Spain is known for its culture, its food, and of course, its friendly atmosphere! And when it comes to sports, Spanish football is the big thing. If you’ve recently moved here, you may be surprised to learn that there are plenty of excellent opportunities to play a great round of golf in Spain. One of the top spots, and a course you should definitely play if you’re in Barcelona, is the Real Club de Golf El Prat.

This impressive golf club has hosted the Spanish Open 10 times since its establishment in 1954. Although it’s of championship standard, golfers of all abilities can look forward to an exciting round here. If you’re already in the area, round up your gear and get ready to play! If you live elsewhere, it’s well worth packing your best travel bag and making the trip. Here’s what you need to know about this beautiful course.

Quick Overview

Holes: 45

Course Type: Traditional

Designer: Greg Norman, Alfonso Viador

For who? Member’s Club open to the public

Dress Code: Traditional golfing attire

Driving Range? Yes

Chipping/Pitching? Yes

Putting Green? Yes

Golf Academy: Yes

Resident Pro: Yes

Club Rental? Yes

Golf Cart Rental: Yes

Pull-Cart Rental: Yes

Metal Spikes Allowed? No

Course Conditions

The golf course has been constructed on quite a flat piece of land, so golfers don’t need to worry about drastic undulations or elevation changes. However, this shouldn’t lull golfers into a false sense of security, for the course is still a challenge.

The fairways consist of Agrostis Stolonifera Pennway (bent grass), which looks and feels good all year round. On the greens you’ll find Agrostis Stolonifera A-4, a slightly different bent grass variation, which makes them fast and smooth.

Golfers will find the front nine to be fairly flat, but the back nine to be quite hilly and challenging to walk on the Pink Course.

Layout & Game Play

The course layout may be slightly confusing. The 36 course holes are laid out in four loops of 9 holes each, and these can be played in a variety of different combinations to form a full 18-hole round. But, in a daily basis, you will find the Pink course ( Championship Course) or the yellow course.

From the back tees, the course stretches to more than 7,300 yards. Various tee boxes offer equal opportunities for golfers of all skill levels.

Many holes are lined by beautiful trees, and soft sand bunkers are scattered strategically throughout the course. The fairways are long and favor straight-shooters, and the fast, true greens require patience.

Although the course is open to the public, you need a federation card if you want to swing your clubs on these fairways. The only course that doesn’t require it is the 9-hole pitch-and-putt practice course.

Signature Hole

Because of the unique layout of this course, there’s no specific signature hole. However, some holes do stand out more than others.

On the Yellow course, hole number 6 is a tricky par-3 that has a dogleg and a slightly raised green protected by bunkers on each side. The most difficult hole is the last one, which is a long, uphill par-4.

On the Pink course, the par-3 6th hole features an extremely large protective bunker and a raised, sloping green. A par is an achievement on this hole.

Final Notes

Interestingly, the Real Golf Club de El Prat has been awarded ISO 14001 status, because of its continued efforts to be a sustainable golf course. It’s located on a 220-hectare piece of ground, of which almost 150 hectares consists of forest and cereal crops.

Because of this environment, the golf resort is rife with wildlife and wonderful flora as well. The golf course has been built around the natural landscape to preserve as much of it as possible. Not only will golfers enjoy the challenge of the courses and the natural beauty of the surroundings, but there’s a chance of spotting local animals too!

If you’ve recently moved to the area, Real Club de Golf El Prat is a very worthwhile place to spend a few hours with your golf clubs. The versatility of the courses means that you’ll never get bored of this unique golf club!

 

 

About the Author

Jordan Fuller is a golfer and coach and has played on many golf courses in his home country, the USA, as well as multiple international courses. When he’s not on the fairways or coaching others, he writes informative content for his website, Golf Influence.

Barcelona’s Individual Men Championship 2022 is back!

DATE: 3rd to 6th February 2022 at R.C.G. El Prat.

COURSE: PINK

To participate, it is necessary to pesent the EU Covid vaccinate certificate or a negative test within 48 hours before the tournament. 

TOURNAMENT

72 holes:  Stroke play scratch – cut after 3 rounds of the best 45 players and ties.

 

SIGN UP:

From January 12th to January 31st at 12h. Maximum 90 players with and inferior hcp of 11,4 and a maximum of 10 international players.

• Sign up  HERE

 

SEE TOURNAMENT RULES (Spanish)

TOURNAMENT ENTRY FEE

Members: 30€

No Members: 100€

TEE TIMES: Las Tee times from 1st and 10th tee from 8.15h to 10.45h following hcp order the first two rounds and by classification order the last two days.

TEE BOX: Whites.

PRACTICE DAY: Wednesday 2nd February. Tee time reservation by phone after the publication of the final players list.

From November 22nd to the 24th the 42nd Congress of the Spanish Greenkeeper Association took place in Marbella where the Greenkeeper of the Year 2021 award was given to José Gómez, greenkeeper at Real Club de Golf El Prat.

It is an honour and pride for the Spanish Golf Club to have the winner of this award as head greenkeeper of its 45 holes. It was not a surprise, as we knew what kind of professional José is, but it was a satisfying recognition to a long and hard work career.

42nd Congress of the Spanish Greenkeeper Association

The congress had several activities starting the first day with a golf tournament. Then, on the second day, golf industry companies had the opportunity to show and present their products and new technologies at the conference centre were a fair was organized. In addition, there were round tables with presentations on golf design, tournaments, grass, etc. A very interesting day where the participants were able to share experiences and knowledge with their colleagues.

It was at the congress dinner where the different awards were given and José won the most important award: Greenkeeper of the year 2021 by the Spanish Association of Greenkeepers.

José Gómez, a life dedicated to golf

José Gómez has been at our Club for more than 40 years working on its courses, taking care and preparing them to reach the high standards that a club like Real Club de Golf El Prat requires.

“The AEDG has been very generous. This award is very big, much more than they think, since it is not only for me but for many people who have helped me fulfil my almost impossible dream at 20 years of age: to be able to become a greenkeeper and a fellow AEDG member ”- José commented amidst the excitement of receiving this award.

The Spanish Greenkeeper, in addition to his passion for the sea, lives his profession with enthusiasm so he has travelled all over the world to gain all the knowledge possible. Moreover, all that effort and expertise has made Real Club de Golf El Prat great.

“For me, at a professional level, I cannot obtain a greater award than the recognition that my colleagues from the AEDG are giving me”

Congratulation to the new Greenkeeper of the year 2021 for working non-stop at RCG El Prat. We hope to continue enjoying his experience on the amazing, fast, and best greens of Barcelona.

 

For the second time, the Santander Golf Tour and the Ladies European Tour Access event under the name of Santander Golf Tour Barcelona, has returned to Real Club de Golf El Prat.

From October 20th to 22^nd, 95 players came to play in the last event of the year of the Let Access Series. Thanks to its proximity to Barcelona, ​​just 25 minutes away, it has been very easy for the players to fly to Barcelona from 29 different countries to play one of the finest golf courses in Europe.

 

Real Club de Golf El Prat pink course

The course was nicely prepared to receive the Letas players in the best conditions. The fairways were smooth and the greens were fast being one of the great challenges of the course.

During the first two days, the weather was nice with just a few hours of rain but the girls showed an amazing game. After all, 59 players made the cut that was set at +11.

On the 3^rd round, the amateur Charlotte Liautier was in first position with -2 followed by the local player, Mireia Prat at level par and the English player, Rachael Goodall, also at level par. A very close final, with birdies and triple-bogey that were changing the leaderboard all day long. At the last minute, another amateur appeared at the first positions of the leaderboard: 16-year-old German Helen Briem.

” The strategy on the course is very important because the course is  demanding. But i have played very good and I stayed patience along the way” – Charlotte Liautier

 

On the last 18th hole, par 5, she had an eagle putt and came out with three putts for a total of +1. These three putts kept her from going to playoff or even winning the tournament, which was for the French amateur Liautier with a total of par. In addition, as this tournament has been the last of the year, the first six players on the letas ranking have secured and have been giving the LET card for the 2022 season: : Lily May Humphreys, Gabrielle Macdonald. Nina Pegova, Rachael Goodall, Sofie Brigner y Emilia Tukiainen.

The general feedback has been positive, praising the course, the Club staff and the organization of the tournament by Deporte & Business. A demanding course that has put the best players in Europe to test.

We welcome the Santander Golf Tour Barcelona, ​​the final of the Ladies European Tour Access and the Santander Golf Tour. Two high-level tours that come together in this event that will take place at Real Club de Golf El Prat (Barcelona) from October 20th to 22th 2021 in an exciting final.

A total of 29 different nationalities come to Barcelona to show their best game and try to get a place to play next year on the Ladies European Tour. In addition, 6 of the players are members of the Real Club de Golf El Prat, which we encourage them to play well, have fun and enjoy the course.

Santander Golf Tour Barcelona

The Santander Golf Tour, sponsored mainly by Banco Santander, is played on the best golf courses in Spain and players from all over the world come to participate. On the other hand, the Letas or Ladies European Tour Access, 2nd division tour of the Ladies European Tour, offers the best five players the 2022 season card on the LET.

The organization of this tournaments is unbeatable and, on top of everything, on the 19th the proam takes place on the Pink Course, sames as in the tournament. An occasion to see the girls play and, at the same time, participate in a good cause. This year, the Santander Golf Tour teams up with “Fundación Aladina” and the Severiano Ballesteros Foundation to help children and teenagers with cancer so, the proam players can make their donations.

For the Real Club de Golf El Prat it is a pride to be able to host a tournament of this level, with the best golf players in Europe. We encourage all golf lovers to come and watch these athletes play at the Santander Golf Tour Barcelona. Undoubtedly, it is going to be an exciting tournament since it is the big final and the girls have to play their best golf  in order to finish in the best possible position since, depending on  the ranking, they can have a direct pass to the final of Q-School.

At Real Club de Golf El Prat we were lucky enough to speak with Gaia Zonchello, the first official female referee of the European Tour and the first woman to prepare the course for a professional tournament. A woman with clear ideas who have fought for her dreams.

During the interview, she told us how she got to her position, some anecdote from the Tour and what we must do to promote women’s golf now that we will have the Solheim Cup 2023.

In conclusion, Gaia is an inspiration for anyone, but special for girls. They can do whatever job they want. 

You can see the video of the interview:

From July 6^th to 8^th , the Junior Spanish Championship from 6 to 14 years old, was played at Real Club de Golf El Prat in Barcelona. A tournament that met the excitement and the desire to compete of the little ones with the nervousness of their parents. A beautiful week that was, thanks to everyone’s efforts, a success.

JUNIOR SPANISH CHAMPIONSHIP

The tournament is going to be known for being a very tight competition within the different categories with three play offs and 4 hole in ones. The course was set up so the players could enjoy the course and shoot good results. All 45 holes were used: the junior golfers played on the Pink Course because is the longest and hardest one; the yellow course was played by the next category and the youngest golfers played on the 9 holes left.

Also, is going to be remembered by the perfect organization of the Club and the Spanish Golf Federation so that the protocols against COVID were followed. Upon arrival at the Club, all the participants and those accompanying them underwent an antigen test to make sure that they were all healthy. In addition, strict protocols were followed so people were not gathered in certain areas: in the registration process, there were shifts as in the practice tee. Players could shoot balls 40 minutes before departure and were entitled to a total of 90 minutes before and after the game, no more. In this way, we prevented people from spending extra hours in the Club interacting with other participants.

AN EXCEPTIONAL ORGANIZATION

The President of Spanish Golf Federation, Gonzaga Escauriaza, was very pleased with the outcome of the tournament: “I want to thank Real Club de Golf El Prat for the amazing organization. All the staff were very helpful and the kids had a great week. All 45 holes looked amazing and we consider this course to be perfect to host a tournament such as this one.”

On the course, all the players demonstrated temperance and good manners, setting an example that golf is a perfect life teacher. We want to congratulate all the players; it was an honor to host this great event.

Real Club de Golf El Prat celebrated women’s golf organizing a tournament exclusively for them on the 1^st of June for the International Women’s golf day.

The Prestigious Club believes in women’s golf and have always encouraged women to play and fall in love with the game.  This year, it wanted to be part of this amazing movement where many golf clubs around the globe are organizing activities and events.

Women’s Golf Day

Players got on the course in the morning to play 18 holes individual stableford, and then, Estrella Damm offered them beer and water to get their strength back. The first prize was a brunch for 6 people at the exclusive Audemars Piguet House in Barcelona. An amazing treat in the most exclusive street in the city where the best fashion stores are.  In addition, there was a prize draw with Wilson items, Metropolitan gym complements, massages and much more.

The tournament was a great first contact for 2021 women’s golf as the Real Club de Golf El Prat will host a Ladies European Tour Access event in October with around 100 professional golfers playing the highly ranked Pink course.

Women’s Golf Day instead was hosted in the easier Yellow course that, thanks to the recent remodelation works carried within a Sustainable Golf Plan and under the supervision of golf legend and architect Greg Norman, has improved greatly its playability.

The Club’s general manager Ariana Martin said,

“We thought there is no better way to honour the new course than with a women’s golf tournament. Our Club has always encouraged women to play golf and we are happy to see all female golfers who embrace their game and enjoy our courses. We are very happy to host an amateur tournament on the 1^st of June as well as a professional one in October. The more the better”

Real Club de Golf El Prat encourages, not only their members, but also all women to try golf in Barcelona and enjoy a nice day at any of the 45 holes that Real Club de Golf El Prat has. It has been, for sure, a great event for our Club and for women.

 

The good weather begins and there are less covid restrictions. It is time to, once again, enjoy outdoor activities that reinforce the networking, cohesion, communication and leadership of the company.

Celebrate meetings with your colleagues in an amazing natural environment, surrounded by nature. Live a unique outdoor experience, a teamwork activity that, in addition to strengthening ties, increases value and commitment to your goal.

Do you want to take action? Spend a different day with your company doing group work activities outdoor near Barcelona. Now is the time.

Ask us here for more information, and we will get back to you in no time. What it is for sure is that the facilities of Real Club de Golf El Prat will not leave you indifferent.

We make our proposals in collaboration with Concep-t:

Ecorientation:

If you like to move around in a natural environment, this team building activity will enchant you. An orientation race modality in which you will discover the forest located around the golf course looking for different points on the map, solving questions about the environment and carrying out sustainability tests. A fun and dynamic activity with sustainable content and CSR.

Natural Challenge:

Do you like challenges and action? We offer a rotation of activities that combines ingenuity, skill and adventure. If you want to spend an unforgettable moment with your colleagues, this is your team building.

Let us build a better world:

An activity that contributes to the social and ecological improvement of our environment, and in which the participants enhance their creativity and the values ​​of teamwork, solidarity and generosity. We suggest you go a step beyond, as society is moving towards sustainability. If your company is aligned with these values, this CSR team building is your activity.

Now is the time to take advantage of the surroundings of Real Club de Golf El Prat to experience a different “office” day and do outdoor activities in a setting like no other.