Fontanals Golf Club

From Comprodon to Fontanals Golf Club.

Here we played Wednesday and Thursday 29 and 30 March

This is the route we followed from Camprodon to Fontanals. In total 79 km. But driving in the mountain it takes at least 1h 35 min. A very fantastic route to drive.

Notice the town of La Molina. Just days before we left, the Vuelta Catalunya cycling race stage 4 ended in La Molina.

Be sure to have plenty of time. It’s not a drive for speeding but for enjoying. I was watching the stage 4 of the Vuelta cycling race on the television. Parts of the televised pictures came from a helicopter following the riders. And what a fantastic view it gave us. That made me ensure that we also wanted to drive over La Molina. And we didn’t regret.

The golf Club

This is how Fontanals describe the course and the place:

 A hidden gem in one of the widest and most beautiful valleys in Europe.

A pleasant experience for all types of players.

A vast garden in which to play without problems from any corner.

A unique environment in the middle of nature.

And that is difficult to disagree with. 18 holes in a basically totally flat terrain. But surrounded with mountains. You get what you see. The only obstacles are the holes with water features.

In this place you find everything. Hotel, tennis, spa, padel, fitness, golf, and skiing in the winter. Everything very professionally managed.

This is not “just” a place for golfers and you feel that at arrival. For the good and not so good. For example, the club house restaurant building share space with the fitness centre. And, like other fitness centres – I have learned – they are playing loud rhythmical music. Sitting on the terrace relaxing after a round of golf, enjoying a beer, that was really not what we expected.

So much about the nature and relaxation.

The golf course

On their web site you can read:

A flat golf course where you can enjoy a wide view of the surroundings.

In a privileged location at 1,050 meters above sea level. In the center of a wide valley, one of the most spectacular in Europe.

You will enjoy a unique experience.

Maybe a bit exaggerated. But still a fantastic golf course. The first impression is that this is a course where you can make a good score. And you can. Just avoid the water.

Broad fairways, big well-manicured greens. Well placed bunkers, but avoidable and if you get into one of them they are full of light and loose sand. Hole 1 is a good example.

Hole 1. Par 4. 362 meters. Index 8

Maybe a bit long for many of us, but a straight and broad fairway, no obstacles, and no bunkers in front of the green. And even if you are out of the fairway; you can find your ball. Should be easy.

A very good starting hole.

Hole 13. Par 5. 526 meters. Index 9

Layout of hole 18

Hole 18. Par 4. 363 meters. Index 1

The finishing hole, seen from the green. The water to the left is not really in play. It’s all about distance. Again, what you see makes you think this is an easy hole. But it’s actually rated as the most difficult on the course. Major reason, I think, is that the distance get’s 20 to 30 meter longer because it’s uphill all the way.

The mental part of the game

Staying 2 days in the hotel and playing the course twice, compared to the Camprodon, the 9-hole course we played, in between, puts golf and “existence” into perspective.

At Camprodon I was just playing for fun. And it was fun. Playing Fontanals, my mental approach was for serious golf.

At Fontanals, I was focusing mainly only on my golf and the score. The swing, the mistakes etc. On all holes you can see what you get. There are no surprises. Broad fairways etc. etc. But of course, it is not as easy as one think – or as you see. That was a clear mental mistake.

What one learns is, that with money you can get access to luxury hotels, fantastic golf courses, spa, fitness, and great food, but none of this form the basis for your inner peace (at least not mine).

For me the rounds at Fontanals were a great golfing experience. It is really a fantastic well-manicured golf course, a great place to play golf. I played ok. But the experience of Camprodon’s hilly 9-holes was with me all the way.

Then another mental distraction was the slow play. On the first round, we played behind a fourball with two non-golfers walking with them. We had to wait a lot, mainly because one of the two non-golfers practiced putting on the greens when the four players had finished the hole. How do you manage yourself mentally not to allow the irritation to influence your play?

Next – we are off to Cerdana