The clubhouse is perfectly positioned and enjoys marvellous views across the Levante course.
The remarkable Melia Villaitana Golf resort lies just 5 km away from the heart of Benidorm, the well known party capital of Costa Blanca, with its sandy beaches and outstanding year-round climate. The Villaitana Golf resort is far removed from the traditional kiss-me-quick reputation of Benidorm. The resort has been designed as a Mediterranean village with some 25 individual buildings, with delightful squares and terraces arranged on several different levels, and wonderful architecture to replicate the history of the region. The site was originally used as a monastery many years ago, and the centrally placed church adds to the historical feel of the resort.
There are two golf courses both by Nicklaus Design. The Levante course is a traditional par 72 resort style course with wide fairways, sloped and angulating greens, with magnificent views over Benidorm and the Mediterranean. It is beautifully maintained, with excellent greens and perfect fairways. Off the back tees it measures just over 7000 yards and is a good test, particularly if there is any wind.
The Poniente course is completely different and much shorter, with a par of 62, measuring 3800m. It is designed as an executive course, specifically for golfers of less power with an emphasis on accuracy and skill, not just pure distance. The Poniente course has been sculpted carefully into the sides of ravines, with holes running across deep barancas (big ditches) and water features, with both sea and mountain views.
Both of the courses have been built to a very high standard with excellent greens, immaculate fairways and interesting bunkering. The attention to detail is truly impressive with no expense spared, whether its the paths, the finishing touches to the holes, or the gabion blocks that are used extensively to both protect and define the network of paths.
Both courses are well bunkered, but these well-positioned hazards are relatively straightforward to escape from.
The cost of green fees are reasonable, especially if you are staying at the hotel. Fees start at 60 euros including a buggy on the Poniente course, rising to 75 euros in high season, with the fees for the Levante course starting at 75 euros in low season and rising to 95 euros in the peak months, not including a buggy.
There are several different types of Nicklaus courses: the Jack Nicklaus signature courses are more expensive and have the legend’s personal attention. Although I may be incurring the great man’s wrath, the more charming courses are often by Nicklaus Design. Jackie Nicklaus Jnr has been involved with many of these and there are a huge number across the world. None are bad courses, but I do not look forward to playing the signature courses nearly as much.
In recent years, Jack Nicklaus has managed to win back the ability to design courses in his own name again, having lost control of Nicklaus Design some years ago. Regardless, the Melia Villaitana Benidorm project is first class and ideal for a mixed ability group of golfers.
The clubhouse has a well stocked pro shop on the lower floor, with a wonderful terrace above for the much needed food and drink after play. The views from the terrace over the course and down to the sparkling sea and iconic buildings of Benidorm are spectacular. The menu and service is excellent, with reasonably priced food and drink.
There are a number of putting greens conveniently placed for golfers to use before and after play and an adequate golf range for those wishing to practice. It seems such a shame, when so much of this resort is top notch, to spoil the golfers’ experience with a tired and drab golf range - it could be so much better in every way and provide a great return for the business too.
The hotel boasts 5000m2 of outdoor pools, one with a bridge traversing the water to link to a restaurant, which is lit up beautifully at night, illuminating the columns of the building in the background. So much thought has been put into the design of the buildings and the landscaping of the sprawling grounds - it is a joy just to spend time strolling around the resort admiring it all.
The hotel has 455 rooms and suites including 99 ‘The Level’ rooms, which are rated as 5 star: these rooms are especially spacious with private terraces. All the rooms are very tastefully and thoughtfully designed, many with views out towards Benidorm and the sea.
There are a number of great restaurants scattered around the resort so that there is little need to leave the site. However, no visit to Benidorm is complete without a night out at the world famous Benidorm Palace, where you will enjoy dancers, acrobats and magicians from around the world in elegant surroundings at this top class “Vegas” style show. The evening includes a 4 course dinner and a bottle of wine, with perfectly positioned seats to watch the show, all for just 85 euros. It’s quite a night!
The resort also has an impressive tennis club with two tennis courts and 6 padel courts, which are extremely popular and in use all day and night - padel is hugely popular in Spain, perhaps in part due to the hot climate they enjoy there, and it is becoming increasingly popular in the UK. There is also a convention centre with 6000m2 of space which is divided into 17 meeting rooms, along with a spa and artificial beach. It really is the complete package.
For a short break, particularly with golfers of mixed ability this is an ideal destination. Benidorm benefits from a micro climate created by the mountains that surround the area. This provides the area with even sunnier and warmer weather than normal in this already lovely region of Spain - a very important consideration for a winter golf break. The views are stunning and the courses provide differing, but testing challenges. It is so often the better players who determine the choice of resort, but the Poniente course proved more popular with our group than the longer Levante course - worth considering for a mixed trip.
For more information, go to: www.meliavillaitanagolf.com