On a wonderful sunny October morning I decided to swap the sometimes oppressive airs of the Costa del Sol for the calmer airs of Montenmedio Golf & Country Club, in the interior of the province of Cadiz. I opted for the coastal road rather than the faster highway inland and enjoyed the drive through Tarifa, past the ‘wind farms’ (those of the large windmills that generate electricity) and then along the winding roads leading away from the coastline. The views of the sea and the African coast were fantastic, while on the opposite side of the road was beautiful mountain scenery. Thanks to major improvements to the coast road over the last few years, Montenmedio is now only a couple of hours drive from Fuengirola, in the heart of the Costa del Sol.
One of the first things that strikes you when you arrive at this club is the absence of houses and the enjoyment of nature in all its splendor, as there is forest everywhere. In the immense estate of Montenmedio stands out a striking yellow building, which houses the store, the caddie master and a coquettish bar beautifully decorated and on whose walls hang paintings of the eighteenth century.
I was having a coffee, when I was greeted by the director of the course, Miguel Marín, who later introduced me to the club’s professional Nacho Gutiérrez.
After learning of my pitching yips problems, he kindly offered to try to solve them, but, convinced that the age of miracles has not yet arrived, I politely declined his offer and headed for the golf course.
The first hole of Montenmedio gives us a good idea of the challenge that lies ahead throughout the course. The fairway slopes gently downhill, falls from right to left and there are two bunkers strategically placed about 200 meters from the tee. The green, in the shape of a circle, is well protected by sand hazards. The white village of Vejer de la Frontera, high on a hill in the distance, seems to be overlooking the scene.
The relatively short hole 2 (281 meters from yellows) plays through a deep valley to a fairway that rises considerably. A river flows along the valley, while bunkers lurk on both sides of the approach to the green. The front grass of the bunker guarding the front of the green is exceptionally high, but fortunately there are escape areas at the back, so the safest option is to hit without fear.
The 3rd is a 436-meter par 5 that plays from an elevated tee to a fairway that descends into a valley, from where it turns right and begins a steep climb. At 110 meters from the green, on the left, there is a series of six bunkers, while the green, wide, is practically surrounded by more sand. 
The 4th is the first of four holes on the course that require a certain degree of blind faith. Eight stone steps lead to the tee, from where the view is simply of a hill with a marker at its zenith, while all around is a dense forest. There is no choice but to hit the ball over the marker and hope for the best. There is plenty of room to the right, but a hook will send the ball into a perimeter fence. In a hundred yards, the fairway turns gently left and down before ascending again to another circular green heavily guarded by bunkers on both sides.
The par 5, par 5, is played on a very generous fairway with numerous trees on the right. At the 200-meter marker, the fairway descends into a gully and then ascends again to a two-tiered green with a steep slope from right to left.
Although the par-4, 320-meter 6th is another blind hole, there is plenty of room over the hill. The biggest danger lies in the wide sandy area that protects the first half of the green on the right.
The 7th is a 137-meter par 3 that has four bunkers and red bars surrounding a large two-tiered green. So, despite the fact that it is little more than a pitch and putt hole, the choice of club is fundamental. Palm and olive trees, along with the colorful flowers surrounding the tee box, make this hole very colorful. 
The 8, a 275-meter par 4, plays to a shallow valley, and at the 100-meter fairway mark draws a sharp dog-leg left to an elevated green surrounded by small trees and shrubs.
The 9th measures 335 meters and has dense bushes on both sides, while the fairway is lined with randomly arranged trees. The green, with bunkers on both sides, is also well guarded by more trees.
The 10th is a par 4 of 361 meters that stands out for its magnificent design. A generous fairway invites you to hit with desire, and as long as you don’t hook, everything will be fine. The fairway is set back about 40 meters from the green by means of a peculiar bunker, from whose sand three palm trees emerge and whose silhouette is made of railway sleepers. Behind the green, there is a lake shimmering in the morning sun. It is a truly memorable hole.
The layout of the 11th runs in the opposite direction to the previous one and is a par 5 of 444 meters. It is played from an elevated tee into a valley with a pond at the bottom. From this potential watery grave, the fairway ascends towards a narrow and not very long green, which is protected by trees on the left. An erratic approach on the opposite side should also be avoided, as the ball will land in very awkward places. 
At 511 meters, the 12th is the longest hole on the course, although from the tee the only view is the top of a hill with a marker on top about 100 meters away. There is a lot of fairway ahead, so it’s best to hit the ball straight. The green, slightly elevated, is preceded by an avenue of trees and slopes from right to left.
The main hazard on the par 3, 180-meter 13th is the dense foliage on the left and at the back of the green.
The palm trees, forest and mountains in the background make the 14th a very visually appealing hole. At the 170-meter marker, the fairway turns sharply to the right, passes bunkers on both sides and ends in an elevated green that has a sea of sand on the left and a little less on the opposite side. Another great hole that well deserves its index 1 on the course. 
The 15th is played over a fairway that winds up and down until it reaches the green. An olive tree, sand and green add difficulty to the shot from the bunker. Five palm trees elegantly draw attention behind the green, which has more subtle undulations than many of its predecessors.
The 16th, a very nice par 3 of 177 meters, plays down a shallow valley to a green that slopes from left to right and has trees on the front right and bunkers on the left.
The 17th is another blind hole that plays over a hill to a fairway that slopes sharply from left to right. From a small platform at the top of the hill, the fairway drops down into a valley, on the left side of which is a horseshoe-shaped bunker with very steep walls that are best avoided. The fairway then ascends to the green, which has two levels and is wide at the front and narrow at the back.
The course in this oasis of peace is closed by the 18th hole, a par 3 measuring 153 meters and played through an avenue of trees over a green guarded on the right front by a bunker in the shape of a bunker. Care must be taken not to hook or over-hit if one wants to successfully complete this last stage of the course.
After a shower in the comfortable and well-equipped changing rooms, I returned to the bar to regain my strength. Then the manager showed me a lounge with sofas, an antique desk and more paintings. It seems that Maite, the wife of Montenmedio’s owner, is a great expert in antiques, and her husband, Antonio Blázquez, is happy to allow her to demonstrate that mastery with the decoration of the club. A very wise decision that has resulted in a truly unique clubhouse.
Thus came to an end a pleasant and interesting day at Montenmedio Golf & Country Club, a true oasis of tranquility and a pleasant parenthesis between the rapidly developing coastal areas that extend to the east and west of this haven of peace. May it remain so for a long time to come!
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