The Costa Del Sol – which stretches along part of the southern coast of Spain – has long been a popular destination for golf holidays. With over 70 golf courses spread across this sun-blessed region, you can be sure there will be somewhere suitable for you and your group.
In fact, this Spanish region is one in which we pride ourselves on as being experts – Glencor Golf Holidays started out selling golf holidays to this region alone over 20 years ago, so it’s safe to say we’ve put plenty of happy golfers on the fairways here.
Whether you want the glitz and glamour of Puerto Banus, the authenticity of Marbella’s old town, or just enjoy a few rounds of golf in the sun and some beers on an evening in Fuengirola, we can help you put together the perfect Costa Del Sol golfing break.
This guide to golfing in Costa Del Sol is the perfect place to start.
Costa Del Sol At A Glance
- Location: Situated along the southern coast of Spain – from Nerja all the way to Cadiz – spanning around 150km of beach-filled coastline.
- Closest Airport: Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport, which is accessible from many UK airports.
- Flight Time: Approx 2 Hours and 55 minutes – varies slightly depending on where in the UK you fly from.
- Best Time To Travel: Spring and autumn are the most popular times for a golf holiday due to the slightly cooler climate compared to summer. April, May and October are the busiest months.
- Climate: In spring and autumn (peak golf season), the weather reach highs of between 20 to 24 degrees celsius.
Best Golf Courses In Costa Del Sol
Torrequebrada Golf
This is one of our most popular Costa Del Sol courses – due to its quality, as well as being conveniently located just 20 minutes from Malaga Airport, and 10 minutes from the coastal town of Benalmadena.
Jose ‘Pepe’ Gancedo, the ‘Picasso of golf’, crafted a course that requires plenty of thinking and pushes you to consider your strategy as opposed to one which requires really long drives on every hole.
- Holes: 18
- Par: 72
- Designer: José ‘Pepe’ Gancedo
- Opened: 1976
Marbella Golf Club
Set in the beautiful hills of Benhavis, this 18-hole golf course designed by the British golf architect Dave Thomas offers stunning views of Gibraltar, the African coastline and the surrounding mountains.
This course focuses on quality of service and pace of play, with 12-minute tee times so that you can enjoy your round without constantly being held up. After your round, it’s well worth a beer in the club house here as it is quite quirky – a thatched cottage overlooking the course and lake on the first hole.
- Holes: 18
- Par: 73
- Designer: Dave Thomas
- Opened: 1999
La Cala Golf
Home to three 18-hole golf courses, this is an incredible golf club! You can tee off on either America, Asia or Europa courses – all of which were designed by Cabell Robinson and provide amazing views of the surrounding mountains and hills.
America course features five par 5’s, few bunkers and wide fairways. The narrow Asia is the oldest of the three courses and has four par5’s. Finally, the Europa is considered slightly easier for those with higher handicaps due to its generous fairways.
- Holes: 54
- Par: 72 (Asia & America) Par 71 (Europa)
- Designer: Cabell B. Robinson
- Opened: 1990 (Asia Course)
Chaparral Golf Club
This is another design by the ‘Picasso of golf’ José ‘Pepe’ Gancedo, which has since been re-designed by Antonio Rubio in 2006 after his acquisition of the club in 2003. What makes this course unique is that it has six par 3s, six par 4s, and six par 5s.
Chaparral Golf is a par 72 with 18 holes in a parkland forest style layout. Views of the sea and mountains make for a memorable round although the tight fairways and hilly terrain make this a real test of your game. Fortunately a buggy is included in your green fee here.
- Holes: 18
- Par: 72
- Designer: José ‘Pepe’ Gancedo
- Opened: 1991
Real Guadalhorce Club de Golf
This is a stunning 18-hole golf course that was originally designed by Kosti Kuronen before its honorary member, Spanish golfing legend Miguel Ángel Jiménez, re-designed it in 2007.
Characteristics of this course are that it has two distinct styles – the front nine has a typical English parkland style layout with features such as lakes and gentle slopes. The back nine features elevated greens and more diverse fairways.
- Holes: 18
- Par: 72
- Designer: Kosti Kuronen (redesigned by Miguel Ángel Jiménez in 2007)
- Opened: 1989
Flamingos Golf Course
Flamingos Golf sits at the Villa Padierna complex in the Costa Del Sol and has tremendous pedigree as a championship golf course having hosted the Ladies European Tour in 2010 as well as the European Senior Tour in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Characteristics of this course are the large greens and slightly narrow fairways with fantastic views of Gibraltar and Africa.
This course is a real treat to play, so if your holiday budget can include the green fee it’s definitely worth adding to your itinerary on your next Costa De Sol golf break.
- Holes: 18
- Par: 71
- Designer: Antonio García
- Opened: 2001
Other Things To Do In Costa Del Sol
After arriving at Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport, it’s worth exploring this beautiful city if you have the time. Famous for being the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, you can explore his work in the Museo Picasso, which has more than 200 of his pieces.
Other notable attractions in Malaga include the Malaga Cathedral, which dates back to 1528 when work started on it, and Malaga’s Roman Theatre, which dates back even further and is the oldest monument in the city.
After a day of exploring cultural sights, relax and unwind in the many bars and restaurants that are dotted around this stunning city.
Beyond Malaga, there are plenty more things to see and do. If you prefer getting out into the natural scenery then explore the 3km hiking trail at El Caminito del Rey, which consists of boardwalks and footbridges high up above the Guadalhorce River. Ronda is a beautiful town above the El Tajo canyon and provides some jaw dropping scenery.
For those looking to relax and unwind, Puerto Banus and Marbella might be the place for you. Puerto Banus is known as the millionaires playground with its large yachts docked in the marina which is surrounded by bars, restaurants, and numerous supercars throughout the evening.
Marbella features a beautiful Old Town offering a more traditional feel than Puerto Banus but also some fantastic beaches.
Top 5 Travel Tips For Your Costa Del Sol Golf Holiday
- Golf Transfers For Groups: If you are a group of four or more then golf transfers are good value. You pay for transfers on a per trip basis, so the larger the group size, the more you can spread the cost between you. Less than four people travelling isn’t an issue – we would just recommend car hire if you want to keep the costs down or select to stay at a resort with golf on-site like La Cala Golf Resort in Mijas or Rio Real Golf Hotel near Marbella.
- Buggy Inclusive Green Fees: Most golf courses provide a shared buggy with their green fees, so make sure you enquire about this when speaking to our team. Other destinations can charge hefty supplements to add a buggy to your round which can significantly increase the cost of your holiday.
- 1 in 8 Green Fee Discounts: Plenty of the golf courses offer a discount for eight golfers, with one going free. Bring the cost down a little if you are a group by picking golf courses which provide this incentive.
- Book Your Tee Times Early: Although beach holidays often favour those who book last minute, golf holidays generally work in the reverse. It’s usually best to book as early as possible, so you secure your desired tee times, which work on a first come, first served basis. Take advantage of any early booking discounts at the accommodation.
- Consider All-Inclusive Board Basis: If you are looking to keep the costs down on your Costa Del Sol golf holiday itself, all-inclusive might be a great option. This is increasingly popular for large groups as it often quells any arguments about where to eat for dinner or how to split the bill!
Top 5 Golf Holiday Deals: Playing Costa Del Sol’s Best Golf Courses
We have plenty of fantastic deals for a top class golf break in the Costa Del Sol, so narrowing it down to just five top deals is incredibly tricky. Whether you’re organising a golfing stag do, just looking for somewhere new to host your annual trip abroad with friends or looking to unwind on a golf & spa break with your partner in the sun, the below has you covered. Don’t forget, our expert team can also tailor make any break to suit you.
- 4* La Cala Golf Resort
- 4* Hard Rock Hotel Marbella
- 5* Westin La Quinta Golf Resort
- 4* Sandos Griego Hotel
- 4* Occidental Torremolinos Playa
How Glencor Golf Can Help You Find The Best Costa Del Sol Golf Courses
Our friendly and knowledgeable team have lots of first hand experience of staying and playing in the Costa Del Sol – in fact, this was the first and only destination Glencor Golf Holidays offered to clients in our early days many years ago.
We can ensure you play the courses that suit you and your group, as well as guide you on all those little details that can make or break a golf holiday, such as which courses require buggies, who offers a group discount of green fees, and where to find the best bars and restaurants in each town along the coast. Call us on 01904 406550 or email info@glencorgolf.com so we can help you put together the perfect golf package in the Costa Del Sol for you and your group.
