The International British Yeoward School
 
 Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Canary Islands

Anfi tauro: Anfi Tauro Golf | Top 100 Golf Courses of Spain

Опубликовано: March 26, 2021 в 10:12 am

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Категории: Miscellaneous

Anfi Tauro Golf | Top 100 Golf Courses of Spain

Anfi Tauro is unlike any other European course I had seen or played. The course is located in Tauro, a small coastal town tucked in a small inlet from the Atlantic flowing through the spectacular volcanic mountains of the south of the island. It offers stunning views that try to grab your attention at every opportunity. To me, it is the perfect example of how a course should play – tee shots with a host of elevation changes to mirror the terrain with a variety of approaches needed to navigate your way onto guarded undulating greens. You need to hit it both ways to take advantage of the tee shots or you can really be stuck a long way back from some testing pins!

To add a bit of context, I was playing here post-COVID lockdown just after the course had reopened to visitors. Considering there were minimal ground workers and staff working on the premises, it was incredible that the course was in the condition it was… A few forward tees and weeds in bunkers meant nothing when the rest of the course was in the impeccable condition it was – fluffy bunkers, true greens and soft manicured fairways, just like you would expect in peak season.

After short drive down to the 1st tee, 8 middle aged Spanish men were kind enough to let me play through as I was on my own. They thought they were doing me a favour but the nerves were very real considering I hadn’t swung a club in a month and these were rentals that I hadn’t used before! Nevertheless, the first was playing the easiest hole on the course from some forward tees, so i just played within myself and took a smooth 4 iron off the tee leaving only a short downhill wedge in. I felt like the first easing you into your round was a lovely touch here, as you really are in for a roller coaster of ups and downs as you follow the topography round and up.

The course really comes into its own from the 4th hole onwards – a steep climb to an elevated tee offers the first of many spectacular views of the oasis like fairways. Palm tree filled wasteland areas skirting either side of the majority of the fairways make each tee shot seem that extra bit more tight, but if you’re a confident driver of the ball you can really put yourself in some advantageous positions round here.

A few of the front 9 stand out holes for me have to be the 6th, 7th and 9th:

The former is a tricky par 3 that was playing long with a cross-breeze at 209 yards – I can easily see this commanding anywhere from a 5 iron to 5 wood depending on the day! Everywhere apart from short right was trouble, so club choice is crucial to save yourself from a scorecard wrecker. An epic hole and the first of many that give you a glimpse of the crystal clear wild Atlantic.

The 7th was back towards the heart of the island, with a tee shot that shows you the vastness of the landscape. Aiming down the right side opens up the green to long hitters, and with a long lake scaling the left side it’s a no brainer to aim there. A proper Sunday pin was set up that day, tucked inaccessibly round the back left corner of the green. A driver then wood only just got me to the front edge of the green, but then there’s a lot of work to do to get up and down for a par.

The 9th is a fantastic par 5 to a double green round a vast lake and is a treat to finish the front 9. Not the longest hole for big hitters, but it sure takes some guts to go at any pins on the left side of the green.

The back 9 really does bring a whole new adventure to the round. As you zig zag through and up the valley inland, you can really feel the anticipation growing for the moment when you u-turn back again and have to come all the way back down again… And it is something very special. The tee shots are no longer over just barren wastelands – these are rock filled chasms where you will most certainly need a reload if you find yourself in one. The sheer valley walls that seemed so distant are now right up against you and very much in play, so this is a very different beast.

The 10th throws you straight into an at first daunting tee shot, but in reality this should be taken as a confidence builder, as you won’t have a wider fairway than this for the rest of the round. Just don’t miss right on the approach, as it’s either sand or OB for you!

The 12th is the culprit for the altitude gain – steeply uphill the entire way up to the green, this 467 yard par 5 seemed to go on forever! The Grand Canyon-esque valley walls that you’re playing through are like nothing I have seen in a course anywhere, but if you don’t get too distracted by it, there should be no dramas here.

What most consider to be the postcard hole – the 13th. From the whites, this treacherous par 3 leaves no survivors if you push it even slightly left (or any other side of the green for that matter…). Once you’re down, it seems like such a big landing zone, but from the height you’re approaching it from, it sure is daunting.

My personal favourite from Anfi is the 14th, and it is hands down the most breathtaking hole i’ve had the pleasure of playing – it really offers a one of a kind vista. The temptation to open up the shoulders is too much, but that’s the right thing to do, as you can really knock one down there and make the approach between the lake and bunkers much easier on yourself.

As you drive along the 17th and admire the Atlantic again, be sure to take in and reflect on this uniquely manicured journey that is unfortunately coming to a close. The finishing hole is a great test of endurance – a reachable par 5 guarded by the same lake as the 9th is undoubtably a hotspot for lost balls and can be a late round game changer. Be sure not to get ahead of yourself think the win is yours without getting safely on the putting surface first!

A flawless course in the always sunny island of Gran Canaria – can it get any better than this?

Thanks again to Francisco and Raquel for such a warm welcome – I’ll certainly be singing high praise about this round for a long time and will be back for more as soon as I can!

August 25, 2020

Anfi Tauro Golf, Canary Islands