NEXT LEVEL INFINITUM
The celebrated Costa Dorada resort has developed on and off the course in 2022
Infinitum has for many years been established as one of Europe’s leading golf destinations and 2022 saw the Costa Dorada resort further cement that reputation.
Located 60 miles south of Barcelona on the outskirts of the attractive city of Tarragona, Infinitum – formerly known as Lumine – was named ‘Europe’s Best Golf Venue’ three times in a row from 2019 and it has developed on and off the course this year.
It is home to two high-calibre courses, the Lakes and the Hills. The latter was designed by Alfonso Viador and has a handful of holes good enough to grace any course in Spain. Set between pine trees and cliffs, it is ranked in Golf World’s Top 100 Continental European courses.
It is the former where most progress has been made of late, though. The original work of Greg Norman, it winds among the Sequia Major wetlands, which provide numerous opportunities for thrilling holes dominated by water hazards.
The Lakes has seen its tees and fairways renovated by installing sustainable Bermuda Tifway 419 grass, which requires significantly less water and fertiliser than Ryegrass. Infinitum is noted for its ecofriendly approach; it received GEO Certification – the benchmark for environmentally-aware courses – for the second time in 2021. The resort’s ‘eco-first’ strategy is especially prominent on the Lakes, which is a certified Golf Audubon International Signature Sanctuary.
With two quality championship courses, the resort is patently well placed to host big events. In April, the ISPS Handa Championship – part of the 2022 DP World Tour schedule – was hosted on the Lakes, with home favourite Pablo Larrazabal taking the title. Infinitum will also host the DP World Tour’s Final Stage Qualifying School, which will return this November. It will provide a luxurious canvas for one of the most dramatic, nerve-wracking weeks in golf.
The nine-hole Ruins course should not be forgotten; it is a fun layout that takes you on a journey through fascinating archaeological remains. Plus there are modern practice facilities and a well-stocked pro shop.
Off the course, Infinitum has a stunning selection of Breeam-certified, high-quality homes in a variety of sizes and styles, sitting within walking distance of everything you need to live in luxury on Catalonia’s beautiful coast. The Beach Club has eight swimming pools, while children are catered for in the Family Area, able to play safely as parents relax in the sun on the Beach Club’s loungers.
The resort has a diverse repertoire of bars and restaurants to satisfy all tastes. The spectacular Flamma Beach Foodhouse is the headline act, serving an eclectic range of Mediterranean food crafted with fresh local ingredients. For a lighter experience, Gusto Mediterranean Tapas brings gourmet flavours to the Beach Club.
I just wanted to give Burley Golf Club, in the New Forest, a massive big up. I started playing golf there with my wife and two sons after the first lockdown was eased, and we’ve found it to be incredibly welcoming, especially for juniors. A lot of members even donate all their old clubs so kids can help themselves. Burley only charges £3 for an under-13s membership for the year, and they block-book the course at least once a month for the junior section to go and play. They are a prime example of how a club should be run! Andrew Weston, email