El Rompido (North)

More and more golfers are discovering the great modern courses to be found on either side of the Atlantic border between Portugal and Spain. On the Portuguese side, there are three top notch tracks – Monte Rei, Quinta da Ria and Quinta de Cima – that can more than match any of the Algarve courses west of Faro whilst the Spanish complexes at 27-hole Islantilla and 36-hole El Rompido offer the discerning golfer a further 63 holes of great, value for money, golf.

Situated close to a lovely fishing village and surrounded by the “Paraje Natural Protegido,” the El Rompido golf complex on the Costa de la Luz was opened in 2003 with a highly original, modern and minimalist clubhouse designed by Juan Antonio Foraster and Ana Calderón and an initial 18-hole layout (now called the South course) built to USGA specification.

Three years later, the second 18-hole course at El Rompido came along and this Álvaro Arana creation has surpassed even the very high standards set by its predecessor. Located on more elevated property, the new North course is a fine test, with fairways that are wider and longer than the South course.

On the front nine, the first seven holes skirt the coastal marshland area and there are two tough par fives to tackle at holes 5 and 8, each of which are in excess of 565 yards. The majority of holes on the inward half play a little more inland, but the 153-yard, par three 16th is an exception. Located on the edge of the marsh, the long, narrow green is protected on either side by a pair of coffin bunkers – just be careful this hole doesn’t bring a premature end to a good score on the North course!