San Sebastian

Real Golf Club de Golf de San Sebastián was inaugurated in 1910 and the club moved to their present location in the mid 1960s when French professional Pierre Hirigoyen laid out an 18-hole course on 125 acres of hilly, forested terrain beside Mount Jaizkibel.

With wonderful distant views of the Basque Pyrenees from many of the holes, golf at San Sebastian is a very pleasant playing experience – though one afforded to very few golfers as this venerable old Spanish club only allows visitors as members guests.

Two feature holes are the uphill, short par fours at the 6th and 10th which both measure under 300 yards. Another fine hole is the 440-yard, par four, 5th where a downhill drive sets up a testing approach to a heavily bunkered green that slopes from left to right.

Some feel the final three holes on the lower ground beside the practice area are a bit of a let-down at the end of the round but don’t mention that in front of twice major winner and local golfing legend, José María Olazábal, as he probably won’t take too kindly to any adverse comment about his home club!