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Barcelo Golf de Bavaro |
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Course Information
Reader Reviews |
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Name: Bo (DR1) Handicap: 12 Review Date: April 26th 2007 Tee Time: 08:15 |
General:
Fairways are surrounded by a 1st cut of rough from which can really grab
your ball. If the ball goes beyond the 1st cut of rough there's only water and
very dense vegetation left and finding a ball there is almost impossible much
less playing it from there if you should find it.
Driving range next to the first fairway. Putting green next to 10th tee. |
Course layout:
Not much change in elevation but that was expected from the landscape
the course is set in. The holes 2 through 6 runs between tall trees
while the remaining holes are set in a wetland area. The front 9
requires accuracy off the tee while there's more room for error on the
back 9.
The course has good variation in style of holes. On some you can really
grip it and rip it while on others you have to place your tee shot
carefully to make the most of it. Very tough par 3's. |
Maintenance:
I played the day after a rain out and there were several places with
casual water. I believe the course drains poorly because of the area
it's built in. Consider this if you have a choice of days to play.
Bermuda grass all over although some patches of different weeds have
intruded onto the golf course, especially on the slopes around the
greens.
Fairways are in bad shape due to previous mentioned weeds and poor
draining. However the tees are elevated too and shouldn't have drainage
problems, they just look awful for another reason.
All but one green are elevated and are in decent shape. Sand in bunkers
varied in density throughout the course but it could be the rain from
the previous day that didn't drain. |
Service:
Friendly staff in pro shop.
No caddy offered his service, they did prepare the cart for me though.
Free bottled water in your cart. |
Price:
US$130/round if you're in off the street. Guests staying in the Barcelo complex will get a discount. FEDO-golfers can get one free round any day
of the year. |
19th hole:
Go back to your hotel! There's a small donut shop behind the pro shop
where you can get a cup of coffee but that's it. |
Value for money rating:
Barcelo Golf de Bavaro needs to beef up on maintenance. Close down
during the off season and retool completely. I played it 10 years ago and only
remember the same poor fairways from that round. With all the golf courses
springing up in the area, they could be out of customers soon, especially when
they charge you 130 bucks.
It's a shame. It's a really nice layout with some tough interesting
holes in between and the rest of the Barcelo complex looks well maintained
elsewhere. |
Hole Descriptions & Photos:
Click a camera icon
 to see larger images and descriptions. |
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1st hole, par 4, 350 yds:
Slight dogleg right with a fairway bunker right and another left to catch the
long drives. The green is protected by a bunker left and front right. |
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2nd hole, par 3, 165 yds:
Deep bunkers in front of - and behind the shallow green. A lone palm tree to the
left spoil the chance of running your tee shot up to a left pin placement. |
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3rd hole, par 4, 384 yds:
Several huge trees in - and alongside the fairway makes placement off the tee
important. There's a small bunker to the right of the green. |
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4th hole, par 5, 528 yds:
Slight dog leg left. Again on this hole there are several large trees in the
fairway, they are all on the right side of the fairway though. The green is
guarded by a bunker in front. |
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5th hole, par 4, 329 yds:
Slight dog leg right. Fairway bunkers down the right side and one on the left
side to catch the drives that go to far. Sand front left and front right of the
green. |
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6th hole, par 3, 163 yds:
More large trees. They form a narrow corridor to the green. A high draw to this
green is the preferred shot. Bunker front right and back left of the green. |
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7th hole, par 4, 409 yds:
You're out of the forest but into the wetlands. There's a lake to the front left
of the tee box. It's a straight hole with fairway bunkers left and right and
green side bunkers front left and front right. |
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8th hole, par 4, 390 yds:
Slight dog leg right not much unlike the 5th hole, however on this hole the
green side bunker is in front of the green. |
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9th hole, par 5, 487 yds:
Water in front of the tee and all the way down the right hand side of the
fairway. The water even cuts into the fairway just before the green. A few
fairway bunkers on the left side will hardly come into play. One small green
side bunker on the left. |
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10th hole, par 4, 372 yds:
Another tee shot over water. The fairway is quite wide though and there's no
sand in play until you reach the green. There you'll find it left and right of
the green sloping back to front. |
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11th hole, par 5, 491 yds:
Three fairway bunkers on the right side are the only obstacles before you get to
the green. There you'll find sand all around the green in several bunkers. |
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12th hole, par 4, 415 yds:
Fairway bunkers left and right in the landing area unless you're very long off
the tee. The green is guarded by bunkers front left and back right. |
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13th hole, par 3, 156 yds:
Deep green side bunkers front left and back right. Bushes and cart path in front
of the tee makes this hole far from easy. |
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14th hole, par 4, 335 yds:
90 degrees dog leg right. Plenty of space to land your tee shot as long as you
avoid the big tree on the right. Long hitters (who know the course) could go for
the green or at least short thereof. There's little trouble in front of the
green which is guarded by bunkers left and right. The depiction on the score
card is way off on this hole. Trust this hole description. |
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15th hole, par 3, 179 yds:
A tough a par 3 as there is. The green is small, narrow and raised high. There's
water in front of the tee and lot's of sand in front of the green. Anything long
or left may roll off the slope and into the ditch next to the cart path. Good
luck, you'll need it! |
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16th hole, par 4, 401 yds:
Slight dog leg left. No sand on this fairway and the rough is generous on the
right side too. The green is protected by a bunker to the left. |
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17th hole, par 5, 438 yds:
Dog leg right. Intimidating drive towards the lake to avoid the three fairway
bunkers hugging the corner. There's a bunker in the middle of the fairway
approximately 100 yds short of the green so consider you lay up carefully. The
green is guarded by bunkers front left and front right. |
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18th hole, par 4, 293 yds:
Your drive has to carry at least 150 yds into the predominant trade wind over a
lake to a smallish landing area tucked in between more water left and right.
From there it is 90 degrees left to the only non-elevated green on the course.
The shallow green side bunkers guards the front left, back and right side of the
green. |
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