For a few reasons this article is a sign that things are progressing towards the "new normal" in Almerimar.

For me, there is still some nervousness about the risk of infection. For myself and also for many others.

A large part of the Almerimar community is elderly. Also, I would guess that a significant number of people here will need to continue to be shielded from infection to some extent.

I feel that this is the first of what I hope in the future will be more baby steps towards some form of normality.

Firstly, Golf Almerimar has provided an updated list of official golf competitions for the rest of the year. As you can see above.

Secondly, this is just about the first article on here I have written for a long time where the focus is not coronavirus.

Thirdly, I am not planning to write a daily coronavirus story on here today. I will continue to write them some days. If there is something I feel it is worth reporting on.

Jacqui spotted this list of 2020 golf events on Facebook yesterday. Note that you have to enter the seniors competition on Saturday 25 January online. Via the link on this page of competitions.

UPDATED 17 JANUARY 2020 - they have now announced which categories of players are playing at Almerimar and Playa Serena on 25 January. See below:

Playa Serena

- Ladies first category - exact handicap up to 20.4

- Men second category - exact handicap of 12.5 up to 18.4

- Super seniors (anyone aged 70 or over can choose to play in the Super Seniors competition (mixed - both men and ladies)

Almerimar

- Ladies second category -  exact handicap of 20.5 up to 36

- Mens first category - exact handicap up to 12.4

- Mens third category - exact handicap of 18.5 to 26.4

Congratulations to all the winners in the Spanish Seniors Professional golf competition at Almerimar. In particular Jesus Maria ARRUTI INCHAUSTI, the winner of the seniors competition with a score of -4 over 36 holes. Plus Jose Antonio SALGADO MARTINEZ, the winner of the super seniors competition with -2 over 36 holes.

Hopefully the weather will be more friendly next year. So we can see a full 54 hole competition.

This morning Jacqui and I popped down to the golf club to watch a little bit of the Spanish senior professional golf competition.

Looking at the weather forecast for the next few days it appears that the golfers might only get a single day of play instead of three. Fingers crossed for a late change in the weather.

It is that time of year again. Last Wednesday the White course was closed so they could paint the greens. Today the Red and Blue courses are closed.

The grass on the new greens goes dormant in the winter. So they paint the greens green to make them look a bit better.

Something that was announced in September of this year. However I have only recently found a link to the details.

Almerimar is to host the Spanish senior male professional golf competition for the next 3 years.

For those in Almerimar just before Christmas there may be the opportunity to spot a few well know older Spanish players on the course.

The article here on the PGA Spain website has more details. It also mentions a new golf course to be built near Sorbas.

Read More for a Google translation of the article.

Something for the golf playing readers.

I spotted recently that the golf World Handicapping System website has been updated to say organisations are on track to implement the new system in 2020. You can see more details here.

I recently received the poster above advertising an upcoming charity golf day at Almerimar.

If you are interested in taking part in this event please get in touch. I will pass the contact email addresses for Lawrence & Chris to you privately if you want to enter the competition.

Apologies for not posting much here recently. I have been a bit busy.

Here is a bit of golf course info....

I understand that the entry list for the competition to re-open the 18 holes closed in the summer (Master 1 & 2) on Saturday 14 September 2019 is full. With 120 people on this list plus a reasonable size reserve list already in place.

Also, I believe that the course with switch to the winter layout (Red, White and Blue 9 hole courses) from Monday 16 September 2019. However I think it will revert back to the Master (1 & 2) plus Classic (Master 3) layout for official competitions on Sunday 22 September and Saturday 28 September for official competitions.

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.