La Manga Club

La Manga Club Resort is a major golf destination on Spain's Costa Cálida in the Region of Murcia, spread across 1,400 acres of Mediterranean landscape near the Mar Menor. Both the North and South courses were designed by Californian architect Robert Putman and opened in 1971–72, with the West Course following in 1996 when Dave Thomas extended a former nine-hole layout. The resort offers three distinct 18-hole championship courses, each with a different character.

The South Course is the resort's premier layout, measuring 6,499 metres from the white tees to a par of 73. Water hazards come into play on 15 of its 18 holes, and the front nine is particularly demanding, with two par 3s exceeding 200 metres and par 4s requiring accurate driving between lakes and bunkers. The 18th is the signature hole, presenting a tee shot surrounded by water and bunkers to a heavily guarded green. The South Course has hosted multiple editions of the Spanish Open, PGA Championships, and European Tour Qualifying Schools. The North Course, also by Putman, plays to par 71 over 5,753 metres and offers a contrasting test with tighter fairways, larger greens, and a greater emphasis on precision over length. Its greens were built to USGA specification, with significant movement throughout, including the par-3 2nd which features three distinct tiers.

The West Course, set among pine woodland at the foot of the Calblanque Natural Park, plays to par 72 and is characterised by frequent elevation changes and natural storm gullies, with a tight, demanding front nine opening out to more expansive terrain on the back nine. All three courses are threaded with the barrancas — natural drainage gullies — that are a defining feature of the La Manga landscape.