Best golf designs in Barcelona
Barcelona has 7 magnificent golf courses that form the Barcelona Golf Destination and all of them are designed by great internationally known golf designers.
Greg Norman signs the design of Real Club de Golf El Prat
Real Club de Golf El Prat, located 30 minutes from Barcelona, is designed by the great Greg Norman. The 45 holes that constitute the Club are internationally known, being one of the best golf courses in Europe. The 1912 Club began with a totally different design until in 2003 when the Club moved to a town 20 kilometers from Barcelona, between two natural landscapes. In this case, it was the legendary Greg Norman who designed the courses that would later host up to 10 editions of the Spanish Open for the European Tour with players such as Sergio García or Severiano Ballesteros.
There are two courses that are played the most. The Pink or Championship course is the most demanding with two very different 9 holes. The first nine are flatter with narrower fairways and fast greens. The second nine have more elevations in fairways and greens but with wider fairways. On hole 16 we find the only lake of the entire 45 holes. The yellow course adapts better to any handicap and, recently, works have been carried out under Greg Norman’s approval to improve the sustainability and playability of the course.
F.W. Hawtree, designer of two golf courses at the Barcelona Golf Destination
Another of the oldest courses in Barcelona is Club de Golf Llavaneras which was designed by F.W. Hawtree in 1945 next to the Mediterranean Sea. With narrow fairways and greens protected by bunkers, this par 70 has a total distance of 5,028 meters. With an exceptional climate that allows you to play throughout the year, Club de Golf Llavaneras is suitable for all handicaps. Even though it requires strategy, if you are not a very long hitter you will enjoy the course and, if on the contrary, you like to hit it hard, you might reach some greens from the tee. In addition, the entire course enjoys magnificent views of the Mediterranean Sea having one of the best terraces in the area. From there, you can enjoy a good meal while watching the players finish on the 18th green or enjoy a beautiful sunset over the sea.
Club de Golf Vallromanes was also designed by F.W. Hawtree in 1972. Its design resembles Club de Golf Llavaneras, although its length reaches 6,044 meters. What is more, a beautiful 18th century clubhouse welcomes all players and guards the golf course from above.
The Club has hosted several professional tournaments for both women and men as it adapts to professional and amateur play. The course is known by its fairways defined by trees and with different hole designs throughout the round. Its most beautiful hole is the 18th, with trees on the left side of the fairways next to a lake that leads to a big green with a large piano that makes the second shot to the pin difficult. A great finish for a great golf course.
Club de Golf Terramar, near the Mediterranean Sea
Just 30 minutes from Barcelona, in the coastal town of Sitges, we find Club de Golf Terramar. Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, this course was designed in 1927 by Tom Simpson. The course has a design for all tastes. There are charming par 4’s, short par 3’s and par 5’s that can reach the green in two. The most emblematic hole is a spectacular par 3 by the sea with a huge green. Its location makes the hole more difficult, because if there is sea breeze, the strategy might change a lot. In addition, the green is very large, but with big breaks. Without a doubt, a good hole to measure your game.
Recently, modifications have been made on the course to build a lake and a new pair of holes to offer more variety and quality to the players. Without forgetting that this golf course has already hosted the Mediterranean Ladies Open of the Ladies European Tour on several occasions and, in 2021, they will return to the Catalan town.
José Mª Olazábal, designer of Club de Golf Barcelona
In 1989, the well-known and award-winning golf professional José María Olazábal was asked to design Club de Golf Barcelona. This golf course was Olazábal’s first design and it did not disappoint.
Only 27 kilometers from the city of Barcelona we find this 6,271 meter par 72 golf course with two very varied 9-hole rounds. During the history of the Club, several professional golf tournaments have been played for its high demand. At the same time, it is an ideal Club for the amateur golfer who wants to play golf in a resort near Barcelona due to the magnificent facilities within the Club. Also, it is a perfect course to play in a buggy because of its high slopes or for players who are strong enough to walk through out the round.
The most amazing thing on the course are the beautiful views of the emblematic mountain of Montserrat.
A golf course between mountains
Club de Golf Montanyà is located 40 minutes from Barcelona and is the Club situated closer to Girona city. Although not as many flights arrive to Girona’s Airport as in Barcelona-El Prat, there are also many cities that have decided to fly to the catalan city to offer more destinations to their passengers. Girona is a beautiful city with a lot of history, great restaurants and many activities.
The Club was designed in 1989 by David Thomas and its surroundings are impressive. Located in the middle of a magnificent grove, its design is friendly and fun. Each hole is different and requires a strategy in order to sign a good round. The best time? In autumn when all the trees are dyed yellow, brown, red … it presents an image like no other. In addition, its typical Catalan Club House completes the experience.
La Roca Golf, the most modern course
The association’s newest course is La Roca Golf. Just 30 minutes from Barcelona we find this 18-hole course that, with its several distance measures, offers a variety of courses. Alfonso Viador and Magí Sardà were in charge, in 2006, of designing the course. Since then, the course has evolved until the golf course that we know today. Its flatness makes it perfect for walking despite its length with wide fairways and small greens. It is a perfect course for big hitters. To complete the visit to La Roca Golf, just 5 minutes away thereis one of the best shopping centers in Spain, La Roca Village. The best brands with incredible discounts are found in this small town reminiscent of western movie sets where you can shop, eat or walk.
Each course is unique and it is worth traveling to Barcelona to play them all. On the Barcelona Golf Destination website you will find the best offers and routes to make the most of your holidays.
Gemma Fuster