Goofy Golfer

As mentioned 2 weeks ago.. I had booked me 2 intrresting T-Times for during my Gran Canaria holiday.

The 2 were at Maspalomas and Meloneras Golf in Maspalomas

My first course was the Maspalomas Course, I had a start time at 11.38 I arrived 20 minutes early payed my greenfee and set off to the 1st tee. The starter however redirected me to the 10th where I was grouped with an English and a Swiss guy. The Englishman's wife was caddying for him. The good thing about starting on the 10th tee was that we had really low traffic in front of us as compared to the people on the first 9.

Maspalomas is what some people will call a Tourist course .. the fairways are pretty wide, it's pretty flat , it has little or no "Wow" holes and on only 2 holes water came in play, and apart from 2-3 holes near the dunes even missing the fairway isn't really a punishment. The fact that I putted on the 18th hole with the same ball I started on the 10th and putted on the 9th with the ball I stated on the 1st proves that.

My Second course for the week was Meloneras. Meloneras is a totally different course from Maspalomas, although not even 5 Km apart this course really has a lot of "Wow" moments. I was grouped with a Spanish and a German player .. and they both had played the course before. The first 9 have a great view on the mountains, they are absolutely not flat compared to the Maspalomas course and by the time you reach the tee of the 5th hole the view to the sea is magnificent.

As usual I played from the yellow tees, but the course surely has the opportunity to host international tournaments with often even 2 tees behind me.

I'm still not sure which rule I should have followed on the 2nd hole.
I hit my 3rd shot out of a bunker right off the fairway , on the other side of the hard road for the buggies. My ball bounced back on the road in its gutter and then rolled back downhill for about 30 meters to drop still in an empty concrete water reservoir, or maybe it was just a road as some time later I saw one of the greenkeepers driving his tractor trough that same construction. So was it a free drop or a drop + penalty ? And if it was indeed a water hazard where did I enter it .. the moment my ball dropped in the empty gutter or the moment it dropped in the bigger empty reservoir ? I'd love to see the European Tour play there and see a PRO face the same problem. Obviously I won't see that as they'll play the green in regulation.

The 3rd hole plays about 165 meters over water, but the most dangerous part of that hole is the fact that there are numerous balls from the driving range on the teebox and the road to the green, so watch your back when you stand on the teebox. Both other players didn't reach the green and my Iron 5 hit the fringe. the birdie lipped out however ;(

The real nice holes however are in the backnine. They start with an easy 10th hole , a short one down hill , once again however, just as on Hole 3 the course might want to invest in some fences, my first and bad teeshot hit the parking lot, didn't hit a car however .. I think. Hole 11 is where the real fun starts, its a dogleg to the left, if you are a long hitter you could think you could carry the corner, but you probably won't , no really you won't , take my advise here.. keep too the right .. don't try to cut the corner.

Hole 12 is the signature hole of the course.. it's a par 3 uphill that is being pictured on most of the brochures and sites you see about the course. The view is magnificiet. You hit towards the atlantic if you miss the green on the left that's where your ball ends up.. if you hit it short .. same result. ..I got my 2 points so I was happy.. the 12th was the first hole of 3 that plays next to the Atlantic. The 13th is a long SI 1 par 5 where you absolutely don't want to go left (that is if you want to keep your balls...) and the 14th start starts of over a gaping 130 meter ravine. When heading back to the clubhouse Hole 15 , 16 and 18 also require you to carry small ravines.

The views on the course are great... too bad I didn't have a decent camera with me.. who knows next time.

Both courses I played 19 points in the first 9 holes .. then absolutely failed to confirm that in the second 9. So the final conclusion .. I really should try more to play 18 holes. My scorecards usually show .. I play 9 fairly well.. then break down. So I`m pretty sure what my next year goal will be .

Technorati Tags: golf gran canaria maspalomas meloneras