I love playing on courses where the greats have walked before me, so I grabbed the opportunity to play the Real Club de Golf El Prat when it came up. They’ve hosted the Spanish Open more times than I can count on my fingers, and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.
Well, I know now! This golf club has something really special about it, and it’s deserving of its many accolades and the high praise I’ve heard. The courses are maintained to a T, and the gameplay is excellent, especially for experienced golfers.
And if you’re looking for a beautiful, tropical spot that means you never have to wear a golf winter jacket, then this is it—it’s warmer in winter than many other spots along the Spanish coast but also slightly cooler in summer. A win-win situation.
First Impressions of Real Club de Golf El Prat
The club is beautiful and you can feel the atmosphere of 100+ years as you arrive. I immediately felt both at home and in awe at the beauty of the place, both the fairways and the clubhouse. Here are my initial thoughts.
Location and Accessibility
Getting here is pretty easy. It’s just 25 minutes from Barcelona, in Terrassa, so it’s not hard to find. The road is straightforward and well-maintained, there’s plenty of parking, and it’s so close to the city that it’s perfect for day trips.
The location is beautiful—smack in the middle of a green corridor between the Sant Llorenç del Munt and Collserola Nature Parks, gorgeous!
Practice Areas
I always like to check out a club’s practice facilities before I even look at the course. Real Club de Golf El Prat has an impressive driving range, with space for up to 50 golfers! There’s not a lot of chance of sharing it with that many people at a time, but it does mean you can keep plenty of space between yourself and others.
Another thing I like about it is that it stretches to over 300 meters, so you can really loosen up those shoulders and work on your long drives. You can round out your practice on the chipping green and putting greens before playing a mock hole on one of their three practice holes before hitting the actual course.
Pro Shop
I could spend hours in this pro shop. It’s full of top-quality equipment, but what I really enjoyed was the personalized attention. I got to hit a few practice swings, and the pros gave me some great advice about which clubs would suit my game before I hit the course. Highly professional and impressive.
Staff Professionalism and Hospitality
My experience with the staff was nothing less than fantastic. They’re amazingly professional and welcoming from the moment you walk in. I felt right at home from the start—they’re pros but not above having a chat or a laugh. Really nice atmosphere.
On the Course: the Feeling and Gameplay
The club has 5 sets of 9 holes, but they’re set up as two main courses: the Pink and the Yellow. Each one is a slightly different experience, but it’s well worth going back at least twice so you can play each one! Pro tip: only golf shoes with soft spikes are allowed.
Course Designs and Details
Every hole is designed by Greg Norman. Technically, there are 4 sets of 9 holes and a 9-hole practice course. Here’s a quick overview of each properly laid-out course.
Pink
The Pink is Norman’s favorite, so you know it’s going to be a great play! Great doesn’t mean easy, though—the first nine will challenge you every step of the way, first with its narrowness and second with its technical play.
The fairways widen out on the back nine, but the greens are the real test here. They’re sizable and feature some sneaky run-offs that demand concentration and accuracy to beat. Be warned, though—some golfers are disappointed by the tamer backnine after the wild first half.
Yellow
The Yellow is more open to the elements than the Pink, so expect the wind to make every shot more of a challenge. Don’t aim for length on your drives here—you want to play a precision game instead if you want a good score.
A couple of years ago, they removed 56 (yes, 56!) bunkers from this course to add some variety and make the course more eco-friendly. The good news is that it doesn’t take much away from the gameplay, and you’ll still enjoy a great round on Yellow.
Signature Holes
Because of the way the courses are laid out, there’s no specific signature hole on either of them. The club themselves do caution you against certain tricky holes on each course, though. Keep an eye out for:
- Pink: #6, longer-than-you-think par-3; #12, designer Greg Norman’s favorite hole; and #17, an uphill par-4 with a tough green.
- Yellow: #3, which could use an iron off the tee; #8, which features an intrusive bunker halfway down; #12, a short but brutal par-3; and the final #18, a difficult finisher.
Difficulty Level and Target Audience
The variety of holes and different nines here make it a fun play for any kind of golfer. Golf balls can be seen flying across the course, with the two tournament-ready courses probably more fun for experienced golfers. Beginners will get valuable experience, though, and they do have a practice nine for newbies to get a feel for things before hitting the trickier courses.
After the Round: Clubhouse and Comforts
The golf was great, but there’s more to Real Club de Golf Prat than just fairways! I checked out the facilities after my round and was pleasantly surprised.
Facilities and Amenities
The changing area is phenomenal. It’s not just a shower-and-go type of space—it’s quite luxurious, and you can enjoy a relaxing Turkish bath or spend some time in the sauna after your round to wind down.
If you’re not in the mood to relax in that way, you can hop into the swimming pool or catch a tan on a deck chair. There are also 2 paddle tennis courts if you feel like something other than golf, a fitness center where you can have a bit of a workout, and one of my other favorite places, a card room where you can socialize with others.
There’s also a kids’ club, so if you’ve got little ones, you don’t have to miss out on a round—you can trust that they’ll be safe and sound while you’re playing.
Clubhouse and Dining Options
Amazing dining is the cherry on top of an excellent golfing facility. There are plenty of places to stop for a bite at Real Club de Golf El Prat: the Snack Bar, where you can grab a little something before heading to the course, a full-service restaurant where you can have a hearty meal every day of the year, and a poolside restaurant which opens in summer and adds to the resort feeling.
It’s hard to pick a favorite from the menu. They’ve got something for every mood and taste. I found the truffle butter rigatoni with parmesan to be out of this world, and I’d go back just for their “Cubanito” dessert. It’d be worth a visit even if there were no golf courses.
My Final Verdict: A Day At Real Club de Golf El Prat
Honestly, I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent on and off the course at Real Club de Golf El Prat. If you live nearby, I highly recommend joining as a member—you’ll have access to the always-unique golfing experiences here, the deluxe facilities, and, essentially, a family-friendly club that’s a wonderful blend of modern luxury and nature-based beauty.
They offer “starter packs” for both non-members who want to think about it for a while and for those who are keen to join for the first time. Both are great deals, so check them out here and decide what suits you! If I lived here, this is where I’d choose to spend a lot of my time. Worth every penny, in my opinion!
About the Author
Jordan Fuller is a retired golfer and businessman. When he’s not on the course working on his own game or mentoring young golfers, he writes in-depth articles for his website, Golf Influence.