How to Play Roda Golf's Back Nine in October's Cooler Weather

October isn't the "easy" month people assume it is. The heat has gone, the car park's quieter and the green fees feel friendlier, but a lot of visitors still arrive with the wrong ideas about how the back nine plays this time of year. I live ten minutes away and I've played it in every kind of October, so here are the myths I hear most.

Myth: It's still too hot to play the back nine after lunch

Reality: By October it's the opposite. Afternoon temperatures around the Mar Menor usually settle in the low to mid twenties, and the late sun is kind rather than punishing. A 2pm tee time is perfectly sensible now, which was never true in July.

The catch is the light. Clocks go back at the end of the month, and from then the sun drops behind the hills before six. If you tee off after 2:30pm, you'll be hurrying the last few holes. Book earlier than you think you need to, especially if you're a four-ball that likes a coffee stop at the turn.

Mornings can be properly fresh, so wear a light layer for the first few holes. You'll be shedding it by the eighth, but you'll be glad of it on the first tee.

Myth: Cooler weather means longer carry and lower scores

Reality: Cooler air is a little denser, so the ball doesn't fly quite as far as it does in August. Most people notice it as a club's worth of difference on longer approaches. It's not dramatic, but if you're used to hitting a 7-iron to a front pin, check your yardage twice.

Morning dew also takes the run out of fairways. Early rounds play longer than the card suggests, and the ball plugs a touch more than you'd expect on soft ground. By mid-afternoon things firm up and you get the roll back.

So the lower-scores idea doesn't hold. You'll play better because you're not wilting, not because the course is giving anything away. I'd rather have a steady 24 degrees and a slightly shorter carry than the heat any day, but don't expect a gift.

What to do about it

Take one more club on the long par 4s in the morning. Aim for the middle of the green rather than the flag until you've seen how the first few approaches react. If you want to see the full layout before you book, the Roda Golf course information page covers what you'll face.

Myth: October rain wrecks the course for days

Reality: It rains here in October, sometimes hard. The autumn storms in Murcia can be sudden and heavy, the kind that turns a dry rambla into a river in an hour. But they tend to pass quickly, and the course drains better than most people expect.

What does happen is that low spots hold water for a day or two, and some cart paths get messy. That's more of a nuisance than a problem. If a big storm has just gone through, ring the pro shop before you set off rather than guessing. They'll tell you straight whether it's playable and whether any holes have restrictions.

If you're nervous about forecasts, aim for a mid-week round. The Wednesday market in Los Alcázares is a good Plan B if the sky turns on you, and you can always try the next morning.

Back nine specifics

The back nine is where the exposure shows. Fewer trees break the wind, so a breezy October afternoon plays noticeably harder than the front. A blustery day can add three or four shots for the average golfer, mostly on the holes heading back towards the clubhouse. Keep the ball low and don't fight it.

Playing the back nine alone, which plenty of people do as a quick evening nine, works well in autumn. You'll usually find it quiet, and there's no pressure to rush. Just check with the pro shop about nine-hole rates and last tee times, as they change with the season.

Myth: There's nothing to do afterwards because the summer crowds have gone

Reality: This is my favourite one. The chiringuitos along the Mar Menor shore at Santiago de la Ribera and Los Alcázares are still open in October, the water's still warm enough for a paddle, and you can actually get a table without booking three days ahead.

After a round I'd head to a local bar in San Javier for tapas rather than the clubhouse. It's cheaper, louder and far more Spanish. Order a caña, a plate of something fried, and don't ask for the bill until you're ready. It will arrive when you ask, not before. That's the Spanish way, and it's a good one.

If you're staying nearby, October is when holiday rentals near Roda Golf are best value. Rates drop from the summer peak, availability opens up, and you'll find the pool is still warm enough to use. Several owners will do longer-stay deals for the month, so it's worth getting in touch and asking directly.

For a feel of the surrounding area and how far everything is from the course, the area guide for Roda and the Mar Menor is a handy reference.

The short version

Play earlier than you think. Take an extra club in the morning. Expect the back nine to be breezy and a bit exposed. Check conditions if it's rained. And stay for food afterwards, because October is when the area is at its most relaxed.

It's still my favourite month for a round. The course is quiet, the weather's comfortable, and nobody's sweating through their glove on the fifteenth. Just don't believe everything you hear before you arrive.