Lauro

Lauro’s original 18-hole golf course was designed by Folco Nardi and opened for play in 1992. Then Mariano Banitez added another nine holes ten years later, so the golf complex now boasts three fine 9-hole loops, each of which features prominent water hazards on the final hole.

An inland course located around 1,000 feet above sea level, Lauro is laid out on undulating terrain beside the protected forest area of the Sierra de Mijas, not far from Málaga airport.

Holes are named after famous bullfighters and fairways are set among pine, cork, olive and citrus trees with bunkers clearly visible, as exemplified at the short downhill par four 3rd which looks drivable but at 360 yards, isn’t for most golfers.

The course was built on the grounds of an old farm and the rustic feel is enhanced with Cortijo El Paredon, converted from an 18th century farmhouse into a charming old clubhouse, complete with its square inner courtyard, tiled with bricks and stones, and planted with orange trees.

After a couple of easy, flat holes, the downhill 3rd offers a little more of a challenge with the smallest green on the course that’s defended by large bunkers which do not leave much opening to the putting surface. Elevation change is also the word for the next several holes until the end of the loop. The par four 9th, however, is completely flat, but no less than three lakes bar the fairway. They could be reachable with the drive for the long hitters, and two of them are definitely in play for the approach shot if the flag is set toward the front of the green.

The second loop starts on a soft note, even though the par three 11th is not really wide or open with old pine trees along the right side and a dangerous side slope on the left of the green. It’s back to the hillsides from then on.

Several holes at Lauro include trees in the middle of the fairway, especially the shorter par fours. The par five 13th is a long, narrow hole, with out-of-bounds all along the right side and trees and shrubbery on the left. It is rated the hardest on the course.

The hills seem to vanish on the tee of the 17th par five, a long but straight par three shotter, before the flat 18th par four which runs parallel to the 9th, which is also defended by two lakes, the first one on the left of the fairway being definitely in play for the drive. The other will catch approach shots left short of the green although it should not be a real danger in most pin positions.