Santa Elena Golf Club, known for years as Hacienda del Álamo, makes a fine starting point for getting to know golf in south-east Spain. It sits inland in the Region of Murcia, between Murcia and Cartagena, a short flight from much of Europe and about 20 kilometres from Región de Murcia International Airport.
Santa Elena Golf Club, once Hacienda del Álamo
The club lies between the coast and the mountains, in the municipality of Fuente Álamo, and many golfers still remember it by its old name. Dave Thomas designed the course, which opened more than twenty years ago as Hacienda del Álamo and is now run by UGOLF, the group that also looks after Saurines Golf and Mar Menor Golf. It is worth knowing when you search for it, because the new name applies only to the club and the course, not to the residential development around them.
A Dave Thomas course built on a grand scale
Dave Thomas laid out the 18-hole, par-72 course across open, expansive ground, and it shows. From the back tees it measures 7,353 yards (6,724 metres), the holes are long, the fairways wide and the scale rare. In fact, from the first tee you can take in most of what lies ahead before you have hit a shot.
It is not a course only for long hitters, though. There are four sets of tees, from the 6,724 metres of the black tees to the 5,101 of the red, so the same course works for golfers of different standards. Thomas also designed other courses in the region, Roda and Altorreal among them, and a trip around Murcia can take in more of his work.
Practice facilities at Santa Elena Golf Club
The practice facilities are one of the club’s defining features. Alongside the main course there are six short holes designed for every handicap, a dedicated bunker area, a chipping area and two putting greens. The range, meanwhile, lets you hit from mats or from natural grass.
Then there is the golf academy, which offers lessons and swing analysis. A golf trip here could easily include a morning lesson before a round.
Staying, playing and exploring the Region of Murcia
The clubhouse, with views across the course, is where the day begins and ends, and a 145-room hotel is on site. Getting here is straightforward, with about 23 minutes by car from Región de Murcia International Airport and a little over an hour from Alicante. The weather helps, too. With around 300 days of sunshine a year, the Region of Murcia is a place where golf in January feels as natural as golf in May.
The location of Santa Elena Golf Club also makes it easy to bring other courses into the trip. Saurines Golf, run by the same group, is a short drive away, so a single break can take in two courses with very different characters. That proximity, together with the range of courses across the region, makes Murcia a particularly good choice for a few days’ golf. Jack Nicklaus, Dave Thomas and Seve Ballesteros are among the designers represented here, which gives visiting golfers plenty of variety.
Santa Elena Golf Club is a new name for a course that has been part of Murcia golf for more than twenty years, and a good place to begin.
Frequently asked questions about Santa Elena Golf Club
Where is Santa Elena Golf Club?
In Fuente Álamo, in the Region of Murcia, between the city of Murcia and Cartagena. Región de Murcia International Airport is about 19 kilometres away, and Alicante Airport is about 123 kilometres away.
Was Santa Elena Golf Club previously Hacienda del Álamo?
Yes. The club was known for years as Hacienda del Álamo and is now run by UGOLF. The new name applies only to the club and the course.
Who designed the course?
Dave Thomas. It has 18 holes, plays to par 72 and measures 6,724 metres from the back tees.
What practice facilities does the club have?
Six short holes, a bunker area, a chipping area, two putting greens and a driving range with mats and natural grass, as well as a golf academy.
Is there a hotel at the club?
Yes. There is a 145-room hotel on site.
Can you play other courses on the same trip?
Yes. Saurines Golf, run by the same group, is a short drive away, and the Region of Murcia has courses by designers including Jack Nicklaus, Dave Thomas and Seve Ballesteros.
