Torrequebrada - Southern Spain - Spain

Played last Sunday morning and pretty much had the course to ourselves for most of the way. Fun to play with some really oblique dog legs and interesting drives off the back tees. Some of it feels very tropical. Sadly let down by conditioning; a lot of rain 2 nights before and several holes down by the road were clearly the worse for that. Could be a really good course to play with some love and attention.

When you go to the Málaga-Marbella region, you expect most of the courses to be built on undulating terrain, but maybe not as much, or not as “wild” a design as Torrequebrada, which occupies the heart of the town of Benalmádena just south of Málaga. Already, finding the entrance of the club is not easy, even with a GPS: it is located in a severely downhill, winding lane, and the only sign visible when driving is… when you go uphill, whereas most first time visitors come from the highway way on up. Just the first reason to qualify the course as a “hidden gem”!

Torrequebrada is a course which is best played with a buggy, there is no doubt about that. The hills between and around which the fairways meander are steep, and many. This makes for some unusual holes, pretty much throughout the course. It takes a bit of strategy thinking to go round, rather than length off the tee. Take the first three: The 1st hole is an uphill par five, not long at all at 435 meters from the tips. You face a big hole, and the fairway seems to start only 100 meters away. In fact, you see a tree, and a big bunker, because after these “markers” there is a big dip. Driver is not an option here because the fairway continues uphill in a narrow corridor toward the elevated green. The par-four 2nd seems to lack a real fairway because of the hill on the left, which one should carry, and the trees on the right at the foot of the hill, and the second shot is again to a sharply elevated green, a blind one therefore. And then the third is a “pocket” par-three, 90 meters from the back, barely over 60 meters for ladies! Here, precision with the wedge is the master word as the green is far from flat and is surrounded by deep bunkers. And on from there to new adventures!

Other scenic and unusual holes include the 7th (313 meters par-four), the tee is very elevated, the tee shot is over a city street to a somewhat narrow fairway and using the driver is probably not a good idea as there is a lake barring the hole well within the range of long hitters. The green is tucked into the left corner of the hole behind the lake, and you can barely see a third of it from the tee. The final hole is also a grand view: the tee is located to the left of the fairway, at the top of a hill, which allows the player to see both the eighteenth and the sixth fairways, then the clubhouse and the mountains in the background. The tee shot is across a ravine, with a sharp slope on the left if you miss the fairway on this side, and bunkers on the right. Then the approach shot must be precise, as anything left of the elevated green may dribble down the steep hill into a very deep set of bunkers, and anything right into another large bunker running the length of the green. The only real option to miss the green is long, but your ball will be caught in the rough on a steep incline.

Despite all of the hill climbing, there is a lot of water on the course, as nine holes include water hazards around their greens.

Playing this surprising course was a lot of fun, a bit dampened however by the condition of the greens at the end of the season: the drought had damaged some of them quite a bit and many had to be resurfaced with new “tiles”. This affected the putting a bit, but not to the point of spoiling the game as the flags were placed accordingly. Another visit when the course is in optimal form would be most welcome. In the meantime, we certainly enjoyed cool drinks and good food at the reasonable Spanish prices on the terrace of the clubhouse, overlooking the 18th green and fairway.

Nice course played April 2015. Very poor welcome,very poor front of house/receptionist. Be prepared to be ignored for a while whilst checking in. Visitors are unwelcome but once you get on the course it's worth the trouble.

To me the best course on the costa Del Sol. Always in good condition and always challenging (3rd is a lob wedge shot par 3!) always play this course when in the area but generally rotate the others. Miquel Angel Jimenez has been known to be spotted practicing to, so you never know you may get to see him as well.Every hole I find enjoyable and I will be playing again...

Having played Finca Cortesin, San Roque New, Alcaidesa Links and La Reserva, Torrequebrada was a nice finish to our tiring golf trip. Some of the holes were very challenging, but in general it was a good course for a good amateur. Most of the holes are sheltered from the wind. The restaurant serves good food at reasonable prices, so in general an enjoyable experience.

This is a lovely track and perhaps one of the best courses in this part of the Costa. Very friendly welcome, practice facilities a little scruffy and 'down the road' a short distance. But course itself is well laid out, some good holes and good mixture of challenges. Course in good condition, its a course though that would be difficult to walk round the whole way as it feels like a long track. the cluster of holes from the 7th-11th are very enjoyable and varied. Nice big clubhouse aswell with good views from outside balcony over the course towards the sea. The golf trip i go each June always play here, its always on their itinerary every year ...

I have played many courses around the Marbella region and this is without doubt one of the best. A lot of dog leg holes which require accuracy, some holes with water in front of the green, some where you can get the driver out and have a go, some with dramatic elevation changes. All in all i think it has a bit for everyone. I rate the courses i have played in this order. Finca Cortesin/Torrequebrada/Aloha/Monte Mayor(now closed)/La Cala Asia/La Cala America/La Quinta/Alhaurin/El Chapparal/Los Flamingos/Santa Maria/SantaClara/Calanova/Cobopino/Baveira/Parador. To be quite honest apart from the top 3 most of them are all much or a muchness and i am always happy to play any of them. These three courses are more expensive and i suppose you get what you pay for.

I was really impressed with this track. We played this, El Chapperel and Mijas Los Lagos and this was the best of the three. Pretty course, lovely club house, a variety of holes with some quirky (the little par 3 of 98 yards! and I think the 7th - a short downhill par 4 with a lake at the bottom of the hill.) and some wide and some narrow fairways, just the odd smattering of water. It had a touch of Vilamora about it. The buggies were equipped with GPS's and you could take them on the fairway which really helps. It can be a bit of a "ball loser" - which can make for a long round - but it is a corker of a course. Thoroughly reccommend this track.

I share the views of all the other reviewers. Without doubt the best course on Costa del Sol. The course is testing but fair with a few really spectacular holes. A bit pricey but worth it. Incidentally streets ahead of Santana. Nice club house.

Do not undertand why it is so far down the list! Played this in feb 2009 and thankfully played well because bad shots are punished! Great course with lots of water and trees and little terrapins scattering around the fairways!! lots of great holes but by far the most nerve racking approach is the 18th right under a verrander where lots of members are having lunch!!