28 Mar 2012
Posted by Rory 
There are few who know the nuances and subtleties of golf course design quite as well as arguably the game’s greatest ever player, Jack Nicklaus. The Golden Bear won a staggering 73 PGA tour events, including 18 majors, as well as a whole host of international golf tournaments over the span of his glittering career and along the way he must have played a fair few golf courses! Since retiring from the professional game, Nicklaus has focused much of his efforts on building what is now one of the most prolific golf course design companies in the world and presently there is no place on earth with a more concentrated collection of courses laid down by old Jack than the Murcia region of Spain.
With more than 300 days of Sunshine a year, Murcia is an ideal place for a golf holiday. Its 21 golf courses spread within a 30 mile radius attract more and more golfers from around the world, looking to enjoy their game on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and the Nicklaus courses in particular are among the best in Spain.
As the sun sets over Murcia golfers can look forward to a well deserved drink or two after a long day on the fairways.
Not only will golfers embarking on a golf tour of the Nicklaus Golf Trail enjoy the thrills of playing top class golf courses, but there is also the promise of sampling renowned local and international gastronomy and, for those who like to carry on the party deep into the warm Spanish nights, an impressive choice of vibrant bars and popular clubs.
So which golf courses make up the famous Nicklaus Golf Trail?
Originally a Dave Thomas nine hole course, Mar Menor was transformed into an 18 hole championship test by the great Golden Bear and now it offers golfers travelling to Spain a challenging and enjoyable test of golf. The lush Mediterranean landscape on which the course is built features endless numbers of palm trees, native grasses and flowering shrubs which, when combined with the ever present water and well placed waste and greenside bunkers, offer a good challenge for all. The undulating greens will also require considerable concentration!
La Torre is similar in style to the famous resort courses of Florida and as such players must safely negotiate vast swathes of sand and the ever present threat of water hazards lurking at the edge of the fairways and around the slick and true putting surfaces. Measuring a meagre 5,945 yards from the back tees, La Torre is more than manageable for golfers at the higher end of the handicap scale and while talented players and big hitters may find it to be comparatively short, the strategy and precision required from the back tees still poses questions of any golfers skill.
El Valle’s bunkers are one of the key features of this fantastic little course.
Like the nearby La Torre Course, El Valle is a resort course very much in the American, and Floridian in particular, mould. Measuring 6,739 yards from the back tees, El Valle is not overly long by modern standards but certainly long enough to test long hitters. Taking advantage of its desert setting, El Valle features plenty of waste bunkers as well as naturally existing rock-outcroppings and ridges, not to mention the great expanses of water that place a real emphasis on accuracy both from the tee and while approaching the greens. Be warned…hit it straight here or come armed with plenty of golf balls!
Measuring a manageable 6,416 yards from the back tees; Hacienda Riquelme offers a different challenge to that of the other courses found on the Nicklaus Golf Trail. Generous fairways weave their way in and around olive trees, wild flower meadows and a number of imposing and intimidating lakes. Undulating greens and outstanding bunkering add to the challenge that, thanks to a number of different tee positions, can be enjoyed by golfers of all shapes and sizes.
The signature 10th hole at Alhama.
Alhama
Measuring a little over 7,500 yards from the tips, Alhama certainly has the length to challenge the bombers but it is not all about power around this well conceived layout. Noticeable changes in elevation can make club selection tricky while small greens, water hazards and sneakily positioned bunkers place an emphasis on accuracy and shot-making; two trademarks that The Golden Bear was well known for in his playing days.
Saurines de la Torre
Measuring 6,498 yards from the back tees, Saurines de la Torre is not overly long by modern standards but long enough to challenge the longer hitters. This spectacular desert course features perfectly manicured fairways that weave their way between sand dunes but interestingly that is where the sand on the course stops. There are no bunkers to speak of but the giant 6 acre lake that runs along the length of the 18th hole means concentration is required from start to finish in order to score well around here.
So that is the golf courses taken care of, but where to stay while on your golf break in Murcia?
Thankfully the quality of the golf on offer in and around Murcia and the Nicklaus Golf Trail is reflected by many of the accommodation options in the region; few however compare to the luxury on offer at the 5* Hotel at the Intercontinental Mar Menor Golf Resort & Spa or the intimate surrounds of the Mar Menor Residences.
The Lavish surrounds of the Intercontinental Mar Menor Hotel.
The Mar Menor hotel boasts 64 lavish guestrooms each of which features luxury fittings including hydrotherapy baths, LCD plasma screen televisions and high-speed internet access. Although the main attraction of a golf break in Spain await in the form of the golf courses on the Nicklaus Trail, the standard of the accommodation at Mar Menor ensures time spent away from the fairways can be as relaxing or fun filled as you wish.
If a relaxing round of golf or lounging under the Spanish sun by the pool, sipping a cocktail isn’t enough relaxation for you then fear not! Mar Menor also boasts its very own spa complex. Here you can you will find mood music and a fascinating array of signature treatments, all endorsed by the fantastic ESPA product range. Holistic therapies, state-of-the-art fitness suites, a Zen studio, relaxation areas, heat experiences, hydrotherapy, vitality pools and a swimming pool combine to offer a sublime spa experience while hot stone massages and intensive facials are among the signature treatments.
Retiring to the Spa after a day’s golf under the sun is the perfect way to recharge the batteries before the evening’s festivities.
All in all Mar Menor and the Nicklaus Golf Trail combine to offer the perfect package to anyone thinking of waving goodbye to home and jetting off to hit the fairways under the Spanish sun.
For information on Murcia Golf Breaks and other Spanish Golf Holidays please visit www.yourgolftravel.com or call free on 0800 043 6644.
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