Golf d'Aro — mountain golf on the Costa Brava

The winding driveway up to the Montañas de les Gavarres gives an idea of what awaits golfers at Club Golf d'Aro Mas Nou: a demanding, sporty round in alpine style, just a few minutes' drive from the coast. The 18-hole championship course (par-72) towers above Platja d'Aro and has been one of the most renowned courses on the Costa Brava for decades. It was designed in 1990 by Ramón Espinosa.

With four tees per course and a total length of between 5,032 and 6,210 meters, Mas Nou is not a place for inexperienced amateur golfers. The pronounced differences in altitude, steep fairways and long distances between the lanes clearly speak for a cart or at least an e-trolley. Dogs are also welcome — but the topography also requires them to be fit, so a cart is highly recommended.

Here you can find numerous other travel reports from the most beautiful regions of the world.

Front Nine: Precision in a pine forest

The Front Nine lead through slightly to moderately hilly terrain, nestled in dense pine and oak forests. It became apparent early on that precision is more important than length. Lane 2 confronts the player head-on with water, while the par 3 scores points on track 3 due to differences in altitude, lateral hazards and a sophisticated sculpted green. At lane 4 at the latest, the view of the Mediterranean opens up: a long par 5 that requires not only length but also tactical play.

A visual highlight follows on the fifth track — a par 3 on an exposed plateau, which requires a precise ball flight over the abyss and water. The most difficult course in the first half is the sixth hole, a dogleg downhill right, which presents even very good players with strategic decisions due to bunkers, trees and slopes. The remaining lanes of the Front Nine look a bit more generous, but here too, the greens are cleverly defended.

Back Nine: Drama and Panorama

After the fall of the Wall, the square noticeably increases. The Back Nine run through even more dramatic terrain with narrower paths, more undulating greens and pronounced water hazards. Lane 11, a par-3 across a sink, is particularly memorable — less because of length than because of the heavily undulating green.

Another highlight is the par-5 on track 15: From the raised tee, you can enjoy a magnificent panorama, but by the second shot at the latest, the pond lurking on the left moves into the strategic center. The final track, also a par-5, runs steadily uphill around the clubhouse as a dogleg on the left. At almost 500 meters, it requires clean shots, clever length control and mental strength down to the last putt.

Conclusion: A challenge with a view

Club Golf d'Aro Mas Nou is not a place for quick scores, but for golfers who value challenge, strategy and landscape in equal measure. The complex combines sporting standards with a spectacular backdrop and offers a round that will be remembered — not least because of the constant change between width, narrowness, height and depth. If you want to experience a more unusual side of golf on the Costa Brava, you can hardly miss this service-oriented, very well-maintained complex.