El Cortijo - CLOSED

The Canary Islands are on the same latitude as Florida but these delightful Spanish islands are only just beginning to realise their potential as a reputable golf destination.

El Cortijo was the first of the numerous Canarian courses to be featured on the Top 100 website, but it certainly wasn't the last. Measuring a healthy 6,308 metres from the tips, the challenging El Cortijo course was designed by Blake Stirling and Marco Martin. Despite its relative youth (opening for play in 1999), El Cortijo has already tested some of the world’s best golfers. Sergio Garcia claimed his national open here in 2002, winning the Canarias Open de España.

El Cortijo Club de Campo is laid out in a sequence of valleys. The land was once used for farming and there’s still a plethora of palm tree providing a wonderfully tropical backdrop. No expense has been spared, the manicured bent grass is cut for effect and the condition is exemplary. The front nine has a distinctly links-like feel to it and it’s also prone to the vagaries of the Atlantic winds (there are some great sea views too). The back nine is designed in a more traditional American-style with numerous lakes lurking to catch the wayward shot. A word about the greens... they are slick and deviously contoured. You will need to be wearing your best putting boots to avoid three putting here.

Finally, the course at El Cortijo is at the heart of a huge sports resort with excellent tennis and equestrian facilities. There’s even a great 9-hole par three course that’s great fun after a small bottle of San Miguel.