La Cala
Of course, if you have had your fill of casting your eye over the open ocean, you can always retreat to the salvation of La Cala, which is only 20 minutes from Marbella and 30 minutes from the city’s airport.
Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra de Ojén which overlooks Marbella, La Cala consists of three 18-hole championship courses designed by Cabell Robinson, a six-hole practice course and a David Leadbetter Golf Academy. On paper, the size of the resort with its hotel, restaurants, swimming pools and sports facilities combined with the properties that surround the complex can’t fail to impress. On the ground, you hardly notice any of it. In fact of all the courses I visited, La Cala seemed to balance its property demands and its golf offering with a considered appreciation of both.
For instance, playing Campo America (there is also Campo Asia and Campo Europa), you get a real sense of venturing off into the rustic Spanish countryside to tackle this epic course. With nothing for company other than farmland, distance villages and the majestic mountain range smouldering in the sunshine, the sense of playing golf in the great outdoors has never been more appealing.
As far as the course goes, Robinson generously provided four relatively tame holes to ease you into the challenges of the rolling fairways and undulating greens that lie ahead. From the 350-yard uphill par-4 fifth, things get tough. Driving towards a curving fairway that seems perched on a narrow finger of land, you may be tempted to take the aggressive line along the apex of the dogleg. The steep slope that awaits anything falling short of perfection, suggests playing it safe is the sensible option.
And if you found that tricky, wait until you see sixth, then the seventh and then the weaving downhill ninth. Campo America doesn’t let up until you reach the par-5 18th which, after another intimating tee shot, offers a long, downhill approach shot at glory. This is a golf course that demands respect and care off the tee. It is also a course that is kept in superb condition and one you can’t help falling in love with – even if your game doesn’t match up to the surroundings.
Like all great golf resorts, what sets La Cala apart is the consistency of the quality on offer. From the meet and greet at the starters hut to the bar staff at the 19th hole and the passion of the maître d’hôtel in the Restaurant La Terraza, everything is delivered with authentic charm. La Cala is a class act and a fitting way to conclude a visit to Marbella.
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