Campo de Golf Parador El Saler

Parador del Saler sits along the Mediterranean coast south of Valencia, occupying a narrow strip of land between the sea and the Albufera lagoon. Javier Arana designed the course in the late 1960s, and it opened in 1968 as part of Spain's state-run Parador hotel system. The routing takes full advantage of the dramatic coastal setting, with several holes playing directly along the beach and dunes while others wind through dense pine forest inland. The contrast between exposed seaside holes and sheltered woodland passages gives the course its distinctive character. Arana, one of Spain's most respected golf architects of the mid-twentieth century, created a layout that emphasizes strategic variety over pure length. The opening holes move through the pines before the course reaches the Mediterranean, where wind becomes a significant factor. The stretch of holes along the coast features natural dune formations and requires careful club selection and shot shaping. The par-three 17th, playing across a valley to a green set among the dunes, is frequently cited as one of the course's most memorable moments. The course has hosted numerous Spanish national championships and professional events over the decades. Its location within a protected natural area means the landscape retains much of its original character, with the pine forest and dune systems largely undisturbed. The Parador hotel adjacent to the course provides traditional Spanish hospitality in a setting that remains relatively uncommercialized compared to many Mediterranean resort destinations.