I am on my flight home from another unforgettable trip to the sunny tropical island of Tenerife and managed to squeeze in some golf while I was there. My two favourite golf courses on the island are Abama (which I wrote about last week) and Buenavista. I first played Buenavista in January of this year and I returned for the third time to play it again this week which, I think, indicates how good a course it is when you return to play it three times in the same calendar year. The drive itself to Buenavista is 55km from Adeje however it does take just over an hour due to the severe winding mountainous roads you have to travel to get there. The roads themselves are surfaced as good as our motorways in Ireland, however for about 45 minutes you are turning bend after bend after bend. On this route the views are just breathtaking so although you might feel slightly sea sick on arrival to Buenavista the experience and scenery is worth the journey.
The course is situated adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean so there are stunning views throughout your round. The clubhouse is located at the highest section if the course and it has panoramic glass windows facing the course with the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop, so it is well worth going to the third-floor bar & restaurant before and after your game to enjoy the views while you sample some of the local cuisine. The course itself is quite friendly and not overly long from the normal yellow tees however from the white tee’s it is a different animal with the likes of the 15th hole a Par 3 playing over 240 yards downhill. The condition of the course was again to a very high standard and the greens were very true and fast, running comfortably at about 10 – 10.5 on the stem meter. There are plenty of slopes on some of the greens so you have to make sure to pay attention especially around the location of the pin position. For instance, I hit a 3 iron to the Par 3 17th which landed two foot short of the green and for my second shot I hit what I taught was a good chip with my 7 iron which looked like it rested just two feet shy of the pin, but my ball in fact ended up rolling back towards me and ended up about 18 feet back down the ridge below the pin’s location, leaving me with my only frustrating bogie of my round. So, paying attention to the slopes near and around the pin is key to making sure you don’t find a similar faith.
My favourite holes at Buenavista are the 10th and 13th both are Par 5’s which are located adjacent and run parallel to each other. Both tee boxes are located just underneath the front of the clubhouse on the highest section of the course, so the views from both these tee boxes are some of the best views Tenerife has to offer. The fairways are several stories below the tee box and you can see both greens sitting out on the edge of the Atlantic way below you in the distance. Although they are close to five hundred yards in length, they both play a lot less due to the severity of the downhill slopes giving you almost a certain birdie opportunity. When you are hitting your approach shot to these greens you are trying not to be distracted by the crashing waves that are breaking on the rocks at the rear of the green. Buenavista Golf Club definitely boasts the best views of any of the five courses I have played on the island of Tenerife, not only have you the amazing views over the Atlantic but you also have the stunning vast mountain range at the opposite end so every hole on this course is filled with amazing natural scenery of Tenerife. This course has to be on your bucket list of courses to play on the island and is well worth the journey over the mountains to reach the stunning Buenavista golf club. Green fee rates run from €80 – €140 with the higher prices which run from November to March when the demand is at its highest.
