Abama Golf Spa and Resort is situated on the road to Los Gigantes, it is impossible to miss, for the five star hotel and resort stands out like a beacon, a salmon pink structure that oozes quality as soon as you approach. The clubhouse is set on the hilltop overlooking the hotel, with spectacular vistas down to the sea, and there you will be welcomed and prepared for a golfing experience. State of the art electric buggies, with onboard GPS systems, fresh fruit and your own personal water cooler, and a well stocked golf shop to ensure there is nothing to detract from the round to be played. If your game needs a tweek, there is an academy with highly qualified coaches, a five hectare practice area and a three hole academy course.

The eighteen hole course is the design of Dave Thomas, who has brought fifty years of golf experience to create a course that is one his best. It rises up the south face of the foothills under the watchful eye of snow capped Mount Teide, rising to 315 metres at the highest point, and looks out over the distant island of La Gomera, a spectacular sight across the aquamarine sea, as you play down to the sixth green. It meanders over 160 hectares of lush sub tropical terrain, in stark contrast to the harsh volcanic landscape which surrounds the course. It features twenty two lakes, linked by impressive waterfalls, white sand bunkers, and over twenty five thousand palm trees, and Dave Thomas has made marvellous use of the changes in elevation to create innovative and challenging holes, such as the 9th, an approach from an elevated landing area to a green set down under a cliff and water hazard. There is a fascinating variety of par three's.

The 4th is over a lake, which contains an abundance of fish bubbling around the edge, which provides an ample food locker for the two resident herons patrolling the banks, seemingly impervious to the passing golfers.

The back nine is set on the lower slopes, and starts with a par 5 to test the driving skills, under the lee of the hotel. There are six lakes on this hole, seven if you count the one adjacent to the tee, they are strung out on the left and the fairway swings around them to a green nestling alongside the largest, add several bunkers and that's the challenge. Holes 11 to 16 are all subject to the threat of water, strategically placed lakes come into play on this mixture of par three's and short par fours that test courses management rather than length, even the last two holes have water crossing the fairways. In summary, a fine golf course in immaculate condition, with large fast true greens, which give a wide variety of pin locations, some very testing indeed.

It is no surprise that this course has already hosted a number of Tour events, and had visits from US Presidents and celebrities from around the world. Sergio Garcia recently held a Pro Am Tournament at the resort in support of his foundation, which he set up in memory of his colleague Maria Garcia-Estrada, who died of a rare form of cancer in 2005.

In contrast to the splendour of Abama, there is a charming little nine hole pa r three course near the town of Guaza, a fun place to sharpen the short game and very reasonably priced. It is not necessary to book a tee-time, but the Los Palos Golf Centre has the busiest practice ground I have seen, perhaps an indication that beginners can practice shots and play a course to test the results.

Contact websites:

Abama www.abamahotelresort.com

Buenavista www.buenavistagolf.es

Golf del Sur www.golfdelsur.es