Lumine Hills

The verdict

Lumine Hills is the course that gives the Costa Daurada its tournament credibility. While the resort's flatter Lakes and Ruins layouts, both shaped by Greg Norman, run along the Mediterranean flats, the Hills climbs inland across former quarries on land redrawn by the Spanish architect Alfonso Vidaor, opening in 2008. The result is the most varied and demanding test on the property, and the reason the European Tour, now the DP World Tour, brings its Qualifying School final stage here to settle who earns a card.

For the traveling golfer it is a serious round in a relaxed setting, a championship test an hour south of Barcelona with the theme parks, beaches and seafood of Salou and Tarragona on the doorstep. It suits a buddies trip or a society group that wants one genuinely testing day among easier resort golf, and unlike the great private clubs of the world, it is open to visitors who book ahead.

The holes worth the trip

The Hills earns its name. After the resort's flatter courses, the change in terrain is immediate, with fairways that rise and fall across the old quarry workings, elevated tees that frame the shot, and greens perched to test both nerve and distance control. It is the kind of layout that rewards a player who can flight the ball and accept that not every hole gives a flat lie.

Because it is the permanent host of the Qualifying School final stage, the Hills is set up to identify the best ball strikers under pressure. The par 4s demand position off the tee to hold the right side of sloping fairways, the par 3s ask committed long iron and hybrid shots into well defended greens, and the par 5s tempt the bold while punishing the loose second. Wind off the coast adds another layer when it blows.

None of this makes it unfriendly to the visitor. From the forward tees it is a fair and enjoyable resort round, while the back markers reveal why tour hopefuls fear it. Pair it with the easier Lakes course for a balanced two day stay, and you understand why this corner of Catalonia has become one of the most reliable winter and shoulder season golf bases in Spain.

Where to stay nearby

The natural base is the resort itself, with on site accommodation that puts the first tee minutes from your door and bundles golf, rooms and meals into a single package, ideal for a group that wants to play and unwind without driving. The wider Costa Daurada around Salou and Tarragona offers a broad range of beach hotels, apartments and dining, plus the theme parks for those travelling with non golfers.

For a fuller Catalonia golf trip, pair the Costa Daurada with the inland championship courses to the north such as Camiral Stadium Course near Girona, or the coastal links style golf of Emporda Links on the Costa Brava.

Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Lumine Hills.