Online Golfer

I have just played Mijas Golf’s Los Olivos course in a GPS buggy (something I would normally stay away from but in this case it was because my playing partner for the day was 73 years old) the courses in the South of Spain are in fantastic condition this time of year and even though they call it low season the courses are outstanding.

The course itself is fairly flat although there are a few elevated tee’s that give you a great view across the beautiful surroundings. Standing on the first tee I noticed I was going to have to reduce the effort I put into my swing today due to a small incident involving an elbow and a high speed golf ball a few days back.

Just before you all click away because you think there is a massive hole by hole review coming there are just a few select holes below.

The first hole is a fairly short par 4 with bunkers down both sides and a slightly raised green with two hidden bunkers behind the green. Definite Iron shot from the tee, position is absolutely everything.

The second hole is one of those elevated tee’s I spoke about so take your time and have a look around, the hole itself is a very long par 4 which has a very unforgiving bunker on the right just within long iron range, as I found out to my cost. This is stroke index one for this course and the main problem on the hole is the distance.

The par 3 eigth is the longest par 3 on the course and it is a choice of water or sand there is water one side and bunkers the other. Not for the faint of heart!

The tenth is a hole with a number of different problems to overcome. These include bunkers within driver range, the green is also well protected by bunkers and the approach to the green is protected on both sides by sand and water so great care is required if going for the green with your second as well as going for position.

The final hole on the course is another long par 5 and again water down one side of the fairway and bunkers the other causing issues both sides. In particular at the point where the fairway narrows and the water hazard and the bunkers come nice and close together.

The course is in fantastic condition and as it is winter the green fees are around $66 for 18 holes which considering the quality of this course is well worth the money.

Ever since the great Tiger Woods rolled his approach at the 17th back into the water not once, not twice but three out of four times back at the 2000 World Championships many golfers class Valderrama as one of the toughest courses in the world.

With the weather conditions yesterday the course just got even harder, with grey clouds looming during the morning through to mid afternoon and the winds gusting and impossible to read saw some big scores being put up on the card. Two that stood out were that of Sandy Lyle who was 23 over par after two rounds and Ronan Rafety who registered a massive 30 over par after.

Conditions were a little better later in the afternoon which saw Justing Rose mainly thanks to his ace on the first day, take a 4 shot lead as the only player under par after two rounds. However with Valderrama claiming so many souls in the past few years it would not take too much to see the winning score be an over par.

So where are the key points? All of the holes have their features mainly the tree lined fairways that mean anything slightly off line from the tee is a potential shot dropped as the trees are not very forgiving. Miss the green and end up in the rough then you are in the deep sticky stuff in more ways than one. The rough for this competition is tough as it has been for all of the tour competitions this year.

Holes to be aware of as tough going are the long par 5 fourth hole with water to the right of the green makes those unpredictable winds a major factor when playing your second into the green. Then there is the par 4 tenth with water on the left and right a good tee shot doesn’t mean you are in prime position and the slope up to the green can be a killer as Mark Foster found out in the second round stopping his ball on the green to see it roll off and very much away from the hole (about 50 yards).

The winds on the back 9 play a massive factor in the high scores and the elevated tee on the long par 3 fifteenth a tricky green to hit and Sergio Garcia saw his shot fall short and in the sand because of the winds. The hardest is left till last, the seventeenth classed by some as one of the hardest holes in golf, a slight right hand dogleg par 5 you need a really good second shot to get the ball to stick to the green and stay there.

As the weekend goes on I have no doubt that there will be more big numbers put up on the score cards but having taken the long walk around the course yesterday I can completely understand how the worlds best have struggled with the conditions this week.

The Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort is set into the beautiful Irish countryside which really explain why Ireland has the nickname of the Emerald Isle. The Adare club has been named as the host course for the European Tour Irish Open.
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At the time of writing this Aloha has JUST been announced as the European Tour Venue for the Andalusian Open on the 10th to the 13th of May.

A beautiful day ready for a beautiful game. Aloha is a private members club and one of the most exclusive clubs on the South Coast of Spain. Feeling very privileged to be playing here!
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Braxted is a hidden gem in the Essex countryside less than 5 minutes from the main A12 near Witham. This little 9 hole course has some very picture perfect holes, the par 3 first is one that springs to mind.
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