El Chaparral Golf Club

El Chaparral Golf Club was esigned by the so-called Golfing Picasso, Pepe Gancedo, with this monster of a golf course situated in between Malaga and Marbella on the Costa del Sol.

First of all, hats off to the builders who achieved building anything like a golf course half way up a cliff. Built in 2006, the designer must have looked for the most, mountainous terrain he could find to construct his master piece. As with Picasso the painter, you'll love or hate this submission.

You are not allowed to take golf buggies onto the fairways for good reason, as it is not safe to do so. However, the steepness from the buggy path is ridiculous. I literally was taking my life in my hands, getting to some fairways.

To add to this, within a matter of a few holes, one of my playing colleagues had a bad fall and had to retire. He was unable to play for the rest of the holiday!

I got myself in the mindset of the SAS show 'Who Dares Wins'. You needed to think like that!

The course is well-maintained and beautifully sculptured. With a slope index of 137 you know your not going to beat up this bad boy! In fact surviving its elevated tee steps is like getting an Eagle.

There are stunning views of the Mediterranean and lots and lots of rocks.

The Greens were running at 12, having a four-putt was no disgrace.

The staff were very friendly (other than two of them shouting at me on the 18 to get the buggy off the green) when I'd parked 20 yards from it!!

I survived the "High Chaparral" and sort of enjoyed it, in a masochistic way.

But once is enough for me.

It costs around 95 Euros with a buggy midweek, to scare yourself to death on this brute.

Again, we were warned in the clubhouse not to take valuables onto the course, as there are safes in the starters' hut!

Having played El Chapperell Golf Club many times in the past, the condition of the course was not as good as it has been.

Partly because of the ongoing feud that many of the courses are having with the local council over water rights.

Having said all this the greens are fairly quick but need work on them, fairways are ok, as preferred lies are a local rule. It is very much a thinking mans' track and local knowledge helps