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Catalonia Caribe Golf Club |
Course Information
More Reviews
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Name: Bo (DR1) Handicap: 12 Review Date: August 25th 2007 Tee Time: 10:30 |
General:
Fairways are surrounded by a 1st cut of rough from which the ball is easily played. Beyond the 1st cut, the rough is mowed down between fairways and you may be able to find and play your ball.
As this is a young course (9 months) some areas still have blue stakes for a
free drop to protect new trees and flower beds. It will be a lot tougher when those stakes are removed.
Nice driving range and putting green next to the 1st tee.
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Course layout:
The course has a nice variation in style of holes with doglegs and up- and down hill fairways.
Dont be discouraged by the narrow fairways of the first 3 holes. The course opens up for the driver later on.
There are no cart paths so you drive right onto the course and next to the tees. This may wear the course when more people play.
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Maintenance:
Greens and tees are in great shape but tees are very small. It may be
tough to keep them this nice when the course gets populated and divots start to
take their toll. Fairways have a few patches of brown grass but that may be the
sign of the season as I've seen
it elsewhere. Sand in bunkers was compact but not packed. |
Service:
Professional and attentive staff in pro shop, reception and caddy shack.
I didn't use the club house changing facilities. There were no caddies available but there were people helping you fit your bag on the cart.
Drinking water is only available at the club house so stock up before you head out.
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Price:
US$75 / 18 holes in the off season. Cart and range balls included. Residents can play 18 holes for
US$25. Catalonia Caribe Golf Club joins
the FEDO golf program shortly. Pro/regular rental clubs available at US$20/15. |
19th hole:
Terrace bar with a view to the 9th and 18th green. No menu, only a few snacks available.
Any type of beer is US$3. |
Value for money rating:
Catalonia Caribe Golf Club was a pleasant surprise. It was challenging and the greens were really nice and at a very fair price it was
surprising that I was the only golfer there on a Saturday morning. Only two more golfers had started on the front 9 when I finished. It
was tough to find the course though as no signs on the main roads in the area advertised the golf course or showed you how to get there.
There are plans of adding more tees, both back and front and that will only add to the experience that you're able to get the challenge
you're looking for.
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Hole Descriptions & Photos:
Click a camera icon
to see larger images and descriptions. |
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1st hole, par 4, 364 yds:
A straight par 4 with a narrow fairway will test your accuracy from the beginning. Watch out for cars on the road. With a big bunker on the left of the fairway this hole will make the players aim between some palm trees. A wide green protected by sand on the left awaits your second shot. |
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2nd hole, par 5, 494 yds:
Very tall trees define the margins of the narrow fairway, also defended by a bunker on the right. The distant green is situated between two more bunkers and behind a palm tree. |
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3rd hole, par 4, 342 yds:
Probably the hardest hole of the front 9. An uphill tee shot that usually leaves the player without a clear vision of the green. A hidden lake on the right makes the green entrance a little more complicated than what the golfer sees. The palm tree at the top of the hill is a great reference to play this hole. |
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4th hole, par 4, 352 yds:
A little cut to be played from the tee to avoid the two bunkers on the left is enough to turn this noble par 4 into a pretty easy hole. The big trees on the right rough may become big trouble for those missing the fairway on that side. Sand to the left of the green. |
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5th hole, par 4, 297 yds:
A long iron from the tee might be the best option to face this tricky par 4 that goes along the big lake. The dog-leg left situates the green in the middle of two lakes that will require precision from the fairway if you don't want your ball to get wet. The sloping green makes this one of the most demanding holes on the course. |
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6th hole, par 3, 117 yds:
Not many options for golfers who have to hit the island green of this nice Par 3. The bunkers front and back may become your allies when stopping the ball from rolling into the water. |
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7th hole, par 5, 490 yds:
The tee shot will be the key of this par 5. Placing the ball between the lake on the right and out of bounds on the left will turn the hole into a very good chance of success. When reaching the green, club selection is everything to hit this shallow sloping green. |
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8th hole, par 3, 194 yds:
The hardest par 3 of the course requires a long tee shot to a pretty wide open green. The main challenge is to hit the ball straight enough to avoid the trees and the bunkers situated on each side. |
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9th hole, par 4, 342 yds:
The bunker on the right and the trees on the fairway may complicate this straight par 4. The narrow entrance to a big green makes golfers concentrate on the approach to the green which is guarded by sand left and right. |
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10th hole, par 4, 384 yds:
Not much room to hit this drive. Again watch out for cars on the road. Palm trees on the left and the out of bounds and large fairway bunker on the right may cause some trouble to those who use the wood of the tee. The long and narrow green is protected by sand left and right. |
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11th hole, par 5, 557 yds:
This dog-leg left par 5 can be really long if the wind is in our face. The combination of long and accurate shots is the only way to manage this hole. The elevated unprotected green can not be underestimated because of its big breaks. |
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12th hole, par 4, 320 yds:
Probably the easiest hole of the course. A short par 4 where carrying the big bunker on the right is the only big challenge. If the pin is hidden all the way back on the green, the approach shot becomes a little more demanding. There are deep bunkers front right and back left. |
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13th hole, par 4, 392 yds:
The hardest par 4 on the course does not require anything but power. An uphill approach usually against the wind, a two tiered green protected by two big bunkers on the left and out of bounds on the right makes this a very tough hole. |
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14th hole, par 3, 180 yds:
The beauty of this par 3 is enough to enjoy this hole no matter what the score may be. Its a down hill shot to try to reach a very wide green defended by sand front right. Club selection is again very important. |
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15th hole, par 5, 505 yds:
The easiest of the par 5's is played alongside the big lake. The hill on the left may help the golfer to feel safer when hitting the tee shot. After that, try to avoid the huge bunker to the left of the green. |
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16th hole, par 4, 343 yds:
A blind tee shot with the green in the background. Knowing where the fairway is can make a difference when teeing off. If the pin is hidden behind the bunker on the left, playing to the right of the green might not be a bad idea. |
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17th hole, par 3, 174 yds:
This last par 3 has a clearly better strategy: hit the ball to the right to avoid the bunker on the left and if in doubt, always take the longer club to leave yourself with an uphill putt. |
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18th hole, par 4, 364 yds:
The split fairway gives the golfer many options from the tee. You can either play a little shorter towards the lake or try to nail it more towards the right side of the fairway. In any case, the second shot will not be too easy. Like on the previous hole, play long and to the right to avoid the lake and the green side bunkers. |
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