Ona Mar Menor Golf Resort & Spa

Set beside its own fairways in Torre Pacheco, Ona Mar Menor Golf Resort & Spa brings a five-star hotel, 18 hole course and spa together in one easy going Murcia base. Golf is never far away here, with the clubhouse positioned between the first tee and 18th green, and a terrace looking towards the hotel pool for a drink after the round. The resort’s course occupies 45 hectares, while indoor and outdoor pools, a gym, sauna, hot tub and treatment rooms give the non golfing hours some shape too.

Mar Menor is a par 72 designed by Dave Thomas and Jack Nicklaus, playing 6,719 yards from the white tees, 6,344 yards from yellow and 5,578 yards from red. It began as a nine hole Thomas course before the later expansion to 18 holes, and the result is a resort parkland round where generous fairways still demand considered club selection. Mediterranean planting frames the holes, while waste areas, lakes and bunkers around the greens can quickly punish an over ambitious approach. The Nicklaus Golf Trail provides further variety nearby, including the compact par 68 La Torre at 5,945 yards, where quick greens and water put the emphasis on precision, and Hacienda Riquelme, a 6,416 yard par 72 with broad fairways, lakes and heavily protected putting surfaces.

Superior Rooms look across the course and include a separate shower and whirlpool bath, while Junior Suites add a large pool and course facing terrace, dressing room and a 2 metre by 2 metre bed. Apartments, available with up to three bedrooms, suit longer stays with a kitchen and separate living space. Terraza Azul serves Mediterranean cooking each evening, and Clover Pub has live bands, televised sport and a casual international menu. Murcia Airport is about 22 miles away, with transfers taking around 30 minutes. Torre Pacheco lies 2.8 miles away, while Playa del Espejo is around 5.6 miles from the resort.