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St Andrews Meets an ‘Arabian Nights’ Oasis

By Tracey Davies

With its spectacular year round climate and easy accessibility from mainland Europe, it’s only a matter of time before Tenerife rivals the 5 star golf resorts of Dubai. Could Tenerife be on the cusp of a European tourism revolution?

By night, Tenerife’s, Playa de las Americas, is a sight I will never forget, however hard I try. My first introduction to the island is strangely theatrical, with a cast of aged ‘ladies of the night’ and Union Jack-clad, lager-infused 18 year olds playing out their scenes to a backdrop of Irish theme pubs, ‘authentic’ English bars and Aberdeen Angus Steakhouses. I seem to have arrived during a period of flux, on an island that will soon be home to a golf resort and spa that aims to change the face of tourism in Europe.

Just 15 minutes from ‘Las Americas’, with the infinite blue of the Atlantic ocean to the south and the snow-tipped volcano, Mount Teide to the north, a dusky red fort beckons in the distance, shimmering in the heat of this bright March day. This oasis, the Abama Gran Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, known to the locals simply as Abama, is due to open July 2005 and heralds a new age of tourism in Europe.

Abama is located in Guía de Isora, on the east coast of which is the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands. Tenerife, ‘the island of the eternal spring’, has an average temperature of 22°, rare rainfall, and at around 4 hours or less flight time from most European destinations, it is the ideal location for a resort of this calibre.

The Abama uber-resort is the concept of Tenerife’s Mr Big, Javier Bernal, backed by Grupo Tropical Hoteles which has as its President, Ignacio, the son of Jesus De Polanco, Spanish media tycoon and owner of top newspaper El Pais.

Immense pressure is on Abama to perform, bowed under the expectation borne of ten years of planning, two years of hard graft and, to date, over 200 million euros.

With just months until opening day, the builders are on a fast-track to get it finished in time. Melvin Villaroel, the South American architect famed for his timeless vision, has been influenced largely by the Middle East, which is ironic as Abama takes its cue from the golf resorts of Dubai, Abama’s just bigger and better. The main hotel has been designed to emulate an Arabian citadel, its dusty, dull-coral shades look ever opulent in contrast to the cobalt blue of the Atlantic ocean. Although, my tour of the site this morning it’s more hard-hat than bikini, you can visualise the grandeur of Villaroel’s conception.

At the heart of every citadel is the meeting place, at Abama it will be occupied by middle-eastern souks, bars and in vogue restaurants. At present, it’s a sandy red shell, but it is easy to envisage a lively mix of Europe’s société drinking in bars hosted by inventive mixologists, shopping at souk-influenced designer boutiques, and dining on the finest fare prepared by Michelin starred chefs.

The Sand Arch, a two-storey ‘hole’ in the citadel, overlooks the sea, and is designed to perfectly frame the melting sunsets.

The entire site romps three and half kilometres down a volcanic mountainside, before dipping into a private, imported white sand, beach. Abama will host its own marina, dive school and water sports centre. The way to get around this vast volcanic haven, will be by specially designed golf buggies, where a quick call will have you transported from one end of paradise to the other.

Without a doubt the biggest lure to Abama will be the 18 hole par 72 professional golf course. The course is designed by Dave Thomas, the four times Ryder Cup team member, whose creative accolades include one of Britain’s finest courses, The Belfry as well as the famed Andalucian course, San Roque.

We drive around the lush, green carpets of finished golf course, in cream golf buggies fitted with GPS tracking technology. Each of the 18 holes is a glorious pattern of imaginative design, catering both for the high handicap, but also offering a challenge for any professional player. The view from many holes is of La Gomera, Tenerife’s neighbouring island and is a view splendid enough to put anyone off their stroke.

In addition to the main 18 hole course, there is a 9 hole course, 3 holes for par 3 practice, 3 putting greens, a practice field and a pitching green. Both beginners and experienced can perfect their pitch with lessons from the professionals at the Golf school. Those seeking variety can also fly by helicopter to play on Frank Olsen’s 18 hole course on the raw plains of La Gomera. Abama’s golf course has been purposely designed to establish itself as a host for international tournaments, with the first anticipated for later this year.

Abama will also offer plenty of distractions for the golf widow, including a pro-tennis school, an array of treatments and therapies on offer at the spa centre, including a macrobiotic restaurant, horse-riding, water-sports, nature trails and shopping.

Come July, and Abama’s grand opening, guests will be driven through a guard of palm tree honour into this mythical land, leaving the world and its cares behind. By the time guests arrive at the dusky red fort via the peaceful, lake-dotted greens, overlooked by Mount Teide, they will have forgotten that the theme pubs and emporium’s of ‘Las Americas’ are on the same planet, let alone the same island.

Look out Dubai, with Abama, Tenerife is treading on your toes, and with a far friendlier flight time, the year round perfect climate and exclusive 5 star plus luxury, perhaps Europe is the future of elite tourism? Watch this space…

Contact Tracey Davies

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