Without a shadow of a doubt golf holidays in Spain offer some of the best golfing experiences one can experience in a lifetime. The Costa Del Sol started the trend for golf tourism in Europe and its continued development has maintained its position as one of the top European destinations for golfers seeking some sunshine golf. With well over 50 courses to choose from its sometimes difficult to know which course to play!
Here are a few of our favourite Costa Del Sol golf holidays as chosen by our friends over at Glencor Golf.
Real Club Valderrama
PGA Catalunya course may have overtaken this one as Spain’s number 1 course however it doesn’t have the history or maturity of Valderamma and in our opinion this is still the best course in Spain. With that in mind it was never going to be cheap to play and at nearly 300 euros a round it unfortunately won’t fit into everyone’s budget. For those who can justify that amount of money it still provides an exceptional golfing experience.
It’s easy to see why this course has hosted so many prestigious tournaments including the 1997 Ryder Cup, The Volvo Masters and this year’s Spanish Open. It’s a glorious test of golf where you have to drive through an avenue of cork trees to hit the immaculate fairways before facing a testing shot into a well-guarded green. Truly one of the world’s best golf courses.
La Cala Golf Resort
A superb Hotel is the centre point of Spain’s top 54-hole resort. There are 3 golf courses here all of which offer breath taking views and challenging golf. We all have a different favourite course here but which ever you play you won’t be disappointed. Set in the hills above Fuengirola these Cabel Robinson designed golf courses are amongst the very best on the coast. Of the 3 courses the Europa is probably slightly easier but it’s by no means a pushover.
Although the fairways are wider and the terrain flatter there are sufficient challenges to make this a good test of golf. The River Ojen features on 8 of the holes and offers every opportunity to test you. The Asia course is the oldest of the 3 courses and it appears short on yardage but the tight narrow fairways and very well protected greens provide a real challenge. The America course has wider fairways and fewer bunkers but the small raised greens require great precision with your approach shots. The Clubhouse has a large terrace which is the perfect place to enjoy an after-round beer or two.
Santana Golf
This is one of the newest courses opened on the Costa Del Sol but it’s now matured into a magnificent test of golf. Another Cabell Robinson design and almost next door to La Cala, this par 72 6200 metres course differs in that it has wider fairways and is built on far more even terrain meaning that it is easily walkable. It’s a seriously good test of golf built on a former avocado plantation and set in open countryside with a variety of trees and water hazards. Some of the cork trees have been in situ for over 500 years and it is a testament to the architect’s skill as to how he has incorporated the natural beauty of the landscape into a modern golf course.
There are several outstanding holes that you will remember especially the 18th which is one of the best finishing holes on the Coast and the par 5 8th hole which at 658 yards is one of the longest par 5’s on the Costa Del Sol. The Clubhouse is small and cosy but perfectly adequate and you always get a warm welcome from the friendly and efficient staff.
Santa Maria Golf
Maybe not a typical ‘big name’ bucket list golf course but it’s one of our favourites as it offers a completely different challenge to most of the other courses in the area. It’s a course you have to think your way round and certainly not one where you reach for the driver on every hole. The course is situated between valleys of cork oak trees and tall pines with views of the mountains on one side and the Mediterranean on the other.
There are no two holes alike on this interesting test of golf and you will probably use every club in the team golf bags as you carefully plot your way round. The elevated first tee with a drive over the lake will test the nerves at the beginning of the round and its advisable not to have too many cervezzas in the lovely terraced bar before setting out on a round of golf you will long remember.
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