Investment elevates INFINITUM into one of Spain's top golf clubs

COSTA DORADO, Spain - The first 24 hours after a cross-Atlantic flight can be a dizzying affair.

Landing in Barcelona - one of the world's great cities - tends to take the sting out of any jet lag, though. The rush of adrenaline and excitement of visiting Spain for the first time helped wash away the brain fog of airports and nine-hour time changes.

So did the first stop in Costa Dorada just a short hour's drive south of the city. A night at the H10 Imperial Tarraco Hotel in Tarragona, and a round at INFINITUM the following day kicked off a week-long Spanish golf trip on a high.

INFINITUM has earned a place in European golf's upper echelon by hosting the DP World Tour's annual Q school on its Hills and Lakes courses for the past six years with an agreement signed through 2027. It was good to see one of the good guys win last fall to retain his playing privileges - Edoardo Molinari, 43, a three-time DP World Tour winner and Ryder Cup Vice Captain. I played in an Irish Open pro-am with 'Dodo' a decade. He couldn't have been nicer.  

The same could be said for the H10 Imperial Tarraco Hotel in Tarragona and INFINITUM, which has reinvested heavily to cement its place among Spain's top golf clubs. Eventually, there are plans to build a hotel within INFINITUM, but for now, golfers can stay and play by booking golf packages with nearby hotels like the H10.

When booking a room at the H10 Imperial Tarraco Hotel in Tarragona, be sure to request one on the upper floors. The balcony views soar over the city, nearby ruins of a Roman amphitheater and stretch beyond the beach to the Mediterranean Sea. It's these coastal vistas and sunny weather that cause so many visitors to fall in love with this region of Spain.

We didn't spend much time in the hotel, choosing to explore the ruins and the beach almost minutes after arrival. I walked almost the entire beach listening to conversations I couldn't understand.

That evening my wife, daughter and I explored even higher heights in the hotel, heading to the rooftop to find the pool, a wonderful meal at the tapas bar and one epic sunset. I can't decide if the views are better by day, where you can see everything, or by night when the city's lights shine brightest.

We dined on plates of Spanish delicacies such as glass bread (pan de cristal in Spanish), potato croquettes and octopus, plus beef, fresh fish and tomatoes and more. One sampling of the local beer, Estrella Damm, khocked me out cold for the night.

Course records are safe at a place like INFINITUM, which hosts so many great players. Molinari shot 29-under over five rounds to win Q school. Vince van Veen, another pro who most American golf fans won't recognize, fired the magic number 59 one day.

With only time for one round, I'm glad I choose the Hills course by Alfonso Viador. It's currently undergoing a major bunker renovation project, led by Dave Sampson of Marco Simone fame until early 2026, to enhance the course’s layout and overall playing experience. The back nine is closed first, followed by the front nine.

During my round, the hilly terrain led to some nice scenery and fun golf shots. A handful of holes interact with 30- to 40-foot-high rock walls as backdrops. The 310-yard 18th hole is certainly too short to be a worthy finisher for a tournament that determines the livelihoods of some of Europe's best golfers, but for mid-handicaps like me, it afforded a wonderful opportunity to finish with birdie and a nice photo. The patio of the clubhouse restaurant (the lead photo of this article) provides a nice bird's eye view down to the green for spectators.

The Lakes course, located on much flatter ground, was closed the day I visited for a €800,000 renovation of the bunkers and rerouting some cart paths, among other tweaks. The Greg Norman design hosted the 2022 ISPS Handa Championship won by Pablo Larrazabal. A quick cart tour revealed it to be a technical challenge much like a Florida course with water forcing players to take on risky angles off the tee to be rewarded with shorter approaches into greens. Water comes into play on 14 holes. The clubhouse's Lakeside Bistro is a popular spot for dining.

Norman also designed the Ruins Course, a 2,609-yard par-34 layout that was named the best nine-hole course in Europe at the 2024 World Golf Awards. With three par 3s, one par 5 and no par 4s longer than 366 yards, it's an interesting mix of holes that requires a ball-striking clinic through narrow corridors. It is currently being used as a composite course with nine holes from the Hills until that renovation is completed.

“As our real estate, lifestyle and leisure offering continues to grow at INFINITUM, it’s never been more important to us that our golf courses are held to the same world-class standards," said Joaquín Mora Bertrán, the Deputy General Manager of Golf, Beach Club and F&B at INFINITUM.

The entire INFINITUM neighborhood surrounding the 45 holes is filled with vacation homes, primary residences and apartments. A beach club home to multiple pools and a restaurant, along with a private entrance to the beach for residents, is a wonderful selling point for families.

Ground hasn't been broken yet for the hotel, but whenever it comes to fruition in five or so years, INFINITUM should shoot up the rankings as one of Europe's top golf destinations.