Real Club Valderrama

The par five 17th gives a clear sense of what Real Club Valderrama asks of you. Its green slopes towards the player, bunkers wait beyond it and an emerald coloured lake is very much part of the decision making. At 6,951 yards and par 71 from the back tees, Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s championship course is not a place for hitting driver without a plan. Fairways run tightly between mature cork trees, the rough can punish a loose line, and the greens are small and quick enough to make the quality of an approach matter as much as its distance. This is a round built around placement, sensible club selection and the patience to accept a demanding par. Six tee positions on every hole allow the set up to be adjusted, but the course retains its character from each set of markers. The close cut fairways and greens are a defining part of the experience, and the 1997 Ryder Cup hosted here reflects the stature of a fantastic golf course.