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$7 Million Meliá Course is Ready and Waiting

by Landy Blank

The long awaited $7 million Robert Trent Jones, II golf course at Meliá Playa Conchal Beach and Golf resort is now a reality. Conchal Campo de Golf was built over a period of four years and from a golfer's viewpoint, and is the centerpiece of Costa Rica's famous mega-resort.

Of course, the small group of people who don't play golf might tell you that the beautiful shell beach, enormous free-form swimming pool, the many restaurants and nightly entertainment, casino and disco make this the hottest spot in Costa Rica. Meliá Playa Conchal has it all.

What I truly admire about this project is the attention to detail. Although newly opened, Conchal Campo de Golf gives one the feeling that it has been there for years. When I mentioned to a friend of mine what a tremendous course it will be once it has matured, he reminded me that in Costa Rica's tropical climate, things mature over a long weekend. This is truly a spectacular world class golf course and will be looked upon as one of the great courses completed in 1997.

Here's the course layout based on playing from the gold tees which measure 7,033 yards. Keep in mind that there are four sets of tees.

Hole #1—318 yards, Par 4
Long hitters beware. It's best to hit a three wood off the tee. Large ravine protects front of green. Green bunkered behind. Nice, non-stressful opening hole. Handicap, 17.

Hole #2—435 yards, Par 4
Narrow fairway with trees on right. Bunkers and ravine line left side of fairway. Take an extra club to elevated green protected by unplayable gully in front. Handicap, 11.

Hole #3—467 yards, Par 4
Big sweeping fairway. Trees along right side. Uphill green with bunkers on left and right. The green slopes right to left. Two career shots and a two putt for par. Handicap, 1.

Hole #4—587 yards, Par 5
Big hitters, let it rip! Aim to large tree on left side of fairway. Fairway heavily bunkered on right. This is definitely a three shot par 5 as you play uphill to the green. Handicap, 9.

Hole #5—207 yards, Par 3
Stay left. Water hazard along entire right side of fairway. Large green. Handicap, 5.

Hole #6—437 yards, Par 4
Dog leg right and up. Water and trees along the right side. Bunkers short and to the right of green. Dead uphill—Take an extra club. Handicap, 3.

Hole #7—539 yards, Par 5
Elevated tee overlooking heavily bunkered fairway. Bunkers on right all the way to the green. Shot options include hitting short right, or go for the green over pond protecting front of green. Bunkers behind green on right and left. Handicap, 13.

Hole #8—145 yards, Par 3
Gully runs across fairway in front of green. Green slopes from front to back. You are unable to see bottom of flag. This hole just doesn't fit. Handicap, 15.

Hole #9—421 yards, Par 4
Playing back toward the clubhouse. Photo op hole. Fairway protected by water along right and bunkers on left. Uphill to a huge green. Bunkers on right and front of green. Clear shot on left. Handicap, 7.

Hole #10—443 yards, Par 4
Elevated tee requires some distance for positioning of second shot. Ravine and water protect front of green with a large bunker on the left. Handicap, 8.

Hole #11—189 yards, Par 3
One large and one small bunker on right side of green. Steep incline with grass bunkers behind the green. Open to the left. Handicap, 10.

Hole #12—435 yards, Par 4
Elevated tee. Great looking golf hole. Sweeping right dogleg with fairway sloping left to right. Fairway bunkers and trees along right. Play this entire whole to the left. Handicap, 4.

Hole #13—523 yards, Par 5
Straightforward par 5 with fairway sloping left to right. Heavily bunkered. Uphill green bunkered on left. Handicap, 12.

Hole #14—384 yards, Par 4
A short par 4 by Conchal standards. Hit a decent drive avoiding bunkers on left side of fairway and you should walk away with a par. Handicap, 16.

Hole #15—443 yards, Par 4
Water along right side. Second shot uphill to a bunkered green. At 443 yards uphill, this is a tough hole to par. Good luck. Handicap, 2.

Hole #16—417 yards, Par 4
Huge fairway with water running along right hand side. Bunkers right and left of green. Creek across front of green. Handicap, 6.

Hole #17—138 yards, Par 3
Playa Conchal and the Pacific Ocean form the backdrop for this short par 3. A lily-pond sits between you and a wide but shallow green. A large overhanging tree on left tends to push your shot to the right of the green. Site of my first Conchal birdie. Handicap, 18.

Hole #18—505 yards, Par 5
Great finishing hole. Water along entire left side. Strategically placed fairway bunkers on right side. The big question here is: Do I cut across the water and go for the green in two? I know Kevin Costner from "Tin Cup" would go for it, but will you? Handicap, 14.

I had a great time playing with the course pro, Alvaro Ortiz, and playing from the tips allowed me to see the entire golf course. Believe me, I saw the entire course! In the future, I will be playing this course from the blues (6,593 yards) and the whites (6,045 yards). This is what I call a BIG golf course. It contrasts with the narrow fairways and tall trees of the Cariari Country Club course and the rocky steep elevations of the back nine at Rancho Las Colinas. The golfer who visits Costa Rica now has the pleasure of playing several great golf courses, each with a distinct style.

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