Nicklaus Design Polaris World

Polaris World's Nicklaus masterpiece - Western Europe - GOLFmagic

Unfortunately for me, I arrived on the scene eight months too late to witness the Golden Bear slip on the green jacket for the last of his 18 record major championships. Thank goodness for YouTube and my dad’s dusty old golf tapes.

Yet following a two-day trip across the Channel with my Srixon bats to play three of the six Nicklaus Golf Trail courses at Polaris World in Murcia, it is evident the world’s greatest player has graced his presence on yet more hallowed turf.

Polaris World, designed by Nicklaus and his four sons, has worked closely with its clients, enhanced the natural environment and created courses that are both challenging and enjoyable for players of all abilities in one of the most picturesque regions in Spain.

Having unpacked our bags at the stunning 5* La Torre Resort, we poured on the factor 50 and set out in the sizzling 40-degree Spanish sun to face the first of our three courses.

La Torre – the first of the Nicklaus Golf Trail Design courses opened in 2006 – might play reasonably short as a par-68, but if you can keep your ball out of the vast waste areas and and avoid the lakes then you deserve great credit.

The course challenges players of all abilities with six testing par-3s, measuring from a short 130-yard pitching wedge to a 220-yard beast across the aqua mineral.

There’s no question, however, the lower handicappers (read: players who like to show off their strength) have a real advantage on some of the par-4 holes as they can be reached from the tee (I’m in that category - so form an orderly queue, ladies!) and unless you have Brian Gay-like accuracy from the tee, there’s a tremendous premium on sand play - whether it’s long bunker play or greenside shots.

Out of the three courses we played, La Torre certainly required better thinking from the tee rather than just pulling the big dog out of the bag at every opportunity.

Okay, so it’s not the longest track you'll play but it definitely requires good course management because of the strategically placed hazards.

So how did I fare? Having taken a while to get to grips with the speed of the greens, I birdied the short par-4 4th to end a dismal run of bogeys. I then followed it up with another red number to move to 1-over through seven before disaster struck at La Torre’s signature par-3 9th hole.

Let’s just say the fans would not have wanted my signature after this one after a prevailing breeze dunked my ball in a watery grave.

Golf Clubs and Courses Designed by Jack Nicklaus, The Australian Golf Club, Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club

AB bookman's weekly, for the specialist book world

Who's Who in American Art, 1989-90