Flamingos Golf Course

From the first tee, Flamingos Golf asks for a considered start. The opening par 5 brings a lake into view immediately, then leaves it protecting the green’s right flank for anyone tempted to attack in two. Antonio García’s 6,250 yard, par 71 layout is the most accessible of Villa Padierna Golf Club’s three courses, yet the movement in its greens makes distance control and sensible target selection important throughout the round. Mediterranean views provide a constant backdrop, while the course’s drainage system allows play to resume as soon as rain has passed. Flamingos has also proved capable of tournament pressure, having staged European Senior Tour events and a Ladies European Tour fixture.

A ten minute gap between tee times gives the day an unhurried rhythm, with four and a half hours allowed for 18 holes. Before setting out, use the 17 bay outdoor driving range and short game area, where unlimited balls are included on the day of play. It is a useful chance to tune in the touch required on those sloping putting surfaces. PGA certified professionals at the Villa Padierna Golf Academy provide lessons shaped around the individual player, while the buggy bar circulates from 9.30am until 4.30pm with refreshments during the round. Flamingos sits within a 54 hole club, alongside Alferini and Tramores, making it straightforward to add different tests to the same golfing break.

Afterwards, Hole 55 provides the natural meeting point, with wide views towards the Mediterranean and daily opening from 8am to 7pm. Green fee players have five hours of complimentary underground parking beneath the pro shop, with another free area beside the practice ground. Beyond the fairways, the resort’s racquet facilities include 15 padel courts, along with a pair each for tennis and croquet. The beach is only 0.03 miles away, close enough to trade the course for the coast once the clubs are back in the car.