La Cala Golf Resort, Spain

The La Cala Golf Club Resort offers three fantastic golf courses, located in the hills just behind La Cala de Mijas, Spain, it is the only resort on the Costa del Sol with three 18 hole championship golf courses; set in beautiful landscape they require a good mix of accuracy and skill to negotiate your way round them. Designed by the renowned Cabell Robinson, a star pupil of the legendary Robert Trent Jones, the resort is also home to one of David Leadbetter Golf Schools.

Cabell Robinson stresses the difference between the three courses: “The three courses in La Cala Resort are all very different in character. They are three good challenges and none is over long. Yet they are all very different in character”. It gives a great option to golfers to have three 18-hole courses to choose from.”

Accommodating three courses into such a mountainous region is something of an exploit, and you need to be pretty fit to refuse a buggy.

Campo America, formerly the North Course, measures some 6,009 metres and is a par 72, with five par 5s. The hilly topography requires a lot of carry across steep brush-covered side slopes. The wide fairways and rough areas and more “joined” fairways make this a slightly easier driving course than Campo Asia. In addition, there are fewer fairway bunkers. There are water hazards on the 9th and 16th.

Four of the par 5s are reachable in two (holes 1, 9, 15 and 18), and the par 3s are quite spectacular and testing. Campo America requires accurate and well-judged shot-making on the approach as nearly three quarters of the greens are perched or slightly elevated.

Campo Asia, formerly the South Course, is pretty spectacular. With plenty of challenging holes along the way, you are guaranteed a testing round of golf.

Water guards both greens at the 3rd and the 14th and in terms of a test of golf course strategy, the 18th couldn’t be much better. Just remember not to over-club off the tee or this lengthy par 5 could well wreck your scorecard. This is an exciting course which puts a premium on the approach shot.

Campo Europa – The fairways are generous from the tees and the greens are slightly larger than on the existing courses. They are not severely contoured but are well bunkered and will be easier for the average golfer. The par 71 course measures 6014 metres.

The Ojen river plays a part in eight holes, cutting across three fairways. There is one main bridge that measures 45 metres and four smaller bridges over the river. The design also features four tunnels for golf carts and maintenance machinery. In total there are concrete golf cart paths measuring 20,000 m2. The 14th is at the maximum limit of what is allowed for a par 3 at 233 metres. The 11th is the longest hole. The par 5 measures 524 metres.