Salobre (New)

Salobre (New)

Previously known as the South (Old) and North (New), Salobre’s courses offer distinctly different experiences.


The New is the real challenge, a fact noted by the Bethpage Black-esque sign that you pass en route to the 1st tee; ‘Welcome to the tricky New Course and discover the real player you have inside. We recommend only for those who want to find themselves playing golf’’.


Challenge accepted, the 1st is a par 5... but the fairway is so narrow – with the edge of a cliff to the right – you nod sagely at the sign’s sentiments.


As is the case on all the courses save Maspalomas, the contrast between the dusty brown volcanic earth and the green fairways is stunning; but Salobre’s New is even more breathtaking, especially from the 3rd.


Played steeply downhill, this stroke index one’s fairway reminds one of the crazy affairs at Perranporth. From there we cross a ravine to play the exquisite short 4th, whose backdrop makes you think you're in the Grand Canyon or the Australian Outback.


It is the first of a stellar collection of short holes on the front nine, with the 7th almost as good. It has a significant ridge running across the green and, as is frequently the case on the New, steep fall-offs round the edge of the small green. But mainly you are drinking in the rare, Arizona-type scenery.


The 9th is another super short hole before the back nine begins with a couple of holes that in truth suffer a bit from acute changes of elevation and aren’t in the same class as the rest.


But the North is soon back on form with the blind 12th and then a solid closing stretch in a valley close to the hotel where the pick is the sweeping par-5 16th that concludes on a tiny elevated green almost completely surrounded by a moat.