Aguilón

Located less than a 15-minute drive inland from San Juan de Los Terreros, the most easterly coastal village in Andalusia, the desert-style course at Aguilón Golf occupies a spectacular site in the shadow of the Aguilan Mountains.

The holes occupy an area that’s less than 100 acres in size so architects Stirling & Martin had their work cut out to fit an 18-hole layout into such a restricted space. Measuring under 5,800 metres and playing to a par of 71 (out in 36 then back in 35), the course features water hazards at six holes, three on each nine.

Highlights include the first of the par threes at the 174-metre 3rd (with a pond to the front and right and five bunkers to the left and rear of the putting surface) and the 474-metre 9th (where the fairway crosses an arroyo twice before heading between two lakes to the green).

On the shorter back nine, holes 10 to 13 are laid out in a separate compartment to the south of the property before the final five holes are played out within the main property, culminating in the 465-metre 18th which veers past water on the right then another couple of lakes on either side of the fairway before arriving at the home green.