Golf in the Costa del Sol

Ranked No.1 golf destination in Europe the Costa del Golf which has now become the new name for the region is the most visited region for golfing holidays in Europe. Pre booking your tee times is advised due to the huge amount of golfers living and holidaying on the Costa del sol. The peak season for golf is September to May because of the easy temperatures in the winter and whilst the rest of Europe is fighting the traditional winter blues. Golfers are advised to bring their latest score cards and handicap certificate due to the fact some courses may demand these before you play.

"Everything under the sun" - For most visitors to Spain this is the reason why they come, again and again, to this beautiful part of the world. Spain is Continental Europe´s leading golf destination, and the Costa del Sol alone has almost 40 courses and most of full championship status. With several of those courses in Marbella - and others on the drawing board - it is easy to understand why such celebrities as Sean Connery, Kevin Keegan and Franz Beckenbauer have found a second home on the "Costa del Golf". And it is also clear why Costa-based professional stars including Miguel Angel Jimenez and Per-Ulrik Johansson have shone on the European and international stage.

Below are a list of the best Golf Courses on the Costa del Sol:

To view full course details and book tee times directly simply copy the golf course name into the box below to find the golf course website (For example type in: Marbella Golf & Country Club)

Anoreta Golf (Malaga) - A course which suits all players, demanding from the first tee but with easy-to-play fairways, fast and rolling greens, some well protected by bunkers; water obstacles on the course. All in all, it is a varied and pleasant round.

The Club de Golf El Candado (Malaga) - is well know amongst all professionals of the Costa del Sol. It is a fairly short course of 2362 meters, situated in a small valley. It has a rather difficult hilly design with substantial level differences and challenging greens. Offering horse riding, sailing and tennis , you will enjoy the friendly atmosphere of this Club, where clubs and carts are available as well as the advise of its professional, M.L. Rodriguez, and the services of the bar-restaurant.

Guadalhorce Club de Golf - Its friendly family atmosphere is probably the main feature of this course. Located at 7 km from Málaga International Airport and inaugurated in 1990, it offers many additional features such as pools, tennis courts, paddle tennis, saunas and recreation areas. The design by Kosti Kuronen, clearly splits the course in two. The first nine has an English "parkland" type design, whereas the second has more elevated greens and hillier fairways, making play a little more difficult.

Rio Club de Campo de Malaga - This course is full of history as this is where the pioneers of golf in Andalucía hit their first strokes. After its almost seventy years of existence, this course, as well as its installations and facilities, have been kept in top condition. It is situated only one kilometre from the international airport of Málaga and borders directly on the beach. The golf course is linked with natural lagoons formed by sea water and part parkland where the holes form avenues between stand of well established trees, running alongside the beach. Although the course is flat with wide fairways, the trees make things more difficult. The 12th hole is a good example of lurking danger with its stand of trees to the right which requires a perfect drive to reach the green in two.

Golf Torrequebrada - is situated between the Mediterranean sea and the mountains. It is rich in tropical vegetation and birds. The large number of lakes and strategic placed bunkers make every hole a different experience for the player.

Mijas Golf International - boasts two 18 hole courses. Los Lagos is a mainly flat course with wide fairways and fast, small greens, suitable for more demanding players. Los Lagos is a mainly flat course with wide fairways and fast, small greens, suitable for more demanding players.

Alhaurin Golf - This course can be found in Alhaurín el Grande, just behind the Mijas mountain range. It is a new course, with a view of Severiano Ballesteros and is particularly attractive because of its bright green fairways amidst the mountains and the natural dark green vegetation. Its main characteristic is its hilly design as it is largely adapted to the natural form of the surroundings.

La Cala Resort (Mijas) - La Cala Resort offers two golf courses in the mountains surrounding a 'cortijo'-style club house and a 5-star hotel. David Leabetter's renowned Academy is also housed here. The special arrangement of some of their greens, located in high platforms, American style, hinders the possibility of a good hit to keep within the limits. Some of their undulating fairways may also add problems to the players. An interesting and difficult course, with very diversified tees in each hole, offers different shot angles for the drive.

Miraflores Club (Mijas) - For a complete golfing day, there is nowhere better than Miraflores Golf, at Mijas Costa in southern Spain. Not only does Miraflores Golf offer 18 fine holes, but also the most comprehensive Golf Academy in southern Spain, with 28 covered bays, pitching and putting green and an extensive golf shop, club fitting centre, and cafeteria. The golf clubhouse is the social centre of the Club, and members and visitors alike can enjoy gourmet food or a relaxing drink at competitive prices, and also take part in social events and competitions.

Club de Golf La Siesta (Mijas) - modest course of 9 holes (Par 3). The distance from the tees to the greens change considerably, and although it is a short course, ideal for short play, you have the feeling of playing on a much wider ground. The course is not too difficult. The 7th hole can be played with a wood club to reach the green. There are wonderful views of the Mediterranean Sea from the 1st and 9th hole.

Santa Maria Golf & Country Club (Marbella) - this course traces the contours of the valley and offers distracting views over the Mediterranean. The par 3, 6th hole is especially challenging and is located on the highest point of the course. Take a breather here and be master of all you survey before tackling the formidable tee shot down towards the guarded green some 180 meters away.

Marbella Golf & Country Club - This golf course reunites all the conditions where a golf pro as amateur can enjoy a nice round with exceptional maintenance. Under the management of Mr. Martin Stewart, the Club offers buggies, bags and clubs, a nice bar and the exquisite service of its restaurant, The Fairways.

Rio Real Golf (Marbella) - is situated in a very nice valley with sea views crossed by the Rio Real Creek that lent the course its name. Only 3 kms from Marbella, Javier Arana designed the course in the 60's and opened it to the public in 1965.The greens are rather flat and protected by bunkers. Its views over the Mediterranean Sea are wonderful and the gradual inclination of the land down towards the sea, enable you to enjoy them from any corner of the course, which is almost plain. The fourth hole, very close to the sea and offers splendid views, the tee shot is not difficult, but the access to the green, close to the beach, may take the ball to any ot the near bunkers.

La Dame de Noche (Marbella) - For the golfing addicts and insomniacs Enrique Canales designed Europe's first 24 hour golfing paradise. The course takes its name from the plant whose nocturnal, intoxicating fragrance helpfully keeps the mosquitoes at bay. The lighting system is arranged so as to cast no shadows thus giving daylight quality and maximum visibility and the absence of rough ensures a round of golf here doesn't become a farce of hunt the ball.

Aloha Golf Club (Marbella) - The Aloha Golf Course was designed by Javier Arana, one of Spain's best known golf architects. Situated in Nueva Andalucía, the Mecca of European Golf. Aloha is a natural Golf Course, with varied vegetation, where one hole is never like another. It is neither long nor short and perfectly kept.

Los Naranjos Golf Club (Marbella) - One of the most interesting features of Los Naranjos is the significant difference between the front nine and the back nine. It's like playing two different courses. Los Naranjos is a great course to fascinate all players.

Real Club de Golf Las Brises (Marbella) - a course in which long drives alone will not be sufficient but intelligence in play is a must as well. It has no less than ten artificial lakes and ample bunker protection around mainly elevated greens.

Guadalmina Club de Golf (San Pedro de Alcantara) - Guadalmina South: This is the oldest of the two eighteen hole Guadalmina courses. It also offers a short nine hole round and is famous for its high difficulty level and is therefore most suitable for experienced players. It has wide fairways, without rough or water hazards. Guadalmina north: Is shorter and hillier than the south course and presents several artificial lakes. It requires a precise drive through the middle of the fairways so as not to end up in one of these water ways hazardously hidden in the rough.

La Quinta Golf & Country Club (Marbella) - Situated in "The Golf Valley", this course commands the best panoramic views of the mountains and the Marbella coastline, consisting of three combinable courses. Although apparently easy, it is in fact very demanding due to the design of the fairways and the excellent quality of the greens.

Los Arqueros Golf & Country Club (San Pedro de Alcantara) - Equidistant from Málaga and Gibralta, Los Arqueros prides itself on being the Costa del Sol's first Seve Ballesteros design putting Benahavis on the map. Los Arqueros is a challenge for golfers with low and high handicaps. Its varied holes and contrasting landscapes offer a magnificent view over the Andalusian hills and the Mediterranean.

Montemayor Golf Club (Marbella) - Nestled in the mountains of Benahavis Monte Mayor is one of Andalucia's most spectacular Golf Courses. It is a challenging proposition but, the quality of the greens, the natural beauty of the situation and its quietness, will make your round of golf unforgettable. The buggy is automatically included in your green fee. No credit cards. The tortuous and tough course makes it an appropriate challenge to intrepid players.

Lauro Golf (Malaga) - Lauro Golf is one of the new golf courses in the Málaga area. Situated in the precious landscape of the municipality of Alhaurín de la Torre, at 300 mts. above sea level, Lauro Golf offers spectacular views of the valley of Málaga and of the Mediterranean.

Estepona Golf - Located 2 km past Estepona this wild course, is a welcome change with the perfect opportunity to enjoy the countryside, fresh air and abundant wildlife with minimum interference from building development and "traffic jams".

La Duquesa Golf (Manilva) -  offers an interesting and varied game due to its long fairways and has two clearly different parts. The first 9 holes are of a certain "English style" with narrow fairways and high greens. Particularly beautiful is the hole 4 for its magnificent views, but it can also easily give you trouble for your score card. The second nine are easier with wide fairways, although the green will supply additional difficulties. La Duquesa is probably, in terms of facilities, the most complete club on the coast, tennis, swimming pool, squash, gym, etc, together with its yacht harbour, just across the road.

The Club de Golf Sotogrande - is located in a perfectly natural surrounding for the practice of golf all through the year. Anyone who plays the course will be able to confirm it is a very special design, its beauty enhanced by the varied vegetation. Sotogrande boasts well established vegetation with pine, cork oaks, eucalyptus and palm trees. Water hazards play an important role here.

Valderrama Golf Club (Sotogrande) - is ranked number one course in Continental Europe, this beautiful golf course is always in superb condition and enjoys world-wide fame. Located 92 kms from Malaga international airport and only 15 kms. from Gibraltar, this outstanding course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, with Hole 17 re-designed by Steve Ballesteros, and is a skilfully and challenging combination of fairways, nearly 100 bunkers and raised putting greens. Golfing journalist have twice given this course the award of best golf course in Europe.