La Sella Hotel
century, who are we to argue the veracity of claims
about this tiny chalice? Quite simply, don’t visit
Valencia without seeing it.
Golf, however, is something we do know a bit
about here at Destination Golf – so the next day
we visited the wonderfully welcoming La Sella
Golf Resort & Spa in Denia on our own particular
pilgrimage.
Warmly greeted by the managers of both the
superb hotel and golf course on arrival, these two
gentlemen clearly enjoy their job far more than is
allowable. This air of friendliness and enthusiasm
seems to permeate through every pore of the
resort, and it made for one of the most enjoyable,
if unfortunately brief, stays that I’ve had in recent
years. Everyone from the bartenders to the
restaurant and greenkeeping staff were clearly
passionate about what they do. Working here is not
a job, it seems, it’s a vocation.
After a look around the fabulous hotel, lunch was
next on the menu (if you’ll excuse the pun) and
there really was only one thing for it: paella.
The dish is a Valencian speciality and everyone
seems to have their own take on the ingredients
to be used, but if you ever get to taste one like the
dish served to us on the buzzing clubhouse terrace,
well… the argument should be settled right then
and there.
Delicious and authentic, I have dreamt about it
since.
La Sella Golf Spa
For dining options elsewhere, don’t miss a chance
to sample the sumptuous fare on offer in La Tasca
in nearby Jesus Pobre – a delightful, off-the-beaten-
track, traditional town quite close to the resort, and
a superb place to while away an evening with the
locals.
So off to the course we went on our fleet of golf
boards (possibly the future of golf course transport),
relishing the challenge ahead - as envisioned by Jose
Maria Olazabal himself.
It is situated in the idyllic Natural Park of Montgo –
a lush, verdant area of dense forestry in Denia – so
nature doesn’t hold back its charm here.
The course has three nine-hole layouts, each with
varying degrees of difficulties and challenges.
Coupled with an excellent choice of tees it can
be varied to suit all levels of golfer, and the fact
that it recently hosted the Ladies European Tour
‘Rookie Event’ is proof, if it were needed, that it can
challenge even the very best ball strikers if a true
test of mettle is warranted.
The first nine, Llebeig, takes its name from the
warm Sahara wind and offers awesome views of the
natural park through the tall pine trees framing the
fairways. It doesn’t offer up any easy holes and will
keep your mind concentrated firmly on the task at
hand.
Gregal is the second nine and, while decidedly
flatter and more open, brings substantially more
Volume 4 • Issue 43
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