Discovering Golf Paradise: A Journey through the Volvo World Match Play Championship Finca Cortesin, where challenging holes, breathtaking scenery, and exceptional service converge for an unforgettable golfing experience.
Just away from the A-7 towards Casares is the home of the Volvo World Match Play Championship Finca Cortesin, which promises an exceptional experience for both intermediate and advanced players.
Grand Entrance and Clubhouse Elegance
Once through the security guarded entrance across the cobbled courtyard, the caddy master greets and relieves you of your clubs and ushers players to the reception.
Inside the clubhouse the staff are extraordinarily welcoming, and the subtle chic decoration of the interior with vast Georgian windows overlooking the terrace and the wide expanse of the 6800 metre course, is breathtaking. The clubs are brought to the caddy master’s office with a courtesy bag of tees, 4 bottles of water, a pitch repair etc. and free use of the driving range is available whilst you wait to tee off. Tee times are 12 minutes apart.
Challenging Greens and Unforgiving Slopes
I elected to walk the course, although a buggy would have been inclusive to the green fees. My decision was met with some raised eyebrows and smiles, and I quite understood why once I had completed the 18 holes Not something I would repeat mid – summer!
The greens are often well protected by bunkers, many of them deep and leaving a blind shot to the green. If lucky enough to avoid the bunkers the approaches can be narrow with unforgiving slopes.
A Daring Drive on the 15th
Quite my favourite hole was the 15th and with no guidance as to the location of red tees I chose to drive from the yellows. I had to clear a valley of dense forest which spanned close to 200 metres to reach the fairway which in turn sloped steeply back down towards the trees. Head down, a confident drive and I made the fairway where my second shot brought me 70 metres short of the green. However the lie of the fairway coaxed the ball 30 metres back down the slope and into the skirt of the rough grass. I still shot the hole in 6, and smiling at it’s fickle nature and cruel entertainment.
Spectacular Highlights and Challenges
The overall layout of the course, played through the dense valleys, created some natural hazards and wonderful tee shots. The 10th is a spectacular par 3, overlooking the Estepona mountains and due to the elevation of the tee makes it hard to gauge the lie or indeed which club to use. I used a 5 iron and was onto the green.
The 11th is one to watch, a double dog leg with a blind second shot it is an incredibly long hole and the green has a narrow approach between bunkers.
The final drive on the 18th is uphill and dogleg left. After 5 hours walking in blistering heat, I was prepared to declare this one unscored. However I was exceptionally surprised at my drive which cleared the brow of the hill and rolled smoothly into the centre of the fairway giving me a good second shot up to the green.
Exceptional Course, Satisfying Experience
All in all an exceptional course. The greens are like glass, and extremely satisfying. The fairways are well maintained albeit noted to be cheeky, if not a tad cruel, in places!
I came away with a score I was delighted with, despite losing a few balls along the way, and the whole experience was made all the more gratifying by the outstanding service of the staff.
A must for any player wanting to experience a hidden jewel of a course. Just take my advice and hire a buggy!
Our Rating 5/5
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