Montecastillo - Southern Spain - Spain

Last week I was able to put the mark to my 385th course played (101 in Argentina and 284 abroad) and new course number 30 since I permanently moved to Marbella (Spain). I first did most of the ones around my area I had not played before and then when restrictions started to open slowly I did the ones further from home with some very good surprises. I have now a wider idea of my area and can identify many more potential trips here.

Montecastillo is a Jack Nicklaus Course, former host of the Andalucía Masters for the European Tour and very close neighbor of the Jerez de la Frontera Speed Track where the noise of F1 cars and Moto GP engines must make it impossible to play during a race.

Montecastillo has good “bones”, with some similarities to Monte Rei in Algarve, some others to Finca Cortesín but in this very tough stretch since March 2020 the course has struggled and it is not in good shape. I can’t blame management because us golfers do not know what each course has been going through and places that make their money on Tourism (Like I do) have been fighting very high to survive.

I really hope Montecastillo can get to what it has been because it is a very fun course, playable and with challenge at the same time with some great golf holes and very nice views of the Jerez city.

There are some great holes like par 5 3rd, par 3 8th, par 4 10th where the lake on the right side makes it a very tough tee shot, par 4 1th and the great 18th with an elevated tee shot to a fairway that gets narrower as you go longer to a very tight approach to a green protected by water on the left side.

Service on the ProShop is very good, Restaurant at Barcelo Hotel very good and the overall experience is good, just hope Covid brings some fresh air and it can get back to what it was.

Sad to hear the condition of this place is going down hill. Several airlines including Ryanair and Easyjet cut down their services to Jerez airport, so it must be hard to attract visitors. This is a shame, because it's a fantastic course with a nice hotel, and Jerez is a nice city to visit. We went through a phase of coming here every year, but it's been a while now since our last visit.

As a former stop on the European Tour, the course can challenge the pros, has great greens, and has fantastic practice facilities. It is very recognisable as a Jack Nicklaus layout, and for me has a similar design style, especially the green complexes, to the Heritage course at the London Club. What Montecastillo has in abundance (apart from sunshine) are high elevated tees. Play it off the back tees, and you have some daunting carries down to the fairway below, with strategically placed bunkers asking to be carried. It's all set out in front of you, there are no tricks, and I think this is very much a drivers golf course.

The course has a gentle start and takes a while to get going, but the front nine has a strong finish: 7 plays from an elevated tee with water coming into play right alongside the green, 8 is a well protected par 3 with water down the right, and then 9 is a very attractive driving hole from an elevated tee, with lots of fairway bunkers at driving distance the fairway rises to an elevated green and it's possible to get on to this par 5 green with two good hits.

The back 9 has a couple of weak holes at 10 and 17, which feel a bit cramped, but for me it also has the best holes on the course, with a series of par 4's driving from elevated tees. 13 and 15 are the pick of the bunch, as well as 18 with the lake in play down the left hand side.

I've always walked this course, carrying my own bag. To be fair it's a long walk, the holes are spread out and you have to climb a lot of hills to get to all these spectacular elevated tees. It's 7,000 yards off the back tees, but the course plays shorter due to the elevated tees.

Myself and my best pal played this course in may 17, absolutely unbelievable. Everyone else in the reviews seems to think the course has gone massively down hill so not sure how good the course must have been before hand because it was fantastic when we played it.

The opening hole is brilliant, a short uphill par 4, with hills/mounds to the left of the fairway and an array of bunkers to the right, you can either pull out the big dog and go aggressive over the bunkers, which will leave you 20 odd yards in or knock a 4 iron to the left of the bunker(BORING).

There are plenty of memorable other holes also including the third, looooong par 5, with water all down the right and bunkers down the left, once you get near the green theres even more bunkers and water to contend with, so a 5 or a 6 here is a decent score.

Another is the 8th, a cracking par 3, where if you don't carry the front of the green, you'll need a bucket and spade, the bunkers are hugeeeee. To finish the front 9 you have a lovely par 5 off elevated tees, with an unbelievable view.

The back 9 also had plenty of good holes with water and bunkers coming into play on most holes, 12, 13 and 14 is a cracking stretch of holes with a par 5 followed by a 4 and a 3.

The finishing hole 18, is spectacular as you'll have probably seen by all the pictures on google, the views and immense and the hole is even better, hitting the fairway is vital as there is a lot of water left of the green and also everyone on the patio can see your approach shot so you don't want to make a fool of yourself...

The greens are class the whole way round, very fast and true. The bunkers were perfect and the fairways ran a mile. Would recommend any to go play it, its a great test of all your game but also very enjoyable.

A buggy would be advised as its a long walk between tees and also very hilly.

Played the course today. The layout is nice. But the condition is bad except the greens. The bunkers were not good one many holes, as the workers have driven their cars into the bunkers and not fixed in afterwords. Most of the rough and fairways are average.I mean this course is overrated. All the courses I've played in Spain has better conditions.

The older of Jack's 2 Montes, The other being Rei just across the border in Portugal, and they share some traits. You will need a buggy, walking is pure folly. They are built on land that enjoys some spectacular elevation changes and they are an honest and fair test for players of all standards. What is interesting however is what progression there is at Monte Re. You can see from Jack’s earlier work here, there is less complexity in the detail, it has more of a broad brush feel to it and despite the majority of the holes being fantastic fun there are some that are ordinary and a bit clumsy like 17 and 10. They are imposed on the landscape rather than flowing with it. You just can’t say any of that about Monte Re, where Jack has reached a zenith in his architecture career. It is also as if this might have been one of the first courses ever designed on a computer. Massive bunkers dominate some holes for example. It can be easy to be left with a 50 yard greenside bunker shot over sand. The scale seems wrong or clumsy on the par 5 16 for example. However, we loved this course. Mainly because the tee shots are terrific fun here and there always a few options from the tee. There are some excellent par 4’s. The 5’s and the 3’s are okay too. We had 5 days here and it was incredibly good value. No doubt you will be staying in the Barcelo? The all inclusive for five days+ is the way to go. You have a 15% discount on the buggies to 40 Euros and unlimited golf. To play 36 holes add another 20 Euros. Not bad at all. I highly recommend this place for a golf trip. The accommodation is generous and very comfortable, the golf is exciting, fun and above all it is terrific value. JCB LAY

Not only is Montecastillo a stunning golf course, originally built to a high standard for the Volvo Masters but in recent years has had extensive work carried out to enhance it even more, great variety of water holes and well placed bunkering make for a golfing experience that you must try: What makes this venue even nicer are the staff, they are so pleasant and are always there to please, Added to that the hotel is excellent with well appointed rooms, great restaurant and good food: Again the restaurant staff are truly superb: There has been considerable investment over the past years in the whole resort, and it shows: If the ladies in your life are not golfers they will love the Spa and Heath Treatments or even just relaxing by the pool. This is a gem that you don't want to miss: Most certainly highly recommended for the serious golfer.

Just got back from a four day break at this superb hotel and golf course. This is a Jack Nicklaus masterpiece! Fantastic condition with most of the holes memorable, with 16, 17 and 18 possibly being up with the best of finishing holes.

Very good golf course, condition was fantastic every single day. almost every hole is memorable and in my opinion their isnt really any weak holes! The 18th hole is simply a fantastic finishing hole to rival any! If you look to play here, dont be concerned about playing the same course for a number of days, you wont get bored! Absolute bargain with a top quality hotel!

We were in Montecastillo not long ago.The Jack Nicklaus designed golf course was in very good shape and we absolutely loved the layout.The staff was superb at all times.We definitily be back soon.

I have just returned from a trip to Spain. In fact, to Montecastillo, Jerez. My hubby gave me as a present for our wedding anniversary, a 7 days stay in the Montecastillo Hotel with a daily green fee. At the beginning, I was not very keen on the idea; I wanted to go by the seaside..but he was right!! I have enjoyed one of the most beautiful golf courses in Spain. Great and very professional design by Jack Nicklaus, incredible views from hole 18 and also I found out that it was venue of the Volvo Masters during a few years!! You can tell they keep doing a very good maintenance work. We have had a really good time!!