Spain is a understandably a popular destination for golfers and there is a long tradition of golf tourism in Andalucia. There are many fabulous golf courses within easy driving of our beach apartment in Puerto de la Duquesa, Costa del Sol. There is something to suit all pockets and abilities. That is why the Costa del Sol is sometimes known as the 'Costa del Golf.' Here is some more information on some of them. We hope you find it useful for your holiday.
La Duquesa golf course and country club is 2 minutes drive or 5 minutes walk from our holiday apartment. It is a championship 18 hole Robert Trent Jones course constructed in 1989. It overlooks the Mediterranean with views out to North Africa and Gibraltar. It is a challenging course for golfers of all standards with a mixture of distances and hazards. Some holes can be a little tight, more suitable for a long iron than a driver. The feature holes include the eighth with a vertical drop of 10 metres to the green only 108m away.
Duquesa Golf and Country Club
This is a friendly course and a good clubhouse with changing facilities, a bar and restaurant with a large terrace. There is ample parking and buggies and trollies for hire. It is par 72 with a total length of 5,672 metres from the yellow tees. Here is their website. Puerto de la Duquesa is about an hour from Malaga airport.
Costa del Golf
There are more than 60 golf courses along the 'Costa del Golf' to choose from on your holiday. Other recommended golf courses in Andalucia within a 30 minute drive include:
West of Duquesa
The San Roque Club near Sotogrande. This was designed by Dave Thomas and Tony Jacklin in 1965. Feature holes include the 8th where many balls have been lost and the 18th which requires a drive avoiding water on the left followed by a long iron shot over a stream to the green avoiding a lake on the right. Par 72, 6048 metres.
Almenara is only 500 metres from Valderrama. It is one of the newer courses boasting 27 holes, designed by Dave Thomas with the first 18 opened in 1998. The fairways run through cork oaks and pines with several streams and lakes.
Royal Golf Club Sotogrande, designed by Robert Trent in 1964, this is often voted in the top 10 European courses. It is well established with many types of trees. Water hazards in the back 9 make the course appear longer than it is but the course is kept so well groomed there is a total lack of rough. Par 72, 5853m.
Valderrama in Sotogrande. This world famous course needs little introduction. The original course was designed by Robert Trent Jones and updated again by him in 1987. The course is maintained in the perfectly manicured state recognisable from its starring television roles. Why not be a Tiger for the day?
Alcaidesa in La Linea is a links style course. It was designed in 1992 by Peter Alliss and Clive Clark. It is unrelenting to those of us who do not always manage to hit the ball straight. The sea breeze adds an extra dimension.
East of Duquesa
Los Arqueros in Marbella, designed by Seve Ballesteros in 1991. It is set in the Sierra de Ronda, designed around three lakes. It is a very good test even for the most seasoned golfer and there are some very tight holes. It is relatively short by modern standards and it may be advisable to play more for position than for big hits.
La Quinta in Marbella is a 27 hole course. It was designed by Antonio Garrido and Manuel Pinero in 1989. The terrain is undulating and the fairways are narrow and winding with many trees and water hazards to avoid.
Los Flamingos in Benahavis was designed by Antonio Garrido and opened in 2001. It has spectacular views of the Mediterranean, North Africa and Gibraltar and the different types of trees give the holes their identities. There is a good mix of long and short holes. Feature holes include the par 4 10th where a good tee shot is required to be able to play the next over water to reach the huge undulating green.
Monte Mayor in Benahavis, near Marbella. Designed by Jose Gancedo in 1989, this is arguably Andalucia's most spectacular course with mountain views and water hazards crossed with six bridges. Feature holes include the 7th with the tees on a raised platform. The drive must land on an isolated plateau and the second shot on another plateau. The 3rd has its tees at tree level, set against the mountain with views across a shallow river to the green 140m away. Par 71, 5354 metres.
Estepona in Estepona, designed by Lopez Martinez in 1998 with dramatic sea and mountain views. This is a very friendly course designed in 1989 by Jose Louis Lopez. Feature holes include the so called ski run at the 5th which is downhill from the tee. Par 72, 5610 metres.
Alhaurin in Fuengirola just behind the Mijas mountains. There are three courses, 27 holes of which were designed by Seve Ballesteros, opened in 1994. There is one full length 18 hole course, one short 18 hole course and a 9 hole par 3 course. The fairways are green and well maintained and the design is well adapted to the hilly terrain. With all the undulations, buggies are recommended.
Useful Links
More information from the Andalucian Golf Federation
PGA European Tour official Site
There is more information here on San Roque
K Dempsey
http://www.hi5holidays.com/golfe.html