D'Aro

Golf Club D'Aro was originally nominated as a GEM by Nick and was added to the site in January 2008. Nick’s comments follow:

“The views from D’Aro are stunning as it sits right on the top of a mountain. It has varying holes that play alongside the edge of this as well as two holes which play directly up and down the side. I played here four years ago and love it so much I am planning on going back next year to that region just because of that course (and maybe PGA Catalunya too). I would recommend this for anyone they would not be disappointed.”

Designed by Ramon Espinosa and opened in 1992, the course at Golf Club D'Aro sits in the Gavarres Mountains, 300 metres above the tourist resort of Platja d'Aro, overlooking the Costa Brava coastline in the northeastern corner of Spain.

Encircled by a mix of pine, cork oak and olive trees, the course is routed along and over some deep ravines where anything straying from the fairway is lost forever – little wonder the club have a local rule allowing such hazards to be considered as lateral water, improving the playability of the course for higher handicapped players.

D'Aro has a par of 72 and it can play as long as 6,800 yards from the back markers, with two large irrigation lakes coming into play at a couple of holes on the card.

Distance is not the main obstacle to scoring well on this spectacular and challenging course though – plot your way round to have any hope of playing just the one sleeve of balls!