Situated in the foothills of the beautiful Mijas Mountains with lovely views of the Andalusian countryside, La Cala resort offers a rural retreat with 54 golf holes just 20 minutes from Marbella and only 30 minutes from Malaga airport.
A recently completed renovation of the resort’s America course (the 17th hole pictured above) has elevated conditioning, playability and aesthetics to new levels. Plus the arrival of a superb new GPS buggy fleet.
La Cala consists of three championship courses: Campo America, Campo Asia and Campo Europa. Each with plenty of challenges, and slot seamlessly into a natural, undulating backdrop of trees and flowers, rich with birds and wildlife.
The courses are designed by renowned golf course architect Cabell Robinson. An additional 6-hole, par-3 course and top golf academy complete the La Cala golf offering.
The premier and most requested layout at La Cala
Campo America was the second of La Cala’s three courses to open in 1991, two years after the Asia course and 14 years before the Europa course. Although all three serve up spectacular mountain vistas and views down to the coast, it is America that provides perhaps the most exhilarating golfing ride. With many golfers going home marvelling at the vision and daring of those who first thought of setting out a course over such a dramatic mountainous landscape.
The Campo America-course sets out from an elevated tee that allows you to open your shoulders as you launch one away to the valley floor below. The first three holes on that valley floor have more of a traditional, Spanish parkland feel. You then climb to higher ground.
The back nine plays in amongst the villas, that are in both contemporary and classic Andalusian style.
It is a course where the par 3s and the par 5s stand out. The first par 3 is the 4th hole, where the green is cut into a slope some 200 yards away. It has been extensively remodelled to improve its playability as part of the renovation programme on the course in 2018. Which, among many other things, has seen all bunkers refurbished to enhance the aesthetics.
Another hole that underwent a major remodelling, is the long dogleg par-5 15th. Here a ravine on the left side up towards the green has been partially filled in. Which allows greater flexibility in strategy for those looking to lay up.
The course finishes with another truly memorable par 5, which turns left before plunging down towards the green. If a perfect drawing drive reaches the crest on the dogleg, there is a chance of the ball rolling another 150 yards down the hill. And thereby potentially leaving a mere short iron in for the second shot.
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The 6th hole at La Cala’s Campo America. (Both Photos by La Cala Resort)
The La Cala renovation programme goes on
The fruit of the renovation programme is a course whose already heady reputation is now set to be enhanced yet further. Plans are in place for similar renovation projects on both the Asia and Europa courses in 2019 and 2020. Also a brand-new fleet of GPS buggies are set to hit Campo America’s fairways to elevate its status as La Cala’s premier golf offering.
Sean Corte-Real, Director of La Cala Resort, says the resort is immensely proud of all three championship courses:
— But Campo America is the most requested course among our visitors. So we took the decision last year to raise the bar further, investing heavily in our course renovation project, and also placing a significant order for a state-of-the-art new buggy fleet.
La Cala resort accommodation includes a newly renovated 107-bedroom hotel and a selection of on-site properties for sale and rental in apartments from 2-bedroom to larger as well as 5-bedroom villas that are spread throughout the estate.
There is also a top notch spa and a selection of restaurants and bars on the premises. Further leisure opportunities include a FIFA-standard football pitch, running circuit, gym, tennis and squash courts.
Read more: La Cala Resort
