What Makes Murcia The Ideal Golf Destination

MURCIA is a historic city located in the south-east of Spain and is the perfect location for a golf break, no matter what time of year you may be thinking of heading off for some R&R.

Surrounded by mountains, Murcia is home to endless beaches which offer lots of options for leisure, sports and well-being, all within touching distance of some of the best golf courses in Europe.

This being part of Spain, you can also be sure that the local cuisine will live long in the memory, with eateries and bars to suit all pockets.

And if you are a golfer looking for some winter sun, then look no further. It boasts a plethora of beautiful golf courses and resorts.

Accessibility

Flying time to Murcia from the UK is around two hours and 40 minutes and you can get there from a host of UK airports, with budget airlines offering plenty of great deals.

Climate

Murcia is one of the warmest and driest parts of Spain with an average of just 33 days of rain per year. During the summer, temperatures regularly hit 30C and above. Winters are generally mild, with the occasional frost. The average temperature in December and January is 12C. In other words, it is the perfect year-round golfing destination.

DoubleTree by Hilton La Torre

DoubleTree by Hilton La Torre Golf Resort & Spa boasts 133 luxurious and spacious rooms that all include a balcony view of the lake or pool before heading out for dinner. Accommodation options include a choice of Superior Doubles, Deluxe Doubles, Junior, Presidential, Royal and Standard Suites. All rooms are equipped with top of the range equipment and furniture.

The ‘La Vinoteca’ Restaurant provides gourmet-style cuisine while the bar situated by the restaurant offers residents the chance to enjoy some of the best wine in Spain while taking in the view of the sun setting over the lake and golf course.

Located by the Hotel’s luxurious infinity pool, the Al Fresco Pool Bar serves drinks and food from lunch-time until late afternoon. Food available at the Pool Bar ranges from fish and grilled meat to a selection of paellas.

The Ginkgo Club offers a wide variety of specialty foods during the morning buffet. In the evening the chef prepares a large range of different cuisines.

The five treatment rooms at La Torre Spa were designed with the sole purpose of providing the most relaxing experience possible. The choice of treatments available ensures the most innovative, unique service possible.

The hotel also has a fully-equipped gym, sauna and 25m heated swimming pool.

La Manga Club Principe Felipe Hotel

La Manga Club Principe Felipe Hotel is a luxurious five-star hotel and golf resort and is one of the most famous golf locations in Europe.

It offers 192 beautifully designed guest rooms with stunning golf or pool views. Each room includes individually controlled air conditioning; satellite TV, marble bathrooms, and the majority have french windows which open onto balconies. 

La Manga Club resort offers a wide selection of bars and restaurants, located at the hotel or within a 5-10 minute walk. 

Amapola is Principe Felipe’s signature restaurant and serves Mediterranean cuisine, with stunning terrace views over the golf course. And be sure to check out the Asia restaurant, La Cala, Luigi's, and Sol y Sombra. 

The Piano bar is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a few drinks and music.

Guests receive complimentary use of a large gym as well as gym classes (Pilates, Zumba, Spinning) at the Tennis Centre, just five minutes from the hotel.

Golf Courses

There is a huge variety of courses in and around Murcia, designed by such giants of the game as Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Here are just a few…

La Torre Golf, 5,945 yards, par 68, parkland

La Torre Golf is a Jack Nicklaus designed 18-hole, par-68 course. This course has very few trees and a lot of sand as well as several lakes that come into play on many holes. By today’s standards it is quite short, making La Torre Golf more playable for the average to higher-handicap golfer. At the same time, this course incorporates a great deal of strategy, so when played from the back tees, it quite a stern test for the more experienced players.

Alhama, 6,909 yards, par 72, links

Opened in 2009, Alhama Signature Golf Club is now the signature Jack Nicklaus golf course within the Polaris World development. The magnificent desert-like surroundings add to the idyllic setting, providing the perfect destination for a round of golf.

Set in a traditional Murican landscape, the course features some dramatic bunkering and small greens that call for pinpoint accuracy. From the back tees it can be stretched to more than 7,500 yards. To add to the degree of difficulty, there are also four lakes and lots of undulations.

El Valle, 6,934 yards, par 71, links style

Another Nicklaus course, set in a desert valley, El Valle Golf Course is surrounded by small dunes and elevated views over the desert. Located just 25 minutes from Murcia Airport, El Valle also has a gym, restaurant and tennis courts.

The fairways wind their way around Rocky Limestone Mountains and the course provides beautiful views of the surrounding countryside and is consistently rated as one of the best courses in the region. El Valle features clusters of small bunkers and takes full advantage of its desert setting with numerous holes playing adjacent to naturally exisiting rock-outcroppings and ridges. Inevitably, there are also a number of water features, including two lakes and two elaborate stream and waterfall systems. It is a course that calls for a strategic approach.

Hacienda Riquelme, 6,356 yards, par 72, parkland

The 18-holes par 72 links-style parkland course at Hacienda Riquelme Golf Club was also designed by Jack Nicklaus. One of the newest additions, this course presents many challenges including wind, water, and many bunkers. 

Hacienda Riquelme offers a different sort of challenge to the other courses on the Nicklaus golf trail. But some things remain the same, namely plenty of bunkers and yet more water hazards. Another proper test of your skills.

La Manga

There are three magnificent courses at La Manga, each offering very different challenges.

La Manga North, 6,289 yards, par 71, parkland

La Manga Golf North Course is probably the easiest of the three layouts, offering some wide fairways. It is ideal for mid and high handicappers but still provides a decent test for better players. This undulating course is positioned between palm trees, lakes, and gullies, with precision rather than length required to score well. Built to USGA specification, the undulations in the greens add to the challenge. Look out for the par-three second hole, which features a three-tiered putting surface.

La Manga South, 6,998 yards, par 73, parkland

Originally designed by Robert Putman and modified by Arnold Palmer, the South Course underwent a complete refurbishment in 2004. The main changes include added water hazards, tree plantation, and green alterations, making it a proper challenge. The course is located in the centre of the valley and features wide palm-lined fairways, plenty of bunkers and water hazards. The front nine is a real test, with two par-threes measuring over 215 yards and some daunting par-4s, many of which demand accurate driving between lakes and bunkers.

La Manga West, 6,259 yards, par 72, parkland

La Manga West Course requires a different approach to the other two courses - the fairways are narrow and there are gullies to be avoided at all costs. The blind spots and frequency of elevation changes make this an ideal challenge for the more tactical golfers. The front nine will test your driving, with a series of tight fairways. The back nine is more open but there are plenty of undulations and some spectacular views. The 18th, played from an elevated tee, is a jaw-dropping closing hole.

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