Islantilla a golf and beach resort par excellence
Islantilla
Islantilla is a beach and golf resort which has been created in partnership between the council of Lepe and Isla Cristina in the region of Huelva, Costa de la Luz in southwestern Spain. The partnership was made in 1991 with the goal of being one of the leading resorts in the province of Huelva. Located between the beach Urbasur West and La Antilla. The name Islantilla is a combination of Isla Cristina La Antilla. In 2010 there were 1261 inhabitants in winter, but in summer the population reaches upto 100,000.
The land was farmland with a few farms in the lowlands. Flooded by rain in winter the farms haven´t been productive and were often abandoned.
The expansion can be divided into three phase. The first phase ends in 1992 when the first hotel has been finished. (Confortel a 4-star hotel with the capital of the ONCE Foundation). Same time a golf course with 27 holes was opened, and the first apartments have been build next to the golf area. In the first phase a shopping center in rustic style on the beach was build. In the second phase in the next decade, the project was fully developed with new hotels (4 and 5 stars), villas and apartment developments, expansion of the golf facilities and a new shopping center in the upper area of Islantilla. The 3rd phase is to expand outside the original planning area in the north of Islantilla. The project is approved by the General Plan of Isla Cristina in 2008.
The beaches of Islantilla have showers and a summer sailing school. There are bars along the promenade. The width of the beaches is variable, depending on the season and the damage that may result from winter storms. The beach is certified with the Q for Quality mark and every year until 2009 the Blue Flag awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education
The 27 hole golf course was designed by Enrique Canales and Luis Recasens and occupies 300ha. The plans are to include an Olympic training village, equestrian center, marina, casino and residential facilities for 22,000 people. The course has large greens and lovely ondulated fairways and is very challenging. The Clubhouse is Andalusian styled with an Arabic touch. In 1995 the Andalucian Open Tour España took place in Islantilla and has been won by the German Alexander Cejka.3