Finca Cortesin

Measuring 6.802 metres from the back tees, and with more than 100 bunkers, Finca Cortesin is ranked as being one of Spain’s best golf courses by the prestigious Golf Digest Magazine. The harmonious relationship between the natutal Mediterranean landscape and environment, make for a most attractice design.The excellent weather we enjoy all year round makes the perfect setting for playing golf. Cabell B. Robinson’s course design and Gerald Huggan’s landscaping design capture the natural characteristic of the area where the course has been constructed. All of it together adds to a perfect balance between 20 varieties of flora, the typical Mediterranean forest and the perfectly manicured bermuda grass on the course.

Number 1 is a perfect hole to start the round. Beautiful tee shot to a very wide and comfortable fairway; the second shot will require great precision since the green is well protected by a huge bunker on the left side. If you miss the green right you will face a very fast downhill chip.

• Tee
• Red286
• Gold312
• Yellow374
• White395
• Black431

First par 3 of the round. It’s not the longest par 3 on the course, but it will demand a very precise tee shot; the narrow green is surroun- ded by several bunkers that will really make up and downs very difficult. The shape of the green is very unique since it has several landing areas that are very small; it’s always better to leave a putt short of the hole or you will face a challenging downhiller. Be aware of the wind since the tees are slightly elevated.

• Tee
• Red125
• Gold148
• Yellow173
• White197
• Black218

Beautiful par 5 with all the great assets that a great golf hole should have: wide fairway, a big lateral water hazard, great views and great pay-off if you decide to go for the small green and you are successful. Beware of the bunker right of the green built in 2010, where you will have a complicated bunker shot with water behind. For the shorter hitters, be careful with the lay up since the water comes into play at all times. This hole has beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea which makes it a very special hole.

• Tee
• Red408
• Gold435
• Yellow450
• White457
• Black495

Long hitters will face a great challenge when they play this hole. The green is very much in range to be reached in one shot, but the huge lake that protects the green will await all tee shots that are not per- fectly struck. For those not going for the green, a long iron or fairway wood is the right choice. Beware of the slopes on the green and the difficult pin positions.

• Tee
• Red192
• Gold215
• Yellow256
• White299
• Black305

This hole is a great Par 5, the fairway becomes tighter the closer you get to the green. Very few players will reach it in two, but many will be tempted. The green is extremely narrow for a long hole, and it will demand much precision when attacking the flag. Many nicely shaped bunkers protect the green and a big slope goes away from it on the left side.

• Tee
• Red424
• Gold447
• Yellow462
• White516
• Black526

Very long par 3 with a huge flat green. Avoid leaving your tee shot short of the green, all bunkers protecting the flag are very deep and will leave you blind bunker shots. The good miss is on the left side.

• Tee
• Red122
• Gold151
• Yellow178
• White205
• Black226

The longest Par 4 on the Costa del Sol and stroke index 1 for Finca Cortesin. Hole 7 is just a “monster”, with a very wide fairway, but the tee shot must avoid all the bunkers to have a chance of reaching the green. The second shot will require a long iron to a big green with a lot of room on the left side from where you will have a difficult downhill chip shot. Try to keep it short on the 2nd or 3rd shot to putt up the hill on this fast green.

• Tee
• Red351
• Gold372
• Yellow409
• White429
• Black452

Very difficult Par 5, with a very tight fairway. Tee shot must be faded to avoid bunkers on the left side; long hitters should probably go with a fairway wood from the tee. The second shot will require great strategy since the lay-up area is surrounded by bunkers and bushes on the left. Use the right hand hill to keep it in play since all balls on the right side of the fairway will roll down to the fairway or green. The views from the green are spectacular to the Hotel and Clubhouse and the Mediterranean Sea on the back.

• Tee
• Red430
• Gold445
• Yellow486
• White513
• Black525

Short Par 4 that proves that a great hole doesn’t have to be especially long. Easy tee shot to a wide fairway, but with a very difficult approach to the green. Most players will go for the green with a very short iron to a small and narrow green. Many will miss the eleva- ted green and will face a very delicate chip shot. Check out the views over the Hotel on this hole; number nine is one of Cortesin’s jewels.

• Tee
• Red253
• Gold265
• Yellow311
• White322
• Black348

This par 3 is probably one of the best and most spectacular holes on the course with great views of the Estepona Mountains. It does not play very long, but the green is very narrow (with a Spanish Guitar shape) and very well protected by a water hazard on the right side. Be careful with the wind, club selection is always difficult from the very elevated tee.

• Tee
• Red107
• Gold140
• Yellow172
• White203
• Black207

Double dog-leg Par 5, with a very wide fairway and a semi-blind second shot to a small landing area protected with bunkers on the left and water hazard on the right. Keep the second shot left as the fairway is strongly sloped to the right. A beautiful natural stream runs along the right side of the hole. With almost 600 meters from the black tees, only very few in the world will have a chance to putt for eagle.

• Tee
• Red427
• Gold434
• Yellow510
• White548
• Black573

Number 12 will be a difficult hole to forget, it is a very fair par 3. Elevated tees to a huge green surrounded by several deep bunkers. It’s the biggest putting area on the course and one of the most difficult ones to read.

• Tee
• Red118
• Gold140
• Yellow163
• White202
• Black205

This is Finca Cortesin’s Signature hole. Spectacular Par 4, where the drive is played to a wide fairway, avoiding a water hazard which runs left of the fairway and across the front of the green. Bunkers right and left complete what is one of Spain’s most beautiful green settings. This is a great picture hole surrounded by very old Acebuches (typical local tree). The green is large and sloping, allowing for several different pin positions.

• Tee
• Red243
• Gold274
• Yellow322
• White335
• Black383

Another short par 4 that will see many birdies and probably eagles. The designer decided to give players a break before arriving to the next very long and difficult finishing holes. This hole has a very wide fairway, big green and many bunkers that make this hole really beautiful, especially seen from the clubhouse. Keep it left to avoid the hazard on the right hand side.

• Tee
• Red221
• Gold235
• Yellow275
• White318
• Black323

One of the most demanding holes on the course. The tee shot is very difficult since a huge water stream must be carried to reach the fair- way. The second shot will probably be faced with an uneven lie to a small and very well protected elevated green. Always take more club than you think for the second shot and enjoy the great views of the Mediterranean from this very fast green.

• Tee
• Red339
• Gold342
• Yellow393
• White408
• Black414

Great dog-leg to the right. Long, demanding and with a very tight landing area between to big bunkers; a narrow green that has seve- ral difficult pin positions awaits for the second shot. The bunkers on the left side of the green will force you to keep it on the right side, which will leave very fast downhill putt or chip shot.

• Tee
• Red283
• Gold306
• Yellow373
• White381
• Black424

The shortest par 3 on the course, but without doubt the most tech- nical of all. Precision will be needed when attempting to hit the green, especially with the pin back left. The slopes on this hole make it the very difficult green to putt; absolutely stunning views of the Estepona Sierra in the background.

• Tee
• Red109
• Gold112
• Yellow127
• White144
• Black162

A great finishing hole. Reachable Par 5 that allows big hitters to really try to smash the driver; the fairway is the widest on the course and the second shot leaves many options. Big hitters must consider that the green is very small, with out-of-bounds on the left and a bunker and bushes to the right that goes away from the green. For the average golfer, be careful with lay-up, a huge bunker protects the landing area only 100 meters from the green. This is a great match play hole with many options and risks to be taken. Enjoy the view of the hotel on the left side.

• Tee
• Red414
• Gold442
• Yellow450
• White479
• Black519