the course and its many challenges were invaluable. As you'd expect, the course was in amazing shape, with fairways like carpet and greens running about 12.5 on stimp.
They could hold the Solheim Cup again that day, that was good.
We started at what is often the fourth hole, one of the course's many signature holes
– a 280 yard downhill on a par 4 that circles the lake.
It's driveable for big hitters, but the smart play for most is the upper right iron and wedge. From there the course meanders through varied terrain, elevation changes everywhere along with doglegs, great views in all directions, and lots of variety.
We stopped for a lunch break at the 10th, which may have inspired me, as I made a birdie on this amazing par 3, which plays mostly downhill behind the mountains.
All the short holes are excellent, and my favorite is the 12th, where Denmark's Emily Pedersen enjoyed hitting the second ace in Solheim Cup history.
The par-4 15th is another sight and is one of the tightest par 4s on the course, where you drive through the fairway before turning downhill.
Nacho's clubbing was a big help, and this paid off when I holed a 5-iron from 180 yards on the par-four 16th for a rare eagle.
Being a little greedy and trying to go with an eagle-birdie, I went straight to the flag on the 3rd 17th, with the pin on the house and trying to imitate Carlota Ciganda's birdie over World No 1 Nelly Korda that saw Europe retain the Solheim Cup, as it was tied at 14-14 . Sadly, it didn't pay for me and I got a place to stay.
The dogleg-left finisher on par 5 plays downhill on the second shot and then climbs back to a green that is well guarded by bunkers. It may give away the occasional birdie but it's one where you'll be happy to finish with a par.
As patient as the Cheshire cats, our group left the 18th green in the top golf course, having encountered one of the best courses in Europe presented in excellent condition.
SUPERB SPA
Needing to wind down after such a high-octane morning, I spent the afternoon in the Finca's magnificent 2,220m2 spa area enjoying a steam room, Turkish bath, sauna and ice combination to soothe tired limbs.
The spa also has a 25m indoor saltwater pool, a Technogym, a Snow Cave, and 10 rooms for a variety of Oriental-themed treatments, while there is an outdoor swimming pool and for fans of racquet sports there are tennis and padel courts.
INDEPENDENT NEWS
That night we had dinner in a private room – one of 16 in the area – which offers a different type of accommodation for families or a large group of friends.
The villas, boasting five en-suite double/twin bedrooms, have private gardens and swimming pools and enjoy beautiful mountain and sea views.
After a delicious dinner at the house, we headed back to the hotel where we were entertained by a group of hotel residents, who took request after request from our group, despite questionable music choices.
The hotel, designed by the late Portuguese architect Duarte Pinto Coelho, has
an old Andalusian feel, with dark living rooms, fabric-covered walls, and special doors that once closed the rooms of Benedictine monasteries.
Despite the fact that the market is undoubtedly, it still feels very homely, and all this depends on the staff, who meet seamlessly with the guests, while anticipating their every need with an almost shocking precision.
The next day we played the golf course again, but this time as a member or regular player who pays a green fee. It made it a little different, but still memorable, with more conservative opportunities on some holes and more gung-ho on others following our experience the previous day.
SEAFOOD IN HEAVEN
After lunch at the clubhouse and another visit to the spa, it was time for our farewell dinner
REI, one of the hotel's four restaurants, has one that specializes in Japanese cuisine with a Mediterranean influence.
With so many tempting dishes to choose from, I would not hesitate to recommend the tasting menu, which includes a heady mix of seafood, including wild red tuna, smoked salmon sashimi, sea bass (pictured below), oysters, razor clams, prawns , scallops and squid.
For those nights when you want something light, Don Giovanni offers an Italian menu with a Sicilian twist, with fresh pasta, pizzas and steaks among the popular options, while the Beach Club, located 1km from the hotel in Bahia de . Caceres, too, has a restaurant, where paella and freshly cooked Mediterranean dishes are the order of the day.
Our last day of our busy trip gave us plenty of time to brush up on our golf skills on the driving range and have lunch at the Poolside Bar before heading back to Malaga to catch my flight back to Gatwick, and the rough. the realities of life outside the luxuriously welcoming bubble that is Finca Cortesin.
For details on all golf packages available at Finca Cortesin, including green fees, stay and play rates, and the Finca Cortesin Experience, visit fincacortesin.com or email [email protected]
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