La Cala, the luxury golf resort located near Marbella in southern Spain, has announced the completion of the renovation of its Cabell Robinson-designed America course.
Campo America was the second of La Cala’s three courses to open in 1991, two years after the Asia course and 14 years before the Europa course. America has come to be regarded as the resort’s most popular layout, courtesy of its dramatic mountainous landscape, which offers spectacular views out over the Sierra de Ojen and down towards the Mediterranean Sea.
The three championship courses each present unique challenges and slot seamlessly into a natural, undulating backdrop of trees and flowers, rich with birds and wildlife. Designed by Cabell Robinson, each layout has been created to ensure a truly exhilarating experience. An additional six-hole, par-three course and a world-class academy complete the golfing experience on offer at La Cala.
Among the holes to be renovated on the America Course include the first par three – the 4th – where the green is cut into a slope some 200 yards away. This has been extensively remodelled to improve its playability as part of a major renovation programme which has seen all the bunkers refurbished to enhance the aesthetics. Another hole to undergo a major remodelling is the dogleg par-five 15th, where a ravine on the left side up towards the green has been partially filled in to allow greater flexibility in strategy for those looking to lay up. The course finishes with another memorable par five, which turns left before plunging down towards the green. If a perfect drawing drive reaches the crest on the dogleg, there is a chance of the ball rolling another 150 yards down the hill, potentially leaving a mere short iron in for the second shot.
The investment in the golf courses is scheduled to continue apace, with plans already in place for similar renovation projects on both the Asia and Europa courses this year, and in 2020, while a brand new fleet of GPS buggies has been ordered for guests to use on the Campo America course this spring.
“We are one of very few 54-hole resorts across continental Europe and are immensely proud of all three championship courses here,” says Sean Corte-Real, Director of La Cala Resort. “But Campo America is our most requested course among visitors, so we took the decision last year to raise the bar further, investing heavily in our course renovation project and placing a significant order for a state-of-the-art new buggy fleet.”