Buenavista Desert Springs

Sir Ian Botham's charity golf classic at Desert Springs

2007-08-24T17:34:00.000Z

From our garden you can view the golfing swings of a host of celebrities from the worlds of golf, football, athletics, cricket, rugby and entertainment as they join 'beefy' to support Leukaemia Research by participating in his golf classic being played at Desert Springs golf resort from 11 - 13 October. Sir Viv Richards, Nasser Hussain, Steve Cram, Matt Dawson and Ronan Keating to name a few have accepted the invitation to help their amateur teams of 3 to compete for this year's trophy, playing 36 holes of golf over 2 days.
Sir Ian Botham comments "Desert Springs Resort and Golf Club is a place close to my own heart and, I think the best family retreat in Europe". Sir Ian Botham goes on to say that "most of all we will raise much needed funds for Leukaemia research of which I am president."
If you would like further information on this truly worthwhile event contact www.bothamgolf.com

New motorway opens linking Desert Springs with La Manga

2007-04-13T13:36:00.000Z

The new stretch of motorway linking La Manga Golf Resort in Murcia and San Javiar airport with Vera is now open. This provides another convenient option for travel to Desert Springs. San Javiar is serviced by a number of budget airlines from regional airports across the UK. After Almeria airport this offers the quickest journey time to Desert Springs. The distance is 114 kms travelling on an uncrowded stretch of motorway through pleasant and sometimes dramatic scenery. There is a toll.

About Desert Springs Resort

2006-12-20T14:35:00.000Z

Desert Springs is serenely set, high on a plateau with panoramic views over the Almanzora valley leading towards the Mediterranean and surrounded by mountains.

It is quite unlike any other resort you can experience outside of the exclusive developments found in Arizona, California and New Mexico on which Desert Springs is modelled.

This is borne out by the fact that this ‘gated’ community received 3 awards; for its architecture, and best Spanish and International resort developments at the prestigious International homes Bentley awards in 2005. It has no equal in this part of Spain.

It is large enough to provide every facility needed for a memorable holiday yet small enough to provide a lifestyle far away from the sprawling developments along most of the Spanish costas

And as a bonus and without exception, Almanzora has the sunniest, warmest and driest climate in the whole of Europe. This has created a truly unique desert environment with an average day winter temperature of 65°C, which means the resort can be enjoyed all year round.

Apart from the Indiana course the resort offers a range of exceptional facilities for its guests.

The Crocodile Club
Overlooking the resort and golf course is an outstanding thatched African style ‘long room’ home to the Crocodile Club created especially with families in mind.

Here you can enjoy a range of facilities; a cool ‘misty’ free form swimming pool and adult splash pool with contra current, Jacuzzi, sun lawns, children’s play and games areas and their own beach.

The Sierra Club
For the more energetic there is at the adjacent Sierra Club a superbly equipped state of the art gym, tennis and paddle courts plus beach football and volleyball pitches.
In addition there is a spectacular trim and jogging trail that meanders through the golf course where you can take in the stunning scenery.
Alternatively you can apply some pedal power by hiring a mountain bike and tour the resort

For the less energetic there is the computer games room or an outdoor giant chess game. Or a spot of pampering in the day spa.

How to get to Desert Springs

2006-12-19T20:35:00.000Z

You can reach Desert Springs from 3 local airports, Almeria, Murcia and Alicante.
From Almeria it is less than 50 minutes, an easy drive east on the E15 motorway taking you through stunning desert and mountain landscape.
Alicante is less than 2 hours away, again on the E15 this time travelling west.
There is a new motorway, opened in March 2007, which goes directly from Murcia’s San Javier airport to the Desert Springs exit in 45 minutes.

All three airports are served by the budget airlines from most regional airports in the UK and Ireland.

Almeria: Aer Lingus, Avro, easyjet, Monarch, Ryanair
Alicante: aerlingus, Air Scotland, Avro, BA, BMI, bmibaby, easyjet, Flybe, Globespan, Jet2, Monarch, MyTravel, Palmair, Thomsonfly
Murcia: BA,easyjet, Flybe, Globespan, Jet2, Monarch, Ryanair

www.aerlingus.com
www.air-scotland.com
www.avro.co.uk
www.ba.com
www.flybmi.com
www.bmibaby.com
www.easyjet.com
www.flybe.com
www.flyglobespan.com
www.jet2.com
www.flymonarch.com
www.mytravel.com/flights
www.bathtravel.com/palmair
www.ryanair.com
www.thomsonfly.com

All 3 airports have the major and a number of budget car rentals including the following:

We try to keep this information up to date but cannot guarantee its accuracy.

Dining & refreshments

2006-12-19T20:14:00.000Z

The Crocodile Club has a relaxed family style menu throughout the day in summer and evenings all year round with dining in the long room and on the terraces. It offers a menu of traditional Spanish, Thai, pastas, pizzas, burgers, salads and fresh fish dishes.

Interior of the Crocodile Club

In the Summer months the club comes alive in the evening with its own disco and live music.

El Torrente restaurant offer fine dining in the evening

El Torrente Restaurant in the Colonial style golf club house offers lunch everyday and fine dining in the evening. Breakfasts are available and a lunch menu which can be enjoyed al fresco on the magnificent deck overlooking the water courses and the 18th green.

The Golf Clubhouse

There are 3 bars each with their own atmosphere, the Colonial in the clubhouse, The Rosewood in the long room and the pool bar at the crocodile club.

The Clubhouse offers breakfast and lunch daily

Groceries can be purchased at the Marquee overlooking the practice grounds

The Indiana Course

2006-12-19T20:10:00.000Z

Designed by Peter McEvoy and inspired by the famous desert course of Arizona the Indiana has been built to full USGA specifications.

It is a spectacular example of design and creativity in harmony with nature, creating a unique golfing experience.

Its emerald green fairways are set amongst rocky outcrops, streams, ponds, arroyos and dry riverbeds.

The contrast of the immaculate fairways and greens with the arid landscape of cacti, rock, and flowering desert set high on a plateau surrounded ranges is stunning at all times of the year.
Over 1 million imported cacti, succulents, trees and desert plants become denser and more daunting the further the shots are from the fairway. Perhaps not surprisingly given the course is set in the largest cacti and rock park in the whole of Europe.

All in all the course offers an exhilarating golfing experience both demanding and satisfying for players of all abilities depending on the choice of tee selected.

Enhancing the appeal of the course, some of the fairways wind their way through exclusive residential homes.

The course is maintained in peak condition throughout the year by an innovative water recycling system, along with the streams that run through the course, a residual water treatment plant and an adjacent reservoir.

This commitment to maintaining the environment has led to the course winning the Government’s award for the best Spanish course of 2005 for ecological care. The Indiana is the overseas home for a number of British golf unions as well as the home of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, for whom Desert Springs hosted the 2006 Spanish Amateur Open.

The practice facilities

The practice facilities are equally impressive. They include an ‘A’ star video training lounge, pitching and putting greens, covered synthetic and grass driving range and a complement of PGA teaching professionals.

There is a superb clubhouse, pro shop and boutique with a full range of facilities and products for sale.

Clubs, buggies and trolleys are available for hire.

The score card

A message about the course from the course designer,Peter McEvoy.

Other Golf courses

2006-12-19T20:06:00.000Z

Valle de Este Golf Resort
The course opened in 2002 and is within 20 minutes of Desert Springs. There is a good combination of testing holes mixed with others less strenuous. The terrain is quite undulating with a number of noteworthy elevated tees and greens. The fairways are wide and there are many large bunkers throughout the course as well as 3 lakes and several waterfalls that come into play on many of the holes.

The setting and design is quite spectacular and well worth a visit
Par 71
Length 5696 metres off the whites

Facilities: 4 star hotel, driving range, putting and chipping greens, pro shop, clubhouse, showers, bars and restaurants.
Clubs, buggies and trolleys for rental

Marina Golf
The course is located on Mojacar playa again about 20 minutes from Desert Springs. It has 9 holes located next to the beach, the other 9 over a hill and facing inland, resulting in varied shotmaking.
It provides an interesting if less challenging test of golf than Desert Springs and Valle de Este

Par 71
Length 5338 metres off the whites

Facilities: Driving range, putting green, pro shop, clubhouse, showers
Clubs, buggies and trolleys for rental

La Envia Golf & Country Club
The course established in 1993 is located near Vicar west of Almeria city about 1 hour 30minutes from Desert Springs set in a valley surrounded by mountains. There are numerous bunkers and lakes that come into play as well as the Palm trees, Mimosas, Agaves and indigenous plants that line the fairways.

Par 70
Length 5756 metres off the whites

Facilities: Driving range, putting green, pitching green, pro shop, clubhouse, restaurant.
Clubs, buggies and trolleys for rental

Playa Serena Golf Club
The course was opened in 1979 in Roquetas de Mar just west of Almeria city and is approximately 1 hour 20 minutes from Desert Springs. The course was designed by Peter Allis and Angel Gallardo. It has wide fairways, extensive bunkers as well as 9 lakes but its major difficulties are the long holes and the design of the greens. The course has hosted several national circuit trials

Par 72
Length 6301 metres

Facilities: Putting green, pro shop, Clubhouse with sea views, restaurant
Clubs, buggies and trolleys for rental

Golf Almerimar
Located at the coastal resort of the same name, again west of Almeria, about 1 hour 20 minutes from Desert Springs. Designed by Gary Player and opened in 1976 the course is flat with wide fairways. It is set on a beautiful location with lakes and mature palm trees throughout the course.

Par 72
Length 5981 metres off the whites
Facilities: Driving range, putting green, pitching green, pro shop, changing rooms. The course is attached to the Melia Golf Hotel.
Clubs, buggies and trolleys for rental

Alboran Golf
The course is located east of Almeria city approximately 40 minutes from Desert Springs.
The course was built to host the Mediterranean games in 2005. The course runs close to the sea adjoining the Cabo de Gata national park. The course is open, long and can be a testing course when the wind blows. There are 66 bunkers dotted around the course and the large lakes come into play on a number of holes

Par 72
Length 6278 metres off the whites

La Manga
The famous golf resort of La Manga with its 3 courses is less than 2 hours away from Desert Springs and with a new motorway from Desert Springs to Cartegena due to open in March 2007 the journey time will be reduced to 50 minutes