Real Valderrama - Southern Spain - Spain

I first played Valderrama in June 2008 and looking back then I certainly was not blown away by the course as I hoped. I played again in November 2009 and this time the feeling was different, I took time to enjoy my day and it was a real 'stop and smell the flowers' experience. I have written many times that it is very special to play the famous courses and here at Spain's No. 1, that is true also. As well as the wonderful course, Valderrama is an experience that visitors from all around the world always remember; ours included the relaxing coffee and air of anticipation ahead of the move to the ultra professional practice ground, the 18 holes and then the welcoming cervezas on the terrace post-round.It would be easy to speak about most of the holes here but I'll limit my praise to my favourite four; the 2nd is a par-4 under 400 yards but with an imposing cork tree in the middle of the fairway at landing point - this is actually a perfect line with a slight draw (for the right handers!) - definitely need to be left of the tree for a chance to attack the green. The 4th hole named La Cascada (Waterfall), is one of Europe's finest par-5's - a tough drive, a demanding lay-up and then a precise approach with the obvious waterfall at the tiny green. The toughest par-3 is at the 12th and is also my choice as best one-shotter here - trees and bunkers have the green surrounded, there is out-of-bounds to the right and a huge drop-off to the left. The last hole for me to mention is the famed par-5 17th; an inviting drive favouring a slight fade, then the decision to either lay up or try for the green...both the drive and lay-up have to be accurate as there are bunkers placed at the landing points. A mention here to my playing partner in 2009, who after a poor drive on the 17th and then a chop out of the trees to exactly 204 yards from the hole, then proceeded to hole a 4-wood for the most unlikely eagle you will see!The last couple of things to mention about Valderrama is the very secret executive 9-hole hole course; if you have a spare hour try and play it, great fun and lastly, do try and see Derek Brown the General Manager; who is one of the true good guys in the golf industry.

Played twice in Oct. 2009 on holiday with my father. We received a nice welcome after being introduced to the club. Great playing surfaces and the holes with elevation changes were very beautiful, especially #3,4,5,6,10,11,15. I also liked 17. Wonderful greens to putt on and pitch to. Clearing some trees to open up views even further may help the scenery as well. Fun course to play and an enjoyable challenge.

I have played Valderrama a number of times,and on the last visit after paying a large green fee,I felt treated like a real second class citizen. We had arrived early hoping to enjoy the practise facilities but were told by some "jobsworth" Spaniard that we were not allowed onto the range until 12.30, half an hour before tee off. Thank G-D I knew Derek Brown,he told us to enjoy our day and to use the facilities at our leisure. Once out on the course,yes it's in immaculate condition apart from the greens being scuffed up by soft and metal spikes. The "PISTE DE RESISTANCE" was being told we were TWO MINUTE'S behind time as we stood on the 7th Tee.The verbal explosion that came out of my mouth will remain a secret. The round was okay but it is like a "FACTORY".Churning out groups every 8-10 mins. Give me a Les Bordes or a Queenwood anyday. Highly unlikely will be going back for a return visit.

I played the course last November 19th, under some rain in the first 9 holes. It was during the 2009 IGTM Show invited by my friend Andy. I was scheduled not to take my clubs to Spain, but when he confirmed our visit to Valderrama, my plans changed!

The course cannot be better: some of the best US features under RTJ Sr´s design plus a lot of charm and tradition only featured in the UK, so a really perfect combination. The course is in pristine shape, greens run a speed of 12 feet and every detail is where it has to be. Almost all tee shots are really tough, so there you have the clue to score (plus a hot putter, which I didn´t have!). Some holes are really astonishing (2,4,5,7,10,17).

We decided to walk the course and couldn´t have been a better idea. I really enjoyed the walk, the details, the history, everything. We played a fourball match and we tied! My game was not the best (scored 82 from Championship tees) but all the same I will always be grateful for being allowed to play a piece of history. Hole 4 is said to be one of his best designs by RTJ, I can assure you he is completely right!!!!

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Valderrama more than once and when I say lucky I mean lucky because it is never less than perfect in condition. If you combine the best layout I’ve ever played with the serenity of golf course with not a hint of traffic noise with conditioning that is unparalleled and a welcome that makes you feel like the first customer that’s ever walked through the door. Add to that a history that includes Volvo Masters ,WGC events and a Ryder Cup and knowing you are treading the boards with the best golfers who ever played the game.

I have not played enough golf in the States to compare it with the best in the US but forget the best in mainland Europe - Valderrama is without question the best course In the whole Europe. When I finally pass please insure that part of me is left in that perfect spot at the top of the hill behind the 11th green – but don’t let it be yet as I still have more golf to play!

This course sucks, it deserves a half ball mark. Now, seriously, - the course is the best I have ever been happy enough to play and here is WHY (in no special order): The course is beautiful: yes, it looks like a magic forest from a fairy tale in sun light. The perfect, emerald green fairways are outlined by olive and cork trees which look 100s year old, and in fact I suppose they are. The atmosphere on the course can be described by two words - peace and serenity. - the piece of land on which the course was built is a perfect example of extraordinary golfing terrain. Look at your typical golf course - it is (depending on the location) either hilly/mountainous or flat. Not so at Valderrama - the terrain is perfectly undulated and ideal for golf, the way golf should be. Most guys nowadays tend to forget that a golf course shouldn't look like a lawn tennis court, nor should it resemble the FIS ski piste (ok, I am exaggerating it here but a ski piste anyway). What should it be like then?,- will you ask. The answer is go to Valderrama and have a look. - the course layout/architecture. The masterpiece of Trent Jones Sr. - and this says it all.

Want more details - here you are. Every hole has a strategical merit to it, every hole is fair and true (more on this later), every hole is at least a VERY GOOD golf hole and some are perfect (no.4, 17 to name a couple). Risk and reward - you have it here, accuracy on every shot - check up. - conditioning of the course. Great. The tee-boxes and rough are just good but the fairways are better than greens at most resorts and the greens are flat out perfect (more on that later).

The first thing you'll notice is that there are no divots on the fairways. Every flight is accompanied by a group of staffers who are repairing all the damage after each and every shot. The surface of the fairway looks so thick that it is unbelievable, like one meter thick. The fringes are like greens, running at about 8 on the stimpmeter, well, seriously. The greens are at about good 10-10,5. - the course is FAIR and TRUE. The fairest course I have ever played - if you make an excellent shot you will be golden, that is you'll have the best position for your next shot, if you hit a good shot - you'll have a good position for your next shot, if you hit an OK shot - your position will be OK, the bad shot will provide you with a bad lie and bad position and the very bad one - figure it out yourself. And this simple rule always works on Valderrama no matter what.

The greens are also FAIR and TRUE- they look flat and have only minor slopes and breaks but they all work. While during my visit the greens were not that lightning quick and were pretty receptive in fact, they were still a big challenge in the best sense of word. Make a good putt and you'll be there, make a bad one and you're missing. All in all, Valderrama is an outstanding golf facility and every true lover of the game should come here and enjoy it.

PS.: Some guys like to speak about "other golf courses" which are almost the same as Valderrama but way cheaper. They also say that Valderrama is not all that different from a course X or Y. Do not listen to those fellows. Comparing the course like Valderrama to ANY ordinary course and talking about minor differences is like comparing a Bentley or Rolls Royce to Hyundai stating that they are pretty similar because they both have four wheels. Golf is all about those peculiarities and tiny things and if you can not understand this and appreciate the outstanding beauty of Valderrama you better choose another sport. If a course is among world's best it is there for a good reason.

Valderrama is glorious. The holes are interesting and they’re beautiful. It’s an inspiring place to play the game. The seventeenth is a fabulous hole. I was surprised that a previous reviewer described it as out of place. I didn’t understand that. The sixteen previous holes (and the one after) seem to have some sort of reward on offer for bravery or skill or strength. The seventeenth is precisely the same, offering risk and reward aplenty. I also loved the fifth. But hey, everyone loves the fifth. Man, I loved them all…

The greens are superb, supremely difficult. That they’re so little meant I was always missing them and pitching from around them. And those pitches, given the speed and sometimes slope of them, are about as much fun as you can ever hope to have. The putting surfaces have to be attacked from the correct angle; or at my playing level they have to be missed on the correct side.

I suspect that to play this course more is to understand it and love it more. That said, one visit is enough to leave a significant impression. I know my playing partner left a significant impression. Unused to these things, he stood up on the practise ground and tried to take the top ball off of the pyramid. The shame… For all its grandeur though, it’s a happy place to spend some time. Like lots of the best clubs it’s quite easy going. As Jeff Bezos (or similar US billionaire) might stroll around the clubhouse at Loch Lomond or Skibo in his jeans, so you can feel fairly relaxed behind the security gates here, unlike maybe Muirfield (can I say that?). ANGLOSCOT

Valderrama, a true test of any golfers ability, the scores from the volvo masters prove year upon year that courses do not need to be long to be difficult. Valderrama is perfect in every department.

I know this is all about personal opinions but the review dated 15 june 2008 leaves me a little confused. If Valderrama is a "4 ball" course, then only a handful in the world will ever get 6! Had this reviewer a bad day at the time?? Let's be serious, most of the holes a really memorable, especially the par 3s and of course the 17th. As an actual fact, I thought all were memorable in their own right (either because of water, trees, views, you name it) apart from the par 4 14th, played uphill all the way, which is not really my cup of tea. Everything at Valderrama is top notch, from the minute you enter the property. Service was very good indeed, and staff very nice. This is such a classy place! Yes, few people play the course every day, but I don't think this is a reason to take the fantastic conditioning for granted! This is a huge amount of time and money spent, for the priviledge of members and visitors alike. Indeed, conditioning is as great as it gets, the pre greens probably better looking than most of the greens people ever play on! The greens are tiny and slopy, difficult to read and provide a real challenge. I actually expected them to be faster than they actually were, but that was tough enough in places! Only minor criticism I would mention is the quality of the sand in the bunkers, with its really thick grains which didn't provide the usual sand feel. But then again that's a false excuse as you're not supposed to be in them! Cedric

I have played some good courses in my time but this one takes your breath away. From the moment you approach the estate to entering via the gateman to your clubs being whisked away before you can stretch your legs from the hour long drive. There was a quiteness about the place, then as you approach the clubhouse the practice ground is right in front of you. All this and you haven't seen the first tee. I strongly recommend you pay a visit to the practice putting green before you step onto the first tee, the greens were at 10.5 when we played and that is on the flat. Frightning when you have a downhiller for your first putt!!. The course is magnificent in every dept. You can make it more difficult by playing of tees further back, we played of the yellow as it was our first visit and we wanted to enjoy the day without being terrified of the course. The greens were like velvet, the fairways like a carpet, even the rough was combed and to make it complete the sun shone all day. I highly recommend this course to everyone. Thank you to all the staff who made our day memorable.