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Real Club de Golf Las Brisas is part of Marbella’s living history. Founded in 1968 by José Banús, as Club de Golf Nueva Andalucía, the course was designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones. The American had already completed Sotogrande and shortly after he would also design Valderrama, the elite of the elite.

Those of a certain age and a good memory – or others with an interest in history – will recall the 1973 World Cup won by Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller for the US. It almost seems like yesterday that Miller carded 65 in the second round – but it is now nearly 40 years later.

In the 1980s – and I was a first-hand witness this time – the course continued to host major tournaments; for example, the 1983 and 1987 Spanish Opens – the latter won by Nick Faldo in a tough battle against Severiano Ballesteros.

In 1989, the World Cup returned to Las Brisas, together with severe flooding. So much rain fell that the event was reduced to 36 holes, with Australians Wayne Grady and Peter Fowler winning on a blanket of water, and José María Cañizares and José María Olazábal finishing second.

Two years later, in 1991, Las Brisas was the venue for what – at the time – was the most lucrative one-day event: 450,000 dollars for a skins game involving Curtis Strange, Mark Calcavecchia, Bernhard Langer and John Bland. To have an idea how much that meant two decades ago, the prize fund was three times the amount won by Ian Baker-Finch as British Open champion one week later.

There is no doubt that this is one of Robert Trent Jones’ best creations. It is a perfect example of how to design a course the right way.

José Banús allowed him to choose the best part of the property, and he did. He built the course in the most spectacular and attractive valley in the area. Houses were built in the rest of the property.

The layout was built around water hazards: there are 10 artificial lakes fed by two streams, which come into play on no fewer than 12 holes. The greens – most of which are elevated – are well protected by bunkers. Another original touch by Trent Jones at the time was using Bermuda grass on the fairways and Pencross Bent on the greens.

Today, with all the new equipment, it could be said that it is not a long course, but Las Brisas is difficult and attractive – requiring accurate play.

“Las Brisas,” said US Tour star Paul Azinger on one occasion, “does not have a bad hole. It is one of the best courses I have played.”

In addition to the superb design there is one other touch of genius which would perhaps not be possible in these current times because of the obligation to use native flora. José Banús commissioned Englishman Gerald Huggan to landscape the course. Huggan had just returned from Kenya, where he had designed the Nairobi gardens. At Las Brisas, he created a true botanical sanctuary, with trees from all the continents: Africa, Asia, Australia, America and Europe… unique species that cannot be enjoyed in any other part of southern Europe.

In the 10 years after its foundation, Las Brisas was an open course and one of the main tourist attractions in the area. In 1981, it became a members’ club, and currently has 1,225, representing more than 30 nationalities.

At the moment, the club allows a limited number of visitors to play each day, 12 – that is, just three tee times – but this could change in the new year. The green fee is not cheap, but is definitely worth the price.

It had been years since I played at Las Brisas, but my memory soon began to return and I recalled every part of the course I had walked on before.

My appointment was with Ian Martin, a Briton who has been running the club superbly for the past three years, and the club pro and sports director, Ricardo de Miguel – with whom I eventually played the round.

Ricardo came to the club through his father, Sebastián, El Duque, one of the finest players in the history of Spanish golf – the winner, among other tournaments, of various Spanish Open titles. He taught King Juan Carlos to play golf when he was still prince (though that is not why they call him The Duke).

For Ricardo, the course has a lot of charm and different options: it can be difficult or relatively easy, depending on the preparation or pin positions. “You should not forget that it was designed many years ago, when distance wasn’t as important.”

In any event, you get an idea of just how difficult it can be by the fact that one Spanish Open at Las Brisas was won with an even-par score; the greens are incredibly hard and fast, with Valderrama-style rough.

“The main thing about Las Brisas is its design, its vegetation,” notes Ricardo, “and there is an interesting story about that. A few years ago, and for various intervening years, they were looking for Huggan to consult him about renovating the gardens and what types of trees could be used. Not able to find him, they assumed he had died, but this wasn’t the case and one day we unexpectedly came across him in Benahavis, where he had been living for some time. The problem was, they were looking for him in then UK. He was very old but still in good shape.”

We could have continued chatting for a while but it was getting late to play so we headed to the first tee.

The first hole, a 355-metre par-4 from the yellow markers (our reference for all holes in this article) is not particularly intimidatory, although water comes into play in the form of a small lake in front of the green. The hole was reduced by 10 metres to accommodate the shop but this hasn’t made a great difference. The drive can leave you with a second shot of 120 metres. If you hit longer, it becomes slightly more difficult as the fairway is downhill. The green is well defended by bunkers, and slopes gently from right to left.

The second, another par-4 of 567 metres, is more difficult. There is an out of bounds and water on the right-hand side, more or less at the normal landing area. If you hit towards the two bunkers on the left, the second shot will be less complicated, though quite long and uphill. The green, as always, is well protected by bunkers.

The third is the first par-5 on the course, and fairly short at 435 metres. It is actually a par-5 by just one metre. It is possible to reach the green in two but the only problem is the green slopes down to the back and it is easy for your ball to roll off the ridge if you use a fairway wood or long iron. It may be a better option to use a shorter iron and have a more accurate third shot.

A 179-metre par-3, the fourth has a large frontal bunker defending an elevated green. It is always best to approach on the right, though there are also bunkers there. The main problem occurs when the pin position is short and on the left.

The fifth is the second par-5, 512 metres. Apart from length, it doesn’t present too many difficulties. There is an out of bounds on right, so you need to hit towards the left. The second shot is straight and the third, if you have been on target so far, is a nine-iron or wedge. The green slopes downhill – so the most complicated pin position is long and to the left.

A par-4 of 311 metres, the sixth can be played in two different ways. Nicklaus commented that the nicest way was to play down the left, as that leaves a second shot with a water hazard in front of the green. If you play down the right there is the risk of ending up in the lake. The drive is the key. If too long, you will end up in the water. The green is fairly complicated and well protected by bunkers on the right (the water is on the left) and sloping right to left.

The seventh is a 153-metre par-3. The green was modified because, even though it was very large, it had two very awkward ridges which complicated the pin positions. Now flatter, it is more accessible.

The 446-metre eighth is the third par-5 on the outward nine, with traps on every corner. Nevertheless, the drive is not too difficult. You have to hit down the left as the right-hand side of the fairway is bordered by a large river-lake which extends to the front of the green. There are two options for the second shot: to the right, in the direction of the practice area, which leaves an easier third to a green protected by bunkers on the right and left; or to the left, leaving a third shot of 120 metres. However, there are trees on the left-hand side in the line of flight, and this makes the shot quite difficult if the pin is on that side. The green is also protected by water at the front and bunkers on both sides.

The ninth is a par-4, 296 metres, with not much to worry about. It is a hole where you can relax a little, taking a three-wood and a short iron. The green can, however, be hard to read. It slopes left to right, and some pin positions are quite complicated. If you miss the green to the left, the recovery shot is one of the most awkward on the course.

The second nine begins with a 338-metre par-4, dogleg left. To the right there is an expansive practice ground. You need to hit your drive down the right to ensure a clear approach away from the tree hazards. As always, the green is well protected by bunkers, and has two gentle ridges.

The 11th, a 172-metre par-3, is one of the prettiest on the course. From halfway down the fairway all the way to the back of the green there is a large lake on the left. On the right of the green there is a large bunker and two others, as well as water, on the left. You need to hit an accurate shot.

The 12th is the only par-5 on the inward nine, 444 metres, dogleg left and another attractive hole. There is a large lake – used for irrigation – along the left-hand side of the fairway running up to the front of the green. You need to hit your drive towards two bunkers on the right. For the second, it is best not to try to make the green, no matter how far you are able to hit, as it is well protected by water, both in front and with a stream along the side. The best option is to play up and leave a third shot from about 80 metres.

The 13th, a 333-metre par-4, is the first of the three holes that lead to the olive grove. With the distances hit these days, two bunkers come into play on the right of a fairly narrow fairway with a dogleg left. The approach to the green needs to be accurate as it is surrounded by two large bunkers.

The 351-metre par-4 14th is the second “olive tree” hole, with a gentle dogleg right. You need to hit down the left to avoid out of bounds on the other side. The difficulty of this hole, in addition to the trees, lies in a short pin position as there is a well-located bunker at the front.

A 367-metre par-4, the 15th has been modified recently as there was a large bunker on the left and a huge cypress tree – which caused serious problems for those trying to avoid the hazard towards the out of bounds area on the right. Now, the olive trees that were on the left of the fairway have been moved to the right, to widen the dogleg. This means a large lake along the 12th comes into play but at least there is no longer an instinctive tendency to hit to the right. The second requires a particularly good shot as it is a long shot to a well protected green. No surprise then that this hole is handicap index 1.

The 16th is another par-3, 175 metres and very attractive, with a lake in the front of the green. There is a provisional tee here for one former president who never managed to clear the water. It is called the Antonio de Fortuny tee and is about 155 metres from the green, which also has been modified. It is now flatter, facilitating numerous pin positions, though still with awkward slopes that can complicate some putts.

The 17th is a short par-4, 283 metres, which on first sight might seem to be another opportunity to relax a little. But beware! If not, just ask José María Cañizares who, during the World Cup, tried to hit the ball so close to the green that it was swallowed up by a bunker, and effectively left unplayable – thus having a decisive effect on the final result. You need to hit down the left. On the right, to protect the 18th tee, they have planted some new trees, and if you play to the centre of the fairway it is more than likely that your ball will roll towards these trees, thus complicating the second shot. From the left, the shot to the green is fairly open, though it is protected by two bunkers and a small creek in the front.

To end our round, the 349-metre par-4 18th is a spectacular hole. It is defended by a large lake on the left and there is out of bounds on the right. In short, the same as always: be careful where you hit your ball. The second is uphill to a green very well protected and surrounded by some magnificent natural “grandstands”, similar to Valderrama’s 17th – the ideal position to watch the end of a tournament.

Finishing a round satisfied with your play is not easy on this course; any player, whatever their level, will be stretched to the limit on the Robert Trent Jones jewel that is Las Brisas.

The course is superbly maintained and has a new greenkeeper: Jeff Robinson.

For those who haven’t played this course yet, don’t wait any longer: it is in a world of its own.