Costa Blanca Magazin

50 years of El Bosque Golf Club - masterpiece near Valencia

50 Jahre Golfkultur im El Bosque Golf Club

El Bosque Golf Club celebrates 50 years of design, golfing tradition and Mediterranean elegance - a masterpiece by Robert Trent Jones near Valencia.

Few golf courses in Spain combine history, design and sporting standards as harmoniously as El Bosque Golf Club in Godelleta near Valencia. Opened in 1975, this year the course looks back on five decades of golfing tradition - an anniversary that impressively emphasises its importance for Spanish golf.

A masterpiece by Robert Trent Jones Sr.
The 45-hectare course bears the signature of Robert Trent Jones Sr, one of the world's most influential golf course architects. His vision: golf courses that combine sporting challenge and scenic beauty. A deep ravine runs through the terrain, modelling the fairways in gentle waves and creating natural differences in elevation that make the game exciting and varied.
With a length of 6081 metres (par 72), El Bosque presents itself as technically demanding terrain. Wide fairways alternate with tactically tricky holes - such as hole 8 with the lake, hole 9 along the gorge or the striking par 3 holes 12 and 14. Finally, the long par 4 on hole 17 demands precision right up to the last shot.

Only six courses in Spain bear the signature of Trent Jones - including such renowned courses as Sotogrande and Valderrama. His design is characterised by the targeted use of water hazards as a central tactical element - a concept that is impressively demonstrated at El Bosque on holes 8, 9, 11, 12 and 14.

Modernisation with vision
Between 2019 and 2021, the course was extensively renovated at a cost of around €4 million - with a focus on sustainability and playing comfort. The irrigation system was completely renewed and the bunkers were rebuilt using the innovative Better Billy Bunker system. This technology ensures optimum drainage, clean quartz sand and reduces erosion damage after heavy rainfall.
The vegetation has also been updated: Bermuda Tifway 419 for fairways and roughs, Tahoma 31 for tees and Agrostis Tyee for the greens. Even the paths on the course have been modernised - visible and noticeable with every step.

Reconstruction after the storm disaster
However, shortly after the renovation, storm DANA in October 2024 put the club to the test once again. Massive rainfall and flooding damaged large parts of the grounds - the course had to be closed. After an additional investment of over two million euros, El Bosque reopened in July 2025.
Manager Guillermo Goria remembers the difficult time: „The sight of the devastation was devastating - we were faced with the task of rebuilding the recently modernised plant.“ Holes 12 and 13 were particularly affected, as were the driving range up to hole 18 and 14, where a new bridge was built. A special Bermuda grass was used to increase resistance in the future and the drainage system was optimised once again. Stone walls made of quarry stone now secure the banks of the lakes and water hazards - and at the same time give the course a characterful, Mediterranean accent.

Golf, enjoyment and community
The El Bosque clubhouse is much more than a functional centre - it is both a meeting place and a vantage point. From the large terrace, the view opens up over the green Valencian landscape. The pro shop has first-class equipment and the changing rooms offer maximum comfort. The cafeteria invites you to take an enjoyable break on the terrace or inside before or after the game - with fine dining and a relaxed atmosphere. The „Mirador“ restaurant opens at weekends for Mediterranean specialities, from fresh fish to the famous Valencian rice dishes, and offers a stylish ambience for celebrations and special occasions.
The El Bosque Golf Academy offers lessons for beginners and advanced players, complemented by modern training methods and experienced coaches. Away from the golf course, members will find further opportunities for active recreation: padel courts, a swimming pool and a dedicated leisure area round off the offer.
Fifty years after its opening, El Bosque Golf Club remains what it always was - a place where sporting ambition, design aesthetics and the Mediterranean way of life merge into a harmonious whole. A course that breathes history and shapes the future.

A-3 direction Madrid, exit 337
Carretera de Godelleta, km. 4,1 - 46370 Chiva
Tel. 96 180 80 09
www.elbosquegolf.com