2008 Spanish Open Golf Course Guide
After its maiden host year in 2007, the newly designed golf course Centro Nacional de Golf on the outskirts of Madrid will play host for the second time to the Spanish Open (also known as the Open de España) in 2008. Designed by Thomas, Vidaor & Soler, the course was officially opened in 2005. Eight of the holes have been lengthened (2, 4, 5, 10, 13, 15, 16 & 18) and a number of tees extended, most notably the 18th green which has been extended to bring the lake more into play.
The golf course is exposed, with no trees. General playability on the golf course can be quite tough if the rough is kept fairly high. In 2007, strong growth in the rough meant the rough was particularly penal. Greens on the course use an A4 bent-type grass, unlike the rye grass used elsewhere on the course (fairways, tees, collars and rough).
Height of the cut is as follows for different areas of the green:
- Greens – 3.2mm
- Fairways – 11mm
- Tees - 8mm
- Collars – 10mm
- Rough – 102mm and semi-rough – 50mm
In terms of course layout, water hazards can be found on holes 9, 12, 16, 17 and 18 and fairways are of average width and quite hilly.
Will this newly designed Spanish Open golf course host another Open de España? Which golfer do you think plays best on a course like this?
