Getting to El Valle Golf Resort

Flying in from the UK will take approximately two hours and by 2010 there’ll be a choice of airports. Currently, San Javier airport is the closest with just a 20 minute drive to El Valle. Alternatively, Alicante airport is a 45 minute journey but by next year the new airport under construction at Corvera will open which means journey time to El Valle will be down to just 15 minutes.

If you’re looking to travel within the country or perhaps are already located in Spain, the golf resort is 3.5 hours drive from Madrid, 2.5 hours from Valencia and 2 hours from Granada.

Location of El Valle Golf Resort

As the name of the resort suggests, El Valle is located in a valley at the foot of the Carrascoy Mountains next to Baños Y Mendigo, a hamlet with only 340 inhabitants. The name ‘Baños Y Mendigo’ translates as ‘Baths and Beggar (or pauper)’ and refers to the historical waters which were used for irrigation and bathing of locals and a small chapel which was once home to a beggar.

The beaches at Mar Menor and the other golf resorts of La Loma, La Torre, Hacienda Riquelme, Laa Terrazas de la Torre and Mar Menor are within a 15 minute drive.

Facilities and things to do at El Valle

As with many of the golf resorts in Murcia, construction is still ongoing but once complete El Valle will boast some high quality facilities. The clubhouse opened last summer and is home to the El Asador restaurant, the Sandalo Bar and the Clover Irish Bar. Once the town centre is complete, all the amenities you’d expect such as shops, gym and a health spa will become available.

In the meantime, El Valle is on the Polaris World shuttle bus route which means as a resident you can travel to the nearby resorts of Hacienda Riquelme, La Torre and Mar Menor and take advantage of their facilities without having to drive.

If you want a break from golfing, the city of Murcia is a 15 minute drive from El Valle. There you’ll find stunning architecture, a grand cathedral, museums, high street shops and pavement cafés. The Aqua Natura water park is also close to Murcia city combining water slides with a zoo.

The clear blue seas of Mar Menor and its splendid beaches are just 10 minutes from El Valle. Mar Menor is perfect for the water sports enthusiast. If water isn’t your thing, you can go hiking, cycling and fishing around the nature reserves and mountains of Murcia.

El Valle Resale Golf Property

Just 668 properties including apartments and three types of villa have been built at El Valle. Apartments range from two bedroom/1bathroom to 2 bed/2 bathroom. Villas are available as three bedroom/two bathroom, three bed/three bathroom and huge five bed/five bathroom. Interiors have been fitted with superior finishes including air conditioning, fully fitted kitchens, timber shutters and private pools.

Recommended properties

	This apartment has been reduced to a fantastic price. Two bedroom and two bathrooms and has air-conditioning throughout, central heating and double glazed windows. It has a great terrace with two aspects and is not far from the sports facilities and golf clubhouse.
	Ground floor apartment with large garden around front and side of apartment including a jacuzzi.  Views over the communal pool towards the town centre. The apartment has 2 bedrooms and one bathroom and is in a great position on this exclusive resort. The apartment is located on a corner and is in a close to the town centre and hotel.
	This beautiful villa has three bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, two bathrooms (one with whirlpool bath), living room with high vaulted ceiling and doors onto the rear patio, covered eating area with built-in barbeque, private heated swimming pool, driveway, kitchen with fitted appliances and utility room.

El Valle Golf Course

The real reason for buying a property at El Valle is to play the Jack Nicklaus designed championship golf course. An 18-hole desert-style par 71 challenge awaits you each day and this undulating course utilises the natural terrain and hazards you’d expect of golfing set in Murcian hills and countryside.

El Valle is by no means a long course at 6,161 yards and any golfer with a long game will score well provided they steer clear of the many hazards. With few trees and very little out of bounds areas even the wayward shots off the tee can pick up an advance forward on the ball and get back in play without problem.

Residents of El Valle receive favourable discounts on Green Fees. Special promotional periods where you can get free buggies are also sometimes available. Once you’ve played the El Valle challenge, there’s the other Nicklaus golf trail courses located at each of the Polaris World resorts to visit where you can receive up to 50% of your Green Fees.

Condado de Alhama Golf Resort

The Polaris World Condado de Alhama golf resort is in the Valle del Guadalentín area of Murcia, Spain. Situated in the foothills of Sierra Espuna and Carrascoy-El Valle (two regional nature reserves) the resort is divided into three areas: Los Jardines de Alhama, Los Naranjos de Alhama and La Isla del Condado.

Los Jardines de Alhama

Translated this means ‘The Gardens of Alhama’ and the area, as you’d expect, is spacious and green with properties built around landscaped gardens and swimming pools. The Los Jardines complex is pedestrianised with dedicated cycle lanes enabling residents to stroll or cycle around the parks and enjoy the vast variety of plant life. Los Jardines de Alhama is extremely family friendly with its separate play areas for children and it also has excellent sports facilities including tennis courts, football pitches and basketball courts. The properties are built in a traditional Mediterranean style with architecture that blends in perfectly with the manicured surroundings.

Recommended properties:

	Ground floor apartment situated on Los Jardines de Alhama  within the resort of Condado de Alhama.  Great position close to the communal pool.   It is situated within a short distance from the town centre where there will be many bars, restaurants and all the facilities expected within such a resort.
	First floor apartment situated on Los Jardines within the resort of Condado de Alhama.  Great position overlooking the communal pool with West facing orientation. Property construction is to first floor level only, and this apartment benefits from a great roof solarium.

Los Naranjos de Alhama

‘Naranjos’ is the name given to a native orange tree of the region and this area of Condado de Alhama is lined with the ornamental tree on its streets, within its gardens and around its squares. Los Naranjos is in the heart of the golf resort and once had its own town centre called El Agora. This town centre has been extended to encompass the new resort town centre called El Foro providing an even greater range of facilities just a short walk away along the leafy avenues. Properties in Los Naranjos have a stepped architectural design and the penthouses look out onto the Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course (under construction – due for completion in December 2009).

Recommended properties:

	First floor apartment situated on Los Naranjos within the resort of Condado de Alhama.  Situated close to the communal swimming pool, the property faces to the South-East, however the solarium will provide a great place to sunbathe throughout the day
	Constructed in blocks of four staggered floors in the traditional white Mediterranean architecture.  Within a short distance to the town centre where there will be many bars, restaurants and all the facilities expected within such a resort

La Isla del Condado

Condado de Alhama translated means ‘Alhama County’ which is where the resort is situated in Murcia. La Isla del Condado means ‘The Island of the County’ and this area is an apartment complex on an island on the lake in the centre of the golf resort. La Isla is a waterfront setting that stretches down to the main town centre of El Foro. Residents benefit from stunning views from their apartments across the lake as well as three infinity pools that give the impression of being part of the lake itself. La Isla has tranquil boulevards and green spaces that incorporate children’s play areas. Around the lake are several piers from which a ferry service runs to the town centre.

Recommended properties:

	First floor apartment situated on La Isla within the resort of Condado de Alhama.  Great position with lovely views over the lake facing towards the South-West with only one immediate neighbour.
	Lovely penthouse apartment situated on La Isla within the resort of Condado de Alhama.  Great position with lovely views across the lake to the South.  With accommodation of approx. 66.8m2 and terrace of 18.10m2.

El Foro & El Oasis Town Centre

The focus of activity at the Condado de Alhama golf resort is within the El Foro and El Oasis town centres. El Foro means ‘The Forum’ and this vast 12,000 square metre complex includes the relocated El Agora town centre which initially served the Los Naranjos complex. Designed in a Hispanic-Arabic style around a courtyard with a large central water feature, the El Foro town centre is due to open this month (July 2009) and along with the 60,000 square metre El Oasis town centre provides bars, restaurants, banks, stores, supermarkets, hairdressers, launderettes, pharmacies, restaurants, cinemas and healthcare services to residents.

Mar Menor Golf Course & Property

The course at Mar Menor golf resort is currently a 9-hole par 36 but is being extended to an 18-hole par 72 with full clubhouse and practice facilities projected to open in October 2009. Make no mistake, at 9-holes this course is still a great challenge and as you’d expect from Nicklaus Design the wide smooth fairways, greens and simple shaped bunkers are in excellent condition. Properties are located close to each hole meaning that if you buy here you really will have a golf course in your back garden!

This beautiful 2 bedroom townhouse overlooks 3 of the new 9 holes of the Mar Menor course that is currently being extended. Air conditioned lounge and a third floor solarium with balconies front and rear make this a great buy.

La Torre Golf Course & Property

La Torre golf resort has an 18-hole course fully complete and presents the golfer with a par 68 challenge around trees and three lakes. An accurate short game is required when playing the wide fairways which are dotted with large bunkers waiting to catch you out. And for those who like to put their driving to the test there are two par 5’s to let rip on. The facilities at La Torre are first rate with driving ranges, putting greens, a pro shop and bar/dining areas.

This 2 bedroom villa is south-west facing but has a rooftop solarium which gets the sun throughout the day. The property is fully furnished, has an air-con lounge and access to a communal swimming pool so you can cool off after your round of golf.

El Valle Golf Course & Property

If you like your golf course in the ‘desert’ style then El Valle is for you. The par 71, 18-hole course across 51 hectares of rocks, native vegetation, cascading waterfalls, streams and two lakes will offer golfers of all standards a real challenge in stunning surroundings under the perfect Murcia sunshine. Excellent facilities await you before and after your round as well as trained staff and instructors on hand to help your game.

This ground-floor 2 bedroom apartment benefits from a large garden to the front and side of the property and a jacuzzi. Fully air-conditioned and close to the town centre this property is great for access to all the El Valle golf resort has to offer.

Hacienda Riquelme Golf Course & Property

From an ecological point of view the course at Hacienda Riquelme is well designed as its sown with Papsalum grass which requires less watering but remains in top condition for golfing. For the golfer, the course is larger than average with 18-holes and a par of 72. Fairways are lined with olive trees and wild flowers and there’s five lakes. Once the old Hacienda Manor House at the end of the course has completed its restoration it will provide a dramatic backdrop to the final hole.

The resort itself is apartment only meaning a low-density of property and this 2-bedroom is a great example of what’s on offer at Hacienda Riquelme. Situated on the second-floor with views across the course, it has a communal swimming pool, underground parking and air-conditioned lounge area.

La Loma Golf Course

The La Loma resort has been designed as a sports centre resort and a 9-hole course is currently in the planning phase of construction. Once complete it will aid the resort’s golfing academy and teaching centre. The course will serve to improve the game of beginners as well as providing a fun pitch and putt style challenge to more experienced golfers.

Las Terrazas Golf Course & Property

Another ‘desert’ style golf course can be found at Las Terrazas golf resort. Similar to El Valle and designed to be reminiscent of the Jack Nicklaus ‘Lake’ course in Las Vegas, the course at Las Terrazas is currently under construction but once complete will be one of the jewels in the crown of the Nicklaus Golf Trail. Rolling fairways and undulating greens run through the desert style dunes and around a large six hectare lake. The 18-hole par 72 will have similar characteristics to the links courses found in the UK but with the benefit of Spanish sunshine!

Now’s the time to take advantage of a property at this “apartment only” resort and this 2-bedroom second floor apartment overlooks the communal pool with a south-west facing balcony.

Condado de Alhama Golf Courses & Property

Notice we say courses for the Condado de Alhama resort because this great location will boast three Nicklaus Design golf courses. The first is a Jack Nicklaus Principal Signature course meaning the great man designed it himself for Polaris World. With 18-holes and a par of 72, this course promises to be the best on the Golf Trail with elevations that change sharply and four lakes providing a dramatic backdrop.

The second and third courses are in the planning phase but will be designed as ‘replica courses’. This will mean 18 different holes at each course that are replicas of Nicklaus Signature Courses from around the world including: Muirfield, Royal Palm and Bayside. The first course will be reminiscent of the tropical style course found at Florida Parklands while the second will have holes selected from 240 Signature Courses in the desert style similar to Mexico and Arizona.

The potential for some of the best golf in the world at the Condado de Alhama resort will surely have whetted your appetite to buy a property and this stunning first floor 2-bedroom apartment could be the one. Great views across the lake and access to the communal swimming pool are just some of the benefits

And remember, as a Polaris World property owner and resident you have discounted tariffs for all the golf courses on the Nicklaus Golf Trail.