The south of Spain is an absolute no-brainer for a memorable golf trip given the near-perfect weather all year round and the abundance of excellent resorts to base yourself at. While you may naturally gravitate towards those that have golf on site for the sake of ease, this does also have its drawbacks - which is why you should really consider Royal Marbella Golf Resort, to which I travelled in late July earlier this year with my wife and two young children.

It is situated about an hour from Malaga airport on the west side of Marbella - in truth it is just as close to Estepona further down the coast and Benahavis is also close by. With its terracotta colour scheme and modern design, Royal Marbella does have the luxurious ambience to match the grandeur of the name while also providing golfers, families and couples with a friendly welcome - we encountered all three of these demographics during our stay, demonstrating its versatile appeal.

You stay in modern, self-catering one, two or three-bedroom apartments with spacious rooms and open-plan lounge and dining areas as well as a balcony to soak in the scenery. You can cool off in two outdoor pools or recharge the batteries in a comfortable indoor space called The Hub where you can take a break from the sun, catch up on your emails or enjoy whatever sport is happening on the TV.

There is no restaurant or bar on site, but there is complimentary water and coffee available as well as a small shop to pick up essentials. We were treated to the ‘enhanced welcome pack’ on arrival to our apartment, which comprised a selection of food and drink (including some very palatable local wines) that set us up perfectly for the first day or so of our trip.

There are seven championship golf courses within 10km of the resort and while hiring a car is probably the easiest way to access these (while also being able to experience what the local area has to offer), the resort is able to organise any transfers that you require - doing all the hard work for you and letting you focus on enjoying your golf. Royal Marbella can also book your tee times and in some cases gain small discounts on your green fees - it’s a service I’d recommend taking advantage of!

You can walk easily to El Paraiso golf club, a charming layout suitable for all levels of player. It meanders through the undulating terrain and water features early on before climbing to the top of the Andalusian hills at the conclusion of the 6th hole. The 7th and 12th tees in particular provide stunning views that make for a truly memorable round.

The course let my family ride with me for my round (I don’t think this is commonplace - expect to be paired up with others if you’re playing solo pretty much everywhere in Spain) but you can expect impeccable conditioning and a huge amount of variety from El Paraiso - it’s a must-play should you base yourself at Royal Marbella and given its close proximity, it’s probably worth visiting more than once during your stay.

The next closest course is Atalaya golf club, which was the second of the two courses I played during our visit in late July (I tried to push my luck with a third but my wife was having none of it!). This course isn’t quite as visually arresting as El Paraiso but it is great fun nonetheless with its strategically-placed bunkers and small, challenging green complexes. While you naturally want to avoid the bunkers, the soft white sand was a joy to play out of and if you hit the ball a decent distance, you’ll have plenty of scoring opportunities.

These include the second and the eighth, both of which are par fives that become infinitely easier to score on after a good drive. I demonstrated this on the day by playing them in one under, including an approach shot that defied the laws of physics to pitch a foot from the hole and finish a foot behind directly in line with the cup. It’s quite tight in places, so you need to balance accuracy with distance to avoid both the bunkers and running into the wooded areas, especially on the short par fours, the 4th and 5th.

Other courses nearby include Marbella Golf and Country Club and La Quinta Golf Club, both of which I have had the pleasure of on previous visits to the area and can highly recommend, as well as the stunning Las Naranjos (picture above).

Away from the course you’ll find some delightful restaurants in both Marbella and Estepona if you do your research as well as long sandy beaches with water sports and cafes aplenty. Having experienced all that Royal Marbella has to offer, I know I would enjoy it with friends and family, ideal for those seeking a more relaxing golf break in the near-constant Spanish sunshine.

Visit the Royal Marbella Golf Resort website to find out more.

Las Colinas Golf and Country Club: Key info

When you enter the vast Las Colinas Golf and Country Club, you'll feel like arriving into a city in the Alicante countryside.

The resort, situated under an hour from Alicante airport, is home to hundreds of villas and apartments and has been voted Spain’s and Europe’s Leading Villa Resort in the World Travel Awards.

Every way you turn there's a development or a new one being built, with the resort's seriously impressive real estate projects making it a very desirable destination for international golfers and non-golfers to base themselves in this area of Spain. It's set it a beautiful part of the country, in the hills of the Dehesa de Campoamor with gorgeous views everywhere you turn.

Also on-site is a racquet club, a sports and health club, three restaurants, walking trails and a minimarket. Las Colinas also has its own beach club. Golfers will be drawn to Las Colinas, which translates in Spanish to 'The Hills', by its renowned course and just as the name suggests it's not flat, and because of that there are sensational views on offer throughout.

When it comes to the golf, Las Colinas Golf and Country Club has previously hosted European Tour Q-school and is regarded as one of the best golf courses in Spain. The undulating and varied layout opened for play in 2010 and was designed by Cabell Robinson, the man behind 2023 Solheim Cup venue Finca Cortesin.

The course gets off to a tricky start, with a strong dogleg-left opener that requires a solid drive and a mid-iron that plays uphill. The second is a long, straight par 4 with a long green before the downhill par 5 3rd that features a tricky layup with water right and left, which then cuts in to guard the green.

Thankfully, Las Colinas lets up a bit with the short par 4th before a long par 3 with water left that's followed by a beautiful three-hole stretch. The treelined par 4 6th is short, tight and uphill where a drive should leave a wedge into a three-tiered green that is extremely long and narrow.

The 7th in one of the stars on the course, playing a little over 100 yards down a severe slope and over vegetation. It's a gorgeous little par 3 that should offer up a good birdie chance, albeit the green is large and there's a lot of danger if you're wild.

Up next is the par 4 8th, which has arguably the best views on the entire course from the tee box - you won't find many golfers playing the course for the first time not reaching for their phone to snap a photo. It's a beautiful downhill par 4 that narrows the further up the hole you go. The green features a big slope off the back, right where an up-and-down will be tricky for even the sharpest of short games.

The closing hole on the front is another strong par 4 that requires a well struck drive up the left and a short iron uphill into the green. After tapping in, you'll drive by the excellent halfway truck where you can pick up your refreshments to power you through the back nine.

The closing half starts with another delightful, short par 3 that is a mere wedge before the 600+ yard 11th that doglegs right and then plays downhill and slightly back up towards the green. It's a beast of a par 5 where five is a great score - and six is a decent one, too. There's vegetation left, trees the whole way down the right and bunkers dotted about along the way.

That's followed by a good birdie chance at the par 4 12th and then another at the 13th, which is a dogleg-right par 4 where the tee shot has to be a good one as it's a tight fairway with native area right and danger lurking left.

Another glorious par 3 follows at the 14th, where you'll play a mid-iron down the hill over water with views of the Colinas properties and the par 5 3rd. The 15th is a strong par 5 with the green jutted out to the left in a peninsula and surrounded by water before the dogleg-left 16th which plays around the same lake.

The par 3 17th is the longest and toughest par 3 on the course around 200 yards from the white tees to give your long iron/hybrid play a late test, and then the superb closing hole plays towards the clubhouse and is a reachable par 5 for the longer hitters - although watch out for the water short, right of the green.

It's a superb layout that features real variety throughout. From short par 3s to long ones, doglegs, plenty of par 5s and birdie chances. The conditioning is exceptional, the views are just as good and the facilities on offer include a Toptracer driving range to warm up your game beforehand.

Once you've finished your round, you'll be spoilt for choice if you're hungry as Las Colinas is home to three restaurants. In the main clubhouse you'll find unik, for breakfast and lunch, while there's also the Japanese, Mexican and Peruvian fusion restaurant at umawa. Just next to the clubhouse is il Palco for fans of Italian food.

The vast resort of Las Colinas is home to dozens upon dozens of properties, which are all grouped in developments named after plants. We stayed in one of the stunning Madrono villas, which featured three bedrooms, a roof terrace and outdoor pool with views over the course.

For golfers looking to tick off a few more courses on a trip, Las Colinas makes for a great base as there's Villamartin Golf, Las Ramblas Golf and Real Club de Golf Campoamor Resort all within 20-minutes' drive.

Las Colinas Golf course photos:

Las Colinas Golf and Country Club location:

Benidorm, located in the Region of Valencia and one of Spain's premier tourist destinations, is well-known for its golden beaches and its sunny skies. Yet, for golf enthusiasts, there lies a hidden gem: the golf courses of the Hotel Meliá Villaitana.

This splendid complex is the perfect stage for those seeking a blend of sport, luxury, and leisure in one setting.

Key Features

The courses at Villaitana golf are characterized by their exceptional design. They consist of two 18 holes courses: the Levante Course and the Poniente Course.

The Levante Course is a championship par 72. Stretching over 6,500 meters, this course boasts undulating fairways, strategically placed bunkers, and expansive greens.

Designed by the globally recognized Jack Nicklaus, it appeals to both professional and amateur players. Breathtaking views of the Mediterranean and Benidorm's iconic island serve as a visual treat as one navigates through its challenging holes.

On the other hand, the Poniente Course is a par 62, catering to those seeking a more relaxed experience. While shorter at around 3,800 meters, it remains challenging with its narrow fairways and intricate greens. It's the perfect course for honing one's short game or for those in search of a quicker round.

Integration with Nature and Sustainable Practices

One of the aspects that further distinguishes the Meliá Villaitana golf courses is their seamless integration with the natural surroundings. As golf's environmental impact becomes a growing concern worldwide, the team behind these courses has made commendable efforts to ensure that they not only complement but also enrich the native landscape.

The careful planning and maintenance of the courses have led to the preservation of local flora and fauna. Mature trees dot the course, offering shade and adding an extra strategic element to the game. Natural ponds and water bodies are not just aesthetic features but also play a crucial role in the local ecosystem, providing habitats for various species of birds and aquatic life.

Furthermore, sustainability initiatives have been prioritized. From water conservation practices, using recycled water for course irrigation, to energy-efficient facilities, Meliá Villaitana is setting an example for golf resorts everywhere.

Training and Amenities

For those eager to improve their game, the complex also offers top-notch training facilities. A state-of-the-art driving range, putting greens, and chipping areas help golfers hone their skills.

PGA-qualified instructors provide lessons tailored to all levels, ensuring that every visitor, whether a newbie or seasoned player, can up their game.

Beyond the courses and training facilities, the hotel itself is a marvel. With luxurious rooms, world-class spa facilities, and gourmet dining options, guests can immerse themselves in complete relaxation after a day on the greens.

All of these factors underscore why the Hotel Meliá Villaitana stands out. It's more than just golf; it's about offering a comprehensive, sustainable, and luxury experience that caters to the discerning traveler and golf enthusiast alike.

Hosted Competitions

Given the caliber of its facilities, it's unsurprising that Meliá Villaitana has been chosen as the venue for significant national and international tournaments. From amateur championships to European Tour events, these tournaments not only spotlight the courses' excellence but also position Benidorm as a top-tier golf destination in Spain.

Benidorm's Complementary Offerings

But the experience doesn't end when one steps off the green. Being one of the main tourist hubs of the Costa Blanca, Benidorm has a wealth to offer.

Gastronomy

After a demanding day on the golf course, there's nothing like diving into the rich local cuisine. Benidorm is a melting pot of cultures, and its food perfectly mirrors this. From exquisite rice dishes, like paella, to fresh fish and varied tapas, there's something for every palate.

And one shouldn't forget to pair these delights with a fine regional wine.

Shopping

For shopping enthusiasts, Benidorm ranges from charming boutique stores to expansive shopping malls. The streets of the old town are brimming with fashion outlets, crafts, and local products that delight visitors.

Leisure and Culture

Beyond golf and shopping, Benidorm offers a myriad of activities. Its cultural offerings include museums and festivals. The beaches are an idyllic spot for relaxation or engaging in water sports. And for nature lovers, the surrounding mountains and Sierra Helada Nature Park provide hiking trails with unparalleled panoramic views.

In conclusion, Hotel Meliá Villaitana and its golf courses are a true haven for golf aficionados. Their blend of design, quality, and location make it a must-visit. When combined with the cultural richness and entertainment of Benidorm, it creates a perfect vacation package full of sport, luxury, and fun.

For further information visit here 

If you look through the various travel brochures and sites, it is highly likely that you will see the Grand Hyatt La Manga Club Golf & Spa's name pop up, with the venue one of the most popular golf destinations in Europe, claiming Europe's Golf Resort Of The Year on multiple occasions.

Now, it's no secret that Spain is already crammed with various options when it comes to resorts, especially golf-related ones, with the best golf courses in the country offering various golf, food and accommodation choices. However, not only does Grand Hyatt La Manga Club Golf & Spa possess three championship courses, more on that later, but also a luxurious hotel, spa, swimming pools, several incredible bars and restaurants to sink your teeth into and a magnitude of sports facilities.

The five-star resort recently opened in mid-May 2023 following an extensive refurbishment, with the venue being Grand Hyatt’s debut property in Spain. Arriving late morning, it was clear that the place screams luxury, with the refurbishment of the former property showcasing everything you would want for a visit away.

I will begin with the golf, with users able to access three courses - North, South and West. These all offer a fair test that will appeal to golfers of all abilities and, what's more, all have their differences, the West being the more tree-lined, the South, which was redesigned by Arnold Palmer in 2005, being the standout, and the West being the most accessible to a range of handicaps. Importantly, there are plenty of teeing options, which can change the courses substantially. 

Unfortunately, on the weekend I was present, the West was undergoing maintenance, but that still left me with 36 holes of golf to be played and, laying my feet onto the South's lush green turf, there are a lot of picturesque views to fill the camera roll with. The front nine opens up with a generous tee shot and the first six holes are a good chance to make a score. From there, I believe the seventh tee shot is arguably the best, aesthetically, of the front nine, with the par 5 ninth giving a great opportunity to kick start the back nine.

Personally, I felt the back nine was the better half, with some excellently framed driving holes and a few par 3s where club selection is crucial, given that they are protected by the many lakes on the course. Shooting around handicap, I came off feeling pleased with myself, and a visit to the clubhouse (37 Sports & Spike Bar) was well deserved, something which was only heightened when you see the interior, as well as the terrace that overlooks the course.

Along with the South, the North course is also very well laid out and provides a good mix of scoreable and tougher holes. I prefer the South, but the North has a number of very solid holes, such as the two par 5s on the front side and the par 3 16th.

It's not just the golf, though, where you can experience Grand Hyatt La Manga Club Golf & Spa in all of its glory. The exclusive resort accommodates more-or-less every major sport under the sun, such as tennis, football, cricket and cycling. Such is the size of it, it possesses a Racquets Club with 28 tennis courts, seven padel courts and a new pickleball court.

This makes it a viable option for families, with the wide attraction and feel of the place also appealing to the more grown up. To begin with, the spa has a modern, clean feel and offers a variety of treatments which I found to be the perfect way of switching off and resetting, especially after enduring an early flight and fortnight of work. There is also hydrotherapy, a fitness centre and an adult only infinity pool that overlooks the 18th green, with the La Manga Club Resort just 15 minutes away from the hotel. It certainly provides a great getaway option if you are wanting to explore the area.

What's more, all the 192 hotel rooms are incredibly spacious and comfortable, with one of the main standouts being the magnitude of restaurants that are within staggering distance of them. There is something for everyone, with all of the restaurants providing top-quality food and drink.

Being a big foodie, I feel it's only right I go over the places that were visited in the days I was present, with Asia, Don Luigi Trattoria, Sol Y Sombra and The Last Green Sports & Cocktail Bar providing excellent variety throughout. Also, the breakfast at the Grand Buffet is highly recommended as, not only do they do a range of the typical breakfast foods, as well as a plethora of cold meats, fruit and juices, but the patio area looks over the 18th green of the South Course, making it an ideal place to top up for the day.

If the magnitude of things to do at Grand Hyatt La Manga Club Golf & Spa sounds slightly overwhelming, then there's no need to panic, as the room comes with its own QR Code that can be scanned to detail every facet of the resort. This is something that is extremely handy, especially when you first arrive, as it opens up the full range of options and means you can plan for the days you are there.

Mentioning options, there are plenty of packages available for those who are looking to head towards the Mediterranean Sea, with there also being various discounts on spa treatments and food to really make the experience that evermore enjoyable and memorable.

Overall, the refurbishment of the Grand Hyatt La Manga Club Golf & Spa hotel has only heightened and cemented La Manga as one of the top venues in Spain and Europe. If you are looking for incredible service, food, golf and experience, it wraps it up all nicely in a very big bow!

Finca Cortesin is one of the jewels in Andalucia’s crown, nestled just north of the coastline a short drive away from the likes of Valderrama and Real Club de Sotogrande. In a golf rich region, Finca Cortesin stands out, and with a luxury hotel and facilities that have been acknowledged as some of the best in Europe.

It's home to one of the very best golf courses in Spain that is venue for the 2023 Solheim Cup after hosting the Volvo World Match Play in 2009, 2011 and 2012.

The undulating, varied course measures over 7,000 yards from the back tees and plays as a par 72, with five par 3s, five par 5s and eight par 4s. It was designed by Cabell Robinson, who also designed the likes of Evian, Aphrodite Hills and Las Colinas, and opened for play in 2007.

The course begins with a fairly gentle par 4 with bunkers left and thick vegetation right. You reach it after a short tunnel under the road where you’re met with refreshments by the 1st tee. It’s a sign of the service on offer across the resort and that they do things right at Finca Cortesin.

A solid drive off the 1st leaves a mid or short iron in, where you get your first look at the challenging green complexes.

It’s Bermuda everywhere and by the time you reach the green it becomes obvious that you’ll need a sharp short game to get it round Finca with a decent score. The greens are lighting fast with huge swails, tiers and hollows.

A demanding par 3 comes at the 2nd before a par 5 with water guarding the left side of the green. The 4th, which is the opener in the Solheim Cup, is arguably the course’s signature hole - a downhill 280 yard par 4 that wraps around a lake. It’s drivable for the big hitters but the smart play for most is an iron up the right and a wedge on.

The first six, featuring three par 4s, two par 3s and a par 5, are in their own bowl surrounded by stunning residences before the course moves to the more open part of the property with the views of the towering Estepona Mountains in full force.

The first six holes were surrounded by building work in 2017 when I was last at Finca Cortesin, but the resort has come a long way since then.

They’re dream, multi-million euro homes with views of the course and they’re all unique. Since I was last there in 2017, too, there’s a new road and development built near the 10th hole that features rows of villas.

More real estate is being built and it’s clear that Finca Cortesin is the place to buy if you’re looking for luxury along the Costa del Sol.

The course meanders its way around the diverse site, with elevation changes coming throughout as well as doglegs, beautiful views in all directions, and plenty of variety.

Highlights of the back nine start immediately with the gorgeous par 3 10th, which plays severely downhill with a backdrop of the mountains. There’s a bailout left but anything missed to the right will find the thick Andalucian vegetation that lines so many of the holes at Finca Cortesin.

The par 4 15th is another visual treat and it’s one of the toughest par 4s on the course, where you drive over the native land before turning uphill and left towards the green. There are many moments where you’ll be reaching for your phone to take a photo, and there won’t be many who don’t snap a picture on the 15th tee.

The course then offers up some potential birdie chances over the final three holes.

The 16th is a dogleg right where most will be hitting wedges or short irons in, before the mid-iron par 3 17th and then the dogleg-left par 5 finisher that plays downhill on the second shot and then rises back up to a green that is very well guarded with bunkers.

It might offer the occasional birdie but it’s definitely one where you’ll be happy to finish with a par.

Once you’ve finished up, the clubhouse bar upstairs has a couple of terraces to enjoy a club sandwich and a nice cold one, overlooking the driving range, course and those towering mountains. It’s a beautiful spot to reflect on 18 holes around this testing but gorgeous layout.

Finca Cortesin should be on the bucket list for players wanting to experience the best that Spain has offer as well as couples after a luxurious stay. The course is ranked among the best in the country and the moment you step foot on the first tee you’ll know why.

At the resort, you’ll enjoy great golf, 5 star service, incredible food and serenity. It’s heaven on earth.

Finca Cortesin green fees

Finca Cortesin scorecard

Finca Cortesin Location

What is the closest airport to Finca Cortesin?

The closest airport to Finca Cortesin is Gibraltar, which is around a 15-20 minute drive from the south-west. From the east, Malaga airport is also easily within reach at around 45-60 minutes.

Stay at Finca Cortesin

When it comes to golf destinations, Mallorca ticks an awful lot of boxes. There are more golf courses per square mile here than anywhere else in Europe.

Those who enjoy blowing the froth off a couple of shandies in the evening will revel in the nightlife of Palma and, and at the other end of the holiday-vibe spectrum, there are plenty of peaceful little pockets where you can just sit back and enjoy a slice of island life. 

Of the 24 golf courses in Mallorca, two notable layouts were on my hitlist during my recent visit to the largest of the Balearic Islands. Pula Golf Resort - an eight-time European Tour host course - would act as my base for the trip (more on that later) and just over an hour’s drive away, nestled in an idyllic location overlooking Alcudia Bay, Alcanada Golf Club was also on the itinerary. 

Speaking of itineraries, I would recommend a minimum of three nights in Mallorca and would even stretch to five if you have the time. But I was visiting on a filming trip, where my mission was to showcase Mallorca as a golf destination in just 48 hours. Challenge accepted. 

Mallorca might be the largest of the Balearics, but after a two-and-a-half hour flight from London to Palma, it is only a 50-minute drive over to the east side of the island where both Pula and Alcanada reside, so in terms of convenience, you can see that Mallorca ticks that box as well. 

Most of the golf courses here are close to the capital city of Palma, but no matter where you end up choosing to play on your golf holiday, you are never more than an hour or so from the first tee. I digress though, so onwards to Pula…

PULA

After picking up my rental car and pootling down the Ma-15 highway, I checked into my Grand Suite (Pula has a vast range of golfer’s apartments and more traditional, rustic options). 

Simplistic yet stylish, the accommodation offers everything you need on a golf holiday, and best of all, sit just a couple of hundred yards from the first tee. In fact, everything at Pula is right on hand. The resort is relatively small, but you never feel cramped. 

If practising is your thing, the putting green and driving range (armed with the latest Trackman technology) sit at the heart of the resort, while the pro shop, spa, and superb Sera de Pula restaurant are all just a matter of yards from your room. Super convenient. Super casual. Super classy. 

With a comfortable night’s sleep under my belt, I rolled out of bed, confidently ignored the driving range on my right and the putting green on my left as I wandered to the first tee, and boom, I was off and running on my golf holiday. 

So what of the golf course at Pula? Well, as previously stated, it has hosted no less than eight European Tour events in years gone by, with winners including Miguel Angel Jimenez, Sergio Garcia, Darren Clarke and Jose Maria Olazabal. Speaking of Ollie, the two-time Masters champ was the man in charge of the major overhaul that Pula went through ten years after it opened for play. 

The resulting layout offers something for everyone. Testing and tough from the championship tees - but very playable from the forward positions - you can pick your poison at Pula depending on what type of golf stirs your coffee.

Whether you are the type who relishes a battle against par (or your handicap!) or someone who prefers a more leisurely round of golf while away on holiday, the combination of slopes, elevation changes and sizeable water hazards make for a thoroughly enjoyable test of golf. 

Standout holes come in the form of the par-4 5th, the testing par-3 8th, and the picturesque par-4 16th, which offers stunning panoramic views over the course and out towards the sea. Come to think of it, all three of these holes feature water, so perhaps I am simply a glutton for punishment! 

In terms of my golf game, my round at Pula was a mixed bag, but it was a great warm-up for Alcanada, which is quickly becoming the home of The Challenge Tour Grand Final. 

ALCANADA

The flagship event of The Challenge Tour season was first hosted at Alcanada in 2019, and the event made a return in 2022, where the winning score through four rounds was nine-under par.

The event will once again be hosted at Alcanada in 2023, but the modest winning score from 2022 should go some way to letting you know the test of golf that awaits those who bravely elect to play from the back tees.

But just like Pula, a more friendly experience is on offer from the forward pegs. I played from the yellows, which measure 6,600 yards and is the closest I could get to the length of my home course.

A good golf holiday tip: choose the tees that are closest in yardage to the course where you get your handicap from. 

With that rule of thumb in mind, I set myself a challenge of breaking 80. I’m glad to say I made it…by the skin of my teeth! 

The layout at Alcanada is superb, with holes that take you into the rolling hills of Alcudia before you start your journey down toward the Bay of Alcudia and its picturesque lighthouse. It's a high class venue that is one of the best golf courses in Spain.

Along the way, you will tackle dramatic elevation changes, play shots over valleys and ravines and negotiate slick, undulating greens, but perhaps the biggest challenge is taking your eyes off Alcanada’s stunning surroundings.

This Hans Peter Porsche (yes, the car guys) owned golf club is located in a truly breathtaking spot, where the tranquility is matched only by the service levels both on and off the course. 

All in all, my trip to Mallorca was a blast and I can’t recommend the venues I visited highly enough.

A parting piece of advice? Make sure you factor in enough time to enjoy a drink or two, or maybe even a spot of lunch on the clubhouse terrace at Alcanada. I promise you, this will be the exclamation point on your Mallorca golf holiday and, with only 48 hours to play with and a jam-packed filming schedule, I didn’t quite manage it. 

Just another excuse to head back to Mallorca on another golf holiday in the not-too-distant future then…

On Spain’s Costa Dorada, INFINITUM is quickly growing into one of the driving forces in European golf – and if a trio of stunning courses wasn’t evidence enough, the resort now has the hosting credentials to prove it. 

Even before a major rebrand in 2021, the resort had cultivated a reputation as a golf destination like no other. Two 18-hole championship layouts, two of the best golf courses in Spain, have long been drawing eyes, neatly juxtaposed despite their proximity. 

The Lakes winds through its eponymous Sequia Major wetlands, with picturesque scenery and challenging hazards in turn. You only need to walk the course to feel the mark of its designer, Greg Norman, who has weaved the layout into the fabric of Catalan surroundings.

The Hills course is its antithesis: vast, expansive and elevated, with sweeping views out to the glimmering Mediterranean Sea and a cradle of emerald pine trees lining the fairways. Risk-reward holes test golfers’ minds as much as their skill. 

While the two courses complement each other nicely, they aren’t complete strangers: there is a shared excitement, a drama that duets harmoniously with the unblemished scenery that INFINITUM has worked hard to look after. 

While these courses have earned rave reviews, the resort has taken another step as a leading venue thanks to the staging of major competitions. 

The success of the ISPS Handa Championship in Spain back in April, which saw Barcelona-born Pablo Larrazábal claim an emotional win in his home region, was later followed by another DP World Tour event at INFINITUM: Q-School Final Stage, which returned to the resort after hosting the event from 2017-2019. The homecoming, the first of a three-year deal, was a triumph.

According to Agustin Garcia Pascual, chief business officer at INFINITUM, getting these prestigious events at the resort is key to its plans for the future.

“Having Q School here is firstly so important for golf because it means that, following the damage caused by the global pandemic, we are finding some normality in European golf once again,” said Garcia Pascual.

“Our relationship with the DP World Tour has always been very strong, but now it is even stronger. They are also supporting INFINITUM, with the ISPS Handa Championship this year and then extending the agreement to host Q School for another three years. 

“We’re really happy and we just hope that every three years we are talking about another three-year extension, as well as many more things that we expect to do together with the DP World Tour.”

It would be amiss to discuss INFINITUM without special mention of the Ruins course, one of golf’s finest nine-hole layouts. The stars here are archaeological remains dating back to the Roman era, another Norman course that feels like it was grown rather than built. 

The destination has plenty to be excited about in the present, but one eye remains firmly on the future: a renovation of the Lakes course in summer 2022 has headlined resort-wide sustainability efforts, ensuring that the GEO-certified course remains a positive influence on the surrounding area as well as global golf. 

“There is simply no other route for modern-day courses and sustainability is part of INFINITUM’S DNA,” said Garcia Pascual. “The renovation work of our Lakes course is so vital as it means 40 per cent less water that we need to irrigate the course, and far fewer chemicals and pesticides. This must be our future, as well as every other golf course!”

Away from the courses, the stunning INFINITUM Beach Club has been capturing the imagination of bons vivants from across the globe. Crowned best in Europe at the 2022 World Travel Awards, the INFINITUM Beach Club boasts eight stunning pools - with tailor-made areas for adults and families -and serves a range of vibrant food and cocktails.

With a number of fine-dining options to choose from, the resort has mastered traditional Mediterranean cuisine with a modern twist. At the heart of its food offering is the Flamma Beach Foodhouse, a charming venue with fantastic ocean views. The Hills Clubhouse Restaurant and Lakehouse Bistrot each neighbour one of the championship golf courses, while Gusto Mediterranean Tapas serves light bites at the Beach Club. 

Guests searching for their dream home need look no further than INFINITUM, with a diverse portfolio of properties curated by experts. Each home is BREEAM Sustainability Certified and built to perfectly complement Catalonia’s natural beauty, located within easy reach of every commodity and facility needed to live in luxury. 

With easy passage in and out of Spain via the nearby Barcelona Airport, INFINITUM is accessible the world over. Situated on the popular Costa Dorada, the resort is just a 15-minute drive from the historic city of Tarragona, one of Spain’s best destinations when it comes to culture and heritage. Between rounds on the Hills, Lakes and Ruins courses, a trip into Tarragona to take in the millennia-old architecture is not to be missed – especially if you can time your visit to coincide with a local festival. 

Real Club de Valderrama, located a few miles north of Gibralter in southern Spain, was initially designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones Sr in 1974.

However, it wasn’t until a decade later, once the club fell into new ownership, that there was a desire to take it to new level of quality and turn it into one of the best golf courses in Spain. That led the British-American architect to revisit his original design and and improve it. 

There’s no doubt he succeeded. Shortly after the redesign, the course began to achieve the recognition its owner craved, first hosting the Volvo Masters from 1988, then the Ryder Cup nine years later – the first time it had ever been held outside the UK on European soil. The course has also hosted the World Golf Championships twice and, more recently, the Andalucia Masters.

But what is it about the course that makes it so special? One of the clues is in its nickname – the Augusta of Europe – which hints at the immaculate fairways akin to those of the world-renowned home of The Masters. As well as its exquisite condition, the narrow fairways are lined by cork trees while the greens are unusually small as well as being well protected and undulating. There are also doglegs left and right, meaning the course offers a significant challenge for any player – even those comfortable on parkland courses.

There are deep bunkers dotted throughout the course, while the signature par-5 fourth hole - La Cascada - is particularly memorable for its elevated, two-tiered green with a waterfall and a pond to the right. Further on, the 17th is the most infamous on the course thanks to its green with a sloped front that invites shots coming up short to roll back into the water.

Tiger Woods famously came a cropper there playing it in the 1999 WGC-American Express Championship where, with a four-shot lead over Miguel Ángel Jiménez in the final round, he contrived to triple bogey the hole before eventually winning the title in a playoff.

Given its superb condition and stellar reputation, it’s unlikely to come as a surprise that the club is private, although it still offers limited public play. Green fees are €450, while visitors can play no more than twice in a month and seven times in a calendar year. The daily window for public groups is between noon and 2pm. However, for anyone wishing to become a member, initiation fees are reportedly over €100,000.

Best Golf Courses In Spain

With its welcoming climate and its excellent holiday accommodation and facilities, Spain has been a magnet for keen golfers for well over half a century.

Many of its finest courses are understandably located along its beautiful costas, but there are also plenty to be found both inland and on its beautiful islands such as the Balearics and the Canaries. Starting with the most famous golf course in the country, this look at the best golf courses in Spain features a wide selection of the very best of the best, as well as one or two that are perhaps less well-known but still thoroughly recommended.

The green fees quoted are high-season, so please look out for deals and offers, and the yardages are from the regular visitors or medal tees rather than any super-championship back tees. Happily, several of the 20 clubs featured here have more than one course, all of which are well worth seeking out.

Real Valderrama

• Location Sotogrande
• Founded 1974
• Architect Robert Trent Jones Senior
• GF €450 12:00-14:00 daily
• Par 71, 6,464 yards
• Contact Real Valderrama Golf Club

Host of numerous leading professional championships, Real Valderrama is one of the most exclusive and prestigious clubs in Europe. With its tree-lined fairways and unusually small greens, this beautiful Trent Jones Senior course is kept in immaculate condition. The bunkers are deep and filled with a coarse, grainy sand that is uniform throughout, and almost every hole is bordered by cork and pine that place a premium on straight hitting. The two long holes at the 4th and 17th are probably the most memorable, with the former played to an elevated green surrounded by rocks, waterfalls and a pond. The dramatic penultimate hole has decided the fate of many important tournaments and runs from left to right to a green fronted by a dangerous, shaved slope. Anything short will roll back into the water - just ask Tiger Woods. By limiting the level of visitor numbers, the course is seldom busy and this only lends to the dizzy atmosphere of playing somewhere very special indeed. It may be pricey, but it really is a true bucket list golf course, and the 17th is up there among the world's most famous golf holes.

Abama

• Location Tenerife
• Founded 2005
• Architect Dave Thomas
• GF €150
• Par 72, 6,309 yards
• Contact Abama Golf Club

Considered by many to be the jewel in Tenerife’s golfing crown, Abama is a delight from start to finish. An opening pair of par 4s lead to an excellent and very long uphill par 5 with a feature waterfall cascading to your left. A pretty par 3 provides some relief before the climb continues via a short two-shotter with a steep green which, when it’s running fast, will delight in kissing your ball on both cheeks before releasing it back down the hill onto the fairway. Turning back down the hill, the 6th is a real highlight as the infinity green fronts fabulous views out to sea. Eight and nine take you back down to the clubhouse and you then arrive on the 10th tee which offers an excellent view down over lakes, bunkers and the green and to the eye-catching hotel beyond. The 11th green is the lowest point of the course, and the 12th is a par 3 lining the hotel with water waiting on the right. Thirteen is the last straightaway uphill hole and is distinguished by its split fairway, and this is followed by a very lovely, bunkerless, but certainly not waterless, short hole. There is a tough, tough finish taking in stroke indexes 4, 6, 8 and 2.

Alcanada

• Location Mallorca
• Founded 2003
• Architect Robert Trent Jones Junior
• GF €145-€165
• Par 72, 6,391 yards
• Contact Alcanada Golf Club

This Robert Trent Jones Junior design on the north-eastern shores of Mallorca is bold and exciting. There are sea views from all but one hole, brought into focus by a small island with a lighthouse that sits in Alcudia Bay, just a 5-wood out to sea from the 16th green. Opening with an excellent par 5 that crosses a gully, the course runs up and down between shore and foothills, and is extremely photogenic. This is one of the tougher courses on the island, but is also one that rewards and thrills with elevated drives and plenty of variety. Fairly recently, it was the beneficiary of an extensive makeover which saw the re-laying of all 18 greens, an upgrade to the irrigation system and the renewal of sand in every bunker. There is also a strong but cosmopolitan club atmosphere, and the stylish clubhouse and terrace are just perfect for relaxing after a most enjoyable round.

Aloha

• Location Marbella
• Founded 1975
• Architect Javier Arana
• GF €235
• Par 72, 6,468 yards
• Contact Aloha Golf Club

This was the final course designed by Javier Arana who sadly passed away shortly before it opened. He personally chose many varieties of trees and planting to make sure that something would be in bloom throughout the year. It has hosted many important championships, most recently, the 2016 and 2019 Spanish Women’s Open. The design has two quite separate and distinct loops, with the front nine running over undulating land to the south of the spacious clubhouse. It opens with a long, snaking par 5 played from an elevated tee before two short but very different par 4s, the first with a pair of attractive ponds populated by turtles waiting on the right. Seven and eight are two very notable holes with the former played to a plateau fairway before a pitch down to a green hidden in a valley beyond. The 8th is a picturesque short hole framed beautifully by mature trees and with the imperious La Concha mountain offering a stunning backdrop. The back nine opens with a thrilling par 5 played down to a split fairway, and green at twelve has the prettiest of settings, protected by water and sand as you play your approach down the hill and over a tree. The 13th is a tough one-shotter to a green overlooked by a magnificent old carob tree, and there is plenty of fun to be had all the way to the difficult but very attractive finishing hole.

Read full Aloha Golf Club course review

Anfi Tauro

• Location Gran Canaria
• Founded 2006
• Architect Robert von Hagge
• GF €130
• Par 72, 6,389 yards
• Contact Anfi Tauro Golf Club

Anfi Tauro is the most westerly course on Gran Canaria and is also the boldest and most dramatic design on the island. No expense was spared in carving through the volcanic rock to create a genuine rollercoaster of a course. The front nine is on slightly lower ground that is still elevated enough to offer fine views out to sea, and there are several standout holes including the two par 3s. The 3rd is played at an angle across a gully, and the 6th is a stunner which crosses a plateau to a palm-fringed green with the backdrop of a rocky peak and the ocean. The back nine is more elevated and hilly, and there is a real heart-stopper at thirteen which is played down to a must-hit green. The 17th is a short par 4 played down to a green overlooked by a massive rock, and from start to finish there are plenty of beautiful and memorable holes.

El Saler

• Location Valencia
• Founded 1968
• Architect Javier Arana
• GF €110
• Par 72, 6,607 yards
• Contact El Saler Golf Club

El Saler was one of the first golf courses to be designed ecologically, specifically to be integrated into a protected landscape in as natural a way as possible. The course is split roughly 50/50 between a mixture of linksland, reminiscent in places of some of the famous Scottish golf courses, to areas of typical Mediterranean pine forest. As such, it is remarkably varied and interesting, and it has hosted the Spanish Open as well as other leading professional tournaments.

Finca Cortesin

• Location Sotogrande
• Founded 2007
• Architect Cabell Robinson
• GF €320
• Par 72, 6,434 yards
• Contact Finca Cortesin Golf Club

The excellent Finca Cortesin is up in the hills near Casares just minutes away from the porcelain-white beaches of Marbella and Sotogrande. A decade or so ago it hosted two Volvo World Match Play Championships, and it is now set to trump that with the staging of the 2023 Solheim Cup. The development is described by its designers as a place where nature gently vanishes into the deep blue sea. For many holidaying golfers, it may also turn out to be a place where your golf ball vanishes into a deep blue penalty area, but it is really the bunkering that defines this lush, green oasis. It was designed with golfers of all capabilities in mind and there are many fine views of the ocean, particularly from the fifteenth green. A wide array of flora have been imported from all over the world to create an ecological haven and the accompanying luxurious hotel offers restaurants, a gymnasium and a spa.

Read full Finca Cortesin Golf Club course review

Infinitum

• Location Salou
• Founded 2008
• Architect Green Project, Greg Norman
• GF €115 - check website for packages
• Hills - Par 72, 6,541 yards
• Lakes - Par 71, 6,489 yards
• Ruins - Par 34, 2,642 yards
• Contact Infinitum Golf Club

Less than an hour down the highway from Barcelona is the historic, walled town of Tarragona. Just beyond, you will find not one but three excellent courses which make up the paella of golf on offer at Infinitum. Two of the courses, the Lakes and Ruins, are comparatively recent additions to the burgeoning Greg Norman portfolio. With the former, he has created the toughest design on site with water pretty much everywhere! And where there isn’t water, there is sand… and occasionally some grass! This is of course an exaggeration as it is actually a completely fair course which offers the golfer options and rewards straight-hitting. The Hills is a surprisingly different but equally attractive design by local architects, Alfonso Vidaor and Magi Sardà. Running over gently undulating land and with very large greens that will test your judgement of pace, this is a lovely course with three holes - at 13, 17 and 18 - with greens sited in a quarry. In between these two, the very sporty Ruins Course is a 9-holer which marries elements of the other two and is ideal for those who have less time available.

Read full Infinitum Golf Club overview

Las Colinas

• Location San Javier, Murcia
• Founded 2010
• Architect Cabell Robinson
• GF Approx €85-€95, check website for details
• Par 71, 6,561 yards
• Contact Las Colinas Golf Club

Las Colinas is up in the hills and has distant views down towards the sea and the Mar Menor lagoon. Cabell Robinson has again waved his magic wand to lay out a superb design, one of the best golf courses in the Costa Blanca. The first couple of holes are particularly tough, uphill and turning to the left, before you emerge to the panoramic vista from the third tee. The par 3s are particularly strong and varied with water, trees, sand and elevation changes all adding to the test. The standout hole is perhaps the 14th, played from a slightly elevated tee over a babbling brook fed by a waterfall, with a lake waiting to swallow anything pulled left. The closing hole, a par 5, is defended by sand and water, not to mention the distracting prospect of a thirst-quenching drink on the welcoming terrace in front of the clubhouse.

La Reserva

• Location Sotogrande
• Founded 2003
• Architect Cabell Robinson
• GF Approx €170-€200
• Par 72, 6,614 yards
• Contact La Reserva Golf Club

Right next door to Real Valderrama is La Reserva, designed by Cabell Robinson, a former student and employee of Robert Trent Jones. Despite their proximity, the courses could hardly be more different. La Reserva is a little more forgiving, particularly from the tee, and also more undulating. It offers spectacular, far-reaching views, and there are two evenly matched loops of nine, each providing an enthralling mix of risk and reward, drama, variety, and most of all, fun. Water regularly comes into play, nowhere more so than on the 15th and 17th where anything right will dive headlong into the agua. One of its great joys is that no two holes are the same; the golfer constantly changes direction and leaves each hole not knowing what to expect next. The back nine is a little hillier than the front, but the reward here is some of the most panoramic views on the course. At times you can see the ocean, and you may also get to see some of the magnificent birds of prey which fly down low over the course. Another delight is the distinctive Moorish clubhouse. The Mediterranean menu is varied and delicious, backed up by friendly service offering that perfect balance between welcome and efficiency.

Mijas Golf

• Location Fuengirola
• Founded 1976
• Architect Robert Trent Jones Senior, Cabell Robinson
• GF €88-€95
• Los Lagos - Par 72, 6,898 yards
• Los Olivos - Par 70, 6,110 yards
• Contact Mijas Golf

Mijas Golf is one of the biggest golfing names as well as one of the oldest clubs on the Costa del Sol. There are two extremely strong and enjoyable courses, with Los Lagos - the Lakes - the longer and more demanding of the two. As you would expect, water features regularly, and there are plenty of the large and distinctive Trent Jones bunkers. The course underwent a full upgrade a decade ago. By way of contrast, the Olives was opened in the mid 1980s and is shorter with the emphasis on accuracy rather than length. There are five par 3s and three par 5s, more expansive bunkering, and a large double green shared by the 10th and 17th. This is an excellent club with two very different and interesting courses.

PGA Catalunya

• Location Girona
• Founded 1999
• Architect Neil Coles & Angel Gallardo
• GF €115, check for offers
• Stadium - Par 72, 6,678 yards
• Tour - Par 72, 6,411 yards
• Contact PGA Catalunya Golf Club

This complete golfing resort in the north-eastern corner of the country was originally created under the guidance of the European Tour in order to offer its own alternative to America’s TPC Sawgrass. With fir trees, lush vegetation, scrub and even purple heather, PGA Catalunya offers excellent value for money for one of such quality and is a regular host of top, professional tournaments. The Tour Course is a little more forgiving but also extremely scenic and enjoyable. An hour to the north of Barcelona, the onsite accommodation means keen golfers never need to leave!

Real Las Brisas

• Location Marbella
• Founded 1968
• Architect Robert Trent Jones Senior, Kyle Phillips
• GF €300
• Par 72, 6,195 yards
• Contact Real Las Brisas Golf Club

Real Las Brisas is home to a particularly fine, undulating parkland course with history. Happily, it has also very much moved with the times. It was host to the World Cup of Golf almost half a century ago which was won by the American pair including a relatively young Jack Nicklaus. Nick Faldo won the Spanish Open here in the same year as the first of his three Open victories, 1987. Realising that there were many new designs raising the bar, a few years ago the club invited Kyle Phillips to provide a comprehensive upgrade. His distinctive and stylish bunkering has raised its game even higher, and the result is a very engaging and stylish course kept in fine shape.

Real La Manga

• Location Sotogrande
• Founded 1974
• Architect Robert Dean Putman, Arnold Palmer, Dave Thomas
• GF €198 - 50% discount for hotel residents
• North - Par 71, 5,933 yards
• South - Par 73, 6,700 yards
• West - Par 72, 6,037 yards
• Contact La Manga Golf Club

Probably the best-known golfing resort in Murcia if not in Spain is the expansive and all-encompassing La Manga Club which not long ago was granted royal status and so is now officially ‘Real’. This mecca for the active is home to not one but three fine golf courses, not to mention just about every other sporting and recreational activity anyone could possibly want. The North and South courses date back to the 1970s with the latter benefitting from the creative mind of Arnold Palmer. Both have been remodelled over the years, while the West is a Dave Thomas design which opened just over 20 years ago and has outstanding views, narrow fairways, frequent blind shots and gullies snaking through the course. Opinion is split as to which is the best, and this makes a personal game of compare and contrast a very tempting idea. There is plenty of excellent accommodation of varying types on site and the club is very much one of Spain's southern treasures.

Real El Prat

• Location Barcelona
• Founded 1912
• Architect Greg Norman
• GF Approx €95 depending on loops played
• Par - 5 loops of nine holes, each par 36, played in various combinations
• Contact Real El Prat Golf Club

Barcelona Golf Club was founded in 1912 before reinventing itself as El Prat in the 1950s. Over the years, its location sandwiched between the city’s burgeoning airport and the sea started to present problems. A relocation in 1997 to a far more spacious site in the foothills some way to the north of the city proved the perfect solution. This allowed Greg Norman to build 45 holes of sumptuous golf in an idyllic setting, which in turn allows all manner of playing combinations to accommodate different requirements and timings. This is a consummate golfing resort, packed with interesting and at times spectacular holes, that also happily doesn’t break the bank.

Real Sevilla

• Location Seville
• Founded 1991
• Architect José María Olazábal
• GF €125-€165
• Par 72, 6,164 yards
• Contact Real Sevilla Golf Club

For a royal golf club, Seville is something of a youngster as it came into existence as recently as 1991. It was awarded its regal status 20 years ago by King Juan Carlos I, and its course was designed by Spanish golfing hero, José María Olazábal. It covers a relatively flat plot of land, but a fair amount of its acreage is liquid rather than solid! This is both strategic and visually very attractive, while the relatively small greens place a premium on accurate approach play. In an area that is comparatively less well-known for its golf, this is a very engaging course that has much to offer.

Real Sotogrande

• Location Sotogrande
• Founded 1964
• Architect Robert Trent Jones Senior
• GF €250-€280
• Par 71, 6,424 yards
• Contact Real Sotogrande Golf Club

This was one of the very first well-known holiday destinations for sun-seeking golfers and it has constantly reinvented itself to meet the ever-increasing expectations of its visitors. Benefitting from a comprehensive upgrade in 2015/6, it is presented in tip-top condition, and some consider it to be a worthy rival for Valderrama. While not too demanding from the tee, its main defence is the elevated and sloping greens which mean that the golfer must plot his way round strategically and carefully.

San Roque

• Location Sotogrande
• Founded 1974
• Architect Dave Thomas - Perry Dye
• GF Old Approx €150 - New Approx €60
• Old - Par 72, 6,589 yards
• New - Par 72, 6,649 yards
• Contact San Roque Golf Club

San Roque is yet another of Spain’s leading clubs that boasts not one but two very fine courses. The Old was designed by Dave Thomas and Tony Jacklin, and Seve Ballesteros, one of the best short game players of all time, was engaged to add his flair to the bunkering. Three years ago, it was closed for a very significant upgrade that included changes to all the key features and a reversal of the two nines. The course twists and turns through housing and apartments, and the result of all this investment has been met with widespread acclaim. The New Course opened in 2003 and was designed by Perry, son of the great Pete Dye. It covers a relatively compact site and is visually very impressive with the heavy and distinctive bunkering a real feature. The short par-4 3rd, for example, has more than 20 traps to avoid. With two very strong and different designs, San Roque is undoubtedly one of the best clubs in Spain.

Santander

• Location Madrid
• Founded 2005
• Architect Rees Jones & Seve Ballesteros
• GF Approx €120-€150
• Par 72, 6,352 yards
• Contact Santander Golf Club

One of the world’s largest banking corporations, Santander was founded in 1857 and has its operational centre in Madrid on a site that is now home to an extremely enjoyable golf course. It is actually laid out on what was previously uninspiring land, part of which was a rubbish tip! This is hard to imagine now as the result is an extremely attractive course kept in fine condition with bold bunkering and plenty of water. This becomes particularly intrusive at three of the short holes; the 7th which is played from an elevated tee over the lake, the 11th where it lines the green to the left and behind, and the penultimate hole where it borders the front half of the circular green. Subtle elevation changes add to the challenge and visual appeal, and the holes are attractively separated by olive trees. The par 5s are also very strong, especially the pair on the back nine. The 12th calls for as long a carry as you dare over water before working your way up the slope to a green fronted by bunkers, while the closing hole heads along to a beautifully-sited green beyond yet more water. If you fancy a game of golf in Madrid, this comes highly recommended.

Son Gual

• Location Mallorca
• Founded 2007
• Architect Thomas Himmel
• GF €109-€140, check website for details
• Par 72, 6,543 yards
• Contact Son Gual Golf Club

Alongside Alcanada, Mallorca has a number of very fine courses, and Son Gual is up there with the very best. It was designed by Thomas Himmel, one of Germany’s leading amateur golfers, and it involved a great deal of land movement to create dramatic mounding, ponds and lakes. This is a very visual course with acres of sand to admire and hopefully avoid, and is also a serious test of golf that should appeal to all. Water comes into play on many holes, especially on the dramatic par-5 closing hole. Here, a stream to the left of the fairway early on opens up into a substantial hazard around the halfway point, before continuing on the right all the way up to another pond and waterfall that protects the green. Even if your game is off, this is a thrilling course packed with memorable holes.

As mentioned, Spain has pretty much everything that any holidaymaker could be looking for; accommodation, dining and endless activities to suit all tastes and pockets. For those looking to play its best golf courses, this introduction will hopefully point you in the right direction, and then perhaps lead you to discover some of the nation’s own, and perhaps in cases more affordable, hidden gems. As with the best golf courses in the UK&I, there is more than enough quality and quantity to last keen golfers a lifetime.

PGA Catalunya’s Stadium Course near Gerona in Spain opened in 1999 and has regularly ranked as one of the best golf courses in Spain. 

The course is undoubtedly spectacular with its undulating terrain, and heather, oak and pine trees lining its pristine fairways, set against the backdrop of the Pyrenees. However, it’s also difficult enough to challenge any player, with trees typically standing close to the fairways and seven of the toughest holes featuring devilishly placed bunkers and lakes.

Since opening, the course has hosted many high-profile tournaments. As well as the venue for the 2022 Catalunya Championship, it also held the 2000, 2009 and 2014 Spanish Opens. It was also the first course to hold two European Tour events within 10 months of opening and regularly hosts the finals of the European Tour Qualifying Schools.

Considering its stellar reputation, it may be slightly surprising to learn that arranging a round at the course isn’t either that difficult or expensive compared to some other courses, if you choose the right time to play. You can book a tee time in advance online, with green fees per person ranging between €92 and €249 depending on the time of year and time of day you play. At certain times of the year, there are also special rates for two green fees plus a buggy ranging between €236 and €308.

There are several golf and hotel packages. The Spain Golf Getaway – Stadium Course package offers one round of golf at the Stadium Course per person per night staying at the PGA Catalunya’s Golf And Wellness Resort’s five-star Hotel Camiral, with prices starting at €170.

Another option is the Spain Golf Break package, which, from €155 per person per night, offers three green fees – one for the Stadium Course and two for the less challenging Tour Course at the same hotel over a three-night stay. If you only want to play the Tour Course, you can opt for the Tour course package, with one round per person per night from €147, again staying at the Hotel Camaril.

You can also become a member of the club and gain access to privileges including unrestricted use of the courses, special green fee rates for guests and Pro Shop and restaurant discounts. Initiation fees are reportedly above €25,000. Finally, you can play as a guest of a member.

Most people looking to play golf in Spain will flock to its treasure chest of well-known courses along or close to its lovely and lively 3,000-mile coastline. 

And while the various costas are home to some brilliant designs, heading inland can be rewarding in different ways. 

Madrid is pretty much right in the centre of the country, and offers more than enough culture, history and tourist attractions to appeal to the most discerning traveller. 

The city has a number of pedigree courses that make it a very appealing base for your next golfing trip.

Santander

Designed by Rees Jones and Seve Ballesteros in 2005, Santander is laid out on what was previously uninspiring land.

This is hard to imagine now as the result is an extremely attractive course kept in fine condition with bold bunkering and plenty of water.

This becomes particularly intrusive at three of the short holes: the 7th, which is played from an elevated tee over the lake; the 11th, where it lines the green to the left and behind; and the penultimate hole where it borders the front half of a circular green.

Subtle elevation changes add to the challenge and visual appeal, and the holes are attractively separated by olive trees.

Retamares

Designed by Jose Maria Olazabal and surrounded by farmland, there are fabulous far-reaching views to the mountains further north.

Unusually, the course opens with the stroke-index-one, a tough par 4 up the hill to a well-protected green.

Happily, this is balanced by the shortest hole on the course at the 2nd, with a chance to make up for any early lost ground.

There are semi-blind drives at the 5th and again at the 6th where a snaking stream awaits the unsuspecting.

There is plenty of wow factor on the second half, especially at the watery 10th and then even more so for the elevated drive at the gorgeous par-4 15th. Retamares is a family-friendly, informal club where the golf is fun and the views are more than impressive.

Real Sociedad Hipica Espanola

There are two very strong courses at this private members’ club on the northern outskirts of Madrid.

Both were designed by the brilliant and prolific Robert von Hagge, with the North edging it in terms of both design and setting.

The nines were swapped over a couple of years ago and so the course now opens with an absolute cracker of a par 5 with a blind drive to the brow before you head left and downwards to a fabulous green with a lake short right and a wall of bunkers protecting the safe line to the left.

There is plenty of drama all the way, with further highlights including the short 5th where water will swallow up anything right, the split fairway at 13, and the imperious par-5 finishing hole.

Luke Donald won the Madrid Masters here in 2010 as he approached his peak en route to becoming World No.1.

Supporting cast...

One downside of golf in this region is that it is not so geared towards visitors. A few clubs are ‘member and guests’ only, but some will respond favourably to a diplomatic and flexible approach.

Two of the more private are La Moraleja, which has four fine courses, and Real Puerta de Hierro, with two.

Club de Campo Villa de Madrid has a more welcoming policy, while the tree-lined course at La Herreria is overlooked by the magnificent San Lorenzo monastery.

The resort course at Encin Golf Hotel is great fun, and Lomas-Bosque has a lovely setting with the back nine bordering the lake.

Where to play

Santander

Par 71, 6,456 yards

www.golfsantander.es

Retamares

Par 72, 6,518 yards

www.golfretamares.com

Real Sociedad Hipica Espanola

Par 72, 6,157 yards

www.rshecc.es

Costa Brava

Costa Brava, which means ‘wild coast’ in Spanish, lies in the north-east of the country.

It is one of Europe’s most unspoilt stretches of coast, and features broad, sandy beaches, beautiful bays and spectacular cliff-top views.

Should you wish to combine golf with a city break, the beauty of playing in this part of Spain is that you can base yourself in Barcelona, and it is an hour north of here that you will find the much-heralded PGA

Catalunya, unquestionably one of the continent’s elite courses.

The Stadium course was designed and built with the intention of hosting the Ryder Cup, and is one of the courses under consideration for the 2031 Ryder Cup.

The back nine is exceptional, especially the signature 13th, where you play from an elevated tee where you can see the rolling coastal hills of Montseny Massif. A par here will feel like a birdie, given the long carry that’s required to find the fairway, while up ahead the green is well protected by water.

In truth, the ‘European Tour’s Sawgrass’ is likely to be too tough for the average golfer, but there is also the Tour course which, while hardly straightforward, does not quite possess the same fear factor.

Acclaimed architect Robert von Hagge – designer of Les Bordes Old course, one of the best courses in France – has also left his mark in this part of Spain at Emporda Golf Club.

The Links and Forest are located in the heart of the Costa Brava region, and they both offer a varied playing experience.

With its treeless and barren appearance, the former has the feel of a British links, while the latter wends through a traditional Mediterranean pine forest.

Anyone wishing to indulge in a more typical Spanish parkland course would do well to visit Llavaneras Golf Club, which was founded in 1945.

It is relatively short and while water frequently comes into play, the course does not have the same intimidation factor as a number of its more famous neighbours.

Visitors are always welcome here, too, and with its sea-front location, there are plenty of stunning views to enjoy.

Costa Blanca

The ‘white coast’ extends 200 kilometres along the Mediterranean coast through the province of Alicante, stretching from Gandia to Torrevieja.

Its wonderful beaches attract millions of tourists every year, and given the splendour of its natural beauty and excellent accessibility, it is little wonder that the region is so popular with golfers, too.

Stay at sumptuous La Finca Resort, a 30-minute drive from Alicante Airport, and you won’t feel the need to even leave the complex.

La Finca, Villamartin and Las Ramblas combine to offer superb variety, and the beauty of having 54 holes to play is no matter what level you’re at, you are guaranteed an enjoyable round.

La Finca has wide and generous fairways, which means you’re able to open your shoulders with the driver.

Las Ramblas, meanwhile, requires a little more finesse as you meander through the pines. Then there is Villamartin, an absolute gem with over 40 years of history.

The resort has benefited from a €6 million renovation project, which has seen all three layouts undergo major developments – including the restoration of bunkers and green complexes.

With three new restaurants and a winery, plus a whole host of other activities on site, this is very much Costa Blanca’s go-to destination.

Elsewhere, Las Colinas Golf & Country Club, which is set within an upmarket residential development, is only a short distance away.

The fairways are large and generally forgiving, so it gives golfers of all abilities a chance to score, or at least get the ball in play.

The real challenge, as you play across a valley, comes in avoiding the large sprawling bunkers with distance control crucial on the undulating putting surfaces.

With the forested hills that overlook the course, this is one of the best courses in Spain, and one of Cabell Robinson’s modern masterpieces.

Canary Islands

If you are a regular visitor to the Canaries, you will know it is somewhere that is well worth taking the clubs.

Anfi Tauro, on Gran Canaria’s south-west coast, might just claim the number one spot.

Set with a contrasting backdrop of dramatic volcanic mountains and the glimmering Atlantic, it provides a stern test.

Although you will need to be fairly precise from both the tee and with your approach play, you can’t fail to enjoy the experience.

For example, the par-3 13th, which plays down over the rocky landscape, is a real heart-stopper.

Tenerife also features a wonderful collection of courses, with Golf del Sur one of the most revered.

The former Tenerife Open venue has an engaging ruggedness, its bunkers made from black, volcanic sand.

Costa Adeje, meanwhile, which hosted back-to-back European Tour events in April and May, is no less stunning.

With wild flowers, cacti, reddish-pink rocks and deep gullies, it is impossible not to wonder at the colourful surroundings.

You cannot tick Tenerife off the list without playing Buenavista – holiday golf at its best.

Part of its charm is that it is a little off the beaten track, but Seve Ballesteros’ layout – which opened in 2003 – is a joy, no matter what level you play at.

Comprising six par threes, six par fours and six par fives, the cliff-top location makes for a rollercoaster ride, and offers spectacular views of the Atlantic that will live long in the memory.

To win the bragging rights within your golfing circle, it is well worth taking a 45-minute ferry trip from Tenerife to Gomera, which is where you will find Tecina. Somehow the views here crank up a notch, with the volcanic landscape in one direction and the sea the other.

All the while, it has the feel of playing through a botanical garden. Island golf doesn’t get much better.

Where to play

Anfi Tauro Golf

Stats: par 72, 6,917 yards

Golf del Sur

Stats: par 72, 6,365 yards

Golf Costa Adeje 

Stats: par 72, 7090 yards 

Buenavista Golf

Stats: par 72, 6,676 yards

Tecina

Stats: par 71, 6,937 yards 

Mallorca

If you are looking to take a golfing trip to Mallorca, the largest of the four main islands is home to a cluster of top courses, many of which are in close proximity to its beautiful and vibrant capital, Palma.

Many would have Son Gual at number one. Set in 156 acres of glorious Mediterranean landscape, the championship layout is fit to host tournament golf of the highest level, so don’t expect an easy ride.

Water is a constant danger throughout, as are its sweeping bunkers, and it offers a technical challenge like nowhere else on the island.

There are many memorable holes, but the 18th might top the lot – a thrilling par 5 to bring your round to a close.

There are some 20 courses to choose from in Mallorca, but you should make time to visit the island’s oldest layout – Golf Son Vida, a charming spot where many of the game’s greats have battled it out, including Seve Ballesteros, who triumphed here in 1990.

The course falls under Arabella Golf Mallorca’s umbrella, along with Son Muntaner and Son Quint.

It is a fine trio, and while Son Vida gets a little tight in places, golfers of all abilities have a playable 54-hole option here, and one that is easy to put together.

Venture to the other side of the island from Palma – which can be done in approximately an hour – and there are a number of other courses well worth playing.

From the five-star Carrossa Resort, not far from the charming town of Arta in the north-east, you are a short drive from Alcanada, which certainly vies for top spot.

Its lush fairways are manicured to perfection, as are the greens, and the view across the bay to Alcudia is a photo opportunity you won’t want to miss.

Pula Golf is another terrific venue. Two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal may have redesigned the layout here, but the Spaniard is very much a fan of making courses playable for pros as well as mid-handicappers, and it is a place that attracts many a celebrity, including one of the island’s most famous residents, Rafael Nadal.

Where to play

Son Gual

Stats: par 72, 6,842 yards

Golf Son Vida

Stats: par 71, 6,125 yards 

Son Muntaner

Stats: par 72, 6,895 yards 

Son Quint

Stats: par 71, 6,785 yards

Pula Golf

Stats: par 72, 6,886 yards 

Alcanada Golf Club

Stats: par 72, 7107 yards 

Emporda Golf in Costa Brava has two excellent and contrasting 18-hole courses, named Links and Forest. The on-site hotel has undergone a refurbishment which cost €21m. Of this nearly €7m was spent on the Links course and involved work to all the bunkers. That’s a lot of money, but then there is a lot of bunkering.

A rule of thumb is that any course calling itself a links is not one. Such is the case here. Mounds of earth to ape a links have been built, but these do not flow or have the ripple effect characteristic of linksland. 

The fairways are flat, with none of the awkward stances you can get on many links, and the bunkers are often flat – so none of the steep or pot bunkers typical of a links either. But it is an imaginative transformation of a flat, open piece of land.

Also, unlike with a links, you cannot manufacture shots so easily here: there is a mix of target golf and risk-and-reward. This is often because water hazards have been sploshed around the design with enthusiasm by architect Robert von Haage.

The 9th is probably the most attractive hole with the distant backdrop to the moated green one of mountains and castle. The green is 170ft deep and in the shape of a cartoon depiction of a dog’s bone.

On the par-3 6th the putting surface is angled to the tee and behind a sprawling bunker. It is also jolly wide – well in my case actually miserably wide as I was on in one and down in five. An even better, or worse, chance to four putt is the 18th as that has a massive double green with the 18th on the Forest.

The 428-yard 7th has a green 170ft deep. The par-3 11th is to an angled green 155ft from front to back with the tee shot over the corner of a lake.

The slightly shorter Forest, also the work of von Haage, might seem to be the secondary course at Emporda Golf as Links was prioritised for renovation and hosted two Challenge Tour events this year. However the majority opinion of our dozen-strong party is that the Forest is an even better course.  It is prettier, perhaps has a wee bit more character, with a touch more variety and a bit less that is forced in the design. But it shares with the Links design large, flat bunkers, and some artificial mounds.

As it name suggests, it plays through a wooded area, with narrow fairways lined by umbrella pines. There is a subtle variety to the green complexes, with differing styles of bunkering used, and some raised greens, including a pork-pie-hat green on the 11th.

Pleasingly for a modern course, there is not a par 3 with water, and the short holes are exactly that – the longest any can stretch to is 187 yards. My favourite hole was the elegant par-3 2nd played to a slightly raised green with banking to the left and a slope strewn with bunkers to the right, with distant backdrop, when viewed from the tee, of castle. Sadly my photo of it does not quite do it justice.

But the two most talked about holes are the most overtly designed. The 319-yard 6th offers a choice of routes to the green. To play straight towards it you have to hit a fairway bordered with water on three sides and then approach to a shallow, wide green over water. Or you can choose the C-shaped fairway to the left of this, which has water inside the C. This is the longer route, and this fairway is not wide, but the approach does not have to cross water and is now to a narrow but deep green from this angle.

The par-5 9th has a large bunker dissecting the first part of a fairway which doglegs right and arcs to the left round a lake, with the green jutting out into the lake. You can play parallel to the bunker, and then over it to set up a third shot to the green, or you can take on the large flat expanse of sand – and in truth it should not be too tricky to play out of this anyway – to set up a second shot over water to the precariously positioned green.

The golf clubhouse is but a short iron from what is a true golfers’ hotel – the spa has yet to reopen at Terraverda Golf Hotel as it awaits its own rejunevation, and this leaves a limited range of non-golfing activities. However the local area is enchanting. Llafranc is a charming seaside village with superb views from the promenade and is a 20-minute drive from the hotel. The evocative and romantic medieval villages of Pals and Peratallada are a 10- and 15-minute journey respectively.

Barcelona airport is 1hr 45min drive away from Emporda Golf and Girona airport is 45 minutes’ drive.

Fergus Bisset enjoyed a stunning few days at Sotogrande in southern Spain, playing La Reserva, Valderrama and Club de Golf Sotogrande.

Around the world, there are certain golfing focal points that are on most golf fanatics' must visit wish-lists. St Andrews in the UK for instance, Pinehurst in the USA of course… On continental Europe, for me, the name that sticks out is Sotogrande on Spain’s Costa del Sol. Despite 15 years as a golf journalist I’d never made it there to sample the tremendous golf, famous hospitality and wonderful food I’d heard so much about. So, when I was offered the chance to visit this spring, I jumped at the chance.

Flying British Airways into Gibraltar from Heathrow, an interesting experience in itself, it’s then a fairly short drive to Sotogrande, no more than 20 minutes away. We were staying in Sotogrande’s marvellous Villa Oasis; a luxurious property on the resort’s Calle Granada. This opulent villa is designed to showcase the type of lifestyle residents of, and visitors to, this marvellous resort might enjoy. If Villa Oasis is anything to go by – it’s pretty incredible. Open and airy and beautifully furnished inside and out, this place is special.

The finish is impeccable and the facilities of the highest quality. There’s a private spa, a gym, a grand piano, sculptures, fountains, an outdoor pool, multiple seating areas, a hot tub, a wine cellar, a cinema room… Basically, it’s very luxurious and an exceptional treat to stay in. In fact, I was rather overwhelmed that it was my base for a few days and I slept like a baby on night one contemplating the type of golf courses we would experience that might reflect the refined elegance of our Sototgrande accommodation.

There are amazing properties across the Sotogrande resort but among the more incredible projects in the pipeline right now is The Seven at La Reserva de Sotogrande. These are seven unique villas each designed by one of the world’s leading architects. There’s more info on this on the website here but below is an image of one of the designs…

First stop on our golfing tour was Real Club de Golf Sotogrande. Opened for play in 1964, the course at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande was the first in Europe to be designed by acclaimed course architect Robert Trent Jones. It has been recently renovated with guidance from Roger Rulewich, Trent Jones’s right-hand man for 35 years and his partner David Fleury.

Both club and course have a traditional, classic feel to them. The clubhouse exudes old school style. From the architecture itself to the retro leather bags in the professional’s shop, everything is done with a touch of class. But it’s also a relaxed place and there’s a great feeling of serenity to be found here.

The course itself is among the best presented I’ve ever had the privilege to play on. Fairways are firm yet springy with surrounding areas perfectly maintained, in and around the beautiful mature cork, oak and pine trees. The bunkers were perfect and absolutely consistent, but it was the greens that really stood out. Extremely fast but supremely true, they were receptive to a well-struck shot and just a joy to putt on.

The layout reflects the classic nature of the club to which it belongs. It delivers a fair but solid test. The fairways are relatively wide and it’s really around the greens that the difficulty lies. A good touch and inventive short game are required to score well here.

The track offers great variety and a selection of holes asking different questions in terms of strategy and ball flight. There are distinct sections to the course and that gives it tremendous character. The first few holes are fairly open and relatively flat, providing a gentle introduction to the round. The holes then become more undulating with some real crackers to negotiate, like the downhill dog-leg 7th where the approach is played to a narrow green protected by a water hazard to the right side.

On the back nine, after a pause for a cerveza and chicken sandwich at the halfway hut, the holes move towards a great stretch played around and over a couple of sizeable water hazards. This section has a slightly more modern, stadium-like feel to it. The final hole is a tough one back up towards the elegant clubhouse. Sitting on the veranda looking out across the course and the excellent practice facilities, we reflected on a highly enjoyable and memorable round. Our group comprised players of varying standards and we agreed that the layout at Real Club de Golfe Sotogrande is one that can be enjoyed by all, from the scratch player to the higher handicappers.

Back at our opulent base camp, we were treated to a superb supper showcasing the local cuisine. Fabulous cured meats, salads and then an amazing main dish of king prawns with a squid ink rice dish on the side. Suitably refuelled and after another excellent night’s sleep we were ready to take on the next challenge. And it was set to be quite a challenge. The wind had whipped up to around 30mph and we were off to Valderrama!

Site of the 1997 Ryder Cup and numerous further professional competitions, Valderrama is one of the world’s iconic golf courses and I was hugely excited to play it. I may be a cynical old hack, but I must confess that the hairs stood up on the back of my neck as we pulled into the car park.

Like Sotogrande, Valderrama delivers a real feeling of class and prestige, from the welcome in the car park, to the forecaddies in white overalls, the pyramids of balls on the driving range to the cocktails on the terrace. This is a very special place.

But as a golf course, it’s actually very different to its near neighbour and that’s one of the things that makes a golfing trip to Sotogrande so absorbing – the variety between these courses that are all but next door to one another.

Yes, the course at Valderrama was, like Sotogrande, designed by Robert Trent Jones but it’s set over a very different piece of ground. Valderrama is more undulating and rugged and undoubtedly tougher for the average player. The beautiful old cork trees that line the fairways and surround the greens demand the player to be extremely precise. I don’t feel it’s an exaggeration to say that it’s impossible for an amateur golfer to make it round the 18 holes of Valderrama without being impeded by a tree in some way at some point. The greens are fairly small and well protected, they are also fast, firm and undulating: Only accurate shots will be rewarded.

But the test is in no way unfair, and even if you don’t quite get to grips with the challenge, you won’t be left feeling beaten up - it’s quite simply a very good examination of golf.

Remembering past tournaments played at Valderrama, most holes felt familiar to me on the way round, despite it being my first visit. But I really started to get goose bumps on two of the par-5s – the 4th and 17th. Both offer great risk/reward opportunities with water protecting the green – the latter has witnessed so many moments of drama over the years with the carry over water and the shaved slope to the front of the putting surface. I recalled Seve and Monty having a conversation in the fairway before the Scot went on to claim a half with Scott Hoch in the Ryder Cup. I also remembered Graeme McDowell’s incredible albatross in the Volvo Masters. In the end I was delighted with my three-putt bogey!

Back in the Andalusian-style clubhouse it was time to sum up the day… Here it is: One of the classic golfing experiences from start to finish. Great hospitality and a return to a more elegant age of exclusive golf – not only with the style of the course but also the concept of how a day should pan out…. Put your phone away, immerse yourself in the place and the game, speak to your playing partners and forget the outside world for a few hours. The course is just brilliant and beautiful to boot with the wonderful old trees and evidence of the club’s notable environmental efforts throughout. Each hole offers something different, but all deliver sheer quality. It’s a joy to play, even if you play poorly (which I can confirm.)

Back to the sumptuous Villa Oasis (no more than a 10-minute shuttle drive) some of the party decided to relax in the salubrious private spa downstairs. Others, the less health conscious of us, elected to sample a fine bottle of Rioja in the courtyard-style garden looking out at the flowing fountain, as chef prepared the barbecue for an Argentinian-style feast… A fairly bearable hour or two!

That feast was rather impressive with delicious beef, chicken, pork, vegetables and other delicacies cooked to perfection by a husband and wife team from Buenos Aires who now live in the area. A couple more glasses of Rioja and bed called – one more day and one more course to sample. I was tired but feeling incredibly relaxed and lucky to be somewhere so utterly amazing!

Day three of our trip saw us travel the very short distance to Sotogrande Resort’s La Reserva Club. Opened for play in 2003 and designed by acclaimed golf course architect Cabell B. Robinson, La Reserva, for me, continued the theme of exceptional variety at Sotogrande. This is a more modern style course but set on the hillside, making use of brilliant topography. Unlike Valderrama and Sotogrande, this is one where you need to take a buggy – we had walked the first two tracks, but the changes in elevation and distances between green and tee at La Reserva means a buggy is necessary.

It’s also, perhaps a more forgiving course – certainly than Valderrama. The fairways are generous and the greens are large. Above all, this is a fun track to play with a number of highly memorable holes. From the outset, it’s clear the test here will be tricky but manageable – the 1st offers a nice opening tee shot, downhill to a wide fairway turning to the left. But the second asks for a strong shot to carry all the way to the green over water. It’s indicative of the challenge to come – Find the sizeable fairways and take advantage, miss the fairways and take your medicine, play for position and try to recover. The hero shot is not the way!

As it was for all the courses we played, we tackled La Reserva in a stiff breeze and this added to the test. But we were greatly aided by a new playing partner in this regard as he possessed not only a good deal of local knowledge, but also a tremendous amount of skill. We were lucky enough to be joined by nine-time European Tour winner and two-time Ryder Cup player Manuel Pinero. He’s an ambassador for La Reserva and has an academy at the club.

Aside from being a hugely talented golfer with an old-school touch and flair that is less of a feature in today’s professional game, Manuel is also a very nice person who is happy to give out pointers and to tell tales of his days on the professional tours. We enjoyed an incredible round, watching him play brilliant wind-cheating drives and sumptuous touch shots with this Wilson R90 wedge, that dates from the late 1930s, whilst listening to stories of Seve, Trevino, Watson et al. Brilliant.

La Reserva will welcome a Ladies European Tour event in May and it will provide a great stage for the players. Although all the courses we played had their own distinct character, a consistent factor was the quality of the playing surfaces. La Reserva boasts springy fairways, excellent greens and defined surrounds.

The clubhouse at La Reserva deserves a special mention – beautifully appointed and decorated with delightful communal areas, cavernous locker rooms and a brilliant restaurant in L’Olive.

Also at La Reserva Club are myriad other activities to interest non-golfers. There’s tennis, horse-riding, yoga and mountain biking. Reopening in 2019, there’s also the incredible Beach Club which delivers Spain’s only private beach – a seaside oasis transferred to the Andalusian hills. It’s pretty cool.

The fact there is so much besides golf is a message that Sotogrande is keen to get across, and one that was very much on evidence through this trip. As we strolled along the edge of the marina that evening and dipped into the superb KE restaurant there, we reflected that this is very much more than just a golfing destination. There is something for everybody, and that allows those who do want to play golf the chance to do so guilt-free, knowing that significant others, children or parents will find something to suit their tastes while the golfers stride the fairways. Whether it’s water sport, hill trekking, pampering, shopping, tennis, shooting, mountain biking, eating – Sotogrande has it all, and it delivers it with that exceptional touch of class throughout. One for the must-visit list? For sure.

Panel

Fly British Airways to Gibraltar W: britishairways.com

Stay: Villa Oasis Sotogrande W: villaoasis.es

Play: Real Club de Golf Sotogrande W: golfsotogrande.com/en/

Real Club Valderrama W: Valderrama.com

La Reserva Club W: lareservaclubsotogrande.com

Eat: W: cafeteriake.com

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Michael Weston visits Gran Canaria and delights in its glorious and remarkably diverse landscape both on and off the course

Golf In Gran Canaria - The Island Of Dreams

With its white sandy beaches, unspoilt valleys and dramatic mountain ranges, it’s no surprise that Gran Canaria, the third largest of the Canary Islands, attracts over three million visitors each year.

While the south is dry and hot, and home to many of the island’s biggest resorts, the whole of this ‘miniature continent’ demands to be explored. The north is more humid, with a rocky coastline similar to the west, all of which creates a diverse and enticing landscape.

For golfers, there’s the added bonus that such terrain has provided the perfect canvas for architects to create some truly beautiful layouts, with enough top tracks here for a very enjoyable golf holiday.

Las Palmas Airport is located on the eastern side of the island, approximately 11 miles from the cosmopolitan capital.

Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas and El Cortijo Club de Campo

Should you have the itch to play as soon as you touch down, Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas and El Cortijo Club de Campo are half an hour away.

The former is Spain’s oldest golf club, founded by the British in 1891. The current course, situated alongside a volcanic crater, was laid out in the mid-1950s.

It’s not just the crater that catches the eye – the course boasts stunning views both of the coastline and inland.

While length doesn’t pose an issue, the narrow tree-lined fairways, ravines and small greens provide enough of a challenge.

Meanwhile, the distant views of the hillside villages are pleasing throughout, even when your game isn’t quite there.

El Cortijo, designed by Blake Stirling and Marco Martin, is a little over 20 minutes away in the district of Telde, and if 36 holes is your thing, you may wish to tick the north’s only other course off on the same day.

That may sound a little demanding, but Gran Canaria enjoys a mild climate throughout the year, averaging 21˚C, perfect weather for taking to the fairways.

Close to 7,000 yards off the tips, you might be feeling the heat towards the end of your round, but that shouldn’t put anyone off teeing it up here as you can select from up to six teeing areas per hole.

Three years after opening, Sergio Garcia won the 2002 Canaria Open de España at El Cortijo.

The Spaniard was the only player to reach double digits under par (-13), so it presents a stern challenge for the best in the business.

The front nine has a links-like feel and sea views, with the back nine more akin to an American-style layout with a number of lakes to negotiate.

Despite the length, the par 3s at the 4th and 6th both measure under 150 yards, although the back-to-back par 5s on the 9th and 10th demand that you open up your shoulders, with the latter the course’s longest hole at close to 600 yards.

Anfi Tauro

Heading down to the south-west coast, Anfi Tauro might just come out on top as the Canary Island’s number one track.

This Arizona-style course’s construction involved moving three million cubic metres of earth and is the work of Robert von Hagge, Michael Smelek and Rick Baril.

Many holes are hewn from the rock, with sensational features not unlike those you’d face in a computer game, except this time the challenges are for real.

One look at the par-3 6th, with the ocean and a rocky outcrop behind the green, should have you scrambling to book a round at this glorious layout.

Up at the 8th, the tiered green is carved out below a rock face, and the long par-3 13th plays into a small green cut into a mountainside.

You’ll need to be at your very best to play to handicap, although the experience will live long in the memory however well you play.

With its golf academy, practice areas and nine-hole par-3 course, it’s also a great place to work on your game and share your love of golf with the family.

Anfi Tauro is located just a few kilometres west of Maspalomas, Gran Canaria’s most famous and biggest purpose-built tourist development, made up of more than 500 chalets, apartment blocks and hotels.

Beach lovers will appreciate the long, golden stretches here, while spots like Puerto Rico, a former fishing port, provide excellent facilities for a number of water sports.

If you plan on staying in the south, you could do far worse than base yourself at the Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia, part of the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World collection.

Styled like a Mediterranean village, with rows of whitewashed, terracotta-roofed buildings, it features tropical grounds and beautiful balconies cloaked in bougainvillea.

From here, you’re just 200 metres from the sand dunes, although with its spa and a restaurant, which made it into the 2016 Michelin Guide, there’s every reason to spend a day or two here in complete seclusion.

Salobre

Back out on the fairways and heading east, closer to Maspalomas, Salobre Golf and Resort boasts the only 36-hole facility on the island.

The New, or North course, is unlike any other in Gran Canaria, which is certainly no criticism because the constant changes in elevation make for an enthralling few hours in the buggy.

Risk/reward is a constant theme, with deep ravines a danger throughout, although at the short par-5 5th you can only think about a possible reward once you have carried a rocky lava field with your tee shot.

The palm-lined Old (South) is not short on thrills either, although it is more forgiving, despite wending its way through lava outcrops and rocky terraces.

The elevated tees at the par-3 11th and par-4 12th make for two strong holes, the former requiring pinpoint accuracy to find its undulating green on the other side of a ravine.

Lopesan Meloneras Golf

Just a few miles south, Lopesan Meloneras Golf, inaugurated in 2006, has excellent facilities, including its own golf academy, which offers programmes to suit all skill levels.

With its own driving range and numerous practice areas, it’s a great spot to work on your game.

Indeed, Rafa Cabrera- Bello has been known to practise here.

The course offers the chance to put a score together, especially over the more open front nine. Coming home you play towards the sea with a run of holes skirting the cliff edge that overlooks the marina and beach.

Maspalomas

Maspalomas is located on the seashore adjacent to the Maspalomas Dunes nature reserve.

Winding its way through tropical vegetation, it’s a fairly flat parkland layout that offers glorious views throughout.

Should you be feeling a little battered and bruised, and maybe short of balls following a round at Anfi Tauro, you should find Maspalomas’ fairways and overall conditions a little friendlier.

If long nights and dance floors are your thing, you don’t have to go far to find the bars and clubs.

In Playa del Ingles, a lively tourist resort, you’ll also find Yumbo, a multi-storey shopping and leisure centre.

Away from the course, Gran Canaria is a melting pot of cultures, evident if you take the time to head off the beaten track a little.

Pass through the picturesque towns and hillside villages and you’ll find traces of heritage passed from one generation to another.

It all makes for a wonderfully varied island adventure, one made all the better with a set of clubs.

Related: Check out what else Spain has to offer golfers

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Spain is home to many distinct regions, each with its own style and character. Rob Smith enjoys a tour of Murcia…

Spain's Southern Treasures - Murcia

Throughout its beautiful countryside, Spain is packed with varied and interesting golf to suit all tastes and budgets.

At a more local level, the same can be said for the south-eastern region of the country, Murcia. The area boasts 300 days of sunshine a year and offers a terrific mixture of golf, from the big guns such as world-famous La Manga to hidden gems such as Altorreal and Lorca.

At its heart is the beautiful and characterful city of Murcia itself, through which runs the Segura River.

Based on its long-standing tradition of producing fruit, vegetables and flowers, it is known as ‘Europe’s Orchard’.

It is also home to a multitude of delicious tapas restaurants and an eclectic mix of architecture, old and new.

The region’s rugged 150-mile coastline is the Costa Calida, the ‘warm coast’, and this is an area of great natural beauty with a climate that is dry and inviting.

The best-known golfing resort in Murcia is the expansive and all-encompassing La Manga Club, which last year was granted royal status and is now officially ‘Real’.

This mecca for the active is home to not one but three fine golf courses, not to mention just about every other sporting and recreational activity anyone could possibly want.

The North and South courses date back to the 1970s, with the latter benefiting from the creative mind of Arnold Palmer.

Both have been remodelled over the years, while the West is a Dave Thomas design which opened just over 20 years ago and has outstanding views, narrow fairways, frequent blind shots and gullies snaking through the course.

Opinion is split as to which is the best, and this makes a personal game of compare and contrast a very tempting idea.

There is plenty of excellent accommodation of varying types on site, with the Principe Felipe Hotel the pick of the bunch.

Strength in Depth

There are more than 20 courses in Murcia.

Over to the west and a few miles inland, Lorca is a very interesting, not to mention challenging, desert-style course.

Again designed by Dave Thomas, it shares some characteristics with La Manga’s West, especially the many chasms that must be carried either off the tee or on approaches.

This is a course packed with risk and reward in a quiet location up in the hills.

It will both excite the first-timer and grow on the golfer with repeated play.

To the south, the coastal town of Aguilas has much to offer, and the very friendly Puerto Juan Montiel Hotel with its own marina is an excellent place to rest your weary head.

This area is something of a Thomas stronghold, and one of his best championship courses is Hacienda del Alamo, which is an excellent test of golf due to the strategic placement of bunkers which demand thought on every tee.

At 800 feet above sea level, there is often a cooling breeze which also adds to the challenge, and the gently undulating par-72 course covers a vast acreage.

Water comes into play on a number of holes, most notably the short 8th and 12th. Although the course is bordered by villas, there is plenty of space so that the golfer should only feel intimidated by the hazards on the course, not off it!

The course at Mar Menor is also part of a substantial development that includes villas and an excellent hotel.

It is somewhat unusual in that while the front nine was created by Thomas, the back nine was completed by Nicklaus Design.

This makes for an interesting hybrid and there are some exciting holes, especially where the water comes into play in the middle of each nine.

The par 4s at 3 and 13 are both crackers where anything right will be lost forever, and there is a real club atmosphere which makes the whole experience here very welcoming.

The Complete Package

A golfing visit to Murcia is not complete without a stay in the lovely capital city, the seventh largest in Spain.

Here, the very smart Siete Coronas makes for an excellent base as everything is within walking distance. A short drive from here is the region’s most northerly course, Altorreal.

After a slightly claustrophobic start through the villas, the course opens out and simply gets better all the way, with far-reaching views, changes in elevation and plenty of attractive and exciting holes that will keep the discerning golfer interested all the way.

Other fine courses in the region include the Nicklaus designs at Alhama, El Valle and La Torre, and it’s never very far from one to the next.

Golf in Murcia has much to recommend it, especially its great variety and even greater value.

Add in the weather, the excellent accommodation and the delicious cuisine and the area adds up to a first-rate golfing destination.

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Golf in Spain: Murcia

Dave Thomas was one of the first to…

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Spain – Murcia

Murcia is gearing up to challenge Marbella and…

Expand La Manga Club Resort: The Birth and Blooming of a Golfing Gem

La Manga Club Resort: The Birth and Blooming of a Golfing Gem

La Manga Club Resort: The Birth and Blooming…

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A round or two at La Reserva Club plus a night at the Admiral Casino and Lodge makes for a perfect short trip to Sotogrande

Mediterranean Masterpiece - La Reserva Club, Sotogrande

Golf arrived in the famous Andalucian residential development of Sotogrande over 50 years ago, with Robert Trent Jones Senior’s Real Club de Golf Sotogrande first to open in 1964.

Most golfers, though, will be more familiar with the world-famous course that has taken centre stage since opening as Sotogrande New in 1974, before being rechristened Valderrama in 1984.

La Reserva Club, which opened in 2003, is a striking new addition to Sotogrande’s golf offering and the handiwork of Cabell B Robinson, who cut his course design teeth alongside Trent Jones back in 1967.

The course plays to a backdrop of mountains over the area’s higher ground, making excellent use of the terrain’s natural undulations right from the off with an inviting downhiller, where you can cut off more of the dogleg than you initially think.

The 2nd is a superb par 5 playing gently uphill to a shallow, raised green, with much sand to ponder in the lay-up zone.

The first of four fine par 3s comes on the well-protected 5th, with the short downhill 7th perhaps the prettiest of the quartet.

Before that comes the memorable par-5 6th, played from an elevated tee gazing out towards the Mediterranean.

Water tight right makes for a daunting approach from any range!

There’s more water right on the 8th but bailing out too far left makes a long par 4 even longer.

The 10th – once the 1st – serves up the tightest drive of all, with water left to contend with on 11, another longish par 4 up and over a crest.

The 15th plays the other side of this water, the course’s most daunting par 3 at 222 metres from the tips.

This excellent club is also blessed with superb off-course facilities, including a huge practice ground, a large putting green and a fine chipping area.

L’Olive Restaurant is a great spot to unwind post-round, while future plans include a world-class spa, watersports facilities, beach clubs and more restaurants.

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay and are keen on the excitement of a casino at the end of a good day’s golf (assuming you’re 18 or over, of course), then the newly opened Admiral Casino and

Lodge in San Roque can meet both needs under one roof.

Its light and spacious suites and double rooms are furnished to a high standard, and it’s just a short stroll down, perhaps via the bar, to the bright lights of the casino and a chance to try your luck at whatever takes your fancy from a wide selection of popular casino games.

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Finca Cortesin Golf Course Review

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Expand Golf in Barcelona – Lumine Golf Club

Golf in Barcelona – Lumine Golf Club

Jeremy Ellwood joins the 10th birthday party at…

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Michael Weston samples the delights of Arrabella Golf's three cracking courses

Majestic Mallorca - Arabella Golf

With blue seas, golden sands and a capital brimming with positivity, it’s no wonder Mallorca has been a Balearic favourite for so many years.

Its favourable year-round climate and superb accessibility mean you could holiday here half a dozen times a year and not run out of new options.

On the golf front, Arabella Golf Mallorca offers a number of excellent courses of comparable quality to many of mainland Spain’s top tracks.

Son Vida

Son Vida is the perfect place to start your Arabella tour.

This is a course rich in history, with the F.W. Hawtree design celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2014.

The famous architect was no doubt inspired by the Mediterranean’s rich landscape, resulting in a highly varied course that is completely in tune with its surroundings.

The late, great Seve fell in love with it following his Open de Baleares victory in 1990.

Four years later, Barry Lane won here, and although the course may lack the defences required to keep modern-day big hitters at bay, the likes of Bernhard Langer, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Costantino Rocca and Lee Westwood were all put through their paces on this wonderful layout.

More recently, German designer Kurt Rossknecht helped restructure the course, although it has not lost any of its charm in a sensitive upgrade and modernisation.

Son Vida is not a long course; instead the challenge lies in finding the right position from the tee.

Narrow fairways and some relatively small greens make putting a good score together far from straightforward, with a longer iron often the right play from the tee.

This is certainly the case on the 1st, or you can ignore such advice altogether, take out your driver and knock it on the green with a high power fade!

The par-5 6th gives you a chance to tackle ‘San Francisco’, so called because of its narrow, downhill slope, reminiscent of the streets of the Californian city. It’s a test of how bold you’re feeling, as out of bounds lurks both left and right.

Next to the course, the delightful Sheraton Mallorca Arabella Golf Hotel, added in 1992, is the perfect place to unwind and dissect your game before heading out again, although 36 holes at the height of summer is a tough ask. An afternoon by the hotel’s stunning pool is probably more advisable.

The Sheraton is effortlessly beautiful, as is the nearby Castillo Hotel Son Vida, which has welcomed members of the Spanish royal family, Brigitte Bardot and Zsa Zsa Gabor.

There are few better places in Mallorca to enjoy a cocktail than out on the terrace here overlooking Palma Bay.

Should your evening take you into Palma, you’re in for a treat, too.

Tast Club comes highly recommended, but do set aside a good few hours to do it justice and savour the atmosphere.

Son Muntaner Arabella Golf Mallorca also has two newer 18-holers and Golf Son Muntaner, designed by Rossknecht, presents quite a test.

The 1st tee favours a fade and may not look intimidating, but overdo it and you’ll end up out of bounds on the range.

Water is then a constant threat up to the par-3 5th, which normally requires a long iron to a raised green.

One of the back nine’s standout holes is the short par-4 14th, where it’s vital to avoid going left.

The green is well protected by water on three sides, with two bunkers on the right.

The 15th is then a really tough par 5, where you can also admire ‘Na Capitana’– a 1,000-year-old olive tree.

Golf Son Quint

Golf Son Quint, designed by Rossknecht and Ramón Espinosa, opened in 2007. Putting a score together here is generally easier, although views of the Bay of Palma can prove a distraction.

Beginners, or those looking to hone their short games, will find the nine-hole Golf Son Quint Pitch + Putt more than adequate, and great fun.

This destination, a short distance from Palma, will suit weekend golfers, as well as families and those on longer breaks. Arabella Golf Mallorca is not standing still either, and you can expect its trio of courses to go from strength to strength.

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Mallorca

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Mallorca – Son Gual

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Jeremy Ellwood joins the 10th birthday party at Lumine's 45-hole complex and beach resort an hour from Barcelona

Golf in Barcelona - Lumine

Tenth anniversaries have been the theme of my overseas trips for Golf Monthly this year, and my visit to the 45-hole complex at Lumine Mediterránea Beach and Golf Community was no exception.

I’d heard much about this resort, an hour from Barcelona on Spain’s eastern seaboard near Tarragona, but my first visit was to coincide with the grand celebrations to mark its tenth birthday this June.

The Hills and Lakes 18-holers, along with the Ruins nine-holer, all opened a decade ago, with the Lakes and Ruins layouts the handiwork of Greg Norman. We played the Ruins nine-hole course as our warm-up for the following day’s big tenth anniversary VIP tournament (me, a VIP?) and it was great fun and by no means easy despite its modest length.

It sits on the highest ground at Lumine and takes its name from the 200BC Roman remains you see on its 1st and 9th holes, with the former playing gently uphill and round to the left alongside some of them.

The 2nd is a delightful little downhiller towards the rollercoaster on the skyline, while the 3rd is a short but decidedly tricky par 4 – very tight, with trouble left and right, and a raised green at the far end that ensures your final approach must be well-flighted.

The drive on the 4th should be steered over the first tree then along another tight channel, while the memorable par-3 8th was to serve up a sucker right pin for our round, set perilously close to both the water and the bunker, which Norman has mischievously set into the green itself.

That pin position, and others, came courtesy of a ‘greenkeeper’s revenge’ element to our scramble event on the Ruins course, which made for some interesting putting.

Our schedule didn’t allow time for a game on the Hills course, but we did take a quick tour and were mighty impressed. This layout contrasts markedly with the other two, with its holes cut through pine forests and olive groves over higher ground that offers wonderful views out over the Mediterranean.

It even has its own clubhouse in the height of the season. Water comes into play less often, but you will have to contend with it on the finale, a short, sharp dogleg right, where a pond cuts into the green set beneath a dramatic rock cliff.

Discretion may prove the better part of valour here, especially for competitors in November’s European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage, which moved here in 2017. The resort had previously hosted second stage for five years from 2012.

Our main event took place on Norman’s Lakes course, regarded by many as the sterner of the two main tests.

It plays over flatter terrain through the beautiful Sèquia Major wetlands, with, not surprisingly, a significant amount of water in play. It’s tempting to have a go on the short par-4 3rd, but any ambition may need to be tempered slightly for there’s water tight right and bunkers aplenty down the left.

The 7th is a good mid-length par 3 that’s nearly all carry over water, and I think someone may have forgotten to tell the greenkeepers that their revenge day was over, for there was little merit in attacking the front-left pin here.

The attractive par-4 10th is framed by cork and oak trees, and mercifully, has a contoured fairway to gather minor miscues back in, while the par-5 16th is a real test with water down the left as it doglegs from right to left. In recognition of this obvious danger, I spent much time on the adjacent hole to the right from where I eventually ended up with a blind shot back in over the trees.

The tenth anniversary party that night at Lumine’s Beach Club was something else, with no expense spared at this fabulous beachfront facility blessed with pools and views galore. Away from the golf we also enjoyed a guided tour of some of the region’s most dramatic Roman remains in Tarragona itself, including the well-preserved amphitheatre.

And my early morning stroll along the harbour in the gastronomically renowned port of Cambrils was another highlight of an excellent trip.

Now, a little forward planning... I wonder which resorts will be celebrating their tenth anniversaries next year?

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Lumine Golf – Tarragona

A look at the Greg Norman-designed Lumine golf…

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James Mason visits the largest of the Canary Islands and comes away mighty impressed by the beauty of its courses

Golf in Tenerife - Costa Adeje, Le Tecina, Abama and Buenavista

After flying from the UK, where it’s so cold I have to chip ice off my windscreen, I find myself in shorts just a little while later, covered in SPF 50 and indulging in a buffet lunch. What a difference a four-hour flight makes!

Costa Adeje

I have a preference for courses that open with a par 5, as Costa Adeje does, especially when you’re playing holiday golf.

As I pick my ball out of the hole and replace the flag on the 1st, I look back down the fairway and am stunned by the view. The Atlantic shimmers in the background beyond the terracotta clubhouse, and it’s such a glorious sight that it takes a moment to soak it all in.

From the fairways, the infinity greens on the 3rd and 4th holes appear to float on the Atlantic beyond. Spanish course designer Pepe Gancedo has certainly made the very most of this wonderful parcel of land.

Black sandy waste areas, reddish-pink rocks and barrancas, wild flowers, cacti and palm trees surround the course, enhancing its visual allure – it really is a beautiful setting.

Le Tecina

After a 40-minute ferry trip from Tenerife to La Gomera and a stunning half-hour drive to Tecina Golf, which takes you up the mountain and back down the other side, I’m staring out to sea from the clubhouse in awe of yet more spectacular views. It’s not only the Atlantic Ocean below me once more here, but also the rocks and hills all around me, plus the sheer variety of colours and flowers that assault your senses in the best possible way.

The 4th is the course’s most iconic hole and as I make my way to the tee I can see why – it’s 186 yards downhill and all carry too, with the Atlantic glistening away in the background. But this course is no one-trick pony and Donald Steel has made a wonderful job of creating a challenging layout that takes full advantage of its location.

Abama

It’s an early start next day but I am excited as I have heard a lot about the course at Abama. I jump in my buggy and head to the 1st, pull out my driver and climb up to the tee.

I’m certainly impressed by what I see! Tall pines, lush green fairways and white sand bunkers greet me, and, like all the courses in Tenerife, there’s the Atlantic as a backdrop. With the early morning golden sun casting shadows across the course, Abama looks stunning.

The first par 3 comes at the 4th, which is all you could ever want in a golf hole – elevated tees, water to play over, palm trees, white sand bunkers and that ever-present ocean backdrop. The green nestles down left of a hill covered in rocks and cacti.

Abama really is a course designer’s dream piece of land and just keeps on serving up one great hole after another, and stunning view upon stunning view. From the fairway, as I look down to the 6th green surrounded by seven palm trees, it just seems to sit in the sea – an illusion, of course, as we are actually well above the ocean up in the hills.

Water features on every hole on the back nine, with a semi-island green at the par-3 14th hole, but as another birdie putt slips by on the 18th I’m not overly worried.

I take a deep breath and savour the moment – it has been a privilege to play this wonderful course.

Buenavista

Next up is a glorious drive over the mountains to Buenavista on the island’s north coast.

I’ve read a few articles that have mentioned this course, but nothing that has jumped out to make me think it’s a must-play. Standing on the 10th tee – my first of the day – I wonder why.

The course was designed by one of my all-time favourite golfers, Severiano Ballesteros, and as I look down from the elevated tee towards the ocean, with the green perched on the rocks and the Teno Mountains to my left, it’s a fantastic sight.

I can see some of the other holes from this spot and suddenly feel like a little kid in a sweet shop.

As I place my putter back in my bag on the final green, I wonder why no one has been raving about this course. Are they just trying to keep it a secret? Who knows!

What I do know is that you need to play here, for Seve has created a real gem of a course and I’m sure that you will love every minute of it.

Related: Check out what else Spain has to offer golfers

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Jeremy Ellwood discovers the perfect base for taking on some of the best golf courses the area has to offer

Golf in Marbella - Los Naranjos and Rio Real

For the second year in a row I was fortunate enough to enjoy a spot of November golf in the Marbella sunshine, this time staying in La Medina, one of many well-located, luxury apartments managed by property rental specialists Vacation Marbella.

Like all the company’s properties, it was modern and tastefully furnished, and in our particular case a mere five-minute stroll down to the marina at Puerto Banus.

This stretch of coast boasts several very fine golf courses, and this kind of accommodation is just what many golfers are looking for… including a very welcome bottle of red on arrival.

Los Naranjos

On this particular trip we played two contrasting courses where our hosts have negotiated reduced green fees for clients – Los Naranjos, a Robert Trent Jones Snr creation which dates back to 1977, and Rio Real, the handiwork of Spanish design supremo Javier Arana which opened 12 years earlier.

Los Naranjos played host to the Spanish PGA Championship in 1989, when Jose Rivero had the audacity to defeat Seve in a play-off.

It is, to a degree, a course of two halves, with raised greens the order of the day on the front nine, and the back nine then playing over mostly flatter terrain, all in the lee of the Sierra Blanca mountain range and its highest peak – the distinctive La Concha.

Rio Real

Among the best holes are the par-5 5th, with water down the left for most of the way until you cross it nearer the green, and the testing long par-3 8th that plays to a wide green with a particularly steep false front.

Coming home, the 15th is a fiddly short par 4 that could goad you into attack when caution may be the wiser option due to the pond fiercely guarding the dogleg.

Rio Real is a very pretty course characterised by narrow fairways, mature trees and some intriguing bunkers that, at times, intertwine with the trees in the rough.

Two holes – the 4th and 5th – are set the other side of the busy A7 motorway, with the 4th taking you right down to the shore.

The 5th is then an extraordinarily tough par 4, where the approach is played blind or semi-blind over a large mound and water to a treacherous green.

The 6th is no less extraordinary, a mid-length par 3 to a slender green wedged precariously between a rockface and a sheer drop down to the riverbed.

Even with a mere 7- or 8-iron in hand, the sudden overwhelming need for precision provides real pressure. The 5th and 6th are certainly among the most memorable back-to-back holes I’ve ever played.

Of course, all golf and no culture makes Jezz a dull boy, so it was great to also venture inland to the quite spectacular Ronda Cliffs, where a bridge traverses the dramatic 300ft gorge created by the Guadalevin river, which splits this medieval city in two.

Looking down is definitely not recommended if you’ve no head for heights, though it is worth contemplating what club you would require to safely make it across at various points!

A fitting finale

While here, we had the very great pleasure of wining and dining at Viejos Descalzos, an ancient monastery-turned-winery.

This once derelict property is now producing some very fine wine – the owner even opened a first-harvest 2003 on our account – and the leisurely dinner we enjoyed here gazing out over the vast valley made for a very special evening indeed.

Our final treat was a wonderful meal in the Trocadero Arena beach restaurant close to the Rio Real’s seafront holes, where the varied menu was accompanied by a particularly good Entrechuelos Chardonnay, and an even better Cune Crianza Rioja.

A fitting way to round off a great couple of days in the sun before our short flight back to Gatwick and the British winter.

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One of Southern Spain’s original big names, Aloha is again one of the region’s must-play courses - Rob Smith takes a look…

Aloha Golf Club Course Review

The area around Marbella is jam-packed with golf courses of all shapes and sizes, and something to  suit all tastes and budgets. Aloha Golf Club is one of the older and more established names, dating back to the mid-70s when it was the final course designed by Javier Arana, and much work has been done in the last little while to place the course back in the premier league.

An elevated tee makes for a most inviting opening drive at the par-5 first which then sweeps round to the left to a well-protected green.

This is followed by another elevated tee at the second from which you play down to a hole so attractive that it could have been the work of a landscape designer.

Strong bunkering is a feature and the par-3 fourth hole calls for a very well struck shot that must not be short.

A par 5 and a par 4 come next, before an unusual 2-shotter where you will run out of space if you drive too long before a substantial drop down to the green.

The eighth is another gorgeous par 3, again from an elevated tee and played down to a dell that looks as though it was always designed to have a green.

The front nine closes with a drive and pitch par 4 back up to the clubhouse and the welcoming halfway house. Once again, the mountains provide a fabulous backdrop.

The tenth hole is named after its celebrated architect, and is a very attractive par 5.

Eleven plays up the hill and I really liked the twelfth that is played back down to a green beyond a pond, rightly named Cuidado… or Watch Out!

The next three work their way out to the furthest point from the clubhouse, a strong par 3 up the hill and two left-to-right par 4s.

A snaking par 5 and the final short hole lead you to the closing tee and another very photogenic view. Water awaits, as do trees, sand and elevation changes - something for everyone in just one hole and a very worthy end to an extremely enjoyable course.

Aloha is managed by Troon Golf and has hosted the Spanish Open a number of times as well as the Ladies Spanish Open more recently in 2016. So popular with its members is the lovely course, that visitor rounds are generally restricted to afternoon only. However, this thriving and very sociable club is more than worth a visit and a lunch on the terrace before your game is also to be recommended.

In an area packed with a great variety of golf, Aloha is more than worth a visit.

James Mason visited the coastal region of Spain, Costa Brava and found it to be a wonderful place to visit and play golf

Costa Brava is a wonderful place to visit, from the tranquil environment that greets you once you arrive. To the backdrop of the Pyrenees and the majestic feel of this region of Spain, I’m sure you will agree it’s a wonderful place to play golf, as well as enjoy mouth-watering food accompanied by some beautiful wines.

Throw in the sun-kissed fairways, a rich culture and people who know how to enjoy life, and Costa Brava becomes a perfect golfing destination.

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