The first nine of a new 27-hole course designed by Stirling & Martin Golf Architects at Altaona Golf and Country Village in Murcia, Spain, is set for a November opening.

Marco Martin, partner at Stirling & Martin, said: “When Blake Stirling and myself began to study routings for the huge residential resort of more than 800 acres, we admired the great work of the land planners dedicating more than 300 acres for us to design three loops of nine holes, a golf academy and a nine-hole par-three course.

“It is a really good example of how golf and a residential community can co-exist under the umbrella of maximum safety and premium views for all residents of the course’s beautiful holes.”

Located six miles away from the new Región de Murcia International Airport, the design duo has aimed to create a sustainable golf course. Martin said: “Earthmoving on the site is mainly conducted to catch most of the runoff water coming from the infamous ‘Gota fría’ – heavy rains that can bring more than 10 inches of water in less than 24 hours, just one day of the year.”

The course has been grassed with Pure Dynasty paspalum. “We decided to minimise the grassing area and, at the same time, work with a well-defined landscape plan to maximise the playability and fun for all levels of golfers,” said Martin. “The creativity of the green complexes, gentle shaping on fairways, and wide desert and waste areas surrounding the fairways make a real frame design for every hole.”

GTM Golf is handling construction, with work on the second nine now under way.

This article is based on material that first appeared in the October 2019 issue of Golf Course Architecture. For a printed subscription or free digital edition, please visit our subscriptions page.