Club de Campo Villa de Madrid (Black Course), Spain

The Club de Campo Villa de Madrid is located right in the heart of the Spanish Capital, and is a fully public 36-hole facility that features an eighteen hole course (The Black) by Javier Arana, and a Yellow Course that mixes nine Arana holes with nine by Severiano Ballesteros. The Black Course is a regular European tour venue and the pick of the two layouts, thanks to its dramatic terrain and some sound design work from Spain’s most decorated golf architect.

Built on either side of a road, the course is noted for its tumbling ground contours and some interesting green complexes. Manuel Pinero did some minor bunkering restyling here in 202, but mostly the track remains as Arana had intended.

About the biggest criticism of the course is the mounding around green sites and the shaping of the greenside bunkering, the thinking perhaps being that the shapes were needed to add some visual interest. The Javier Arana putting contours are quite creative, however, and the artificial mounding at times seems an unnecessary distraction from the golf.

It’s unlikely this was ever a great course, but its a good layout that is fun to play and a worthwhile stop for those visiting Madrid. Better holes include the wicked par three 9th, played across tree tops set down in a deep ravine, and the par five 4th, which heads up over a hill before twisting beyond a depression toward a narrow three-tiered target. The 18th is also very good, the final fairway falling from the tee and then rising up though sand toward an attractive green site, a fine conclusion to a pretty solid golf course. (source)