Most people looking to play golf in Spain will flock to its treasure chest of well-known courses along or close to its lovely and lively 3,000-mile coastline.
And while the various costas are home to some brilliant designs, heading inland can be rewarding in different ways.
Madrid is pretty much right in the centre of the country, and offers more than enough culture, history and tourist attractions to appeal to the most discerning traveller.
The city has a number of pedigree courses that make it a very appealing base for your next golfing trip.
Santander
Designed by Rees Jones and Seve Ballesteros in 2005, Santander is laid out on what was previously uninspiring land.
This is hard to imagine now as the result is an extremely attractive course kept in fine condition with bold bunkering and plenty of water.
This becomes particularly intrusive at three of the short holes: the 7th, which is played from an elevated tee over the lake; the 11th, where it lines the green to the left and behind; and the penultimate hole where it borders the front half of a circular green.
Subtle elevation changes add to the challenge and visual appeal, and the holes are attractively separated by olive trees.
Retamares
Designed by Jose Maria Olazabal and surrounded by farmland, there are fabulous far-reaching views to the mountains further north.
Unusually, the course opens with the stroke-index-one, a tough par 4 up the hill to a well-protected green.
Happily, this is balanced by the shortest hole on the course at the 2nd, with a chance to make up for any early lost ground.
There are semi-blind drives at the 5th and again at the 6th where a snaking stream awaits the unsuspecting.
There is plenty of wow factor on the second half, especially at the watery 10th and then even more so for the elevated drive at the gorgeous par-4 15th. Retamares is a family-friendly, informal club where the golf is fun and the views are more than impressive.
(Image credit: Retamares GC)
Real Sociedad Hipica Espanola
There are two very strong courses at this private members’ club on the northern…
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