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Tucked into the sun-drenched hills of the Sierra de Mijas on Spain’s Costa del Sol, La Cala Resort is a golfer’s haven, boasting three championship courses designed by Cabell B. Robinson. Among them, Campo Asia.
I was blown away at how fun and challenging Campo Asia played for the time of year.
The pro shop team greeted us warmly and let me know that despite looking short on the card, this was arguably the most demanding course on the property, with narrow fairways, small greens and plenty of sand to catch you out.
The first is a shortish 4 that sets the tone for the round; steeply uphill from the tee all the way to the green, with a narrow green that asks for a couple of great shots to make your regulation par.
The view of the nearby mountains once you make it up to the 2nd green and moving to the 3rd green is breathtaking, well worth a picture for your phone background. This is a common feeling moving around the Campo Asia course: the scenery is just insane and can easily distract you from following your playing partners’ balls.
The course’s conditioning was exceptional, a testament to La Cala’s goal of being a premier resort in a this part of Spain. The green staff were busily out working despite the chill in the air, making sure the fairways were cut and tight, the greens were firm with perfect surfaces, and the bunkers all kept tidy. At La Cala, they do a great job of doing the small things extremely well.
One of the course’s signature holes comes early in the round on the 3rd. The fact this 160-yard par 3 plays straight downhill means you spend a lot of time hoping and praying the ball finds the putting surface and that you got your distances worked out correctly. A large bunker surrounds the back of the green catching any misjudged strikes I felt relieved to see my 9-iron catch a piece of the putting surface.
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Campo Asia’s variety keeps every hole engaging. The front nine is tighter, with doglegs and trees punishing wayward shots, while the back nine opens up slightly (emphasis on slightly), allowing for more aggressive play. The approach shots on the 5th, 7th and 8th provide opportunities to look like a hero or suffer the consequences of poor shots.
I felt like there were more opportunities for birdies on the back nine – with lots of mid to short irons into the greens, the low-handicap player who is feeling good about their game could have a bit of a run here.
The closing three holes wrap up the round nicely. The 16th is a dogleg left with disaster running all the way down the right of the hole. It is short but penal. The 17th is only a short par 3 but the flag location can enormously vary the difficulty of the hole. While the last is a par 4 playing longer than its yardage up the hill back to the club house. Three pars here would be a fantastic end to any round, I reckon.
The course’s difficulty lies in its unrelenting demand for accuracy. The narrow fairways and small greens penalise even slight misses, and balls seem magnetically drawn to the bunkers. I loved the challenge of precision and ball striking and having to think and plot my way around the course. My playing partner (a slightly errant driver of the ball) found the blind tee shots difficult and stepped off the course a few balls lighter than when he arrived. The elevation changes, while adding drama, make a buggy essential, as walking can be arduous given the hilly terrain and transitions between holes.
Beyond the course, La Cala Resort elevates the experience with outstanding facilities. The clubhouse, with its Andalusian charm, offers a welcoming atmosphere. The staff’s warmth and efficiency, from the pro shop to the starters, added to the day’s enjoyment.
The resort’s practice facilities, including a six-hole par-3 course and a well-equipped golf academy, are perfect for pre-round warm-ups or post-round tune-ups. The 4-star hotel, with its spa, gym and pool, and stunning views of the courses, makes La Cala an ideal base for a golfing getaway.
In summary, Campo Asia at La Cala Resort is a strategic gem that rewards precision and patience while dazzling with its beauty and variety. Ranked among Spain’s top courses, it’s a challenging yet rewarding experience for golfers of all levels. Pair it with Campo America or Europa for a complete La Cala adventure. For bookings and details, visit www.lacala.com. I’m already planning my return to conquer this Andalusian masterpiece.
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