How to Play Roda Golf's Signature Holes: A Local's Hole-by-Hole Guide

Which Roda Golf hole do you remember after the round? Not the one where you made a tidy par and moved on. I mean the one that still annoys you at the bar, three cañas later. After years of living a short drive from the resort, I've got my list. And I've got opinions about which holes are better fun versus which ones are better for your scorecard.

So instead of a dull tour of all eighteen, I'm comparing the signature holes against each other. Water against wind, risk against reward. I'll tell you which I'd play safe and which I'd go for. For the full course picture, have a look at our Roda Golf course information.

The Water Holes: Pretty, Punishing, and Worth the Gamble

Roda sits right beside the Mar Menor, and the course never lets you forget it. Lakes and water hazards come into play on a good few holes, and the breeze off the lagoon can turn a comfortable 8-iron into a coin toss.

The pros

These are the holes you'll photograph. On a clear October morning the light is soft, the sky is huge, and the flat water behind the greens looks lovely. They also reward a clear head. Pick your target, commit, and you'll walk off smiling.

The cons

They eat balls. Honestly, I've donated a small sleeve to the water over the years. The trouble is that water makes everyone get greedy or get tense, and both ruin a swing. If you're having a scruffy day, you'll feel it most here.

My verdict: play these for position, not heroics. Take one more club than you think when the wind is up, and aim for the fat part of the green. A boring par beats a heroic splash every time. I say this as a man who ignores his own advice roughly half the time.

The Wind Holes: Where Your Scorecard Goes to Argue

Now for the other kind of signature hole. These have no dramatic water, just open ground and a breeze that makes up its own mind. Autumn brings that levante and poniente variety, and you'll often find the wind swings round halfway through a round, so the same hole plays differently on the way out and the way back.

The pros

They're honest. No tricks, no hidden hazards, just you and the conditions. Good shot-makers love them, because a low, controlled ball flight really pays off. They're also easier on the ball supply.

The cons

They can feel flat in terms of drama, and a bad wind day makes them a grind. If you're a high-ball hitter, expect a humbling. Don't take it personally, the wind is rude to everybody.

My verdict: I rate these as the better test, but the water holes make the better stories. If I'm choosing a round to improve my game, it's the windy holes. If I'm choosing a round to tell mates about, it's the water. Nobody ever boasted about a punched 6-iron into a crosswind, though they should.

Risk or Reward: How I'd Play Them in October

October is a lovely time on the course. Temperatures sit comfortably in the low to mid twenties, the crowds thin out, and the light is gentle enough that you won't be wilting by the back nine. Early mornings can be damp though, so greens may run a touch slower and the ball won't roll out as far on the fairways. Allow for it.

Here's how I'd split it up:

• Short and tricky holes: play safe. Lay up to your favourite wedge distance and let the short game do the work.
• Long and open holes: swing freely. There's room to miss, so use it.
• Anything with water on the approach: pick the bigger club and take the middle of the green.

If you're staying nearby, the holiday rentals near Roda Golf make an early tee time easy, because you can be on the first tee in minutes with coffee still in hand. And afterwards, a plate of tapas in Los Alcázares or a chiringuito lunch in Santiago de la Ribera is the proper reward, whatever you shot. I'd happily trade a bad round for a good plate of local prawns and a cold beer by the Mar Menor.

So Which Signature Holes Win?

If you want my honest preference: the water holes for the memories, the wind holes for the golf. Mix both in a single round and Roda gives you a proper day out, which is rare enough on a resort course.

Planning a trip and want local tips on where to stay or where to eat afterwards? Have a read of our guide to the Los Alcázares and Mar Menor area, or get in touch and I'll point you in the right direction. Just don't ask me about my score.