Guide to Campo America

The Third Course - Campo Europa - was opened in March 2005. The fairways are generous from the tees and the greens are slightly larger than on the existing courses. They are not severely contoured but are well bunkered and will be easier for the average golfer. The par 71 course measures 6014 metres.

Course designer Cabell Robinson stresses the difference between the three courses: “The three courses in La Cala Resort are all very different in character. The new course is the most different of the three because of the river Ojen – the others are in the hills. They are three good challenges and none is over long. Yet they are all very different in character. It gives a great option to golfers to have three 18-hole courses to choose from.”

Cabell went on to stress the advantages of the new course for the average golfer:

“The new course is not only dramatic but will also be easier for the average golfer. The fairways are generous from the tees and the greens are slightly larger than on the existing courses.”

The Ojen river plays a part in eight holes, cutting across three fairways. There is one main bridge that measures 45 metres and four smaller bridges over the river. The design also features four tunnels for golf carts and maintenance machinery. In total there are concrete golf cart paths measuring 20,000 m2.

The 14th is at the maximum limit of what is allowed for a par 3 at 233 metres. The 11th is the longest hole. The par 5 measures 524 metres.

A lot of attention went into the protection of native plant species and indigenous plants such as Lavender, Rockrose, Rosemary and Palmettos were planted. Also planted were groves of trees, including Cork oak, Eucalyptus, Olives trees, Almond trees and Carob trees. In total 300 trees and 1,500 bushes were planted. No trees were removed and only one was transplanted.

Over 500,000 m3 of earth and 70,000 m3 of topsoil was moved in constructing the course The total area of land involved measures over 100 hectares. The actual golf course itself measures half of this.

Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	IDA	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	OUT	Total
White	301	344	158	404	329	357	365	498	160	2916	121	524	339	369	233	492	171	483	366	3098	6014
Yellow	289	334	152	362	311	338	356	475	155	2772	113	504	316	343	217	481	142	472	345	2933	5705
Blue	238	281	120	346	270	288	313	445	94	2395	92	422	285	314	134	384	116	382	305	2434	4829
Red	222	269	113	338	229	254	291	424	91	2231	87	414	278	290	111	378	110	372	285	2325	4556
HCP	16	8	14	2	6	12	10	4	18		17	1	13	9	7	5	15	3	11
PAR	4	4	3	4	4	4	4	5	3	35	3	5	4	4	3	5	3	5	4	36	71

HOLE 1 PAR 4 - HCP 16 This is a drivable par 4. The smart move though for most players will be to gear down to a fairway wood or long iron, taking advantage of the generously wide fairway. From there a simple wedge or 9 iron should get you home. Do NOT however over-club the approach shot.		301
		289
		238
		222

HOLE 2 PAR 4 - HCP 8 A medium length 2-shotter. The best option is to hit out straight, left of the fairway bunker, into a level part of the fairway. From this elevated position the approach is downhill to a raised banana-shaped green well bunkered right front and left rear.		344
		334
		281
		269

HOLE 3 PAR 3 - HCP 14 Club selection and directional control off the tee are the chief requirements on this the more challenging of the front nine’s short holes. Apart from the menace of the arroyo, the salient feature of this hole is the 40+ metre long narrow green with gentle but complex contouring.		158
		152
		120
		113

HOLE 4 PAR 4 - HCP 2 Two river crossings are required from the back tees, but a modern bridge carries players across to the forward tees. The fairway is pinched down to a miserly 25m width, putting a premium on accuracy rather than length. One of the largest greens on the course with two large bunkers on the right and a third, on the left, to challenge lay-up approach shots. Possibly the most difficult par 4 on the course, and sure to provoke discussion at the 19th.		404
		362
		346
		338

HOLE 5 PAR 4 - HCP 6 A medium but challenging uphill par 4. The tee shot appears daunting due to the 3 cork oaks in the hillside. The green is fairly long with a back-to-front slope and bunkers right.		329
		311
		270
		229

HOLE 6 PAR 4 - HCP 12 From the elevated tees the drive appears comfortably wide, so the temptation will be to go for it. A good mid-iron should get you up to the green.		357
		338
		288
		254

HOLE 7 PAR 4 - HCP 10 A medium length uphill par 4. OB along the right is clearly a threat on the tee shot so best to keep the drive to the left, out near the bunkers on that side. Laying up off the tee is not the best option. The large deep valley right of the putting surface will test the chipping skills of even the best players.		365
		356
		313
		291

HOLE 8 PAR 5 - HCP 8 Standing on the highest point of the course with the sea and the town of Fuengirola off in the distance. The best target off the tees is the left fairway bunkers. The smart move then is to lay up with the second just beyond the olive trees on the left. This will leave a more controllable approach shot and an easy par.		498
		475
		445
		424

HOLE 9 PAR 3 - HCP 18 The downhill tee shot leaves everything in view, but avoid being fooled by bunkers on the left. The shallow terraced flag location there appears – and is – tight, but the slopes to the right of the green will kick shots that side into the grunkle from which there is no recovery.		160
		155
		94
		91

HOLE 10 PAR 3 - HCP 17 Golfers should not be fooled by the shortness of this hole. The green is well guarded along the right side by the lake and to the left and by a nest of bunkers. The putting surface contours are among the most undulating on the course. Only a precise aerial approach will result in an easy birdie.		121
		113
		92
		87

HOLE 11 PAR 5 - HCP 1 The drive from the championship tee on this the longest par 5 on the course is a difficult shot with the Rio Ojen waiting to snatch a pulled shot. Although well bunkered left and right, the green is rather large for a par 5 thus inviting an attacking fairway metal for those in search of a birdie.		524
		504
		422
		414

HOLE 12 PAR 4 - HCP 13 The best way to attack this short but tricky par 4 is to fade the tee shot off the hillside on the right. The elevated green is wider at the back, so allow an extra club on the approach to avoid the bunkers and grassy hollows.		339
		316
		285
		278

HOLE 13 PAR 4 - HCP 9 The nice view down along the river does not alter the fact that all but the most forward tee shots must carry this feature to a fairway which narrows beyond 250 metres. The safe second shot is to the wide landing area, close to the bunkers on the left. From there the entrance to the green is open.		369
		343
		314
		290

HOLE 14 PAR 3- HCP 17 Probably the longest par 3 on the Costa del Sol – and one of the prettiest. The River Ojen cuts across the hole in front of the four rear tees and guards the right side and rear of the green. The green is large and receptive. A par here will be a highly respected score.		233
		217
		134
		111

HOLE 15 PAR 5 - HCP 5 A very photogenic hole from the elevated tees and one of the most difficult on the back nine. The sharp dogleg invites cutting the corner to an ever-narrowing fairway. Bunkers and trees will punish the less than perfect drive of those who try it. A knockdown, run-on shot from short of the green may be the smart shot here. Avoid the temptation of playing down the adjacent and lower 15th fairway.		492
		481
		384
		378

HOLE 16 PAR 3 - HCP 15 A downhill par 3. A mid-iron shot from the elevated tees. Bunkering is mostly to the sides and the rear, but short approaches will remain short. There will be very few flat putts. The last chance for a relatively easy birdie on the back side.		171
		142
		116
		110

HOLE 17 PAR 5 - HCP 3 Uphill from the landing area to the green, this hole will play longer than it measures. The drive is defended by bunkers left and right, but it is very wide as the men must carry some distance across the arroyo in front of the tees. Approach shots to the elevated green will test club selection as the bottom of the flag is not visible. Par here will be a good score.		483
		472
		382
		372

HOLE 18 PAR 4 - HCP 11 A small pot bunker in the fairway at 265 metres will test the big hitters, and one on the right will collect long drives drifting in that direction. The green is very shallow but sloped to receive the lofted approach shots expected. Short is better than long as anything beyond the bunkers behind the putting surface will disappear. Discretion on both the tee and approach shots is advised as this seemingly easy hole can easily bite.		366
		345
		305
		285