Bonalba Golf

The final three holes at Bonalba Golf are where a round can change quickly. More exposed to the coastal wind, they call for a properly struck drive and a controlled approach, particularly from the championship tees at 6,973 yards. Ramón Espinosa’s 18-hole layout overlooks the Mediterranean and gives each part of the round a different emphasis. The opening nine places the pressure on approach shots, recovery play and putting on the course’s notably large greens. From the 12th onwards, finding the fairway from the tee becomes increasingly important. Five sizeable lakes affect play on seven holes, while bunkers positioned around the holes make club selection from the tee a genuine consideration.

Broad Bermuda grass fairways, overseeded with Ryegrass in winter, provide a clear target, but the PenCross greens and SeaSide grass surrounds reward touch as much as length. Before playing, there are two putting greens, an approach area and a bunker for sharpening the scoring clubs. The 164-yard, 15-bay range is particularly useful for a pre-round warm-up, although it is limited to shorter clubs, with drivers, fairway woods and hybrids excluded. The on-site Golf School runs private lessons alongside coaching for adults and children, which suits mixed groups where some players want time on the course while others are improving their game.

Hotel Bonalba Alicante sits only 330 yards from the course, set among tropical gardens with a pool, spa and relaxation treatments for the time between rounds. In SAVIA, the golf venue’s restaurant, looks across the fairways and serves Mediterranean dishes with international touches, including rice specialities and food from the grill. The tropical pool is open during the summer months, and Playa de San Juan is about 1.2 miles away when a change of scene appeals after golf.