Platja de Pals at Golf Platja de Pals

Golf Platja de Pals sits in the coastal lowlands of Catalonia's Costa Brava, near the medieval hilltop village of Pals and within sight of the Mediterranean. Fred Hawtree designed the course in the late 1960s, part of the era when European golf development began expanding beyond traditional links territory into resort and residential settings. The layout occupies relatively flat terrain punctuated by umbrella pines and cork oaks, characteristic of this stretch of Spanish coastline between Barcelona and the French border.

The routing takes advantage of the natural tree cover to create definition and strategic interest on what might otherwise be featureless ground. Hawtree's design philosophy emphasized playability and variety within the constraints of the site, using doglegs around pine clusters and strategically placed bunkers to shape holes. The course measures around 6,400 meters from the back tees and features several short par fours where positioning off the tee matters more than distance. Water comes into play on a handful of holes, and the greens are generally modest in size with subtle contours.

The club operates primarily as a resort facility serving visitors to the Costa Brava, though it maintains a membership base as well. The setting offers views toward the Montgrí Massif inland and occasional glimpses of the sea, situating the golf experience within the broader landscape of this historic Catalan region. The course provides a straightforward test that rewards accuracy and course management over power.