El Saler

Overview: Campo de Golf El Saler lies between the Mediterranean shore and the pine woods of Valencia’s protected El Saler landscape. Javier Arana’s routing moves from open, sandy links-like ground into sheltered Mediterranean forest, then back toward the coast, so wind and changing sightlines remain part of the course’s identity. Native planting and natural dunes provide much of the architecture, while the firm coastal ground rewards a controlled approach to every green.

History: El Saler was built in 1968 by Javier Arana as part of a Spanish project that linked golf with tourism and the protected coastal landscape. The course quickly became a major championship venue, hosting the Spanish Open in 1984, 1989 and 2001, as well as the Seve Trophy in 2003. Its place within the natural park has shaped the course ever since, keeping the distinction between beach links and inland woodland central to the experience.

Did You Know? El Saler’s famous contrast is visible in the vegetation as much as in the routing. Paradores describes the course as moving from beach links similar to Scottish examples into typical Mediterranean forest, while native plants such as portulaca help anchor the design in the protected landscape. One round can therefore contain two very different coastal golf environments.