Course Review of Desert Springs Golf Club Spain

Desert Springs Golf Course

Location:- Almeria

6173 yards, par 72

Please Note! There are two course reviews here. The first by Peter McEvoy (The Golf Course designer) and the second review is by Andrew Butcher (Director of Golf Holidays Abroad)

A MESSAGE FROM THE INDIANA COURSE DESIGNER PETER McEVOY

A bit of advice on Desert Springs - keep it on the fairways!! It is better to be conservative
and accumulate your score. The Indiana is not the kind of course that yields to overpowering.
Like most championship courses you have to think your way round. Club selection is vital in
many areas. Sometimes a little more is needed, sometimes a little less - think before you swing!

Hole 1. Cactus Point
A generous drive to a double fairway with "OUT OF BOUNDS" all the way down the right side, so keep LEFT! The second shot must avoid a crossing of desert and should ideally be guided short left to open up the green, which is well protected with bunkers and mounding. Play for position rather than distance and you are sure to succeed!

Hole 2. Gulch
While it is a disaster for those hitting right into the gorge, this is a fairly straightforward hole. Remember that you are playing to a slightly elevated green so the hole will play possibly one club longer than the distance states! Keep the ball below the hole as any putting from the back of the green will be fast.

Hole 3. Crazy Horse
A birdie hole for the longer hitters. However, with "OUT OF BOUNDS" on the right and strategic bunkering, punishment awaits anyone pushing or slicing. A small green awaits with the first water hazard on the course ready to penalize shots clearing the green. Goliath can challenge the Giant on this hole by using his head!

Hole 4. Cinch
No fairway hazards here and quite generous. Into the wind this is quite a difficult par 4 and will often require a longisn second shot with trouble waiting both left and right of the green. The green is well protected and of subtle contour. Take a par and be happy!

Hole 5. Notch
A short par 4 but don't be too relaxed. Avoid going right, water awaits! Position off the tee is paramount, not distance! The test for the second shot is one of accuracy with the green being wide and shallow. Inaccurate approaches which hit the green can leave frightening putts.

Hole 6. The Gambler
Reachable for the long hitters but what a risk... hence its name THE GAMBLER! Water and rocks up the right and bunkers and desert left, it is rarely worth taking the chance. A 200 yard long drive will only leave a pitch anyway. The green will reward accuracy but will really penalize anyone missing the target on the wrong side. Go with your head rather than your heart!

Hole 7. Tequila
Perhaps the feature hole of the first nine. This hole doglegs right and, while the fairway is large requires great care with the drive. The second shot is tough over a stream to a small target with a severe green. No pretence here it is just very difficult. If you can't take your medicine lay up short, you'll be thankful you did!!

Hole 8. Head Dunk
If there is a breeze then this par 3 can be deceptively longer than it appears. The mounding around the green gathers the slightly inaccurate shot and sheds the poorer shot. Don't leave the ball on the high side of the green!

Hole 9. Hacienda
While this par 5 is not particularly long it is very narrow with trouble waiting on both sides of the fairway. The dry river bed running across the fairway has to be laid up to or surpassed - your choice. The green, being very shallow, hardly welcomes a long low shot and bunkers short and long are there to catch such approaches. A slope from left to right will test your putting touch.

Hole 10. Eagles Back
The tightest drive so far with 3 fairway bunkers requiring thought as well as accuracy. Don't go left! If the fairway is found then a demanding second shot over water to a tight green is the challenge. Again, use your head, or this hole will eat you alive!

Hole 11. Bones
Stroke index one says it all! A beautifully sculpted hole rising over a saddle of a fairway with all the danger waiting down the left. Go right, and dictated by your distance off the tee you will be left with a choice of going for the green, which is well protected and slightly perched up, or laying up short of the desert crossing. Think first!

Hole 12. Chiauita
A superb par 3 framed by the hill top town of Mojacar in the backdrop. Do not be distracted or deceived by the front bunker. This is situated well short of the green but looks from the tee as though it is greenside. Many a shot will fall short into a hidden bunker because golfers went with their eye rather than believing the length.

Hole 13. Oh! Mama
This par 5 encompasses everything that is Desert Springs. It has rock, wadis, cactus, water and enormous colour - a true golfing challenge. This is a thinker's hole. Plot your way to the fairway areas that suit your ability. The green is well protected by water especially with a devilish pin position at the back right.

Hole 14. Tiburon
What a hole! Water has now become the strong theme of the course. A very wide and very shallow green needs the player to pick the right club and hit well. However, the beauty of this hole makes a bogey almost acceptable. Bail out is short left.

Hole 15. Abyss
The start of the finish. A finish to test the accuracy and golfing common sense as much as power. This par 4 doglegs left with a generous fairway. Keep right off the tee to open up the hole. The green is long and narrow with a large saddle in the middle, probably the toughest green to date protected with a desert crossing and water to the left.

Hole 16. Red Rock
The tee shot must be left to get the best angle to the flag with "OUT OF BOUNDS" running all the way down the right. Aim for the white cross in the distance and you will be safe. There is a lot of fairway left too as it doubles up with the 5th hole. A short iron will be left for most players but the green is demanding again. If the pin is at the back of the green then take more club.

Hole 17. El Burro
A short par 3 with a green that is demanding. Slightly offset with large cavernous bunkers protecting all sides. It may well catch you out if you are too relaxed.

Hole 18. Last Chance
The "OUT OF BOUNDS" eats into the right so the tee shot must be played well to the left. Aim for the white cross in the distance but be careful of the pond thats awaits incorrect club selection! This line also opens up the large green. A stream runs all the way down the left of the fairway and behind the green. Palm trees surround and signify a welcome home to golfers having experienced the first and only genuine desert golf course in Europe.

This second review is by Andrew Butcher (Director of Golf Holidays Abroad)

Desert Springs is Europe’s first desert golf course and those lucky enough to play will agree that it is a truly wonderful experience.

Desert Springs has it all: Great course design, incredible service, superb facilities and with the Desert Springs Golf Resort a fantastic environment to enjoy a magical golf holiday in Spain.
The most surprising thing whilst you are playing golf on the Indiana course at Desert Springs, a new resort course is planned, is the tranquility you will enjoy. The natural surroundings of the desert environment coupled with the extraordinary guaranteed weather makes Desert Springs one of the best choices in Europe for your golf holiday.

The course designer, Peter McEvoy (former Walker Cup captain) has already been commissioned to design the new resort course and with his imagination this will be a great addition to the championship standard Indiana course.

Whilst playing at Desert Springs there are two local rules to remember! There are many ‘Desert Areas’ that come into play. You are allowed to mark and clean your ball and replace it within a clubs length. In the ‘planted areas’ you are not allowed to play your shot from and drop from the nearest entry point. All plants are projected and must be respected.

The following course review was written by Andy Butcher of Golf Holidays Abroad who was lucky enough to be invited to play at Desert Springs in January 2006 along with the course Director and two other superior golfers!

COURSE REVIEW

Hole 1 is a Par 5 and 514 metres (White Tees) and is SI 6
Cactus Point is an apt starting hole as there are many cactus to admire during your round. This Par five is a slight dog-leg right and nothing too dangerous until you reach the green. If you are too long on your second shot you will roll into the ‘Desert Area’. There are plenty of these and not fun to play from. There are three bunkers around the green. Take care to observed the ‘punch-bowl’ shaped one. These are scattered around the course and are a nightmare to get up and down from.

Hole 2 is a Par 3 and 165 metres (White Tees) and is SI 18
Gulch is the first Par three at Desert Springs. It uphill all the way and a bigger club is suggested here. Two bunkers on the right are dangerous! Especially if you are standing in them when my ‘shank’ is fast approaching your head! Ask the course director!

Hole 3 is a Par 5 and 480 metres (White Tees) and is SI 8
Crazy Horse is a great name for this hole as there is a beautiful statue to admire at the green and depending on you lie on your approach it can be a good marker. This has a tight fairway and two bunkers waiting to trap any loose drives. A total of five bunkers surround the Crazy Horse green.

Hole 4 is a Par 4 and 399 metres (White Tees) and is SI 4
Cinch is a pretty straight forward Par four with no fairway bunkers but and a wide fairway. The hole is made difficult by it’s small green. If you don’t hit it then expect a up and down in three.

Hole 5 is a Par 4 and 331 metres (White Tees) and is SI 16
Notch also has a wide fairway and placement is key here as there are two big bunkers at the green which you can ill afford to be in.

Hole 6 is a Par 4 and 276 metres (White Tees) and is SI 14
The Gambler is a great hole for poker players! You may think you can make the green in one. Anything to the left will leave you with no cards to play. So be wise and take a simple iron off the tee and make a birdie here like my playing partners.

Hole 7 is a Par 4 and 385 metres (White Tees) and is SI 2
Tequilla will have you dreaming of the bar as you will be getting hot and bothered by now. If you drive is not long enough here you will be swallowed up by the dry water hazard. Once negotiated the fairway twists and narrows. A bigger, wetter water hazards greets you at the front of the green.

Hole 8 is a Par 3 and 206 metres (White Tees) and is SI 12
Head Dunk is the longest Par 3 at Desert Springs. There is a big bunker right of the green but don’t go left either as it’s just as dangerous to the left. Be brave and ‘lay-up’ like me and make par.

Hole 9 is a Par 5 and 465 metres (White Tees) and is SI 10
Hacienda is a dangerous hole with lots going on. A small stream in the middle of the fairway will have thinking off the tee as you have too carry over the desert area as well. There is another stream at green along with another one of those ‘Punch-Bowl’ bunkers. The green is fairly small and take care whilst putting.

Hole 10 is a Par 4 and 371 metres (White Tees) and is SI 5
Eagles Back has an undulating fairway which is unusual for Desert Springs as most of the fairways have been flat and true. There are fairway bunkers that make you think and a dry lake on the left for those hooked drives.

Hole 11 is a Par 4 and 400 metres (White Tees) and is SI 1
Bones has one of the only blind tee shots at Desert Springs. Rated as SI one, this is a mean Par 4. If you drive over the hill then you will be faced with a difficult 2nd shot because if it’s not long enough it will be swallowed up by the desert area protecting the front of the green. And I for one found out how difficult it is to play from there.

Hole 12 is a Par 3 and 173 metres (White Tees) and is SI 17
Chiquita is a pleasant sounding name for a hole but this is a nasty little Par 3. You tee over another desert area and across a dry lake or like me, in the dry lake. There is a nasty one of those ‘bowl shaped’ bunkers guarding the green. No excused, you shouldn’t make a 7 at any Par 3.

Hole 13 is a Par 5 and 468 metres (White Tees) and is SI 7
Oh Mama! Please let me see the clubhouse. A rather long Par 5 that has stream waiting to attract any short drives and is also OOB on the right hand side. Not handy if you slice the ball! The hole then Dog Legs right towards a green that has bunkers on the right hand side. Again, not handy for the slicer!

Hole 14 is a Par 3 and 147 metres (White Tees) and is SI 13
Tiburon is probably the most photogenic hole at Desert Springs which annoyed my playing partners. A strong iron is required over the lake, or in it. The green is a little oblong so accuracy would be nice.

Hole 15 is a Par 4 and 386 metres (White Tees) and is SI 3
Abyss has a wide fairway that turns left towards the hole. Another desert area if your drive is too long. The green is probably the longest so far at Desert Springs and is also very undulating.

Hole 16 is a Par 4 and 333 metres (White Tees) and is SI 15
Red Rock is a very dangerous Par 4. Your aim should be the big white cross in the distance. This is a mean position for the marker though as if you are too accurate you will fall in the ditch that it sits next too. It’s a narrow fairway that turns right towards the hole and has some nasty bunkers at the green.

Hole 17 is a Par 3/4 and 135/316 metres (White Tees) and is SI 9
El Burro can be played as a Par 3 or Par 4 as there is still a little construction taking place. Unluckily for me it played it as a Par 3 which was unhelpful. It’s a pretty hole that like most of the previous 16 holes had a devious pin placement and putting was quite tough as the green is an awkward shape.

Hole 18 is a Par 4 and 344 metres (White Tees) and is SI 11
Last Chance for what I asked! The 18th at Desert Springs is one of the best holes if not the most scenic. Palm trees line the fairways and as you get closer to the clubhouse (at last) the cactus and plant life is really awesome. The hole dog legged right and I was able to use my slice to good affect. The green is huge, at least 150 foot long and hopefully the pin will be placed on the front for you as there is lots of water at the back of the green.

Overall the Indiana Course at Desert Springs Golf Resort was a wonderful experience that I can now personally recommend. To be able to play in mid January in temperatures in the low 80s is a real treat.

The beauty and tranquilly of the course will surprise you but most of all the welcome, service and professionalism of the staff is unmatched in Spain.

Desert Springs is an outstanding choice for your Golf Holiday in Spain.

Andy Butcher, Golf Holidays Abroad

To Book anything from a single Tee Time to a complete golfing holiday package call one of our golf holiday consultants on:- (+44) 020 8644 9229, Fax (+44) 020 8644 9779 or e-mail or written quotations to:- Golf Holidays Abroad Ltd, 234 Gander Green Lane, Sutton, Surrey. SM3 9QF.

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