It takes around an hour to get to Golf Montanyà by road from Barcelona but the journey into the rarefied atmosphere of the hills above the city is well worth the effort. It might be a wee bit off the beaten track but there’s nothing better than discovering a “hidden gem” is there?   

The course is a lesser-known Dave Thomas design from thirty years ago, when the late architect had a hand in quite a few Spanish golf projects. There’s nothing homespun about this place either – it’s a “proper” course as verified by a slope index between 131 and 136 for the five regular sets of tees.

The very first hole is, on paper, a straightforward short par four but it certainly sets the standard for what’s to follow. You stand on the 1st tee and see it requires a downhill drive over a centrally-located irrigation lake to a fairway that kinks right and slightly up to the 1st green – no gentle introductory handshake here!

The following three holes are very tight off the tee and each of them could do with tree removal to widen the fairways, if truth be told. The par five 5th is then the best on the front nine, played to a green that sits beyond a watercourse (the Torrent de l’Estanyol) which runs through the property from north to south.

The 7th is a tough par four (though its distinct back to front sloping green is to be softened next year) before the final two holes on the shorter front nine return play to the clubhouse.

The opening shot on the back nine is played across the lake (like the 1st hole) then the fairway of this par four hole turns 90 degrees right towards the green. The 11th doglegs slightly left and down to the green but it’s the parallel par four coming back which is the star of the show.

Rated stroke index 1, the par four 12th bends gently left and up to a benched green, with a huge bunker front left of the putting surface to capture approach shots that fall short and roll left off the fairway camber.

The downhill par three 14th is another feature hole on the inward half (nicknamed the Johan Cruyff hole as his motto when playing golf was “go out and enjoy”), played to another green which sits behind the aforementioned stream that runs through the course.

The long par five 15th is a transition hole, taking play uphill to higher ground where the final four holes are set out, culminating in a right doglegged final hole which skirts the large practice area to the left of the fairway.

I really enjoyed my round with club stalwarts Freddie, Avaro and Louis who pointed out little developments that have taken place around the layout in recent times. It was obvious they’re very proud of the course that has evolved over the last thirty odd years and so they should be… there’s a lot to like about Golf Montanyà, both on and off the course.

Jim McCann