Destination Costa del Sol

COSTA DEL SOL GOLF HOLIDAYS - EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN

We can remember the days before the Costa del Sol was a tourist area. Today it’s one of the most popular tourist spots on the planet. We like the variety that a Costa del Sol golf holiday offers – it can be bright and breezy or sophisticated and restrained, and whatever your taste the region has a great deal to offer, both on and off the fairways.

For a start, the mild winters and beautiful spring and autumn weather are perfect for playing golf, and the short flight times from the UK help make Costa del Sol golf holidays an easy choice. We're not at all surprised that 20 years ago investors decided to capitalise on the balmy climate and turned the 100 miles of coastline between Malaga and Gibraltar into a mass building site. Hotels, timeshare resorts, restaurants and golf courses sprung up all over the place, turning the area into one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. Golf was a big part of the tourist explosion. Between 1985 and 1991 no fewer than 17 courses were built, and so the Costa del Sol became the Costa del Golf.

We have to admit that golf breaks on the Costa del Sol are not for those who want to get away from it all. The Costa del Sol is busy and ongoing construction means the sight of cranes and the sound of hammering are never far away. If you're looking for traditional Spanish culture on your Costa del Sol golf holiday, this is not the place to find it either. The majority of the local population - tanned and dripping with jewellery - speak English. However, as the region's name suggests, this is the place where you will find the sun - and that's a great start for any golf holiday.

EAST COAST

Every time we fly into Malaga Airport on one of our frequent Costa del Sol golf breaks it seems bigger and busier. It has seen enormous growth in recent years and is used by charter, scheduled and low cost airlines alike. The first choice for groups on Costa del Sol golf breaks are the high rise resorts of Benalmadena and Fuengirola, which are very close to the airport. However, we like to take the short drive from these packed beaches and crowded streets and explore the mountain retreats where we can find spectacular views and a taste of the real Spain.

Fuengirola and Benalmadena are thriving resorts with something to offer everyone, and they are very popular with the major package holiday operators. We've found that Fuengirola is the livelier of the two resorts, with the region's longest beach, the best open-air market and plenty of bars and cafes. The harbour promenade is lined with restaurants and bars, some of which can get very lively in high season. It's a well-developed resort that attracts a wide range of people, and it's cheaper and less exclusive than Marbella.

We've had some very pleasant golf breaks in Benalmadena too. It's centred round an attractive marina with numerous bars, cafes and restaurants, and is perfect for a daytime or evening stroll. There is an excellent sand and shingle beach overlooked by the Sierra de Mijas mountains. It has a fine promenade for strolling, a weekly market plus a good range of shops, and there are plenty of cafés, bars and restaurants.

CENTRAL COAST

The mid-point of the Costa del Sol always impresses us with its famous yacht harbours, upmarket shops and quiet residential suburbs. It’s full of elegant nightclubs and restaurants with chequered tablecloths, spilling out onto the pavements.

When we want some really upmarket tourism on our Costa del Sol golf holidays, where better to go than Marbella? It’s chic and expensive and has grown into one of the most famous resort destinations in the world. Exclusive nightclubs and a casino host the cream of European society, but for ordinary human beings like most of us, there are also many pleasing cafes and beach bar restaurants specialising in paella and sangria. We also like the reasonably priced and varied shops hidden in little winding streets at the heart of the old town.

Farther west there’s Puerto Banus, with a harbour full of luxurious boats and yachts belonging to the rich and famous from all over the world. When we’re in Puerto Banus we also like to visit the comprehensive Corte Ingles department store, and the many stylish boutiques like Versace, Armani and Moschino, which line the streets of the port. There are some very fashionable restaurants there too.

Just a couple of kilometres to the north is Marbella’s famous Valle del Golf or Golf Valley. It climbs up through the neat suburbs of Nueva Andalucia that stretch out from the twin resorts of Marbella and Puerto Banus to the foothills of the Sierra Real and the Sierra Blanca mountains. We found one superb course after another along this winding road. Some of the Costa del Sol’s finest layouts can be found here, often virtually touching each other. Our favourites include Aloha Golf, Las Brisas and Los Naranjos.

If you're looking for something a little unusual on your golf holidays to the Costa del Sol, try the flea market near the Nueva Andalucia bullring on Saturday mornings. You can buy all kinds of wares from European jewellery to North African carpets, potted plants to antique Spanish furniture.

THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE

If you really want to see how the other half lives, do as we did and visit San Roque. It’s definitely a good place to live - if you can afford it. Take a look at the exclusive development of Sotogrande too and imagine living there amongst broad avenues and stately homes, the Royal Sotogrande golf course, a marina and polo fields. Then come back down to earth and just enjoy the golf on your Costa del Sol golf holidays. There are other excellent courses at La Canada, Alcaidesa and Almenara.

Bill Goff Costa del Sol golf holidays - Take your game to a better place! Let Bill Goff arrange the perfect Costa del Sol golf holidays for you. Our expert sales team has first hand knowledge of every destination, hotel and golf course featured in our Costa del Sol golf breaks.