February 2014

Oller del Mas, Manresa, Catalonia

In the shadow of the impressive mountain of Montserrat, lies Mas Oller Pitch and Putt. It's a wide course featuring gentle slopes and a large lake. The 18 holes of the FCPP course range from 64 to 120 metres, for a total of 1,590 metres.

It has a school, with classes and courses for aspiring Pitch and Putt players. There's a children's playground next to the terrace. The Bar/Restaurant boasts a very reasonable Menu - EUR10 weekdays and EUR15 weekends.

Hole 1 sweeps 73 metres downhill to a big green, guarded by a large bunker front left and a lake just behind the green. The hole needs to be approached with plenty of respect. The 64 metre fourth is a very tight pitching assignment with a ditch close to the right side of the fairway and to the small green.

The course has a putting green, a practice bunker and an adjacent driving range of 250 metres with 15 tees teeing areas.

Water is in the player's eye line on the 16th but it should not impact the long downhill pitch to a sloping green, protected by sand right front right and back right.

The 8th (78 metres) and 17th holes (75 metres) cross the lake in reverse directions. Not for the fainthearted! The home hole (18th) plays 67 metres straight uphill to the clubhouse.

Telephone the course on 938 352 882. Course address is: Carretera d'Igualada, km. 15'6, 08240 Manresa.

GPS Coordinates are 41º42'15" N 1º47'49" E. Director is Marta Sanvicente. Teacher is Xavier Batlle. Greenkeeper is Xavier Vila.

(Special thanks to Quim Riera for the information provided for this article).