Real Golf Club de San Sebastian
Monday, April 10, 2023
The final and last golf club to visit and course to play on our Camino Tour de Golf is Real Golf Club de San Sebastian.
Just about 20 km and 20 min. drive from the centre of the city.
Close to Irun city and the border to France (the yellow line to the right). Paths running from France over Irun to San Sebastian is popular parts of the original Camino de Compostela.
The Camino St. James followed the Milky Stars. A good place to finish our Camino Tour de Golf.
The golf club
Below is a part of the presentation of Real Golf Club de San Sebastian’s history:
At the beginning of the 20th century, specifically in 1910, what was called SA Campo de Golf y otros Deportes was founded in the town of Lasarte, known at that time by the name of the Real Golf Club of San Sebastián, managed by a founding committee chaired by Mr. Jose Gaytan de Ayala Ibero.
On December 27, 1929, it was renamed as it is currently known as “Real Golf Club de San Sebastián” and the first board of directors was created under the presidency of Mr. Conde de Peñaflorida.
For several years the possibility of changing the current location for a more modern and spacious one has been studied. This happened when, at the beginning of the 60s, 50 hectares were found on the slopes of Mount Jaizkibel, ideal for the new field and enough space to expand services such as nursery, tennis, etc.
Over the years it has been consolidating as the cradle of great golf players such as Mr. José María Olazabal, Jesus Mari Arruti, Juan Angel Rosillo, Amaia Arruti, Marina Arruti, Tania Elosegui… and great teachers such as Jesus Arruti and Mariano Arruti.
Currently, the Real Golf Club of San Sebastián has 18 holes and a superb quality of service and facilities, it is classified as one of the great Clubs with the most tradition, projection, and quality of services in Spain.
I bit long, but good information of the club and its history.
I accept, maybe a bit too long, but exciting, I chose it to give you the impression of the authenticity and atmosphere you will meet and feel visiting the club.
This place reminds me of some of the old English golf clubs I have visited.
Even the shoe cleaner in the entrance to the dressing room is there. For me he did a great job.
Then of course you have the starter, the reception who have registered your visit and ready to welcome you.
The building with changing room, shower, restroom and where you can get your shoes cleaned
The club is not a business, but a place for golfers to play golf and socialize.
No third party is financing or profiting from running the club. Therefore, a green fee more expensive than in most other clubs. I accept that. You are getting high quality and great service all the way.
Check in at the Caddy Master
If you need a caddy, it’s possible, but you must book ahead.
The golf course
Hole 1. Par 4. 334 from the yellow tee. Index 8
As you can imagine from this picture that the course is in excellent condition.
And hole number one is a great starting hole. Downhill from the tee. Halfway you have a stream. Be sure to avoid that. And add two clubs to reach the green.
And to illustrate the golfing service. When I started at the first tee, the starter instructed me: “When the player in front of you is over the stream, down there, then you can tee off.
Hole 5. Par 4. 396 m. Index 4.
Can you imagine anything more inviting and inspiriting. One just wants to play this hole, with the dream of making a birdie.
A steep downhill slope in the first section of the fairway, and with a fairly flat platform in the fall of the drive. Fantastic.
Hole 8. Par 3. 157 m. Index 16
This is one of my favourite designs of a par 3 hole.
Steep downhill from the tee
And next you see the easiest hole on the course.
Hole 10. Par 4. 258 m. Index 18
Just so inviting.
And so, I could go on. Fantastic design. It’s like all holes are unique, inviting and with different degree of difficulty.
And then, what about this one?
Hole 13. Par 4. 419 m. Index 3
Let me finish with hole 18.
Hole 18. Par 3. 162 m. Index 6
The longest par three on the course.
Steeply uphill hole, flanked on the right, by a multitude of trees and with a green that slopes towards the fairway, which is the real complication.
Not the most inspiriting or memorable end of a round on a great golf course. But here we are. That’s just my opinion.
Eza decided not to play. Instead, she took a lot of photos. See the following.
The mental part of the game
I really enjoyed this golf course.
Not only because of the great design but also for the service provided by staff who knows about golf.
For example, as mentioned, the Starters advice before teeing of the first tee. Or the serviceman who cleaned my golf shoes as well as dedicated tee time for guests.
As said Eza didn’t play but was walking the course with me.
What I didn’t know was that she made statistic on my game. Number of fairway hits and where on the fairways. And green hits on the par 3.
Results:
For the fairways: One in the rough. 2 a bit too far to the right of the fairway and the rest more or less in the middle of the fairway.
3 greens out of 4 on the par 3.
And the putts: four 3 putts and three 1 putts.
And finally, I was in 5 greenside bunkers.
Maybe, if I started to make more of this kind of statistic, I would be able to improve the score.
Yes, or no?
I mean. Should I then work to improve my bunker shots and/or improve the precision of the approach shots to the green. Probably both.
Maybe it would improve my score, but would it also add to the enjoyment and inner peace playing the game? Would I be a happier person?
Maybe. But if, I will have to eliminate my competitive genes – would that make me a more balanced, harmonic person – in inner peace?
