Golf courses in Tenerife – the insider’s guides

Real Club de Golf

Real Club de Golf in Tenerife was inaugurated in 1932. This par 71, 5,750-metre course is a gem to play and an even better to walk. There are great views and the surroundings are fantastic.

How to successfully play this magnificent course from a pro, and amateur point of view.
By Daniel Goralczyk
PGA of America

1st hole: Slight uphill - par 4
372 metres from the yellows
Pro; a 260m tee shot to the centre of the fairway for a 112m second shot onto a fairly small green sloping from back to front.
Am; hit a 225m drive to the centre of the fairway. Then a 147m shot to the centre of the green. Two putt and run away with the par.

2nd: Long - par 3
213m from the yellows
Pro; use a long iron and charge the flag stick.
Am; hit a 5 or 3 wood and go for the middle of the green. Take your par now. Bogey is a good score.

3rd: Short and narrow uphill - par 4
296m from the yellows
Pro; use an iron off the tee and hit the ball 200m to the centre of the fairway. A short 96m second shot straight uphill would be required to a well-protected green.
Am; hit a 3 or 5- wood 195m to the centre of the fairway. A short uphill 101m second shot to the green would then be required.

4th: Medium length but narrow - par 4
357m from the yellows
Pro; hit a driver towards the centre about 260m. A 97m second shot downhill would be needed to a fairly small green.
Am; hit a 225m to the centre or right centre of the fairway leaving a 132m second shot to the downhill green. Stay away from the right side on your second shot as trouble awaits.

5th: Short - par 5
442m from the yellows
Pro; hit a driver 280m down the middle leaving a short 162m second to a large green.
Am; hit a driver 235m to the middle leaving 207m to the green. Go for it, it’s birdie time.

6th: Short downhill - par 4
268m from the yellows
Pro; hit a medium-long iron for a leave of 80m to a fairly large green or just go for it.
Am; hit a 188m drive and have the same second shot as the pro. Although inviting to go for the green with the driver. This green is very well protected as a bunker surrounds it. Swallow your pride and lay up.

7th: Short but tricky - par 3
128m from the yellows
Although this is a short hole, whatever you do don’t be short or go to the left or right as it will punish you.

8th: Short downhill - par 4
317m from the yellows
Pro; aim left of the tree and hit a long iron shot 217m. A 100m pitch shot would be required to a very well protected green.
Am; play this hole the same way as the pro. Just remember to stay left off the tee as the right side can cause you some problems.

9th: Downhill - par 4
326m from the yellows
Pro; hit a long iron off the tee 230m and have a short 96m left to a well-protected green.
Am; hit driver 230m and also have a short 96m to that same well-protected green. Birdie opportunity at this hole, take advantage of it.
Get ready to order your refreshments and fantastic bocadillo at the snack bar before heading to the next tee.

10th: Long tricky uphill, sloping right-to-left - par 5
434m from the yellows
Pro; hit a driver 260m aiming slightly left-centre of the fairway and working the ball left to right. This would leave a medium to long iron shot 174m to a well-protected uphill green.
Am; hit a driver aiming left of the fairway and try to work the ball left to right 229m leaving a short second lay up shot 105m. A third shot of 100m to the same green would land you in a position for par. If you feel you can reach it in two then go for it, but miss right or be short.

11th: Long - par 3
174m from the yellows
Club selection is the key, probably one or two clubs higher than normal depending on the wind. This is a tricky hole. Par is great, bogey is good. There are some fairly easy holes coming up.

12th: Slightly uphill dogleg left-to-right - par 4
353m from the yellows
Pro; aim to the right edge of the fairway and work the ball right to left to 250m leaving a 103m second shot to a well-protected and slightly uphill green.
Am; stay to the left-centre side of the fairway, or miss and hit a 220m drive down the middle. A 133m second to the green would be required.

13th: Sharp dogleg left-to-right - par 4
322m from the yellows
Pro; hit a 3 wood right to left about 222m for a 100m second to a downhill small, and well-protected green.
Am; hit a drive 190m for a 132m second to the same green.
If you have a slice in your bag, use it now but make sure you aim left.

14th: Long uphill - par 3
191m from the yellows
Club selection is the key. Better to be a little long than short. Miss left – you’ll need a lumberjack if you go to the right.

15th: Long left-to-right dogleg - par 5
545m from the yellows
Pro; launch a 275m drive working the ball left to right. A lay up second shot would be required 200m for a perfect leave of only 70m straight uphill to the green.
Am; hit a 240m drive to the middle-right of the fairway. A long 198m lay up shot to the centre of the fairway would be required for a short third shot of 107m to an elevated green. The amateur should consider playing this hole aggressively as there is a tail wind. Par is your friend and bogey is acceptable here.

16th: Long uphill - par 3
178m from the yellows
Distance is the key. Use at least one or two clubs more as you don’t want to be short.

17th: Downhill dogleg right - par 4
348m from the yellows
Pro; hit a 3 wood to the left, taking the creek out of play and landing at the 230m mark. A short iron second shot 118m would be required to a well-protected green.
Am; drive 225m to the left on the fairway. A short 123m iron shot would then be required to the same green. Stay left from the tee box. Danger awaits you on the right.

18th: Long downhill - par 5
486m from the yellows
Pro; grip and rip the driver to the centre of the fairway 275m leaving an easy second shot 211m to a big green.
Am; hit a driver 235m to the centre of the fairway. Stay away from left as OB will cost you. A lay up second shot of 151m would place you in a position to hit the green in three from 100m. Two putt and your day is done with a great par.

Real Club de Golf in Tenerife
Although this is not a long course and the holes are mostly straight the fairways are narrow so place your drives very carefully. If you are using a buggy it could be a little confusing as it is cart path only. This course was designed as walker-friendly on a small piece of land so keep your eyes out for the signs that direct you to the next tee box.

You can book a round at Real Club de Golf in Tenerife through www.realgolfdetenerife.com or by calling (+34) 922 636 607