Does anyone know if the second course on Esuri has been closed ? I'm sure it's only the usual dodgy Chinese whisper I heard.
If it is true anyone know the reason ? I was told that the grass hasn't been cut for sometime.

Chris

Hi Chris

Yes it would seem to have been for the moment. I think there is some dispute between Aymerich and Fadesa about work that needs doing and so the rent / lease has not been paid. Having said that, Steve will probably say no, that's not right and I've got the wrong end of the stick. It certainly doesn't look in very good nick at the moment and only the original course is being played.

Pat

Hi Pat
That's basically the same story that I heard.
It's not a good sign,when the maintenance on a course falls behind it's never an easy task to get it back into playing condition @ a later date

The U.K. being a natural environment for golf courses had a grand plan to look after them during the 2 world wars. At our course and many more like it, sheep looked after it. The Canadian Government hired the clubhouse and one room in the basement was for members to store their clubs, a bike rack was provided too!! No fuel in those times.
Lady golfers and men lucky enough not to be at war or on leave could still play and enjoy their golf.
With the sheep grazing and sheltering in the bunkers the course was in good hands.
There are plenty of sheep in Spain but I guess if the irrigation has been turned off the course will soon go back to nature.
What a shame.

I've just booked a round on the East course for next Wednesday so I hope it's open

According to the news yesterday, Fadesa is still having problems paying it's debts and is asking it's bankers for another restructure

My understanding is that Martinsa/Fadesa (MF) is still trading in "Administration" however the Judge who is supervising this operation has agreed that MF is now considered to be solvent and can start to operate as a company not in administation would. Along with many housing construction companies worldwide the first thing they would do in such difficult trading conditions is to restructure their debt schedule.

So my view for what it is worth is that this is the commencement of normal operations. There is no sign that they intend to complete the infrastructure at CE anytime soon and that is what we do so desperately need to allow the Ayuntamiento to adopt the infrastucture and treat CE as an integral part of the town which would hopefully cut our EUC bills dramatically.

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The East course has had a good year and is being intensivly maintained as witnessed from my window every day. It was closed for a week 2 months ago so that the greens could be given intensive treatment before the Ayamonte open which was then cancelled! The greens and tees are cut most days before 9.00am and the fairways as required, they now have stripes just like the west course. Every evening the tees and greens are intensively watered and some days the fairway as well.

We heard these rumours and asked in the clubhouse what was happening. We were told that the course would only be available for 2 days a week to allow the fairways to catch up with the quality of the west course however I can't work out which 2 days since although there are only a few people who play this course in summer it seems to be on random days of the week!

Hi John & Kath
I sincerely hope the version you have been told is correct one.
My golf partner tried to book it & was told it was closed indefinitely.
Sorry he never got the name of the person so I can't verify the statement
Chris

In the past, Aymerich was negotiating with MF price of field management. Honestly, I do not close now a course where there is more tourism in the area.

In my opinion, it would be terrible news for all (players and non players).

That all sounds a bit more positive; lets hope they've given you good information John. Hope you're around as we are over for a couple of weeks from Sunday and be good to hook up.

We have a voucher for a 2ball for that course we booked paid and went to play and they tried to push us onto the first course which we have played many times. We only booked to play that course so refused their offer and took the voucher.
I guess if it has closed altogether now its our loss! 80euros down the drain!

I walked round part of the East course last week, and my take on it as a (albeit crap) golfer, is that is is very neglected. The tees and greens are being watered every day, but that is not the case for the fairways (the ninth didn't look as if it had been watered in weeks). Simlarly, many of the tees are now very overgrown, and many of the bunkers are infested by weeds.

I would be very surprised if it could actually be played in in its current condition - even by me!

Steve

Any update on this?
When we went to play we were told routine maintenance was the reason it was closed that day. We were assured that we would be able to play it next week. It was so hot we were happy to take the voucher and were going home the day after. It doesn't surprise me that courses are failing. There are just too many. The bubble has burst and the weakest are bound to fail.

Sad to say I can only confirm Steve's comments. All looks reasonable from a distance but when you get up close it's a different story. Greens are being maintained and some tees but I checked three holes and found tall, woody weeds growing through the 4th tee. None of the surrounds to greens and tees are being cut, fairways brown and bunkers full of weed. It really is quite a depressing sight. I'm not sure asking in the pro shop will elicit an honest answer but will give it a go anyway. West course looks fine.