Palomarejos

Situated in the municipality of Toledo, to the southwest of the capital, the course at Palomarejos Golf weaves around a handful of shimmering lakes in a straightforward out and back routing. Designed by Julian Garcia Mayoral of Aymerich Golf Management, the 18-layout first opened for play in 2006.

Half a dozen holes are seriously affected by water hazards, most notably the 144-metre 4th, which plays to a peninsula green jutting out into one of the lakes. A large bunker to the front right side of the putting surface further concentrates the thoughts of golfers on the tee box at this treacherous short hole.

The 494-metre 9th, one of three par fives on the front nine, is the longest hole on the card and its fairway seems to narrow considerably as it doglegs right towards the green, with a large, sandy waste area on the right side of the fairway separating the hole from the practice range.

The 461-metre 14th is the only par five on the inward half, veering left past a small lake on its way to the target, where the green sits behind a ditch running diagonally across the fairway, a hundred metres in front of the putting surface. Interesting to note, all five holes in a strong finishing stretch here are rated between stoke index 1 and 7 on the scorecard.

Beatriz Hesse Manterola, the General Manager at Palomerejo, kindly provided us with the following comments:

“Our signature hole, the 4th is a spectacular par three, not by length, but by the presence of a large lake that protects the green on both sides and behind. It is the first hole that faces east and its green – good-sized with little internal movement – forms a peninsula into the water, which gives it a very special drama.

The risky player who wants to go for the flag, especially when located at the bottom of the green, should carefully measure the shot to avoid the water. However, the conservative player may find an entrance to the wide green and that unhindered approach should allow a par to be secured without too much difficulty.

The 15th is our toughest hole. This long par four is of average length and it’s a good hole to start an exciting and decisive sequence of holes that lead to the home green and the clubhouse. A lake must be carried with the tee shot then there’s more water on the left to catch hooked drives.

There’s less punishment on the right side but a large slice might result in the ball finishing in a stream. The fairway then doglegs right towards a smallish, two-tiered green where anyone who two-putts for par should be well pleased with such an achievement.”