General Info: Golf Breaks Regions of Spain
Huelva Region (Islantilla)
Visually and historically, the province of Huelva is a multicoloured mosaic. The sights range from thousands of pink flamingoes nesting in the Fuente de Piedra salt lakes to the delicious ruby red strawberries piled high in the market stalls, from the greens and browns of the woodlands and pastures to the whitecapped waves of the Atlantic, and from the golden beaches of the seashore to the vivid greens of the golf courses.
Historically this is a very special land. Archeologists have found evidence of Neolithic settlements in the Caves of La Mora and artefacts dating from the Bronze Age in nearby Becerro. It was from Palos de la Frontera in Huelva that Christopher Columbus set sail on August 3, 1492, on his historic first trip to the New Word.
It was in this province that the first game of golf was played in Spain, by British mining engineers at the Rio Tinto mines. The makeshift course they built was moved several times until it was sited on what is now the nine-hole Corta Atalaya layout. The province now boasts an additional seven golf courses at Bellavista, Islantilla, Dunas de Donana, Isla Canela, Corta Atalaya, Nuevo Portil and El Rompido.
Huelva’s greatest natural treasure – and one of the greatest treasures of all mankind – is the National Park of Donana which in 1980 was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Sited at the mouth of the Guadalquivir River Donana comprises many distinct ecosystems made up of dunes, mountains and wetlands. Understandably, visits to the park are strictly controlled and those wishing to visit should book ahead by calling the reservations centre in Acebuche.
Almeria Region (Valle del Este)
The province of Almeria is no stranger to foreign visitors and present day tourists are fortunate that their forerunners left behind so much of their cultures. By sea and land to Andalucia’s south eastern gateway came the Greeks, the Phoenicians, the Romans, Carthaginians and Moors, all of whom left behind evidence of their passing which we can see for ourselves to this day. One need look no farther than the red stone of the Moorish Alcazaba rising above the city of Almeria, an enormous structure which dominates the city skyline and whose construction took 20,000 men. Indeed, it was the moors who founded this city and under the Omayyad Caliphate it became the most important seaport in Iberia. Then came the Reconquest under the Catholic Monarchy, who later built Almeria’s impressive cathedral and whose Castilian roots can still be seen in the province’s northern towns and villages. The countryside of Almeria is a study in contrasts. Its 144 miles of Mediterranean coastline are dotted with limestone cliffsand volcanic outcrops punctuated by long stretches of sandy beaches and little coves. In the Cabo de Gata-Nijar Nature Park, Andalucia’s largest sealand reserve, skindiving and saltwater fishing are popular activities in its crystal-clear waters, while farther inland the landscapes are mountainous, arid and volcanic. The Tabernas desert, only 25 miles from the provincial capital, bears such a close resemblance to the deserts of New Mexico that it was the back drop for scores of “spaghetti westerns”, hence the fasinating “World of Cinema” excursion so popular among tourists. To the west are mountain slopes, pine forests, trout streams and the soaring Sierra Nevada mountain range.
Tourism today is mainly centred on the city of Almeria and the towns of Roquestas de Mar, Aguadulce and El Ejido. Almerimar is an outstanding resort centre with all kinds of sports facilities. As for the province’s golf courses, whose lush greenery provides a stark contrast with the dry Almerian countryside, especially in summer, these include Almerimar, which was designed by Gary Player, Playa Serena in Roquetas del Mar, Cortijo Grande in Turre near Majacar, La Envia near the capital, Huercal, Marina de la Tore, Desert Springs and Golf Valle del Este.
