If you have not played golf at La Finca Golf Course previously and want to enjoy a round of golf on a fine course while you are holidaying (vacationing) on the Costa Blanca, Spain, this should be one of your first choices. If you are located in Alicante or further south in Torrevieja, an easy half hour drive through the rural Spain and the orange and lemon groves will see you there, although it is poorly sign posted so maybe you should allow a little more time to get lost!

When you arrive at the La Finca Golf Course, the first thing apparent is the large number of new villas and apartments being constructed around the course perimeter, in actual fact it is one huge building site. But do not let that deter you, once you are standing on the first tee, the vista that greets you is quite impressive, even though it is encircled by a forest of large tower cranes, plus there is even a new hotel and club house being constructed right behind the tee.

La Finca was constructed following the natural lines of a beautiful valley with extra water features added, including a couple of water falls, streams and ponds. Although it was only recently opened (2002), it is mostly in a first class condition, they have even added a complete extra hole so that when they are doing work on the course, there is still a full eighteen in use. La Finca has hosted pro-ams, plus European Qualifying School and a European Challenge Tour competition, which shows you it is a first class venue.

It is certainly not the cheapest club in the region, but is definitely one of the top ones and a genuine favourite of mine. Lots of the fairways at at La Finca are spaciously wide and the grass in the rough is not too long, but with the many hazards and scattered pine and ancient olive trees it certainly test your handicap. At a little over 7,000 yards (6,394 metres) in length off the back tees, La Finca was constructed right up to the latest standards for a par 72 course. It is shorter at about 6,600 yards and 6,000 yards from the yellows and reds respectively. On a scorching summers day when you are walking the course it always feels a lot longer, especially when on a few of holes there are long gaps in between the green and next tee.

The greens at La Finca are smooth and more often very fast, with lots of hidden undulations so the occasional 3 or maybe 4 putts is just about inevitable making the approach shot to the correct level very important. Amazingly your ball may pick up a bit mud from where the sprinklers have been used, so I always take a soaking wet towel with me to wipe it clean (it does seem to bake dry before you get there). There is no hurrying, you are in Spain after all, so take play at your leisure and have a great game.

For more information, golf advice and tourism please visit La Finca Golf Course