Santa María Golf & Country Club has lengthened its 18-hole course to become a par 71 thanks to the transformation of the 9th hole from a 324-meter par 4 to a 511-meter par 5. The new layout of this Marbella club will be inaugurated with the opening of the transformed 9th hole on June 14.
The tee-off tees on the 9th remain the same. The first shot must cross the lake and begin to climb a slight slope, gaining enough distance to be able to enter the new fairway with the second shot by making a slight dog-leg to the left on arrival at the second ball drop, or do it with a third shot for the more conservative, which requires a second approach shot and avoiding the two bunkers that protect the sides of the new hole.
The approach shot to the green has a spacious ball drop. The green, wide, slightly uphill and with two kicking platforms, is protected by a bunker at the entrance on its right side. This sand obstacle should be avoided with a shot to the platform on the left side of the green or an approach shot elevated over the bunker.
The green is the highest area of the golf course. This hole runs slightly uphill from the tee to a very well protected green of great natural beauty. Being wide, it allows for many flag positions, which further enhances the spectacular features of this hole.
This extension of the route will be continued with a new remodeling of the layout to lengthen it again and turn it into a par 72 in a few months time, expected in March 2020.
Nestled next to a beautiful pine forest and a cork oak forest in the Elviria area, the Santa María Golf course was inaugurated in 1991, then with 9 holes designed by Antonio García Garrido. The second 9, inaugurated in 1996, were designed by the club’s technical team.
Directed by Alfredo Ramiro, the course offers players a challenging game in a privileged natural environment with views of the sea and oak-covered mountains. A stream and four lakes add freshness and challenges to the course, enhancing its beauty.
The Club House building, an impressive two-story 19th century Spanish farmhouse surrounded by extensive gardens, is another highlight.
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