Fuerteventura

[IanM]

Anyone been to Elba Palace Hotel on Fuerteventura, or played the courses recently?

The Trip Advisor reviews are contradictory to say the least.

 

[cliveb]

Anyone been to Elba Palace Hotel on Fuerteventura, or played the courses recently?

The Trip Advisor reviews are contradictory to say the least.

I am there right now.
Hotel is as good as usual (this is our 5th time here).
Course is pretty good. Unlike many other courses in the Canaries, it has grass everywhere, not just on the fairways. The greens were quicker than usual today (I had 40 putts ).
The course next door (Salinas) is not worth playing.

 

[upsidedown]

My regular County partner has been been 4 times and they love it ,but no golf.
We dropped in for a drink last Jan and was quite pleasant

 

[garyinderry]

I am there right now.
Hotel is as good as usual (this is our 5th time here).
Course is pretty good. Unlike many other courses in the Canaries, it has grass everywhere, not just on the fairways. The greens were quicker than usual today (I had 40 putts ).
The course next door (Salinas) is not worth playing.

I played salinas. It was like playing on a car park. the rough was volcanic stones.

 

[IanM]

I am there right now.
Hotel is as good as usual (this is our 5th time here).
Course is pretty good. Unlike many other courses in the Canaries, it has grass everywhere, not just on the fairways. The greens were quicker than usual today (I had 40 putts ).
The course next door (Salinas) is not worth playing.

Who did you book through. Wonder if it is worth going direct?

 

[cliveb]

Who did you book through. Wonder if it is worth going direct?

We booked through Golf Breaks.

The hotel has told us that as returning customers we could book direct and get a good deal, but for unknown reasons it's cheaper through Golf Breaks.

 

[IanM]

We booked through Golf Breaks.

The hotel has told us that as returning customers we could book direct and get a good deal, but for unknown reasons it's cheaper through Golf Breaks.

I've just booked for Feb through "Supertravel" came out £200 cheaper per person than I was priced through Golf Breaks.

Quick question, they include pull trolleys in the price. Is it a buggy course or is walking ok?

 

[cliveb]

I've just booked for Feb through "Supertravel" came out £200 cheaper per person than I was priced through Golf Breaks.

Thanks for the tip. Will check them out next time.

Quick question, they include pull trolleys in the price. Is it a buggy course or is walking ok?

Walking is fine. The only hill is going up the 17th, but it's not that steep.

 

[IanM]

Mark Vyner is the guy to talk to. Been there ages, very helpful

 

[Berglund]

That’s really helpful info, cheers. Good to know walking is fine, that was my main concern. Sounds ideal with the pull trolleys included, especially if the only real climb is the 17th. Looking forward to it now, and thanks again for all the insights

 

[kp17]

I am there right now.
Hotel is as good as usual (this is our 5th time here).
Course is pretty good. Unlike many other courses in the Canaries, it has grass everywhere, not just on the fairways. The greens were quicker than usual today (I had 40 putts ).
The course next door (Salinas) is not worth playing.

I played that Salinas years ago there was barely water in the hazards.
Surprised it’s not shut

 

[cliveb]

I played that Salinas years ago there was barely water in the hazards.
Surprised it’s not shut

There will be plenty of water in them now.
It absolutely peed down today.
And I came here to get away from the rain

(This is the first time in six visits to Fuerteventura that it has rained, BTW)

 

[IanM]

Got here yesterday. What a charming hotel. Smashing people, had a lovely dinner last night too.

Course looks unremarkable, will see more as playing in a couple of hours. But, its 22 degrees, the sun is shining and that's bloody marvellous

 

[IanM]

Played it today. It was better than I expected. Good holiday golf, lovely and warm today, got quite windy which made it tough in places. Good greens, good mix of holes and water hazards.

Bunkers however, all shocking, all hard pan, must be due a top-up soon. As mentioned, 17 and 18 have been messed up with moved tees miles forward to protect houses. Very odd, but you can see why.

 

[cliveb]

Played it today. It was better than I expected. Good holiday golf, lovely and warm today, got quite windy which made it tough in places. Good greens, good mix of holes and water hazards.

Bunkers however, all shocking, all hard pan, must be due a top-up soon. As mentioned, 17 and 18 have been messed up with moved tees miles forward to protect houses. Very odd, but you can see why.

Yes, was there in December and the bunkers were pretty much unplayable. Absolutely rock hard. Hasn't been like that in previous years.

The 6th tee has also been squeezed over to the left to protect houses. Makes for a very tight tee shot trying to pass by those tall palm trees without hitting them. I suppose if you can hit a draw at will it's no problem - but some of us don't have that in the bag.

 

[IanM]

Yes, the 6th tee was also odd, thankfully I hit a right to left with the 3 wood.

 

[Captain_Black.]

Played it loads of times
There is a free shuttle bus that goes between all the hotels & is bang on time
I usually stay at Alba Palace (on the golf course) the hotel & food are lovely
The course is OK.
For holiday golf it's fine, apart from the bunkers which are terrible, hard mud rather than sand.
The tee shots on the 6th & 18th are compromised due to nearby houses
I always enjoy it.

 

[IanM]

"Elba"

Sat by the pool right now, ahead of a 2pm start time.
Talking to folk at breakfast, there seems to be a large number who come every year..

I love the hotel, golf course less so, it might grow on me. Playing every day, except one.

 

[evemccc]

"Elba"

Sat by the pool right now, ahead of a 2pm start time.
Talking to folk at breakfast, there seems to be a large number who come every year..

I love the hotel, golf course less so, it might grow on me. Playing every day, except one.

Isn’t it the weather, hotel and all of that which you’re currently enjoying ‘what you’re there for’?
The golf is surely a nice bonus..

You could always take your winter holiday in January at a little BnB in Birkenhead - if you played Wallasey and Hoylake the golf courses would be great, but everything else? Maybe not on a par with what you’re getting now in Fuerte

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Talking to folk at breakfast, there seems to be a large number who come every year..

My cousin and his partner go to Gran canaria every Christmas for two weeks. They see the same faces each year, it's like a community of like minded people. Retired people escaping the miserable weather back home.

They go elsewhere at other times of year, more to do at mainland places, but the canaries in January and February, I get it.