The Hills has a very different feel to the International Olympic Academy Course as it follows a more inland routing. The holes are spaciously laid out over rocky ground and cut through olive trees and other indigenous vegetation. This after all is a region until now best known for its world class olive production.

The Hills is shorter than the neighboring course and the fairways are generally wider. But that doesn’t guarantee an easier round as the bunkers are strategically placed and the green complexes are challenging. With Bermuda grasses surrounding the greens recovery shots can also be quite difficult.

While the Hills doesn’t have the same stunning views across the bay, the course has more changes in elevation than the Olympic and is a classy layout in its own right with a number of memorable holes. The best sequence on the front nine kicks in on the 6^th, a fun downhill par five which is immediately followed by a trio of solid par fours. The 8th, measuring over 400 yards, where you must drive over a tree filled valley is arguably the best of them.

The back nine is shorter but more interesting with a little more variety in the design. The 11^th is another strong par five where some strategy is required to avoid numerous well placed bunkers and a deep gully that bites into the fairway. The short par fours at 13 and the dogleg 17^th offer decent birdie opportunities and the 15^th, played to an angled green protected by a ravine in addition to bunkers front and rear, is by some distance the best of the short holes.

The uphill 18^th won’t please everyone as many tee shots will leave a blind approach but overall the Hills is fun to play complementing its sister course next door extremely well.