Hotel Marqués de Vallejo in central Logroño
located between the villages of Cirueña and Ciriñuela,
45 kilometres west of Logroño. The course is routed
through a gently undulating landscape dotted with four
man-made lakes and fringed by a large area of centuries-
old oak forest. Rioja Alta’s layout is well-balanced in
terms of both distance and level of difficulty, and each
of the two nines contain two par-3’s, five par-4’s and two
par-5’s. My pick of the most memorable holes from each
nine would be the visually appealing par-4 5th, a gently
curving dog-leg to a raised, two-tiered green surrounded
by gnarled and twisted oaks, and the shortish, uphill par-
4 16th, which after a decent drive will leave only a short
pitch to the contoured green.
A unique feature of Rioja Alta, is the fact that the
famous Camino de Santiago (also known as the Pilgrim’s
Way or the Way of St. James) goes right past the golf
course as well as through the streets of Logroño.
Starting at Roncesvalles just over the border in France,
the 750-kilometre Camino de Santiago employs walking
trails, farm tracks and minor roads to cross northern
Spain, weaving through sweeping plains of wheat in
Navarra province, vineyards in La Rioja, past ancient
castles in Castilla y Leon, into the verdant hills of Galicia,
and finally, the ultimate goal – the Cathedral of Santiago
de Compostela. “Some pilgrims on the route call in for
a round of golf and then get back on the trail,” says Xavi
Muñoz, managing director of the club.
El Campo de Logroño
Situated just 5 kilometres from Logroño, this is the
closest eighteen holes to the city centre. With its wide,
open fairways, El Campo de Logroño is driver friendly,
and its generous greens allow for a decent percentage
of greens to be hit in regulation. In the 2006 Spanish
Professional Championship, Miguel Ángel Jiménez broke
the course record with a round of 60 strokes (-8). He
most likely enjoyed a a fine Cuban cigar and a couple of
nice glasses of Rioja after that fine effort.
The 4th hole is the longest in Spain and one of the
longest in the world. The hole rises steadily along its
length of 619 metres from tee to green, and with the
prevailing wind normally in your face, plus the two
strategically-placed bunkers at the front of the green,
a score of par is well-earned here. However, for mere
golfing mortals like ourselves, just reaching the putting
surface in four blows and taking two putts for bogey is
a decent enough effort. Other facilities at the course
include a driving range, practice putting green, a par-27
9-hole course, paddle tennis and restaurant.
“Did you enjoy your round,” says Golf Director David
Bedia Reventún, as we enjoy a couple of well-earned
beers on the clubhouse terrace, with wonderful views
of the course and the surrounding mountains. Over
a leisurely lunch of pinchos paired with various wines,
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