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Think golf in Spain and the famed Costa del Sol inevitably springs to mind. From Malaga all the way along the 135km of Andalusia coastline to the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, courses of international repute dot the popular tourist trail.
Roughly halfway is the party town of Marbella, while nearer the ever-present monolithic limestone promontory that is the Rock of Gibraltar can be found such gems as La Reserva de Sotogrande and nearby Valderrama, where Seve Ballesteros’ Europeans beat Tom Kite’s Americans 14½-13½ in the 1997 Ryder Cup.
But we’re here to challenge the status quo by alerting you to a stunning alternative. The Costa Daurada is one of the most exciting, and relatively undiscovered, golfing destinations in Spain.
The centrepiece of the northern region’s seven courses is Lumine Mediterránea Beach & Golf Club, a Troon Golf-managed sanctuary just 40 minutes south of Barcelona (and a stone’s throw from the local Reus airport).
Near the historic town of Tarragona and seaside port of Cambrils, Lumine offers 45 holes of golf that promises to test players of all abilities.
The flagship is the Greg Norman-designed ‘Lakes’ course. Opened in 2008 with a Sergio Garcia Pro-Am, the Great White Shark’s fins are all over this challenging, technical test, which unfolds over the network of water hazards winding around the Sèquia Major wetlands.
Lumine’s second championship course, ‘The Hills’, is topographically very different to its sister course. Designed by Spanish architect Alfonso Vidaor, this undulating layout weaves its way through picturesque pine woodlands, olive groves, natural quarries and rocky outcrops, and places a premium on shot shaping and course management. Perhaps the greatest reward for choosing this course (why play one when you can play all three over and over) are the spectacular Mediterranean Sea vistas.
Completing the golfing experience at Lumine is another Norman design, the nine-hole ‘Ruins’, which takes its name from the traces of Roman archaeology that form some of the defining features of the layout.
Lumine’s reputation as one of Europe’s premier golfing destinations has been enhanced with its selection as one of the venues for the second stage of European Tour Qualifying School for four consecutive years (it is locked in for Nov. 11-16 this year). It will also host the PGA of Europe’s prestigious annual fourball event (Feb.12-15) a week after the Costa Daurada International Pro-Am (Feb. 8-11). The resort previously welcomed the 16th edition of golf’s premier travel show, the International Golf Travel Market.
Lumine Golf Club’s Golf School caters to groups of beginners to more advanced players while off the course, the menu at Lumine Restaurant epitomises Mediterranean cuisine and has some truly memorable seafood dishes. The Hoyo 19 restaurant offers a daily menu in a “privileged position” while the Lumine Beach Club offers infinity and sea-water pools and the perfect venue to enjoy the local nightlife.
Lumine belongs to La Caixa Bank. The complex fulfils all environmental criteria for responsible water management and conservation of fauna and flora. As a result, Lumine Golf Club was the first course in Spain to be awarded the ‘Gold Signature Certificate Sanctuary’ by Audubon International. We suspect your first visit to Lumine won’t be your last, especially given the ease of access from the main hub of Barcelona, which makes day trips to the cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region and it’s world-famous art and architecture an option on those non-golf days.
Stay & Play Offers
• Autumn Offer | 5 nights | €499
5 nights sharing a double room at Hotel Regente Aragón – Bed and breakfast – Unlimited Greenfees over 4 days at Lumine Golf Club included – Unlimited balls in driving range.
• Winter Offer | 3 nights | €290
3 nights sharing a double room in 4 * Hotel – Bed and breakfast – Unlimited Greenfees over 3 days at Lumine Golf Club included – Unlimited balls in driving range.
