CLUB DE GOLF MONTANYÀ MASIA L'ESTANYOL

Golf Montanyà is in El Brull, in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia. For golfers planning a visit, its main features are an 18-hole, par-72 course by David Thomas, six sets of tees and an on-site golf academy, restaurant and clubhouse. The course opened in 1989.

The club's full name is Club de Golf Montanyà Masia L'Estanyol. Alongside the golf, its setting deserves attention: the Estanyol stream and ten ponds form part of an environment noted for its wealth of plant and animal life. These are useful points of reference when deciding what to include in a golfing trip to Catalonia.

The course and its tees

David Thomas's layout has six tee options, so its length is best considered in relation to the tees you intend to use. Black is the longest option and orange the shortest, with white, yellow, blue and red providing the distances in between.

The published course lengths are:

• Black tees: 6,184 metres.
• White tees: 6,053 metres.
• Yellow tees: 5,730 metres.
• Blue tees: 5,362 metres.
• Red tees: 5,095 metres.
• Orange tees: 4,733 metres.

Rather than looking only at the maximum length, use the figure for your chosen tees when considering the scale of the round. The six distances give a more complete picture of the course than a single yardage would, while the central facts remain the same: 18 holes, par 72 and a David Thomas design dating from 1989.

The natural setting

The Estanyol stream and ten ponds are distinctive elements of Montanyà's surroundings. The diversity of flora and fauna adds another reason to take an interest in the setting as well as the golf.

For a visitor, these two aspects belong together: the course has an identified designer and a choice of playing lengths, while its surroundings bring water, plants and wildlife into the picture.

Beyond the round

The club has a golf academy, Restaurante L'Estanyol and a clubhouse. These facilities give the visit a scope beyond the course itself, whether your interest is in learning, playing or having a meal.

The academy, restaurant and clubhouse each have a separate entry in the guide. They can therefore be explored individually when planning which parts of the club to include in your visit.