Chaparral Golf Club

Nestled in a wooded valley-like setting, the 6.000-metre layout of Chaparral Golf Club (the club dropped the prefix "El" in 2019) was designed by Pepe Gancedo and the course (in a Berkshire Red style) is routed in an entertaining six par three, six par four and six par five configuration.

Although the course is not especially long, Chaparral is no pushover and conquering this layout will require accuracy as well as skill. There is much variety between the various holes and those that do score well here tend to go easy with the driver, choosing fairway woods and long irons for many tee shots.

There is no shortage of golf courses along the Costa del Sol, but few are appointed with the delights of El Chaparral with its exciting topography that features dramatic valleys and barrancas that must be treated with extreme caution.

A great example comes early on in the round at the 477-metre 3rd hole, which on length alone should be a straightforward par five, but its stroke index 1 suggests otherwise. The 3rd doglegs left and the tee shot needs to be placed down the right side of the fairway in order to see what’s in store for the second shot. It’s the second, or the approach shot for the big hitter, which asks questions. The green is a long but narrow target and a ditch cuts diagonally across the fairway some 100 metres from the green, leaving a challenging lay up for those that choose to play the hole as a three shotter. Those that go for the green in two must avoid the water on the left side of the green at all costs.

Chaparral Golf Club is a family business, run by Antonio Rubio with passion and attention to detail. Playing surfaces are managed by a knowledgeable agronomist and the on and off course service is to be savoured.