Emporda (Links) - North East Spain - Spain

Played in December 2021, the course has recently had a huge makeover and recently hosted the challenge tour. The fairways are large but often bordered by water, and the greens come in all shapes and sizes. The pin sheet for the day showed successive position of 32, 58 and 38 metre from the front edge!

I won't describe the holes as that has already been done in earlier posts, safe to say that the greens were relatively firm, the fairways rolled less than some of the neighboring courses and pace of play reasonable.

The property has a good practice area, especially down at the far end near the 10th green. Pro shop was very welcoming but getting some lunch without a reservation was more difficult. For the price though, it is well worth the money, especially with the Golfy pass.

My visit to the Emporda resort last month was my second exposure to Robert von Hagge in Spain, having already played his larger than life production at Anfi Tauro in Gran Canaria a couple of years ago. I expected to find waste areas, water hazards and wickedly contoured greens laid out on a grand scale and I wasn’t disappointed to see all three design traits in evidence throughout the round.

I played the day after the Empordà Challenge concluded on the European Challenge Tour so the final day pin positions for the professionals were still in use. I’m sure the Links is a tough enough track to tackle at the best of times but when some of the flag positions are set so close to the edge of the putting surfaces then it makes the task in hand a lot more difficult.

Of course, like many of the courses that are called “Links” this one can’t be categorised as such but it’s a fun layout to play with plenty of interesting features like the skinny peninsula green on the short par four 4th, the sandy waste wilderness between tee and green on the par three 6th, and an sneaky wee putting platform at the back of the 9th green.

On the back nine, there’s a split fairway on the short par four 10th, a “volcano” green set behind huge mounds on the par four 13th, another sandy wasteland to carry at the par three 15th then a brief interlude into the trees at the par four 16th and 17th holes which give a taste of what to expect when you play the Forest course.

It’s hard to imagine that back in 2008 the Links layout was actually ranked higher than the Forest but that error was corrected a long time ago now. If you’re looking for a diverse 36-hole golfing experience at the one location then Emporda fits the bill rather well with its two courses – just remember to play the Links course first and you’ll have a great day out here.

Jim McCann

The Links at Emporda is different looking than the other course at the resort. There are not many trees on the course so it is more like a classic links course layout. Some beuatiful holes like the final hole. The maintenance of the course was not the best during my visit. Other courses in the vincinity like PGA Catalunya are always in better shape.

Currently (Nov '13) this course has a decent ranking (#16 in Spain), one of the reasons to play it obviously. I think I will keep this review fairly short as anything lengthy could be seen as a rant. The course has some very nicely designed holes and if conditioning was immaculate then we probably have a course that you would give a 4-ball ranking to. The biggest issue is that this course is not be taken care of - it is in a poor state currently. Tees full of weeds and un-repaired divots everywhere, fairways that are longer than the rough in places (certainly no definition between the two) and just a bad looking state of affairs all around. I hate being negative about courses and would never do that on what you may say is temporary bad condition but something is seriously wrong here - hope the green-staff are still on the pay roll! The 2nd and 11th holes were my favourites but overall my biggest disappointment on a golf course this year.

The course is in very good conditions and is a completely different style from the other courses of the zone. They always have very interesting offers

Played this course last week. It does resemble a links as it is in rolling countryside but it does not have links turf as found in UK. It was in good condition with excellent greens. However it could do with being a bit tidier and some parts looked scruffy but this is a cosmetic comment!. Perhaps more staff required? It is tight with the main hazard being water. It is not easy however there is a selection of tees and you can chose the ones that suit your game.

Great course. It becomes terrific with a strong wind.

We played both the Links and the Forest course early August 2011. Both were in an extremely good condition. Nice well-kept fairways, greens had a reasonable speed although the greens of the Forest course rolled better. A pity that the people playing do not look after repairing pitch marks! The Links course is very interesting especially with the so-called Tramontana, a wind that comes from the Pyrenees. The course is quit open, some strategically placed water hazards and the double green of the 18th with the 18th hole of the Forest course is quit intimidating. A mixture of short strategic holes combined with smart doglegs and long par 4-s. The Forest course is another story: the fairways smoothly flow through the pine trees. Not one hole is boring actually. AND most important, you are on a GOLF COURSE and not in between houses! Worth playing you should definitately make the detour.

Played both courses last year.Found the forest course more scenic,but both courses are fantasic.When i played these courses,the condition of them was surpurb,with little traffic on them.The hotel on site is ultra modern with beautiful views of the links course.Payed 62 euros for each course(guest rate).Good value for money...

Played Emporda in the late 90s and I remember that it was a great experience. First 9 holes are a copy from Ireland with ondulated fariways and greens. Last 9 are more american with long corridors of high trees. Great condition and probably has matured a lot since I was there