After a 40-minute ferry ride from Tenerife to La Gomera and a truly stunning 30-minute drive from the port to the golf course that took me up the mountain and back down the other side, I am staring out to sea from the patio of the clubhouse amazed by more wonderful views.
After a warm up on the practice ground I jump the buggy up to the first tee, which takes about 5minutes back up the hill and gives you a chance to take in some of the course and more of those wonderful views.
After a chat to the starter I smash my ball down the fairway and I am off. As you can imagine there are stunning views not only of the Atlantic Ocean below me, but the rocks and hills that surround me and the vegetation of the course with its variety of greens and flowers in what seems like full bloom, just play on your senses.
Top: Par 3, 14th with Ocean backdrop. Above LtoR: 6th, 10th and 11th holes
The fourth is the courses most iconic hole and as I make my way to the tee I can see why. At 186-yards all carry downhill with the Atlantic glistening away as a backdrop, its at times like these that you realise for all its frustrations it's a great game we play, Bobby Jones who loved to smell the flowers would have taken an extra few minutes on this hole.
This course is no one trick pony and Donald Steel has done a wonderful job of creating a challenging golf course that takes full advantage of its position. The back nine opens up with another stunning hole, this time a par 4 but still played downhill to what looks like an infinity green and at 397-yards at altitude the longer drivers out there may just fancy their chances of driving the green.
The course gently makes its way downhill and the par 3, 11th is another great hole with the green sitting in its own little amphitheatre. The run home from there offers more great golf holes and if your golf game isn’t in great shape don’t worry, the views will soothe your soul.
The quote of the day came from the Editor of Women and Golf Magazine Allison Root, sitting round the table enjoying some gastronomic delights and a well-deserved cerveza, she stated, “I have never played a course where I have taken so many photos” I certainly couldn’t have summed up the course any better.
Last view of that stunning ocean backdrop at the 18th
The beautiful array of flora and fauna at the 3rd tee