Troon Golf & Travel - April 2011

But it is actually a completely fair course, which offers the golfer options and will reward straight hitting.

The stand-out hole is the 12th, a long par- 4 with water and a waste bunker on the left, and a sentinel tree guarding the approach to the right. If you think your way around, you can score well.

Pretty much the exact opposite is true of the South Course, a surprisingly different but equally attractive design by local architects Alfonso Vidaor and Magi elements of the other two and is ideal for those who have less time available.

One very impressive feature at Lumine is that the courses are the first in Spain to obtain the prestigious Audubon International Gold Signature Sanctuary Certificate. This goes to organizations who have succeeded in protecting and respecting the earth, water, wildlife and natural resources around them. There is no hotel yet associated with the golf operation, but the theme park and nearby Salou has a wide variety to suit all pockets and tastes.

LUMINE Continued

the golf at lumine is wonderful and the recommendation would be to get there soon, whilst it is still relatively young and less well-known.

las colinas

LAS COLINAS GOLF
& COUNTRY CLUB

Next stop, following a 45-minute flight south, almost to the border of the Alicante and Murcia regions, is Las Colinas Golf & Country Club.

Surrounded by more than 25,000 acres of largely untouched woodland, Las Colinas is an expanse of glorious, unspoiled and gently rolling hills with distant views down towards the sea and the Mar Menor lagoon. Cabell B. Robinson has waved his magic wand to lay out a superb par-71 course, one that would be up to the challenge of hosting a major professional competition but which can still be fully enjoyed by those of us with far more limited golfing ability.

The first couple of holes are particularly tough, uphill and turning to the left, before you emerge to the panoramic vista from the third tee. The par 3s are particularly strong and varied with water, trees, sand and elevation changes all adding to the test. The standout is the 14th, played from a slightly elevated tee over a babbling brook fed by a waterfall, with a lake waiting to swallow anything pulled left. The closing hole, a solid par- 5, is defended by sand and water, not to mention the distracting prospect of a thirst-quenching drink on the welcoming terrace in front of the clubhouse.

Close by are all the associated facili-
ties you would want, including a driv-
ing range, a grass practice area and an
academy. The clubhouse has a lovely,
informal feel and offers a wide variety
of fine food and a very friendly wel-
come in the stylish UNiK CAFÉ and the
Glass Bar. The menu includes classic
Mediterranean tapas, a great selection
of salads, sandwiches and hamburgers,
along with rice, pasta, fish and meat
dishes. With tennis and paddle courts,
a gym, and nature trail meandering
through the woods, there is plenty more
to enjoy here too.