Every round starts on a tee, and the one on Meaztegi hole 1 has something special: it is the first one Severiano Ballesteros drew in Bizkaia. It also kicks off our series of 18 weeks and 18 holes, one signature. It is a par 4 with stroke index 6/3 that asks you to think from the first shot of the day, when your swing is still waking up.
A par 4 to open Seve’s course
The scorecard sums it up in a few figures: par 4, stroke index 6/3 and four tees so every player can choose the one that best fits their game. These are the distances to the green from each one:
- Tee 62: 408 metres
- Tee 60: 396 metres
- Tee 56: 374 metres
- Tee 52: 348 metres
Whichever tee you play from, Meaztegi hole 1 is played the same way: first put the ball on the fairway, then think about the green.
Two fairway bunkers right where the drive lands
The first warning comes early. Between 242 and 260 metres, two bunkers hug the fairway exactly where the drive usually lands. That is why the rule on Meaztegi hole 1 is to measure your tee shot carefully: know how far your ball flies before you pull the club out of the bag.
It is not about hitting harder, but about deciding where you want the ball to stop. With the sand so well placed, the tee is the moment to choose, not to improvise.
A narrow fairway where accuracy rules
From there, the fairway gradually closes in towards the green. It is the kind of decision Seve wrote into his design: here accuracy rules, not distance. A straight, controlled shot is worth more than a few extra metres that end up off the fairway.
For the first hole of the round, it is a lesson worth taking with you to the rest of the course.
A 32-metre green with a bunker on the right
Meaztegi hole 1 finishes on a long green, 32 metres deep, guarded by a bunker on the right. With so much depth, the pin position changes the approach shot a lot, so check where the flag is before choosing your club.
18 holes, one signature: Seve. Save the series, because this has only just begun and the next stop is hole 2.
Frequently asked questions about Meaztegi hole 1
Who designed the first hole of the course?
Severiano Ballesteros. It is the first tee Seve drew in Bizkaia and the starting point of a course that carries his signature on all 18 holes.
Which hole comes next in the series?
Hole 2. The series travels around Seve’s course over 18 weeks, one hole at a time.
Where can I check the rest of the holes?
The hole-by-hole guide to the course has the detail of every hole so you can prepare your strategy before you head out.