Almenara (Pinos & Alcornoques)

Situated right next door to Valderrama, three 9-hole courses comprise the golfing facilities at the 148-bedroomed hotel and residential complex at Almenera. “Pinos” (Pines) and “Alcornoques” (Cork) are the preferred loops for most golfers, though the “Lagos” (Lakes) nine does have many admirers too.

Dave Thomas laid out the 27-holes at Almenera in the late 1990s and he made a fine job of routing a series of tight fairways over hilly terrain, incorporating trademark mounding, bunkering and generously proportioned green sites into the modern design.

Five of the holes on the “Lagos” course contain water hazards but there are as many such holes on the “Alcornoques” nine so if golfers wish to avoid playing over and around water in an 18-hole round here, the lake-free “Pinos” will have to be played twice!

The original, uphill final “Alcornoques” hole has been shortened by over 150 yards from a rather unfair par five to a manageable par four (the 4th hole increasing by 25 yards to a par five to maintain a par of 36 for the nine holes) which is a far more satisfactory way to end a round now.

Manuel Piñero and his company Target Ingenieros were involved in a major renovation project at Almenara in 2021, repairing buggy paths, improving green surrounds, removing and reshaping bunkers, as well as cutting back trees.