• On the Course

Taking the Q School test

The 11th at the Stadium Course PGA Catalunya © ESPN.co.uk

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The European Tour's Q School once again takes place at PGA Catalunya and ESPN took up the challenge that will face those fighting for their playing rights in December.

A leisurely three-ball does not offer up the pressures that will face those bidding for the 30 places that will secure European Tour rights for next year, but it does give an insight into what awaits the players.

What awaits is a stunning challenge, which is no surprise given the course was designed with hosting the 1997 Ryder Cup in mind. Delays resulted in the event being hosted at Valderrama, but the Stadium Course was opened for play in June 1999 and it was rewarded with European Tour event status when hosting the Open de Espana the following year.

PGA Catalunya boasts two 18-hole tracks - the Stadium Course and the Tour Course - and both will be played during the first four days of Q School, with the final two days played on the Stadium Course.

Designed by Neil Coles and Angel Gallardo, from the moment you step on to the first tee of the Stadium Course you can see why the Ryder Cup was in the thinking of the architects as you are greeted with an elevated tee that looks over a swinging fairway lined by banked areas protected by lush pines.

Stretching out to over 7,000 yards from the Championship tees, the Stadium Course is a fearsome challenge. Thankfully, our group took on the challenge from the yellow markers - which still run out to almost 6,700 yards. The elevated tees, which are a feature of the course, are appealing to the eye but be wary not to get carried away as anyone who is wayward off the tee will find all sorts of problems.

The opening hole is a stunning curtain raiser, a sweeping dogleg to the left that is guarded by water short and to the left. The course meanders through a pine forest and the elevated tees afford outstanding views of the Pyrenees and time and again you switch from green to tee and are greeted with another stunning challenge.

As you would expect of a course built to rival the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, it was in supreme condition. Glorious tee boxes, lush fairways and fast true greens offer up the chance to score. But designers give and then swiftly taketh away, as well positioned bunkers, steep run-off areas and strategic water hazards punish anything that is offline.

PGA Catalunya retained its place in Golf World's Top 100 courses for 2011 and this lofty position among the elite of the world is fully merited, as there is not one disappointing hole - and plenty of memorable ones. The run through 11, 12 and 13 is simply breathtaking. The 190-yard par three 11th is an absolute stunner - as you are faced with a narrow green that is guarded back and left by water. And don't think about bailing out to the right as a cavernous bunker awaits - leaving a sand shot to a green that will run away towards the water.

The 12th is not for the faint hearted - as those short off the tee will have trouble clearing the water, while the 13th runs the other way with your approach shot being fired to a green that is protected long and short by water.

If those scrapping for their lives at Q School are still in contention at the 15th, they are faced with a beast of a par five that doglegs to the right. Super-long hitters can flirt with the trees down the right. The reward is a shorter second to an elevated green, but the risk is leaving your ball in amongst the pines.

A view down the fairway at Golf Girona © ESPN.co.uk

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And as closing holes go, the 18th is up there with the best. A 450-plus par four that has fairway bunkers that are in play, while an accurate mid iron is required to find a green that is protected by four bunkers.

The golfing excellence at PGA Catalunya is complemented by the high class Melia resort boasting excellent accommodation and fine dining options, while the clubhouse offers stunning views over the first tee and ninth green and is an ideal spot to dissect your round. So how did ESPN's finest left-hander get on in the Q School test? An 88 suggests I would not be making it into the weekend of qualifying, but it was one of those rounds where you walk off happy with how you played.

PGA Catalunya is the jewel in the crown of the Costa Brava region, but golfers are spoilt for choice with 10 high-class courses on offer. Highly recommended is Golf Girona, a track designed to the highest specification by FW Hawtree. The course meanders through tree-lined valleys and offers views of the Gavarres mountains and the city of Girona. The course is not dissimilar to PGA Catalunya, it utilises the natural contours of the land, although it has to be said that it lacks the manicured beauty of the Stadium Course.

Further north is TorreMirona Golf Club and its supporting spa and resort. Another excellent parkland track, it is more forgiving than the Stadium Course at PGA Catalunya but has a number of memorable holes - notably the par three fifth which has a passing resemblance to the 17th at Sawgrass. A score can certainly be made on a course that does not drastically punish if you are slightly wayward off the tee.

TorreMirona also offers excellent accommodation and the hotel bar and terrace overlooks the par-three 10th affording great views as the sun sets.

A pitching wedge north of TorreMirona is the town of Figueres - which plays home to the Salvadore Dali museum. ESPN would far rather be out on the course hitting balls, but the Dali museum proved to be a rare treat. As I ambled round looking at some quite amazing artwork, I couldn't help but think about the sort of course Dali would have created if he'd turned his hand to course design. It would certainly have been a challenge.

Costa Brava was previously not on our radar as a golfing destination, but after experiencing three high-class tracks and with year-round playable conditions we will be making a return.

PGA Catalunya:
Cost: Stadium Course from €51, Tour Course from €48
Getting there: PGA Catalunya Resort
Carretera N-II km 701
17455 Caldes de Malavella
Girona, Spain
www.pgacatalunya.com

Golf Club Girona:
Cost: From €44
Getting there: Golf Girona
17481 St. Julià de Ramis
Girona, Spain
www.golfgirona.com

TorreMirona:
Cost: From €45
Getting there: TorreMirona Colf Club
Ctra. N-260 Km. 46
17744 Navata (Figueres)
Girona, Spain
www.torremirona.com

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