The Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A returns to Club de Golf Alcanada for the third time having successfully hosted the season finale in 2019 and 2022. Here, we are shining a spotlight on the venue and what the 45 players in the field will need to do to tame it.
Hole 1
Everyone likes a nice start to their round, and that’s just what the professionals get in Alcúdia. The 501-yard par five first at Club de Golf Alcanada played the second easiest at the 2019 Grand Final, with seven eagles and 67 birdies carded at the opener. In 2022 it was statistically the easiest hole, producing a whopping 78 birdies and seven eagles, six of which came in the final round.
It is a fairly straightforward tee shot, with the fairway weaving down towards the ravine, which leaves players with the only tricky question to answer; go for the green, or lay-up? The green is tucked behind the trees slightly so the easy option is to clip it over the ravine, short of the green, and get up and down for birdie. Sounds simple, right?
Hole 2
The 423-yard par four second hole may look simple enough from the tee with a slight dogleg to the left, however position is key. The players will face a narrow tee shot and it is paramount to cover the fairway bunker, while the green needs to be attacked on the right side due to the greenside bunkers on the left. In 2022 the second hole was played at an average of 4.18 and there were just ten birdies all week.
Hole 8
The 455-yard par four eighth hole was rated as the most difficult hole at the 2022 Grand Final with an average of 4.38. Having to play through trees hanging over the fairway on the left side, players face an intimidating uphill tee shot. The tee shot and approach shot must be kept to the right side of the hole as anything left will quickly slope away. The eighth hole has the ability to ruin a scorecard, producing 62 double-bogeys or worse in 2022.
Hole 11
Statistically the easiest hole in 2019, it is evident that to achieve success, you need to take advantage of the par fives at Club de Golf Alcanada. Standing at 606 yards, the par five 11th is on the long side, but has little trouble. For most, it will be a drive, lay-up and chip – hence only three eagles all week in 2019 and none in 2022 – but that approach almost guarantees walking away without a blemish.
Overview
At Club de Golf Alcanada, par is your friend. Francesco Laporta’s winning score in 2019 was just six under par and Nathan Kimsey’s in 2022 was nine under. Club de Golf Alcanada is not an easy golf course and anytime you walk off the green with par or better, you should be pleased.
