaches on the left hand side of the fairway: another demanding green that will test the putting skills of all players.

HOLE 14 487 METRES PAR 5 "LAS RUINAS"

A long par 5 dogleg to the left, with a bunker on the left corner to trap anyone who tries to shorten the hole too much with their tee shot. Depending on the wind, the second shot can be anything from 7 iron to a 3 wood to just short of the Roman ruins that are about 100 metres short of the green. A tricky green awaits that slopes towards the water on the left. Par is a good score on this hole.

HOLE 15 185 METRES PAR 3 ‘EL ESTADIO’

A par three that is both long and challenging. With the pin on the left this is a good hole to par. A right hand side pin position is much easier and is certainly more accessible with what can be anything from a 3 wood to a 7 iron off the tee depending on conditions and which tee is in use.

HOLE 16 480 METRES PAR 5 ‘LOS CISNES’

The start of the toughest finishing stretch anywhere on The Costa Blanca. A good tee shot down the right hand side of the fairway opens up the way for a good second to short of or to the right of the water that encroaches on the left just before the green This is the largest green on the course and one that has many pin positions that can leave a challenging putt from even close range.

HOLE 17 177 METRES PAR 3 ‘EL NAUFRAGO’

Water just left of the tee and nearly all the way down the right makes sure that the concentration levels have to stay high right until the round is over. A demanding tee shot to a green that slopes towards the water on the right. A card wrecker if concentration is lost.

HOLE 18 341 METRES PAR 4 ‘EL DESAFIO’

One of the toughest tee shots on any of our local courses to find a fairway that seems very narrow when the wind is blowing. The perfect line is as close to the right hand fairway bunker in the distance. This leaves the whole of a very undulating green open to accept a well struck iron into its heart. Fool with a front left hand side pin position at your peril: a classic finish to a fantastic golf course.

SUMMARY

Alicante Golf is rightly seen as a challenging golf course by all who play it. A demanding but fair course that is not over long but places an emphasis on playing smart golf and not one that can be over powered by the big hitters.

Always in pristine condition, this is a course where every player is made to feel at home thanks to the excellent attitude of the staff, who are always friendly and courteous. Guaranteed to be one of the most enjoyable experiences of golf on The Costa Blanca, Alicante Golf is a must play for all golfers.