Granada is a land of beautiful contrasts where in the same day you can ski in the mountains and sunbathe on one of the beaches of its extensive coastline. It is also one of the Andalusian provinces with the greatest historical richness, where the Arab, Jewish and Christian cultures have left an everlasting mark. Snow in the Sierra Nevada, beaches on the Costa Tropical, the Alhambra in the capital, beautiful villages, the best gastronomy… and golf, with two courses very close to the city and another by the sea.
Granada is a city that captivates the senses. The sight, with impressive monuments such as the Alhambra (the most visited in Spain), the Cathedral or the landscapes contemplated from the viewpoint of San Nicolas. Smell, with the jasmine-scented streets of the Albaicín neighborhood. The ear, with the flamenco zambras of Sacromonte. Its history through the touch of the millenary stones and the taste with its gastronomy and its tapas. City of kings, Granada is much more than what can be told.
Next to the capital and forming part of the region of Granada is a string of towns linked by its history to the city of the Alhambra. Towns that share its rich heritage and arise in an environment characterized by green strips of poplar groves and manicured orchards. Some municipalities in the belt of the capital have marked milestones in history and universal culture: in Santa Fe, a town created by the Catholic Monarchs to besiege Granada, was where the Capitulations for the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus were signed; and Fuente Vaqueros saw the birth of Federico García Lorca, one of the most important poets and playwrights of Spanish literature.
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Sierra Nevada
The Sierra Nevada region borders the Alpujarra and the Marquesado del Zenete. The Sierra Nevada National Park is home to the highest peaks of the Iberian Peninsula. From the heights of the Veleta and Mulhacen peaks you can see the Mediterranean Sea. Sierra Nevada is a natural alpine paradise in the heart of Andalusia. With mild summers and cold winters. Among its snowy peaks, its rivers and forests we find charming villages, straddling the monumental city of Granada and the imposing massif of Sierra Nevada.
Villages immersed in the natural environment, preserving all the flavor of tradition, in them you can breathe the silence. Ideal places to enjoy the tranquility and rest. Many of these villages date back to Islamic farms dependent on the capital, dedicated to agriculture and silk production. The Muslim footprint can be seen in the network of irrigation channels that collect the meltwater from the peaks of the Sierra Nevada to take them to the Vega. Because of its native flora and fauna, Sierra Nevada was declared a Biosphere Reserve, later a Natural Park and finally a National Park. It is home to one of the best ski resorts in Europe.
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Tropical Coast
Dozens of beaches and small coves with crystal clear waters. 320 days of sunshine a year. And an average annual temperature of 20 degrees. These are the credentials of the Costa Tropical, the 73 kilometers of coastline of the province of Granada. Its name is due to the exceptional good climate during all seasons of the year, which allowed it two centuries ago to become the only place in Europe where tropical fruits such as mango, custard apple and avocado are grown. Names that evoke exotic flavors and places and yet are typical of one of the most privileged corners of Andalusia, the Costa Tropical.
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Nineteen municipalities make up the tropical coast. Founded by the Phoenicians about a thousand years before Christ with the name of Sexi, Almuñécar is a place full of history that preserves the remains of a Roman salted fish factory, five stretches of aqueduct and an Arab castle. This tourist center hosts a magnificent jazz festival in summer.
Motril is the largest town in the province after Granada. Among its monuments are the Iglesia Mayor de la Encarnación and the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza, built on the former pleasure palace of Queen Aixa, mother of Boabdil, the last monarch of the Nasrid dynasty.
Salobreña becomes in the visitor’s imagination a great mountain of sugar lumps. Its small white and cubic houses swirl in front of the sea around a hill crowned by a monumental Moorish castle. From the top you can contemplate, in a single glance, delightful panoramic views over the Sierra Nevada, the Mediterranean and a fertile fertile plain.
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Next to the beaches of these towns there are small and quiet coves located in Albuñol, Castell de Ferro-Gualchos and La Mamola-Polopos. Nearby are the municipalities of Albondón, Ítrabo, Jete, Lentejí, Los Guájares, Lújar, Molvízar, Murtas, Otívar, Rubite, Sorvilán, Turón and Vélez de Benaudalla, surrounded by exuberant nature.
In addition to sea and culture, the Costa Tropical offers endless possibilities, such as golf, paragliding, hiking in the villages located inland, scuba diving in the rich seabed of Cerro Gordo and water sports, which have their center in the marina of Marina del Este (Almuñécar) and the Club Náutico de Motril.
The tropical fruits can be tasted in salads or as dessert, in a meal in which rock fish such as snapper and sea bream and shellfish such as shrimp cannot be missing. And with coffee, cane rum, which is also produced on the coast of Granada.
Golf lovers have the opportunity to enjoy three 18-hole courses in the province of Granada. Two of them, Santa Clara Golf and Granada Club de Golf, are very close to the capital of Granada, while Los Moriscos is located on the Costa Tropical. ■
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The Alhambra: the symbol of Granada
The Alhambra is the city, fortress and palace erected by the monarchs of the Nasrid dynasty of the Kingdom of Granada. It is the symbol of the city, the most visited monument in Spain and the masterpiece of Muslim art in Europe. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1984.
The complex is located on the Sabika hill, next to the Darro River. It consists mainly of the Generalife Gardens, the Nasrid Palaces and the Alcazaba, of Arab construction. Of Christian construction we find the palace of Charles V and the church of Santa Maria, built over the old mosque. The Nasrid Palaces are grouped irregularly and the different rooms are connected to each other by courtyards or galleries.
The origins of the Alhambra date back to the 9th century, when the Alcazaba began to be used as a refuge.
It was in the 13th century when the first Nasrid monarch, Mohammed I, established his royal residence in the Alcazaba. His successor, Mohamed II, finished the walled enclosure. In the 14th century, with the reigns of Yusuf and Mohammed V, the Alhambra acquired its monumental and precious appearance that we know today. Yusuf built the core of the Comares Palace, with the great tower that projects over the city. The inner enclosure of the Palace housed the sultan’s throne, located under the roof that represents the concept of Allah’s universe. In addition, this monarch enriched the enclosure with monumental gates, such as the Gate of Weapons (main entrance to the Alhambra) or the Gate of Justice.
Mohamed V, reformed the palace of Comares, adding the spectacular facade of the courtyard of the Golden Room. He also built the innovative Palace of the Lions, leaving aside the existing palace model and creating a new model of quadripartite structure inspired by the oriental models of Islam.
The Alhambra is an unparalleled example of how light and water offer important decorative effects to architecture. A careful choice of materials makes its ornamentation change according to the incidence of light. The water functions as a mirror reflecting the architecture and decorative elements, contributing to a sense of peace. In addition, in combination with the light, it creates illusory compositions and softens the horizontal architecture, as can be seen in the Patio de los Arrayanes.
The architectural complex of the Alhambra was abandoned in the 18th century. During the period of French domination, part of the fortress was blown up and it was not until the 19th century that its repair, restoration and conservation, which is still being maintained, was begun.
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Santa Clara Golf Granada
Santa Clara Golf Granada, in the municipality of Otura, just ten minutes from the city of Granada, is an 18-hole par 72 of 6,448 meters designed by Enrique Canales Busquets. The golf course, which has respected the natural environment of native fauna and vegetation, is characterized by its large greens and varied obstacles that require skill with both the woods and the short game, making it a fun and demanding course for both high and low handicaps.
It is worth mentioning the excellent maintenance of the course, which makes Santa Clara Golf Granada “an unbeatable course to enjoy an unforgettable day of golf,” says its director, Joaquín Serrano.
The 18th is the star hole of the course. With wonderful views of Granada from its tee, this last par 5 of the course is a challenge of 521 meters flanked by out of bounds and whose green is well protected by several bunkers that force to execute a very careful approach. Also the fact that it is next to the clubhouse makes many onlookers watch the shots, which can generate extra pressure on the players.
The club’s director says that Santa Clara Golf “is one of the few Spanish courses with the TPC (Tour Player Course) category, prepared to host any high competition tournament, having the course in excellent condition 365 days a year”.
The club has a 6-hole short putt & putt course (between 50 and 60 meters each) which, together with the other practice areas, forms an unbeatable area for learning and improving the game.
Other facilities at Santa Clara Golf Granada include a well-equipped gymnasium in the clubhouse, two outdoor swimming pools and four paddle tennis courts. The club’s restaurant offers a varied menu and, from its terrace, a place to relax and enjoy the spectacular views of the snow-capped mountains and an unbeatable panoramic view of the 18th hole.
At Santa Clara Golf Granada, the Marín Casado Golf Academy is in charge of providing players of all levels, from beginner to professional, with facilities and a service that enables them to improve their skills as golfers in a comfortable and pleasant environment.
Santa Clara Golf Granada: Avda. Del Juncalillo, s/n, 18630 Otura – Granada.
Tel.: (+34) 858 702 800. reservas@santaclaragolfgranada.com. www.santaclaragolfgranada.com
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Granada Golf Club
Located in the municipality of Las Gabias (only 8 kilometers from the city of Granada) and located on a hill from where wonderful panoramic views of the golf course, the city of Granada and Sierra Nevada can be seen, this layout was designed by Ramón Espinosa and Emilio Mena and inaugurated in 1986.
In the center of the course and at its highest point is the clubhouse, from where you can see almost the entire 18-hole, par 71, 5,970-meter-long course. The layout is eminently flat, although there are some slopes between one fairway and another, making it comfortable to play on foot. On the inner valley side there are two large lakes and a third is located on the opposite side. The fairways were adapted and respected the natural contour of the area and for that reason they are wide, undulating and with some unevenness, which will allow the golfer to show his power and technique, besides guaranteeing endless emotions.
Among the most outstanding holes at Granada Club de Golf, its manager, Javier García Álvarez, mentions the 18th, a straight par 3 of 123 meters from the yellows. “It is the smallest green on the course, with a piano that splits the hole in two, with two totally different strategies. If the flag is on the left, don’t even look at it: focus on the center of the green because the elevation on this side is maximum, and the approach is a matter for experts whether you are short or long in the bunker at the back. If the flag is on the right, don’t even dream of it, as a very small bunker that will barely allow you to swing prevents us from finishing with a three easily”.
Granada Club de Golf is a family club with 600 members that also has a prestigious Golf School (for children and adults), directed by the professionals Ignacio Sánchez-Palencia and Rafael Chica Gómez. In these facilities, anyone can get started in the world of golf or continue to improve their game.
“Our club,” says its manager, “supports commercial activity with the federations, the organization of important championships and opens the doors to visitors and anyone interested in the practice of this sport.”
In addition to the 18-hole course, the club has a recently renovated driving range, which has a large playing area with natural grass and another with an artificial tee line. Completing
n its facilities is a restaurant, with a wide variety of typical regional dishes, located in the clubhouse and with stunning views of the golf course and surroundings, and a swimming pool, open in summer.
Granada Golf Club: Avenida de los Cosarios s/n. 18110 Las Gabias – Granada.
Tel.: +34 958 584 436. reservas@granadaclubdegolf.com. www.granadaclubdegolf.com
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Los Moriscos Golf Club
Los Moriscos Golf Club enjoys exceptional geographical conditions that give it a unique subtropical climate in Europe, with 320 days of sunshine a year. Located in a privileged environment of the Costa Tropical, 20 meters from the sea and surrounded by spectacular views of the Sierra Nevada, it offers its visitors an excellent sporting and sensory experience. It is in Playa Granada, a residential area of the city of Motril, where we find this unique golf course.
The history of Los Moriscos began in 1974 with its original 9 holes, located partially on the seashore, and reached its peak with the expansion to 18 holes in 2006. This is the moment when the course was reinvented with a change of image where wide fairways with strategically placed bunkers and water hazards predominate, giving rise to a technical and modern golf course that adapts perfectly to the game of any handicap level.
The manager of this Granada club, María del Mar Vallejo, defines Los Moriscos as “a flat course, with no slopes and very easy to walk, in which the nobility of the greens and their good state of maintenance are one of its great strengths”.
In its surroundings there are tropical palm trees along with the native fauna and flora characteristic of the wetlands of the area, while large lakes along the entire route give life to a unique landscape of the Tropical Coast.
Within the tour, “which could be defined as easy and dynamic,” says Vallejo, there is a particular Amen Corner, “a very special place to visit. It consists of two par 5’s, one of them 500 meters long, which embrace a par 3 handicap 1 inspired by the famous 17th hole at Sawgrass. “Exceptional”, emphasizes the club manager.
The driving range is another of the facilities to be highlighted. The professional Víctor Casado directs the academy at Los Moriscos in charge of training future golfers and maintaining the level of play of the most demanding amateurs.
Los Moriscos is a commercial pay & play course. “In addition to having a very versatile commercial offer,” says its manager, “we support the initiatives of the Spanish and Andalusian Golf Federations in promoting the sport among children and adults.”
The Los Moriscos restoration complex represents the essence of good gastronomy in the area. “We have”, explains Vallejo, “three restaurants that respond to different atmospheres with a common denominator: impeccable service and a gastronomic offer that will not leave the most demanding gourmet indifferent”. Fish and seafood share the limelight with vegetables and fruits from the Costa Tropical of Motril.
“After the round of golf,” says the club manager, “enjoying an excellent rice in our Gallery or a wonderful sunset are differentiating experiences that make Los Moriscos the ideal place to play golf.”
Attached to the course and giving the golf club an additional attraction, is the Hotel Playa Granada Club Resort, a space of 80,000 square meters on the beachfront with very complete facilities and services.
Los Moriscos Golf Club: Granada Beach. 18600 Motril – Granada.
Tel.: +34 958 825 527. info@moriscosgolf.com. www.moriscosgolf.com
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