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La Serena Golf Course in Los Alcazarez
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We had heard about this new course a week before from a pro golf teacher who told us it was quite difficult and not for Societies with players with high handicaps, so Alex, our Captain and I took up the invitation to play the course before it opened with Paul and Mike from ClubMurcia.com.
Starting on the first tee you are faced with a par 5 of 494 metres, there is a tight OOB on the left, a fairly generous fairway but lots of water on the right. Having got the ball on the fairway you then have a long shot to the green with water in play on the right all the way to the green, the OOB is still close by on the left but there are 4 large bunkers to deter you from going left. On arrival at the first green you discover one of the best attributes of this course, the large greens which are very well prepared and true, lets hope they stay this way. Hole 2 is a dogleg right par 4, water all the way down the right but a 3 wood hit straight leaves only a wedge/9 iron into a long thin green protected by a massive bunker on the left. Incidentally, if you look at the course planner on the scorecard you will see that 16 out of 18 holes involve water somewhere along the way. Only holes 11 and 12 are away from the agua. Hole 3 is the first par 3, it’s a good 150 metre carry across the water to a good size green, fairly easy to hit with a drilled 6 iron. There is a bail out shot to the left reducing the carry over the water but remember it is a par 3 and stroke index 16. Hole 4 starts with the tee in front of a lake, you play across the corner onto a narrow fairway, this is the first hole where you encounter desert on your right. It is really an area of sand and gravel which appears to be a feature on all new golf courses in our region, not too difficult to play off but best if you stay away from it. At 356 meters its not long so there is no problem in getting to the green in 2, a driver from the tee is ok as once over the water the fairway is quite generous. There is a bit of a walk back to hole 5 which is almost a repeat of hole 4 except there is a lake to the right and in front of the green, a good driving hole as the bunkers are not in reach for most of us and neither is the water. The green is well protected by the bunkers but as all the greens are, it is very receptive. No. 6 is a short par 4 of 301 metres and stroke index 18, the easiest hole on the course you must hit a straight tee shot or the water on the right will come into play and the OOB fence on the left keeps you focused on the narrow fairway. As it is a shortish hole, take your straightest iron and keep it on the grass then your second to the green will be quite easy. Hole 7 takes you back towards the clubhouse and at 442 metres it is a birdiable hole. A nice wide fairway with bunkers left and right at around 200 metres, even if you play into them you can recover to the fairway to reach the green in 3. The green is only approached over water as there is no other way into this large slightly elevated green with a bunker at the back so don’t go long, which is always the temptation when faced with a shot in, over water. From this hole there is a good walk across the road, behind the practice area round to hole 8, be careful as you pass tee 10 on the way. The 8th is a long par 4 with a bit of desert area on the right from the tee and then a long second shot on a wide fairway with water again on the right. The temptation to take on this green in two should only be accepted by those who are confident they can carry the water and get the ball up to the elevated green, my advice is to stay left and take three shots as this is stroke index 2. Hole 9 is a par 3 over two lakes, at 157 metres it is not too daunting as the green is large and anything right is safe. This hole could be tricky in a wind though because the water on the left goes all the way to and beyond the green. From the 9th green you walk on for some way before tee 10 takes you back the way you have just come. A short par 4 requiring a straight tee shot as the green narrows off with water on the left. There is another of those desert areas on the right but it is easy enough to play from, be careful with your second into the green as it has a water hazard across the front and a lake to the left hand side very close. Quite a few of the greens are tiered as is this one, which is another feature of an otherwise flat course. Apart from the water the only other hazards on this course are the palm trees, there appears to be hundreds of them, all very tall. Hole 11 takes you away to the furthest part of the course on the longest par 5 at 500 metres where there is no water and no bunkers until you reach the green so drive away. It is very difficult to reach in 2 as there is an area of desert in front and to the left of the green. Hole 12 is stroke index 1 and a slight dogleg left, again no water but a fair amount of desert on the right. This is a par 4 and as far as I could see didn’t really warrant its stoke index 1 as a good drive, left an easy second to the green, only the palm trees on the left seemed to be a problem if you didn’t hit very long. Hole 13 is a very short par 4 at 275 metres, a 3 wood from the tee leaves an easy second over the water to the green. Onto Hole 14 and here you must stay left, there is water all the way down the right, even your second shot has to cross water as the left hand side short of the green is heavily protected by bunkers. Hole 15 is the longest of the par 3s and plays all 172 metres of it, you really need to be straight here as there is water on your right and tight OOB to the left. Hit the green in 1 and you will be lucky to get a par as the green is enormous. Hole 16 has a wide fairway with water all the way on the right, a short carry over the lake in front of the tee leaves an easy second from the right hand side of the fairway, don’t slide left away from the water as there is the biggest series of bunkers here on the whole course. Hole 17 is an easy par 3, its only 150 metres with half of it over water, there is a hidden bunker at the back to collect anything that is long but a good sized green is easy to hit. The last hole 18 ,does encourage a long drive, with OOB down the left fairly close there is no trouble out to the right. Being a par 5, I wouldn’t advise trying to get on in 2 as the green not only has a stream in front of it but the fairway narrows with water on the left. Get on in 3 and you stand a chance of a birdie.
Overall this course is not as difficult as it looks on paper. I am a 9 handicapper and played with a 5, 18 and 28 handicap players on this round. It was enjoyable for all players as the greens are new and unmarked and are large enough for some exciting pin positions, The fairways are slightly over watered but the most overriding factor about this course is the way the flatness has been disguised with subtle landscaping also making it easy enough to walk.
Report by Bob Gallard
Vice Captain, San Javier Golf Society
Posted on 28 September 2006
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Report on Roda Match 23rd August
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"As our regular reporter Bob Gallard is off to join his wife Lyn (our treasurer & secretary) in the UK to put their first Grandchild on the path of life, it has been left to me to report on our second visit to Roda Golf.
This course has made a great impression on our members. The first visit recorded a turnout of 82 players and this time round just short of 100. The course and the weather favoured very good scores.
Category (1)
The winner: (for the second time this month)
Barry Floyd playing off 10 Barry recorded 41pts.
Second place
David Williams playing off ll scoring 37pts
Third place – on count back playing of 3 was Alan Masters with 36 pts from Ashley Bates.
Category (2) was just as impressive with the winning score coming from new member Tim Savage 2nd was ever present Keith Powell on 36pts and 3rd was Ray Newcomb with 35pts not to be out done Category (3) winner Mark Watts came 1st with 37pts Graham Sherlock 2nd with 36 pts and 3rd was Ian Smith with 32pts.
We had a good field of guests and topping that list was Andy Brown with 40pts Brian Hanraty with 36pts and Paul Cherry also 36pts. Nearest the pins were
Hole 7 – Chris Harvey Hole 11 – Bob Marksman Hole 13 Manuel Gomez (Guest)
On hole 2 despite the number of players playing, no one hit the green please note stroke index (15) . A vote of thanks goes to Pablo Riestra (Golf Director) at Roda & his Staff for their hospitality and for the excellent condition of the coarse. Also to Bob Marksman and his staff back at the Escuela de Golf San Javier for the sandwiches etc provided after the game. I do hope this is the start of things to come. I would also like to thank our new handicap secretary Fred Faulkner for his very had work not easy with this number of players on your first competition. However Fred you have plenty of scope for your new sword so get cutting!!!
Report by: Alex McLennan, Captain"
Posted on 08 September 2006
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Report Altorreal Match Thursday 27th July
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Photo: Les Carr winner of cat. 1 receiving his prize from Mike McDonald
What do they say ”Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun” well 36 members and guests did just that last Thursday. Temperatures were almost unbearable on the course with no breeze to mention only the dedicated or foolish ventured out at this time of the year. Because of the reduced field and some of our top players missing it gave everyone a chance to get in the prizes and when the scores came in there were a few names that hadn't been seen for sometime in the winners circle.
The draw for this game was made the previous Saturday and 1 fourball turned out to be a bit of a disaster, we had two guests playing with two of our high handicappers in the middle of the field. To say they were slow was an understatement, tempers got a bit frayed as they were passed by all those behind them, Margaret McBride was in the 4 ball and when she got in she didn’t recognise her husband as he had grown a beard whilst waiting for her to finish!! A note has been made and they wont play together again. Charlie Robinson caused a question for the Rules official, that being that on the 12th hole he hit his drive into the gulley on the left.He found his ball in the long grass in the gulley and decided to play the ball as it lay and not take a penalty drop, however on striking the ball another ball flew out onto the fairway so he in effect played two balls. I still haven’t worked out if he should be penalised for playing the wrong ball as well as his own, he swears he didn’t know it was there, by the way he wasn’t in a hazard so Rule 15-3 does not apply.
Category 1 saw the best score of the day with Les Carr scoring 40pts to win, in second place was the Captain, Alex McLennan with 38pts and in third was Dave Williams on 37pts. The scores in Cat2 weren’t so good and saw Mike McDonald take the win with only 30 pts, this was on countback from the ver present Alan Ross who was beaten for a change into second place!. In 3rd place came Rod Darby with 29pts which was quite an achievement as he doesn’t play that often.
Category 3 had some better scores and Ray Bryant came in with 36 pts to win, behind him in second place was Bill Bailey with 35 pts both of whom have not been seen in the winners circle for sometime. In 3rd place was Graham Sherlock who is now 2 for 2 in the prizes. Graham was playing his first game as a full member following his win as best guest on his last outing at Hacienda. The Handicap secretary has noticed Graham and you are on your way down. The best guest prize was decided on countback with Ron Wade having the better back nine to win with 38pts . There were 4 Nearest the Pin prizes as usual and congratulations go to Ian Johnstone, Brian Kettle,Doug Daughtrey and Bob Gallard for these.
The Presentation evening took place on Saturday at the Escuela de Golf San Javier and a magnificent turnout of over 100 people came for the BBQ and entertainment.
Next Game is on Monday 7th August at Alicante Golf, the coach leaves the Range at 1030 so don’t be late.. there will be bacon rolls and tea or coffee for those who get to the range early.
Report by Bob Gallard
Posted on 04 August 2006
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Vice Captain and Treasurer become grandparent
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Had to share our good news with you, Lucy our daughter and Adrian her husband became parents of Daniel Adrian Smith on Tuesday 25th July at 13:34. Weighing in at 6lb 15 oz 3 weeks early. Mother and baby doing well - grandparents in shock.
Posted on 27 July 2006
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Report and Results from Hacienda 10th July
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Just 40 members turned out for this mid summer round. Temperatures soared even with a 9am start so we weren’t expecting brilliant scores. There was also 5 ladies playing on the academy course. A draw had been done for this competition and it turned out that Alex and myself had been drawn together and as Alex was starter we played together at the end. It was a very relaxed day and with the course in such good condition it was a pleasure to play. Our Argentinian professional, Teo, played in an early 4 ball and his name kept cropping up on the nearest the pin markers as Alex and I collected them on the way round. On speaking to Teo in the bar later he said that he had not had a good round, 7 over par didn’t seem too bad to me ,off scratch and the white tees!!! We also had a few new members and guests playing for the first time at Hacienda and on finishing, the Handicap Secretary came to tell me about the score of one of our new members, stating that he had played with him and had been amazed as he thought he was a beginner and he notched up a score of 38 pts. Never again was his parting statement. This was only Graham Sherlock’s third game with us so he wasn’t eligible for category 3 but would have won it comfortably with his 38 pts.
Husband and wife teams faired well with Dave and Joan Williams both winning their respective categories. Dave scored 35 pts in Cat. 1 only just winning on count back to Bob Marksman with Mick Barker taking 3rd place with 29 pts.
Category 2 was also close and 1st place went to Gerry Johnson with 31 pts on count back from Alan Ross. The handicap secretary could not separate Bob Bushnell and Geoff Timberlake with 30 pts each so they share 3rd place.
Joan Williams scored an excellent 33pts to take category 3 but 2nd place was contested by Mark Watts and Alex McBride with Mark coming out on top.
Graham Sherlock playing off 36 was our best guest with 38 pts but as I said previously his next game will be as a full playing member and on past performances his handicap has been severely cut.
Nearest the pins go to Teo x 2, Derek Cox and Gerry Johnson.
Winner of the Ladies on the Academy course was Nike Hovell on countback from Margaret McBride who came second.
The presentation for this competition will take place at Escuela de Golf on Saturday July 29th 7.30pm where there will be a BBQ at reduced price for players and 6€ for guests with music from “Smithy”.
Next game is at Altorreal on Thursday 27th July. Please note change of normal day! Then August 7th a day out to Alicante San Juan Course, coach from the range so 52 players only, book early. Then we have booked Roda again at the end of August, see notice board at the clubhouse for all details.
Anyone who has not paid their deposit and handed in their forms for Albacete please do so asap as we now have a reserve list of people wanting to go.
Results
Cat. 1 Winner Dave Williams 35 pts
2nd Bob Marksman 35 pts on C/B
3rd Mick Barker 29 pts
Cat 2 Winner Gerry Johnson 31 pts
2nd Alan Ross 31 pts on C/B
3rd Bob Bushnell and
Geoff Timberlake 30 pts
Cat 3 Winner Joan Williams 33 pts
2nd Mark Watts 32 pts
3rd Alex McBride 32 pts on C/B
Best Guest Graham Sherlock 38 pts
N.T.P. Teo, Teo, Derek Cox and Gerry Johnson
Report by Bob Gallard
Posted on 15 July 2006
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Hacienda Del Alamo 12th June 06
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After the cancellation of our last game at Altorreal on the 31st May due to severe weather conditions we were hoping that we would have a fine dry day at Hacienda. Well we did get fine and dry and warm but we also got a strong wind, so much so that at times it really affected even the best players and kept scores low. We had 47 players including guests and a first tee time of 10:40 so it was a leisurely start for sure. Again there were no “no shows” and all but one of our members, who about to tee off on the first realised he had left his driver in his car, got away on time.
This is not just my evaluation of the course but the majority of our society, it was in excellent condition. Nice greens, fairways and true receptive greens, if you could hit them in the wind!
Being a stableford competition we had our usual 3 categories evenly shared out across all 47 players. Category 1, which was for those of handicap 19 and below were expected to get the best scores and this was the case. The highest score of the day came from Dave Williams with 33 points and also Keith Powell in Cat. 2 with the same. Our captain Alex McLennan who had been going through a lean patch of late made a recovery to finish second on countback from Derek Cox, both with 31 points. The next highest score was 29 points which just goes to show how difficult it was.
Cat. 2 was won by Keith Powell and funnily enough 2nd and 3rd place was exactly the same as cat. 1 with Jim Baldock beating Alan Ross on countback, both scoring 31 points.
Cat. 3 for all those with a handicap of 27 and over didn’t see such good scores. The winner was Graham Haywood with 30 points followed closely by Don McNeil on 29 point, on checking his card it was discovered that he had scored 7 points of the front and 22 points on the back nine, how about that for a recovery! 3rd place went to our handicap secretary Don Busby with 29 points on countback from Robert Metherall. Even with the low scores Don had found reason to cut some members so look out at the next game for your new handicaps.
The best guest prize on the day went to Ken Shaw.
Four nearest the pins which incidentally had my name on three of them, eventually went to Dave Williams, George Payne, Keith Powell and Derek Cox.
In the new and high handicap players game on the Academy course were 13 ladies, some playing for the first time. The winner was Margaret McBride, 2nd Maureen Lackenby and 3rd Linda Watts. Well done to everyone for a good days golf, despite the wind.
There will be a presentation for this game after the Roda match on Wednesday 28th June, 7.30pm at The International Bar, El Oasis, Los Alcazares who are sponsoring the buffet.
The next game will be at the new Roda Course in Los Alcazares on Wednesday June 28th. Shot gun start at 10am. The list is now closed as we already have 72 names so anyone else wanting to play will be on the reserve list. Please make sure you pay your green fee by Saturday 24th 12 noon or your place will be given to a reserve.
This game will kindly be sponsored by Jennifer Cunningham & Associates, a local insurance specialist and the Ladies Prize of a set of jewellery will be sponsored by Pierre Lang Jewellery. For more information on these companies see www.jennifercunningham.net and www.pierre-lang.com.
Report by Bob Gallard
Posted on 07 July 2006
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Report and Results for Roda Golf June 24th
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Sponsored by Jennifer Cunningham & Associates and Pierre Lang Jewellery
The Society had waited a long time for this day as many of our members live nearby and have watched in anticipation as the course was laid out, the grass grew and the course took shape. Our thanks go to Mike Maloney and Pablo Piestra for allowing us to have the course to ourselves on the day and with assisting with the organisation of 82 players on a shotgun start.
The day was sponsored by Jennifer Cunningham and Associates through ASSSA Insurance Company and a separate Ladies Competition was sponsored by Pierre Lang Jewellery.
Having the course to ourselves was really good as it allowed us time to get organised and everyone out to the start tees without interfering with anyone else. The weather was as expected for the end of June, hot and sunny with a most welcome afternoon breeze that emerged around 2pm.
Roda being a brand new course was an unknown quantity to all but 2 of our members who had managed a preview round the week before. There were a couple of minor points that needed addressing the first being that there seemed to be a lack of direction signs from the greens to the next tee and unfortunately a few members got lost after the 5th and played the 9th next not knowing where to go. Apart from no usual distance markers ie. 150m, 100m and 50m to the greens the course was rated by all the members as excellent. It is not a long course, 5,819 off the yellow tees but it does have some interesting holes. We were not expecting high scores on the day but there is always the exception and congratulations go to Paul Matthews who scored 38 points off 15 handicap. Roda is another Dave Thomas designed course like Hacienda del Alamo so we could expect plenty of bunkers and well protected greens. The greens were in beautiful condition on the front 9 and apart from one or two on the back 9 they were flat and true. Back to the bunkers, though our members gave a mixed response to the sand in them, some said it was like builders sand, others said it was like the beach, whatever, it was different from any other sand on golf course we have played in Spain. Some found it easy to get out of and others like myself usually confident in bunkers found it difficult. The course is made of Bermuda grass and the fairways were well cut and easy to playoff, however, if you fell off the fairway into the rough grass the ball sat down and even on occasions disappeared proving difficult to get any distance with your next shot. There are areas on the course, like Hacienda, open gravelly areas, but these have been landscaped with rocks and cactus plants just to add a more aesthetic look to the course. Hole 7 is the dreaded par 3 surrounded by water, but having experienced it I didn’t find it too daunting, choosing the right club, there was plenty of green to land on. Looking at the return cards though I noticed that just over a third of players (32) failed to score on this hole. The three other par 3’s were not too difficult, at least there was a bale out shot if you missed the green. There were prizes for nearest the pin on all the par 3’s and winners on the day were Teo, our Argentinian teaching pro, Tony Stapleton, Paul Davison and Sonia Cull.
Even with a shotgun start it seemed a slow round and 5 hours in the sun and heat was taxing on a lot of our older members, there were a few hold ups here and there and it was good natured and everyone enjoyed themselves. After the round there was a longest drive competition on the driving range but this only attracted the fit long hitters and there was no doubt as to who was going to win, our youngest player on the day, Richard Masters, (playing off 9) who hit the ball out of the range to take the trophy.
The presentation of prizes took place later that evening at the International Bar, El Oasis, hosted by Fred and Lyn Miller who laid on a magnificent buffet. Our sponsors Jennifer Cunningham and Associates were there to present the prizes and enjoy the evening with the Society along with Pierre Lang Jewellery who sponsored the ladies competition and presented all the ladies with a pin brooch and prizes of jewellery sets from their range to the winner, 2nd and 3rd place.
List of Prize winners
Category 1 Winner Paul Matthews 38 pts
2nd Alex McLennan 35 pts
3rd Ian Earey 34 pts
Category 2 Winner Don McNeil 35 pts
2nd Peter Fleet 34 pts
3rd Keith Powell 33 pts
Category 3 Winner Ray Bryant 30 pts
2nd Robert Metherall c/b 28 pts
3rd Graham Haywood 28 pts
Ladies Winner Mavis Clayton 31 pts
2nd Joan Williams 30 pts
3rd Joyce Armstrong 24 pts
Best Guest and Longest Drive Richard Masters
Nearest the Pins x 4 Teo, Tony Stapleton, Paul Davison, Sonia Cull
Best Back Nine Alex McLennan 21 pts
Best Front Nine Don McNeil 21 pts
Next game Monday July 10th at Hacienda del Alamo, names on board at range asap see webpage for details
www.sanjaviergolfsociety.co.uk
Report by Bob Gallard
Posted on 07 July 2006
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Death of a Society Member
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It is will deep regret that we inform you that Ray Peacey passed away in hospital on Wednesday 5th July.
Ray was a lovely man, nicknamed "Mr. Steady" as a golfer. He will be greatly missed by many.
Posted on 07 July 2006
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