As we load up the buggies with our clubs I ask the course director where the first tee for the Hills Course is, she points to ruins on top of the hill on the other side of the road, but don’t despair after the 5 minute buggy ride up the hill you will be more than happy not only with the views of Cape Salou but the look of the opening hole, which is played from an elevated tee and doglegs to the right. It’s a gentle opener if you hit the fairway, the second shot is played to a large green protected by one bunker.
Apart from some stunning views of the sea and the rollercoaster at Port Aventura Park that also dominates the skyline, the course itself is lined with white pine, olive and carob trees. The course was built around a natural bird sanctuary thus ensuring golfers have the company of winged friends throughout your round.
However, the Hills pièces de résistance comes on the 13th and 17th holes where both greens sit in rock amphitheaters, they look spectacular and really frame the second shot. My only reservation is I felt they would have made perfect back-to-back par 3s playing down into them from on top of the rock formations. It is a personal thought as I look back from the par 3 14th over to the 17th green.
Top: Amphitheatre at the 13th Above: LtoR 1st, 7th and 11th holes
I think you will love playing the Hills course the design makes the most of the land it sits in and the fairways seem to just nestle down, so from the tees you can see everything before you. All the par 3s are great holes again played from elevated tees and not a weak one among them.
One of my favourite holes was the 543-yard par 5, 11th hole, which gently doglegs to the right and downhill and has the backdrop of the Port Aventura Park rollercoaster towing over the white pine and olive trees, it’s a beautifully designed hole.
Putting out on the 18th and wanting to play a course again is always a good sign and I would be more than happy to play the Hills several times again, I know you will certainly enjoy it. I was just gutted I never had time to go on that rollercoaster as well.
There are two other courses on the Lumine Beach & Golf Community both designed by Greg Norman. The Lakes is an 18-hole course and the Ruines is a 9-hole course, unfortunately I didn’t get to play these courses but I have been reliably informed by one of my Golf Monthly collegues that both are a very good test of golf.
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