In the period from Wednesday 17 July through to Sunday 21 July 2019 Jacqui and I played golf 4 times in 5 days. We played on Wednesday at Playa Serena. Followed by twice at Almerimar on Friday and Saturday. Then yesterday at Alborán. This has given us a good opportunity to compare the courses.

The first thing to mention is that all 3 courses were in pretty good condition. When comparing them we were looking at the two 18 hole courses plus the 9 hole Master 3 (Classic) course at Almerimar.

There was not much difference between the 3 courses when comparing the tees and fairways. In the case of the bunkers I feel that the quality of the sand in the bunkers at Playa Serena and Alborán was better than at Almerimar. However the quality of the maintenance of the bunkers on all three courses was just about the same.

The big difference between the three courses was the speed and receptiveness of the greens. The greens on both of the other courses were similar to how the greens at Almerimar have been in the recent past. Particularly comparing them with the greens in the early part of summer in the last few years at Almerimar. They were very receptive and true. However they were pretty slow. Particularly when putting uphill.

The greens at Almerimar are now much firmer than the other two courses. Although they are less firm than when the Master 3 (Classic) course re-opened in September last year. At least you can now stop the ball reasonably quickly when playing a full wedge into the greens.

The Almerimar greens are also much faster than the other two courses. This is most noticeable with the last few metres of putts of all lengths. At Almerimar the putts just keep on rolling several metres further than at the other courses. It is really difficult to judge the length at putts at Almerimar. As a small variation in strength of putt leads to the ball rolling at least 2-3 metres further. While at the other courses it feels like I need to use a driver rather than a putter to get the ball to reach the hole. As the grass on the greens seems to have a lot more resistance.

Finally, the photo above is from last Saturday morning. When I was making my way up to play an official competition on the Master 3 (Classic) 9 hole course at Almerimar. On the way there I popped across to the 12th hole to have a look at how they have changed the bunker in front of the green. As you can see they have filled the bunker in a lot. To make it a little easier to get out of there when the Master 1 (18 hole) course opens with new greens in September.

Rob from La Envía has been in touch about this summer afternoon deal for 2019.

Last night Jacqui and I walked across the golf course on the way down to having some tea in the marina. On the way down we spotted that the 4th and 9th greens had new grass on them. As we came under the bridge (after being dive-bombed by the seagulls again) we spotted that the 18th green had been done as well. As you can see from the photo above.

As with last year the greens were neither seeded nor turfed. Strands of a creeping Bermuda grass have been turned into the greens.

With the predicted high temperatures soon and lots of watering (as you can see) I guess the greens will start growing pretty quick.

Yesterday (7 June 2019) we played another FGS Friday competition playing twice round the Master 3 (Classic) course. This week hole 7 was shortened by around 150m. So it was playing like a par 3. As the pond between holes 7 and 8 was being extended down the 7th fairway. So it was not safe for people to play off the normal tees on hole 7. As we could perhaps hit the workmen with our golf balls.

All of the sand and earth being excavated was being used to fill the greens on the main Master 1&2 course.

Most of the greens on the back 9 of the Master course now have new sand/earth on them. Ready for planting the new grass. The photo above is of the practice green. A lot of the greens on the back 9 are in a similar state.

I think that the latest sand and earth being excavated on the Master 3 (Classic) course is now being used to do something similar on the front 9 greens of the Master course.

You can see more photos of the course from yesterday in the Gallery.

Yesterday afternoon (29 May 2019) Jacqui and I had a knock around on a very quiet course in terms of the number of players. However there was a lot of activity taking place. With lorries carrying sand backwards and forwards between the open and closed parts of the course.

The top photo shows where the sand was coming from - the pond between holes 7 and 8 on the Master 3 (Classic) course. This pond is being made much bigger.

The bottom two photos shows where some of the sand was used - on the practice green. It has also been used to fill in some of the areas on the 14th fairway where the ground has been dropping a little.

Read More for a bit more detail on what is going on with the course.

Today we played the Master (1&2) course for the last time until the middle of September 2019. The course is now going to be closed from next week until the middle of September. So we will be playing twice around the Classic (Master 3) course throughout the summer. While the greens on the Master (1&2) course are being renewed.

I think that the course has been in great condition recently as it has been set up for a major Spanish national juniors competition last week. The greens were so hard and fast they were almost unplayable today. How the under 16 junior winner scored a gross 66 shots around the course last Saturday in his final round is a miracle in my eyes.

It will be interesting to see what it is like when it re-opens.

You can see some more photos of the course in the Gallery.

 Rob from La Envía asked me to post this.

The video above is of the greens on the Master 3 (Classic) course being renewed at the end of June last year. Those 9 holes closed in May 2018. The grass on the old greens was killed using weed killer. The old greens were then dug out. After that a new sand base was laid with different contours on the green. Then, in late June, new grass was put on the greens (as shown in the video).  That course re-opened in mid-September 2018.

I understand that the Master (1&2) course will close next week for similar work to be done on those 18 greens this summer.

I think that some other repairs and improvements to the Master (1&2) course may take place. During the period while the course is closed. We will have to wait until later in the year to see what gets done and what does not.

I believe that the aim is to re-open the Master (1&2) course in the middle of September 2019. Before the influx of the winter overseas golfers. When the course will revert back to the winter White, Red and Blue layout.

If things are similar to last year I guess that there will be an official competition scheduled for a Saturday or Sunday in September 2019. To take place on the Master (1&2) course. To mark the re-opening of the course.

There is a DS Auto competition scheduled for Sunday 22 September. So perhaps there might be an opening competition the week before that.

While the Master (1&2) course is closed we will be playing twice around the Master 3 (Classic) course. The new greens there are very good so far. They are hard, fast and true.

We will only have 9 holes open at Almerimar this summer. During that time people who purchased 2019 green fees for Almerimar in bulk will be able to get special deals at other local courses. You need to contact the pro-shop to get details of these deals.

Thanks to Jakki M for highlighting these articles from yesterday on Facebook.....

Those who play golf at Alborán on a regular basis will know that the course is getting a lot busier. While the golf school located nearby does not seem to do much business.

The golf course is owner by the local council for the city of Almería. While the golf school was built and is managed by the regional government, the Junta de Andalucia.

The great news in this article from the La Voz de Almería website is that the two are going to merge. Similar news can be seen here on the noticiasdealmeria site.

This is something I have thought about ever since the golf school started being built. I came up with my own idea of how the course could be changed a little to take advantages of the facilities of the golf school (driving range, clubhouse, car parking etc.).

Read More for my ideas about how the course could change plus a Google translation of the article.

The new bermuda greens on the Classic are playing great. However the grass goes dormant in the winter. So they have just had their second coat of green spray paint to make them look nicer.

I took this photo while I was out on the course setting up the tees for the Woodsly tomorrow. It is Blue 2 (Classic 1).

It should be fantastic in a years time. When we have all 27 greens the same.

Last year the opening round of the Andalucia Seniors Circuit amateur golf competition was held in January at Almerimar. There were so many people wanting to take part the organisers had to close the entry list early.

This year the organisers have adopted a different approach. They have organised the competition to be played simultaneously at two courses, Almerimar and Playa Serena.

There are 6 categories of players taking part. Low, medium and higher handicap men, low and higher handicap ladies plus super seniors. These different categories of players will be split between the two courses. With the split being announced later this week (scheduled date is 16 January).

The closing date for entry into the competition is 21 January 2019. So far over 130 people have entered the competition. This is more than can play at the same time with a shotgun start on a single 18 hole course. So the decision to split the competition over two courses seems like a good one.

We still have a week left until the entry list closes so I guess we will see even more people taking part.

If you want to know more about the competition you can see information here on the Nextcaddy website.

One significant change in the 2019 golf rules is that clubs have the option of adopting the local rule described above to speed up play. Both Playa Serena and Almerimar have adopted this local rule for use from now on.

Juan posted the information above on the noticeboard in the Almerimar pro-shop earlier this week.

In the case of Almerimar it states in the heading that the local rule applies when not playing in competitions. I assume this means in all circumstances other than when playing in official Spanish Federation golf competitions.

Juan from Golf Almerimar emailed this list of golf rule changes for 2019 out to people. Thanks Juan.

As you can see, the green keepers are working on the new greens on the Classic (Master 3) course. There is some ingress of the wrong type of grass on the greens. Mainly around the edges. The wrong grass is being dug out by hand.

At the moment the bermuda grass on the greens is dormant. The greens have been coloured so they look better.

After having played the greens for around 3 months now I like them a lot. They were very firm at first. However they are now taking wedge approach shots a bit better. They are really tricky to read and pretty fast. Particularly when putting downhill.

I am looking forward to next autumn when we will have 27 new greens.

I understand that Golf Almerimar has details of 2019 pricing available in the pro-shop now. As is normal here, the information is not published on the internet.

I personally will know more details after I have visited the pro-shop in the coming days.

However, as usual, I will not be able to publish details here or elsewhere.

Jacqui and I have been busy playing a lot of golf recently so I have not had as chance to publish much here.

The other day we received the list of 2019 official golf competitions at Almerimar.

Given the published closing and opening dates for the Master course in 2019 it looks like a lot of the summer competitions will be played twice round the Classic course. Probably the ones from 26 May through to 28 July 2019.

My guess is that the Master course will reopen with new greens one day earlier than previously published. So the competition on 15 September 2019 will probably take place on the Master course with 18 new greens.

I have just received confirmation that all 18 greens on the Master (1 & 2) course will be replaced with Bermuda greens in 2019. The Master course will be closed from 11 May to 15 September 2019.

During this 4 month period there will be some special deals at other courses in the area for people who are members (buy tickets for 2019?) at Almerimar. As there will only be a single 9 hole course available at Almerimar.

As yet, there is no more detail. My guess is that people will receive more information closer to the end of the year. When the prices for green fees for 2019 are likely to be announced.

Something for the golfers....

You may know that there is a major change to the golf handicapping system due to be implemented in 2020. The aim is to have a single worldwide system (probably with a number of specific possible variants that different regions of the world can adopt).

As yet, the full technical details associated with the new system are not available. Also, there is no published launch date for it. However I have recently seen a suggestion that it might not go live until autumn 2020.

I guess we will just have to wait and see.

As you can see from the story here the greens on the Master 3 (Classic) course at Almerimar were renewed around the end of June 2018. As mentioned here the holes re-opened for play towards the end of September 2018.

They have now been in play for almost 2 months so I thought it might be worth writing something about them.

Read More for details.

Just a quick update about what is happening on the golf course in the upcoming very busy period.

From early November 2018, for at least a couple of weeks, the management of the course is putting in place measures to manage the speed of play.

During this period, if you are playing on the course please ensure that you turn up in good time for your tee time. Also, please ensure that you play at the pace specified by the marshals. Plus, please obey the marshals if they ask you to play more quickly or catch up with the group ahead of you.

If we all do this it will help all players to get around the course in daylight.