Las Ramblas Golf Club in Spain left reader Malcom Vaughan with a sour taste in his mouth. (Courtesy photo)

Golf at Las Ramblas in Spain leaves a lot to be desired, reader says

I played the Las Ramblas Golf Club in Spain last week with a friend, and we were notified that there were only nine holes available. The whole front nine was closed for the forseeable future; therefore, we could play the back nine twice.

There was no offer of a refund or reduction in the green fee and a request was met with a blanket refusal. Having been dropped off by taxi and already placed an order for another one five hours later, we decided to play.

It took almost four and a half hours to complete the 18 holes, as we were following a Spanish person who had taken his wife, mother-in-law and young son with him onto the golf course. Only he was playing, or trying to: He hit at least two balls from every tee and three on some occasions!

No amount of comment from us could make him understand he was holding up the whole course, and it was obvious he didn't understand the rules of golf and course etiquette. No rangers or marshalls were around, and we only managed to play through his party on our 10th hole, when they stopped for a picnic beside the tee. Nobody was interested in our grievances when we finished, and if that is golf in Spain, I've had my last round!

Malcolm Vaughan

August 28, 2006

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management.