Golf Novo Sancti Petri, which this year celebrates its silver jubilee, is today a reference in the tourist destination of the Costa de la Luz in Cadiz. The first 36 holes of Severiano Ballesteros in Europe, practically next to the famous La Barrosa Beach, guarantee a unique enclave for the practice of this sport.
In May 1990 the Novo Sancti Petri Golf Club began its journey with 27 holes. In December of the same year the Club House was officially inaugurated with the presence of Seve, Don Juan de Borbón, Count of Barcelona, authorities and founding members.
Since those days, the Novo Sancti Petri Golf Club has changed considerably. Today it has a Golf Academy -Jack Nicklaus Academy- and even a children’s club. In the year 2000, an extension of 9 holes was made to complete the current two courses, 36 holes, called Mar y Pinos and Centro. In addition, Golf Novo Sancti Petri markets 18 more holes, offering its clients three courses (all par 72) with different characteristics. The driving range, equipped with covered facilities and with more than 150 training stations, is undoubtedly one of the best in Europe.
Thanks to the opening of the four star hotels Iberostar Royal Andalus in 1991 and Iberostar Andalucía Playa in 2000 (next year it will be upgraded to 5 stars, after a major refurbishment of all its facilities), both within a five minute walk from the golf courses, Novo Sancti Petri has become one of the leading golf resorts in Europe. The location of the resort, on the shores of the Atlantic, at the foot of the fantastic beach of La Barrosa, and the enviable climate of the area make it an ideal destination for golf in Andalusia.
On the Mar y Pinos course, the first 9 holes offer wide fairways and provide the feeling of being on vacation at last. The views over the magnificent artificial water hazards prepare you for the spectacular 6th hole, where the green is just above the beach, from where a spectacular sunset can be observed. Hole 9 leads to the tricky pine tree lined course, passing the clubhouse and caddie master. Here it is all about overcoming the pine-shaped obstacles, but there are no water hazards. This course is a classic in its design with 4 par 3, 10 par 4, and 4 par 5.
On the other hand, the course called Centro presents a varied course. The first nine holes just in front of the caddie master are flat, with a lake between holes 5, 8 and 9. From holes 10 to 13 the terrain is undulating and offers excellent views of the Atlantic Ocean with water hazards between holes 10 and 13. Holes 5 to 13 are the holes opened in 2001. Between holes 14, 15 and 16 there is another lake. On the 18th hole, the course designer immortalized himself with a bunker in the shape of an “S”, the initial of the name Severiano.
This course has an especially attractive and rarely seen design, with the characteristic of being formed by 6 par 3, 6 par 4 and 6 par 5 that make it different, demanding and unmistakable.
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