Course: El Prat´s Rosa Course
Par: 72
Designer: Greg Norman
The club was originally founded in 1954 and designed by the noted Spanish architect, Javier Arana, sitting alongside Barcelona´s booming airport. Progress gave a priorty to airplanes and with an expansion of the airport, the golf club was moved to impressive new quarters north of the city.
Greg Norman was assigned the design task of producing not one but two, 18 hole layouts, both to be of championship standards and at least equaling the original layout at the airport. The resulting 2 courses opened in 2003.
El Prat´s Rosa Course now ranks among Spain´s top ten and the Amarillo Course is not far behind.
The Rosa presents a fairly hefty, 7,000 yards from the tips, but with 7 different tee positions can accommodate practically all levels of players, though bear in mind, this is a championship layout and the test is always serious. The front 9 wastes no time in taking you into a mature forest, where encroaching trees slim down the already narrow fairways and it becomes clear that accuracy will be the key to success. Only endorsing that calculation is the excellent bunkering, both fairways and greenside, where the generously large greens may provide a false sense of confidence. Emerging from the trees the back 9 takes on an entirely different personality as the path follows the foot of a mountain, presenting some uncanny elevation changes and an entirely new set of challenges.
 
Course: El Prat´s Amarillo (Yellow) Course
Par: 72
Designer: Greg Norman
The Amarillo (Yellow) Course, should never be referred to as El Prat’s “second course” as the examination of golfing skills here is perhaps even more technical and complex than that provided by the Rosa, but it’s still well worth tackling for those who feel up to it.
The fairways are narrow and flanked by some frighteningly deep and hungry bunkers, all deviously placed where they can do the most harm. Get into one of these devils and you can cast aside any hopes of making par. Greenside bunkering is no more forgiving and the multi-tiered greens can prove frustrating for all but those who are masters of the short stick. But stay cool, reading these crafty greens, always slick and extremely fast, very carefully and you may surprise yourself.
There’s no doubt that the Amarillo is a difficult track and perhaps even a little too difficult for most amateurs, but it’s an excellent example of what modern day golf is all about, where strategy, accuracy and good basic skills are the essential tools.
 
Course: PGA Catalunya Stadium Course
Par: 72
Designer: Neil Coles and Angel Gallardo
This spectacular and imposing course has been consistently ranked amongst the best ten golf courses in Europe since it was opened and was recently voted 2nd in Spain. As the venue for the numerous PGA European Circuit it is also routinely single out for praise from the professional playing fraternity.
Be warned, however the beauty of the course can distract from the many dangers waiting to do serious damage to your scorecard. It makes no concessions with its trees pressing onto fairways, strategically placed bunkers and the lakes that come into play on no fewer than seven of the toughest holes.
This is the quality that keeps players returning time and again to test themselves.
Course: PGA Catalunya Tour Course
Par: 72
Designer: Neil Coles and Angel Gallardo
For a slightly less stern challenge, turn to the equally beautiful but kinder Tour Course. Dominated by pine trees and lakes, the course is shorter and less difficult to play than the Stadium course, yet the design ensures that it remains a challenge for every level of player.
Most of the holes feature wide fairways and strategically placed bunkers, which can be forgiving of a less than perfect shot. Another feature sure to focus the mind is that it seems you are never far from a water hazard.
There is no question that the Tour Course is a worthy challenge. The prestige of this remarkable Golf Course was born through its status as the resident course for the PGA European Tour Qualifying Schools Finals.
 
Course: Club de Golf Barcelona
Par: 72
Designer: Jose Maria Olazabal
Club de Golf de Barcelona, formally Masia Bach Golf Club was designed by Jose Maria Olazabal and founded in 1990. This is a very demanding and tight course even for the best of golfers and it is sure to prove a test of character. The readers of Golf Digest magazine recently voted Club de Golf de Barcelona the 5th best course in Catalonia. Set on the border of the Penedes wine growing region the Club also commands some spectacular views of the Montserrat Mountain. It is advisable to use a buggy on this course as it is hilly.