Situated at the foothills of the Sierra Bermeja, where the mountains meet the sea, San Rouque Old Course was designed by Dave Thomas in 1990 with the bunkers redesigned by Seve Ballesteros. This course is considered to be rated amongst the finest in Europe.
The course's tight, sloping fairways are lined by mature cork oak trees, and demand straight, accurate driving. Strategic bunker placement and deceptive water hazards threaten all but the most precise approach shots.
The front nine holes wind through the cork oak forests that the resort is famous for, and give superb mountain views. The back nine is laid out across rolling hills, and includes plunging, vertiginous carries that test a player's judgement of distance to the limit.
The 8th hole is often the cause of many lost shots, while the 18th requires a precise finish with a drive to the right to avoid water on the left, then a long iron shot over a stream to the green, avoiding a lake on the right.
The greens are fast, contoured and true, rewarding well-judged putts and punishing anything else.
Acknowledged for its challenge throughout Europe, The Old Course provides a test for the very highest standard of golfer.
The closing holes incorporate the resort's shimmering lakes, presenting a finish as beautiful as it is challenging. Playing The Old Course is something every golfer will remember.