Centro Nacional de Golf

For golfers visiting Madrid, Centro Nacional de Golf brings an 18-hole course, a six-hole Pitch & Putt and practice facilities together within the city. It is less than fifteen minutes from central Madrid, with metro and bus stops beside the facilities. Public transport is therefore an option to consider when planning a visit, whether for a round or time on the range.

The centre opened on 7 March 2006, with Severiano Ballesteros present at the inauguration. Its main course was conceived to host high-level international competitions, while the wider facilities also cater for learning and practice.

The main course and its five tees

Designed by Dave Thomas working with Green Project, the main course is an 18-hole, par-72 links-style layout. It occupies part of a 62-hectare site. Before choosing tees, it is worth looking at the individual distances rather than treating the course as having a single playing length.

From the black tees it measures 6,417 metres. The other options are 5,931 metres from white, 5,590 from yellow, 5,187 from blue and 4,894 from red. These five sets of tees provide a range of lengths on the same layout, so the distance for your round depends on the tees selected.

Alongside the main course is a six-hole Pitch & Putt. This is a separate course and adds another format of golf to the centre's playing facilities.

Practice, lessons and fitting

A visit need not revolve around an 18-hole round. The centre has a golf school and a driving range equipped with Toptracer technology. The range is described as the largest in Europe, making it a notable part of the facilities in its own right.

The school and range are joined by the Centre of Excellence, identified as the Fitting Lab. Together, these distinct facilities put tuition, practice and fitting alongside the two courses rather than making the main layout the sole focus of a visit.

Beyond the courses

There is also a golf shop and the Gourmet Golf Experience restaurant. For a visitor organising golf during a stay in Madrid, the centre combines playing facilities with practice, teaching, fitting, shopping and dining in one location. The metro and bus stops beside the site are a useful detail to keep in mind when deciding how to get there.