La Dehesa Golf Course

La Dehesa Golf Course opened in 1992 in Villanueva de la Cañada, designed by Manuel Piñero, a member of Spain's Ryder Cup-winning team of 1985. Twenty-eight kilometres from central Madrid, it was built with a clear brief: a course competitive enough for serious play, but built in balance with the land around it rather than against it. It remains a members' club, though one of the relatively few in the Madrid area that also welcomes outside visitors.

The course splits cleanly in two. The front nine runs alongside the Río Aulencia through tougher, more technical terrain, demanding precision over the whole loop. The back nine opens out into a more forgiving stretch, still testing but considerably more accessible for players finding their rhythm. Poplars, oaks, olive trees, and pines line the round throughout, and the large greens and carefully placed bunkers do most of the defensive work rather than punishing terrain.

Facilities include a driving range and locker rooms, set within a genuinely family-oriented club. Book ahead for a technical, well-shaped round in a quiet corner of Madrid's outskirts.