Category Archives: FULL REPORTS

Roda Beach Club - July 2008 - Part 2!

Gallery and two movies! We can't keep away from the Roda Golf Beach Club! With the weather as perfect as it has been lately, we found an excuse for another visit, and this time we took our photographer. We also shot a couple of little videos for you. Although we freely admit we are not video experts, we think that the videos give a really insight into what it is actually like in and around the beach club, so for that reason we include them for you. Click here to see the gallery, watch both videos and optionally leave a comment! Read this article, and optionally leave a comment

We can't keep away from the Roda Golf Beach Club in La Manga! With the weather as perfect as it has been lately, we found an excuse for another visit, and this time we took our photographer. We also shot a couple of little videos for you. Although we freely admit we are not video experts, we think that the videos give a really insight into what it is actually like in and around the beach club, so for that reason we include them for you.

We visited the club on a Monday, so it was pretty quiet, although some people were in evidence around the pool. We also saw a few people covered in mud on the beach. the local mud is said to have therapeutic properties

The staff were extremely helpful. The young lady in reception took the time to explain a little of the history of the club, and how the unusual building had originally been constructed for a top minister in Franco's government. She also took the time to translate the restaurant menu into English (we'll publish it soon) and showed us around the entire complex

On the ground floor you will find the main entrance, and walking through to the beach side you pass the bathrooms and the elegant and modern spiral staircase to the first floor. As you leave the reception area you emerge between the bar (on your left) and the restaurant to your right. Both areas are fabulously modern and clean. The shining white floor emphasising the white table linen. The glass doors which encompass the entire area where retracted, and a light breeze flowed through the entire club. We haven't visited during the evening yet, but it must be an extremely attractive and romantic place to take dinner.

As one leaves the rear of the beach club through the vast sliding glass doors the beach is of course directly in front, and the sea just a few meters away. there are stylish loungers arranged on the beach. Walking around to the left we find the pool area just next to the outdoor bar seating. The outdoor bar tables had bar menus, and the snacks and drinks seemed reasonably priced (there are pictures of the menu in the gallery and full size (very readable) on our Flickr page here). The pool area is splendid, and has ample loungers. We hear from Roda that entrance numbers are strictly limited, so we are sure the pool shouldn't get overcrowded

Heading back inside, we crossed the bar and restaurant area and headed up the spiral stairs to the first floor. What a stylish area! there are six stunning day beds arranged in the central area, affording magnificent views out over the Mediterranean. Whilst to the the left is a table and chairs. Around the corner to the right is a small alcove with a sofa and chairs. We noticed a dumb waiter here to, ready to send up a couple of cocktails before dinner we imagine! The whole upstairs area, is surrounded by glass, and many doors lead outside onto the veranda. Walking around afforded more lovely views of the sea, and across the pool area.

All in all the Roda Golf Beach Club is a modern and attractive place to be. Whether for a swim and mud bath, or as an evening detination for a romantic dinner. Do yourself a favour and check it out for yourselves!


Roda Golf Beach Club - July 2008 - PartII


A "walkthrough" of the Roda Beach Club...

FULL REPORT and gallery - The Roda Beach Club - June 2008

Here we are in June already! The sun is shining, and the builders are really cracking on over at the Roda Golf and Beach Resort Beach Club! We were there three days ago with our photographer! You will not believe the changes! Click here to see just how far the Beach Club has come! See the gallery and optionally leave a comment! Read this article, and optionally leave a comment

We are very excited to provide you all with the very latest and up-to-date pictures of the Roda Golf beach club which is set to open in July.

The amount of work that has been undertaken since our last visit is just incredible, we at Roda Golf Info did not believe they would be ready by July, however the place has undergone a complete transformation.

All the beaches are now immaculate, there was even a beach sweeper cleaning the beach as we were there. Most of the gardens are now in place and they were busy planting all the various shrubs and plants during our visit. The swimming pool was looking fantastic and was being filled before our eyes.

The style and quality of the building itself was absolutely phenomenal, the various bars are now ready with beer pumps in place (excellent news!) the open plan kitchens, in a similar style to the kitchen at the Roda Golf clubhouse have also been installed. Most of the terraces and walkways throughout the beach club have now been completed - whilst there is still lots of work to go, the place look just incredible!

The remaining work seems to be mostly just "tidying up", other than that everything seems pretty complete.

They have about fifty sliding glass doors that fold back on to themselves which bring the outside in, or the inside out, not quite sure, but is just an amazing feature. There is so much glass upstairs and downstairs that you get the feeling of being outside even if you are inside, it all looks so light and airy, which of course it is, and the views over the Mediterranean Sea from all parts of the beach club is fantastic.

Yet again Calidona have exceeded all of our expectations, yes we have to wait a little longer for this fantastic facility, but the great news, it is here now and WOW! are you going to enjoy it.

We hope you enjoy these latest pictures and this update, if there is anything we can do for you, or you world like to see on this web site, please just let us know.

FULL REPORT & gallery from our latest visit on 23rd May ‘08!

Here we go again! Sorry we are a little late with the update this month, but the good news is we have more photos than ever of Roda Golf and Beach Resort for you to enjoy. We have EIGHTY high resolution, stunning pictures, showing all the phases, and all the latest developments at Roda Golf. Click here to read the full article, see the incredible gallery and optionally leave a comment! Read this article, and optionally leave a comment

Here we go again! Sorry we are a little late with the update this month, but the good news is we have more photos than ever of Roda Golf and Beach Resort for you to enjoy. We have EIGHTY high resolution, stunning pictures, showing all the phases, and all the latest developments at Roda Golf.

We start the tour in Phase 1, where our photographer couldn't help but focus on the flourishing plants and flowers. Phase one really is "coming alive"! It was a stunning day at the end of May, and with the scent of rosemary in the air and the sun above, it really is an idyllic setting. The water features are blending in nicely now, and help give Phase 1 a totally different atmosphere from the other phases. Phase one is a little more "crowded" than the others perhaps, but it also has a really pleasant atmosphere. We're sure it will prove shady and cool during the hot Summer months. On exiting the housing area we crossed over the road a took few pictures of the commercial area construction site. Trucks were driving in and out. It looks like all the foundations are dug. We are anxious to see them start to build. The De Vere hotel and accompanying buildings are sure to enhance the whole site.

Moving on to Phase 2 we noticed quite a few people around the place. Again, you can't help but feel that the whole of Roda Golf is "coming to life". People were in the pools, and sunbathing. Some were resting on their terraces, or enjoying an early beer. The course itself was full, but today we were concentrating our photography inside the housing areas.

We came around the upper edge of the development and into Phase 4, an area we know that a lot of our readers take a keen interest. Work was going on and we could see significant changes since our last visit. One photo was from almost the exact same angle as a shot we took three months ago. Our photographer is preparing an "overlay" which we'd like to feature in a few days, showing EXACTLY what has changed on the villas of phase 4! We took multiple pictures of all the building work. And don't forget these pictures are available on our Flickr page as VERY HIGH resolution shots. When viewed at "actual size" one can zoom right into the individual villas. Can you see yours?

We continued round to Phase 3, where the "B" properties were also being completed. Work was going on as we watched.
We also noted many more cars than we've noticed before. Another sign that people are "moving in" in greater and greater numbers.

After all that work we had earned a spot of lunch down at the beach, and we include some photos! It was a superb day, and the beach was full. Beautiful May weather!

We hope you enjoyed the tour, and are taking heart from the construction photos that prove that Roda Golf and Beach Resort is getting there! It's along haul, but it is going to be worth it :)

 

Visit and full report - Roda Golf Beach Club

We have had a large number of requests for this report, with updated pictures from our regular visitors, who are growing increasingly fed up with the negative posts on a few "independent" forums out there about the beach club at Roda Golf and Beach Resort. This report has 30, COMPLETELY UP TO DATE and massive size pictures too! Click here to read the full article, see the gallery and optionally leave a comment! Read this article, and optionally leave a comment

Work going on! A lot of it! -  Click to enlarge
Work going on! A lot of it! - Click to enlarge

Photo gallery is below this report! Hover over it for controls, click it for descriptions. Or go straight to the Flickr set for high resolution views!

We have had a large number of requests for this report, with updated pictures from our regular visitors, who are growing increasingly fed up with the negative posts on a few "independent" forums out there about the beach club at Roda Golf.

We visited the Roda Golf beach club on Friday 25th April and were very pleasantly surprised at the amount of work that has currently been completed, also the amount of work under construction, there were about 25 men working. Only a couple had decided it was too hot and were enjoying what looked like a well earned "siesta" under one of the beautiful palm trees!

The Roda Golf and Beach Resort beach club is progressing nicely, the location is fantastic, for those of you who have not been lucky enough to visit the area, you are in for a very pleasant surprise.

There was a massive amount of work to be done but due to owner pressure, the beach club was opened last year with a very limited service, it looked nice and was a pleasant alternative to the local beaches in Los Alcazares. However, for it to be considered a 5 star beach club, which is what you all want, the building needed to be taken back to the bare structure, well that has happened in the closed season.

You must also remember that now that the new clubhouse has been completed and opened, with huge success I might add, (see our roda golf clubhouse post here) there are more men available for work on the beach club.

There has been lots of new steel added, as well as a new floor for the upstairs. A number of internal walls have been removed, and all the area outside has been cleared. There are lots of building materials laying around, however they will all be used in due course.

The beaches have been swept and all the beach debris has been removed, we actually watched a couple of trucks taking it away whilst we were there.

The Beach Club pool - Neglected...for now! -  Click to enlarge
The Beach Club pool - Neglected...for now! - Click to enlarge

The swimming pool has clearly been neglected, obviously as nobody has been using it for about 10 months, it looks like nobody has cleaned it in that time either, this pool will take just a week or 2 at most to be restored to it's former glory, but it has the potential to be spectacular, what with it being only 40 paces to the Mediterranean sea from the pool!

The gardens again have the potential to be superb, it is a massive area with loads of room to simply lounge around and relax whilst you decide, "is it the pool or the sea"? Not a bad choice, we call that a "win win" situation! :)

We were lucky enough to meet some new owners who had just purchased this week, they were checking out the location and the planned facilities for the first time, Matt and Rachel and their 14 week old daughter Macy from Porthcawl, South Wales. They absolutely loved the place! Matt, who own his own magazine, "Seaside News", commented that even though the place was a mess, he could see the potential for one of the nicest facilities he has ever seen.

Matt who loves to surf, and has travelled the world in pursuit of that elusive monster wave said, "the peace and quiet here, and the natural beauty of this area is just fantastic and we can't wait to use the beach club".

Nice one Matt, thanks for your time. We hope you and the family had a safe trip home.

In our opinion, this beach club is going to be awesome. We have always felt that, and if the new Roda Golf clubhouse is anything to go by, I think we will be right. The planned opening is the last week of June, which is when all the water parks in the area open, so nothing strange there. Be patient and get ready to be wowed, because even though there have been considerable delays, Calidona so far are exceeding everybody's expectations with the finished product.

We hope you enjoy these most up to date photos of the beach club, please feel free to leave a comment or request any further information.

Look out for our next news item coming soon, and remember, you can click the gallery for descriptions of each photo!

FULL REPORT & gallery from our latest visit on 3rd April '08!

This week our friends at Calida International Properties visited the Roda site and, again, took a professional photographer with them! The result was a FULL REPORT and a gallery of forty-seven images! This post has the full gallery and a complete write up of the findings of our inspection. Click here to read the full article, see the gallery, and optionally leave a comment! Read this article, and optionally leave a comment

Welcome to the full April report with completely new, and completely up to date photos! We concentrated this month on providing views of the properties from the golf course. The very kind people at the De Vere clubhouse loaned us a buggy for a couple of hours, which we used to tour the course, starting up the 10th fairway, moving all the way around the proposed phase 5 area, moving on to phase 4, then down past the 17th green and 18th tee and fairway to have a look at phase 3 and then on to the front 9.

Please be aware that these photos are also available to view on our Flickr page. It really is worth visiting our Flickr page because the images there are available there at absolutely HUGE sizes! (More than 6000 pixels wide!) You can zoom in to find your own house! Just write in if you need help using Flickr. And now onto the gallery. Please just hover over the gallery area to access the controls, and if you click a picture a detailed description will appear! The full report is below the gallery:

Our Roda Golf and Beach Resort full April report

The Roda golf course was looking fantastic as usual, there were lots of players out there, some playing some great golf, others just enjoying the day out. We stopped for a brief chat with a few groups just to get their opinions on the golf course and Roda Golf generally, without exception, everybody thought it looked fantastic and they were enjoying the golf course very much.

There was one particular "4 ball" who were not owners, however they were so impressed that they were looking for property to purchase at the resort, that has to be great news and we expect that will start to happen more and more as each phase comes on-line.

A big thank you to all the golfers who gave us a few moments of their time, much appreciated.

The views of the properties and the completed phases looked great from the golf course side, the front line villas in particular with the swimming pools are very impressive, particularly when you see the owners enjoying their lunch and a glass of wine or two, whilst watching the golfers at the same time, the resort really is starting to "come to life"!

The Roda fairways are in almost perfect condition and the greens are now as fast as we have seen them, not quite Augusta and the Masters standard, but fast none the less, the one thing that separates the golf course at Roda Golf from the other golf courses in the region is the attention to detail and the manicuring around the course, that is down to the world class experience that Mike Maloney from De Vere and his team bring to the project.

There is still no sign of the apartments on phase 4 being started, albeit there is now considerable work on the front line golf villas, phase 3 A is looking fantastic and lots of owners have now completed over there and phase 3 B looks all set to be delivered about August / September time. We know there have been considerable delays, but I think everybody will agree it has been worth it, Calidona really are delivering a world class resort.

We have reported before on the opening on the clubhouse and it would appear that we got our dates for the official opening incorrect, my advice to everybody is get ready to enjoy the sensational facilities at the clubhouse sooner rather than later, for those who have visited the new clubhouse, I think you will al agree it looks incredible, for those of you still to visit and see the facilities, you are in for a real treat.

The fully renovated beach club will be ready with a full service for the Summer, we will have a special report on that in the near future, if there are any questions regarding any of the above, please write in and we will be happy to provide as much information as possible.

We met a lot of people who were renting properties for the first time at the Roda Golf and Beach Resort, this was also very good news for those people looking to rent their properties out and start getting a return on their investment.

Please remember, if you are planning to rent out your property, make sure you have a professional property management company looking after your property and your guests, this is the best way to guarantee that they come back next year, you really do need so much more than just a "key holding" service, our sponsors over at Calida International Properties will be very happy to help and assist in any way they can.

I hope you enjoy our latest set of photos and in a day or two we we publish the virtual reality view from the par 3, 11th green!

Full report and gallery from our latest visit on 5th March '08!

This week our friends at Calida International Properties visited the Roda site and took a professional photographer with them! The result was a FULL REPORT and a gallery of more than thirty images, showing the state of construction and much more! Tomorrow we will also publish the virtual panoramas that the photographer made while he was there, allowing you to look around for yourself! This post has the full gallery and a complete write up of the findings of our inspection. Click here to read the full article, see the gallery and optionally leave a comment! Read this article, and optionally leave a comment

Here's a gallery of pictures that we took when we were on the site this week. Please just hover over the gallery area to access the controls, and if you click a picture a detailed description will appear! If you want to see any of these images in super large sizes and with detailed descriptions, then please head over to our Flickr page here. Our full report is below the gallery. Happy reading!


Introduction

We visited Roda Golf resort on March 5th 2008, we were very impressed with the resort generally, we are aware that the are delays and that there are snagging issues, also that individual owners have a number of concerns that are unique to them, however for our first report on this new information site, we are going to be informative, positive, honest and generally upbeat, I think that is what most of you would prefer, so here goes.

Main Entrance

Our first impression of the main entrance, the Roda sign and the general appearance was very positive, very clean looking, very neat and tidy, lot's of people wandering around, plenty of golfers and of course the sales office was busy, which is a good thing, as was the golf course, not a bad start, all in all.

Phase 1

Phase 1 looks great, all the plants have really started to mature, the communal gardens and pool area's look just wonderful, we don't think it looks great with the "for sale" or "se vende" signs on the outside of the houses and apartments, the same goes for the "for rent" signs, owners are unlikely to attract any interest from signs on the properties, there are so many websites advertising sales, also so many agents out there, the only people to benefit is free advertising for agency's who probably sold the property in the first place, with the promise of sell before completion, I also think these owners are in breach of community rules, we would advise you check on this.

Overall phase 1 is looking great and as we stated earlier, we are aware that there are some outstanding issues, these will be raised in later reports.

Phase 2

Again, we were very impressed with the progress, most properties have now been handed over and communal area's and swimming pools looked great, by the end of the summer, lot's more green area's and the plants and shrubs will have grown and phase 2 will be beautiful.

We took some pictures at the end of phase 2, next to the proposed phase 5 location, there are some great photo's and a panorama shot which we think looks great, the owners over there have some free advertising for their communal area and apartments, should tempt potential renters.

Steven Devadics and Kevin Nicholson from Newcastle, both have apartments in this area and they absolutely love them, they are both enjoying rental success and they only completed just before christmas, these 2 characters can regularly be seen playing darts in "Henry's bar" in the 525 plaza.

Generally phase 2 is completed, just some remedial work on the gardens and the obligatory snagging, but very impressed.

Phase 3

This phase is very exciting, simply because it has taken so long to get to this point, it is very spacious and the whole phase lends itself to outdoors living with lot's of rest and relaxation, which I am quite certain you all deserve very much.

We have concentrated on this phase, simply because the other 2 phases have been around for a while and you have all seen the existing batch of updated photo's which regularly find they way on to your own individual websites or the "eye on Spain" site, the difference between this site and the "eye on Spain" site, is that this is purely for Roda Golf owners and their guests, this site is here for you folks to enjoy and have your say!

The apartment blocks on phase 3 are very well spaced out with fantastic views of the golf course from most apartments, particularly the first floor and of course the penthouse apartments.

Part A of phase 3 is currently being handed over to owners and the ones we have spoken to are very happy, Steve and Nikki Sutton of Bridgend, South Wales were "over the moon" with their first floor apartment, they are due to complete any day, the snagging revealed no real problems and they can not wait to move in, good luck folks, enjoy your new home.

There are some unique properties on this phase, the "second line" semi-detached, 3 bedroom "finca" villa's looked fantastic, we really like these properties and the communal area's and walkways between these properties and the apartments were an absolute joy to walk through.

There is still some way to go, but after a comprehensive walk through phase 3, part A, we feel that by the end of the summer, this part of the Roda Golf resort will look fantastic, a lot more railings have been used over on phase 3, we have noticed that a lot of you would prefer that, it would appear that the developer is listening to you folks, particularly with the more constructive and balanced suggestions.

Overall, phase 3 is going to be superb, looks great, but will be fantastic, phase 3 part B still some way off, possibly by the end of the year, maybe sooner?

Possible downside of phase 3, furthest away from all amenities, no access across the golf course, get yourselves a golf buggy for travelling around resort, about 3,000 euros for a really nice one.

Phase 4

I know a lot of you are very frustrated about the lack of progress over on phase 4, we have taken just one picture here, you can clearly see that considerable work has been started on the villa's, no work on the apartments, building licenses still not in place, however as soon as we hear anything we will post on this site.

All the excavatition work has been done for the apartment blocks, all infrastructure is in place, lot's of play area's for the kids, all roads, pavements and walking area's completed, phase 4 will invariably be stunning, be patient folks, stick with it, I know you are getting fed up, it will be superb.

Golf Course

The golf course is fantastic, so much harder than we all thought it woiuld be, but still friendly enough for the high handicap golfer, there is a celeb / am event being proposed for Sept / Oct this year, we will keep you informed as we get the final details.

A number of professional events have already taken place here, not on the professional PGA tour of course, but still high profile events, which are starting to get the Roda Golf Resort the reputation you all want it to have

When playing the course, you should all respect other players, call players through at all times if you are a bit slow and respect the etiquette at all times, replace all divots and don't forget to repair pitch marks, this is your course remember, also all the very best of luck on the par 3, 7th hole to an island green, the Dave Thomas signature hole is brilliant, but with the wind, it can be a real test and don't forget to have a go for the 18th green in 2, but carry spare balls in case!!

New Clubhouse

We took plenty of pictures here, this is the nicest golf clubhouse I think I have ever seen, the facilities are fantatsic, the views, the furnishings, all top quality and beautifully laid out, when this clubhouse opens, you will all agree it has been worth the wait, the propsed opening for the new De Vere Roda Clubhouse is still March sometime, please watch this space.

The new PGA academy is now open, again fantastic facilities, beautiful training bays and the driving range is floodlit, you will enjoy this folks, full prices available on this website and Roda Golf's own site, also full info available in the pro shop.

I hope you enjoy reading these comments and observations, whilst we have tried to be impartial and simply be informative, it was difficult not to offer opinions, we think Roda Golf and Beach Resort is fantastic, there are problems, but nothing too major and we believe that this will be one of the nicest golf and beach resorts in Europe.

Please feel free to offer any comments, please be gentle with us, we are doing this for your benefit, we are not associated with the developer or De Vere in any way.

As soon as we have more information, we will post straight away, you can also help us with any information.