Nejapa

Nejapa Golf & Country Club was established in 1940 when founding members had use of a 9-hole course on a hillside field close to the sulphurous waters of Lake Nejapa. Seventeen years later, the club moved to its present 172-acre site on the outskirts of the capital at the former El Retiro farm.

Laid out on gently undulating terrain, the tree-lined fairways at Nejapa are, in the main, generously proportioned and they play to large, lightly bunkered greens. That’s not to say it’s an easy course to play – far from it as it’s rated three strokes over the par of 72 when played from the back markers.

Toughest hole on the front nine is undoubtedly the 442-yard 5th, where out of bounds lurks to the left side of one of the narrowest fairways on the card. The accolade of most photogenic hole is definitely reserved for the 190-yard 13th, where Lake Xolotlán forms the backdrop to this lovely par three.

The home hole is a 450-yard par four that doglegs sharply to the right and its fairway slides past a sizeable lake en route to the putting surface. Because the 18th plays into the prevailing wind, only the bravest (or most foolish) of golfers will risk going for the green in two blows.