Costa del Sol Courses
2007/2008 Green Fees. Please call 0800 915 1804 for details.
Eastern Costa del Sol
El Parador
Inaugurated in 1925 by the Spanish Royal family, Parador
is the Costa del Sol's oldest course. Located close to Malaga, it's very popular
with UK golfers due to its interesting mixture of parkland and links style
holes (some of which feature seawater lagoons) and its fast greens. Created
by Tom Simpson, who also designed Muirfield and Turnberry, Parador has hosted
several international events, including the prestigious Turespana Masters
in 1999 (won by Miguel Angel Jimenez). It's easy to walk and is suitable for
all levels of golfer, though some holes present a real challenge - especially
when the wind blows.
Designer: Tom Simpson
Par: 72
Length: 6824 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: 01/11/07 - 30/11/07, 01/02/08 - 31/05/08, 01/09/08 - 30/09/08 £46; 01/12/07 - 31/01/08, 01/06/08 - 31/08/08 £38 (limited availability at weekends)
Torrequebrada
This Pepe Gancedo masterpiece is widely recognised
as one of the most beautiful courses on the Costa del Sol. Now back on the
'must play' list, Torrequebrada is a real test from beginning to end. A previous
host of the Spanish Open and the home base of Spanish Ryder Cup star Miguel
Angel Jimenez, its steep terrain, water and sand hazards make it a great technical
challenge - perhaps too difficult for high handicappers. There are no less
than eight doglegs and accuracy off the tee is of paramount importance. It
may be short, but it certainly isn't easy!
Designer: Pepe Gancedo
Pepe Gancedo
Par: 72
Length: 6409 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: £59
Mijas Los Lagos
Probably the two most popular courses on the eastern
coast are found at Mijas. Los Lagos has generous, mildly undulating fairways
but also plenty of water and sand hazards, making it a stern test of skill.
The majority of the slick greens are elevated and protected by bunkers. The
highlight is undoubtedly the 5th, which sweeps in a seemingly endless curve
around a boundary wall and over a huge fairway bunker to leave a narrow path
to the green with out of bounds on the left and a deep lake to the right.
A Trent Jones classic.
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Snr
Fairways: Penncross
Par: 71
Length: 6942 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: 01/11/07 - 30/11/07, 01/03/08 - 30/04/08, 01/10/08 - 31/10/08 £49; 01/12/07 - 29/02/08, 01/05/08 - 31/05/08, 01/09/08 - 30/09/08 £44; 01/06/08 - 31/08/08 £32
Mijas Los Olivos
Probably the two most popular courses on the
eastern coast are found at Mijas. Los Olivos has steadily improved since its
opening in 1984 and now offers one of the most enjoyable games in the area,
with five par 5s and five par 3s providing lots of variety. Though slightly
shorter than the neighbouring Los Lagos, the course is no less attractive
or challenging. The undulating fairways are lined with olive trees and the
fast greens are well protected by some large, twisting bunkers. Definitely
worth a visit.
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Snr/Cabell Robinson
Par: 72
Length: 6448 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: 01/11/07 - 30/11/07, 01/03/08 - 30/04/08, 01/10/08 - 31/10/08 £49; 01/12/07 - 29/02/08, 01/05/08 - 31/05/08, 01/09/08 - 30/09/08 £44; 01/06/08 - 31/08/08 £32
Alhaurin
Alhaurin Golf Club took a while to get going but has
settled in and is now popular with visitors and residents alike. Designed
by Seve Ballesteros, the course's hilly mountain terrain would provide a stiff
test for even the great man himself! The wild growing rough is the main danger
here, while the strategically placed bunkers and water hazards are reminiscent
of American-style courses. With majestic views of mountains to the north and
of Africa and the Mediterranean to the south, this is a fine course in a lovely
natural setting.
Designer: Seve Ballesteros
Par: 72
Length: 6843 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: 01/11/07 - 20/11/07, 18/02/08 - 20/05/08 £35; 21/11/07 - 17/02/07, 21/05/08 - 30/09/08 £23
Lauro Golf Club
Lauro Golf is a relatively flat, parkland style
course played around a magnificently restored country farmhouse. Once the
scene of the vengeful killing of 'contrabandistas', it now serves a somewhat
more peaceful purpose as the clubhouse. An inland course 300m above sea level,
this Falco Nordi design provides a delightful test of golf among pine, cork,
olive and citrus trees. A spectacular third loop of 9 holes now offers stunning
mountain and valley views.
Designer: Mark Falco Nordi
Par: 70
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: £34
La Cala North
Guests at the La Cala Resort benefit from free golf
and special offers on the hotel's two magnificent championship courses. Set
in a spectacular, hilly landscape, the courses offer an exciting challenge
in stunning surroundings, with lush fairways, elevated greens and carefully
positioned water hazards. The North course is probably the more testing as
it's longer and covers most of the tougher terrain. It begins from a dramatically
raised tee and some of the holes, especially 15 and 16, offer truly breathtaking
views over the resort and out as far as the sea. The undulating ground means
club selection and course management are crucial. Buggies recommended.
Designer: Cabell Robinson
Fairways: Bermuda
Greens: Penncross
Par: 72
Length: 7113 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08:
01/11/07 - 25/11/07, 25/02/08 - 18/05/08, 29/09/08 - 31/10/08 £48
04/02/08 - 24/02/08 19/05/08 - 22/06/08, 01/09/08 - 28/09/08 £41
26/11/07 - 31/12/07, 01/01/08 - 03/02/08, 23/06/08 - 31/08/08 £34
Preferential green fees for La Cala Resort guests available - see hotel
La Cala South
Guests at the La Cala Resort benefit from free golf
and special offers on the hotel's three magnificent championship courses. Designed
by Cabell Robinson and set in a spectacular, hilly landscape, both courses
offer an exciting challenge in stunning surroundings, with lush fairways,
elevated greens and carefully positioned water hazards. Despite being the
slightly less difficult than the North, the South course still demands real accuracy
- although the fairways are wide and the greens are large, the sloping terrain
and thick rough can severely punish wayward shots. An excellent test. Buggies
recommended.
Designer: Cabell Robinson
Fairways: Bermuda
Greens: Penncross
Par: 71
Length: 6518 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08:
01/11/07 - 25/11/07, 25/02/08 - 18/05/08, 29/09/08 - 31/10/08 £48
04/02/08 - 24/02/08 19/05/08 - 22/06/08, 01/09/08 - 28/09/08 £41
26/11/07 - 31/12/07, 01/01/08 - 03/02/08, 23/06/08 - 31/08/08 £34
Preferential green fees for La Cala Resort guests available - see hotel
Campo EuropaThis wonderful course is the latest addition to La Cala's portfolio. Opened in 2005 it has already become a firm favourite on the golfing circuit. It's a dramatic course with some beautiful views and no less than eight holes featuring the river. With tree lined fairways and lovely vista's throughout the Mijas Mountains it takes willpower to keep your eye on the ball and off the views!
Buggies Recommended.
Designer: Cabell B. Robinson
Fairways: Bermuda
Greens: Penncross
Par: 71
Length: 6014 metres
Preferential green fees for La Cala Resort guests available - see hotel
Central Costa del Sol
Cabopino Golf
Cabopino is situated between Malaga and Fuengirola,
close to Calahonda, and offers some beautiful sea views. Opened in 2001, it
has quickly become one of the most popular courses in the area. The design
is reminiscent of Vilamoura's Old Course, with pine tree lined fairways and
an emphasis on accuracy rather than length. The 3rd hole, a driveable par
4 off a dramatically elevated tee, is especially memorable. Short but sweet,
Cabopino is well worth a visit. Buggies are compulsory.
Designer: Juan Ligues
Par: 71
Length: 5687 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: 01/11/07 - 15/11/07 £39; 18/02/08 - 20/05/08, 01/10/08 - 31/10/08 £37, 16/11/07 - 17/02/08, 21/05/08 - 30/09/08 £31
Santa Maria
Santa Maria's layout has recently been transformed
to create one of the best and most popular courses on the Costa del Sol. Running
through two valleys with great views of the Mediterranean Sea, the course
makes the most of its undulating terrain to provide a good test of golf, with
well-placed bunkers designed to make you really think about your shots. We
particularly like the 14th, which sets off from an elevated tee past a lake
towards a green flanked by a waterfall. Buggies recommended.
Designer: Antonio Garcia Garrido
Par: 70
Length: 6371 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: 01/12/06 - 31/07/07 £43; 01/11/06 - 30/11/06, 01/02/07 - 31/05/07 £49
Santa Clara
Santa Clara was opened in 2001 after having a full
year to settle and, for a new course, it has a surprisingly finished look.
The layout is superb. After a relatively flat and friendly start, the course
rises over hills and then runs along the valley floor, with a liberal sprinkling
of water and well placed bunkers. Don't miss it. Visiting golfers are met
in the car park with a buggy and a friendly welcome from the only entirely
female team of caddy masters on the coast.
Designer: Enrique Canales
Par: 71
Length: 6115 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08:01/11/07 - 30/11/07, 01/02/08 - 31/05/08 £48, 01/12/07 - 31/01/08 £42, 01/06/08 - 30/09/08 £33, 01/10/08 - 31/10/08 £56
Rio Real
Five minutes drive from Marbella, Rio Real is one of
the most popular courses on the coast and it's easy to see why. The course
is very picturesque, winding down towards the sea through mature trees (which
offer plenty of shade) and vegetation. The perfectly manicured fairways make
several crossings of the Real River, and you'll have to putt well on the fast
greens. Rio Real is a pretty long course but don't let that put you off -
it's flat, easy to walk and the open fairways will encourage you to really
go for it with your driver.
Designer: Javier Arana
Par: 72
Length: 6702 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: £55
Los Naranjos
Apparently a favourite of Sean Connery, this Trent
Jones creation is very popular with visiting golfers due to its level terrain
and its sheer playability (no matter what your handicap is). The front 9's
broad, sweeping fairways wind through pretty orange groves, while the back
9 offers more variety, with water coming into play. Los Naranjos is always
in superb condition - each morning a team of 20 staff prepare the course for
play. This is as good a course as any on the Costa del Sol and is highly recommended.
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Snr
Par: 72
Length: 7080 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: 01/11/07 - 31/05/08 £52, 01/06/08 - 31/08/08 £40, 01/09/08 - 31/10/08 £55
La Quinta
La Quinta offers 27 of the most popular holes on the
Costa del Sol. The beautiful landscape and near perfect on-course conditions
make playing here a real delight. The course is hilly and is one of the most
technically demanding in the area, with narrow, sloping fairways, plenty of
hazards to negotiate and fast greens that are tricky to read. We particularly
like the 18th hole, a challenging short par 4 with a lake protecting the green.
Buggies recommended.
Designer: Manuel Pinero/Antonio Garcia Garrido
Par: 72
Length: 6377 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: 01/11/07 - 30/11/07, 15/02/08 - 15/05/08 £42; 01/12/07 - 14/02/08, 16/05/08 - 30/09/08 £35; 01/10/08 - 31/10/08 £48
Los Arqueros
Los Arqueros is located on the mountainous Ronda
road and has some spectacular views. Designed by Seve Ballesteros, its undulating
terrain and mixture of narrow fairways, well-placed hazards and small greens
make it a stiff test even for professionals. Los Arqueros should appeal to
attacking players as its tight layout encourages a bold approach. A stunning
course and a great technical challenge - high handicappers should probably
steer clear though. Buggies recommended.
Designer: Seve Ballesteros
Par: 72
Length: 6461 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: 01/11/07 - 30/11/07 £37;01/12/07 - 01/01/08 £32; 01/02/08 - 31/05/08 £41; 01/06/08 - 31/10/08 £39
Monte Mayor
Situated high up in the mountains of Benahavis, Monte
Mayor is a very hilly course with dramatic elevation changes and stunning
views. The fairways meander through a /mixture of thick, straggling vegetation
and rocky slopes. The uneven terrain and cunningly placed water hazards make
this a difficult (and even frustrating) course, especially in windy conditions.
Nevertheless, playing here is an enthralling challenge - if you want a real
test of skill, give it a try. Buggies are compulsory but are included in the
green fees.
Designer: Pepe Gancedo
Par: 70
Length: 6150 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08 01/11/07 - 15/11/07, 01/03/08 - 25/05/08, 22/09/08 - 31/10/08 £51; 16/11/07 - 29/02/08, 26/05/08 - 21/09/08 £34
Atalaya Old Course
The Atalaya Park hotel has two fine courses
where hotel guests benefit from great green fee reductions. The Old course
is a classically conceived parkland layout with wide fairways, strategically
positioned bunkers and large, fast greens. It's a pleasant place to play,
with eucalyptus and olive trees providing a nice backdrop and some shade from
the sun. Atalaya Old has been designed to be playable for all levels of golfer
and, while not one of the best or most challenging courses in the region,
is ideal for an enjoyable holiday round. Buggies recommended
.Designer: Bernhard von Limburger
Fairways: Bermuda
Par: 72
Length: 6703 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: 01/11/07 - 30/11/07, 01/02/08 - 30/04/08, 01/10/08 - 31/10/08 £52; 01/12/07 - 31/01/08, 01/05/08 - 31/05/08 £40; 01/06/08 - 30/09/08 £31
Atalaya Park hotel guests only
Preferential green fees for Atalaya Park hotel guests available - see hotel
Atalaya New Course
The Atalaya Park hotel has two fine courses
where hotel guests benefit from great green fee reductions. The New course
is shorter and tighter than its neighbour but still offers an enjoyable game,
as well as some spectacular views of the Mediterranean and La Concha Mountain.
The par 3s are particularly memorable. Not one of the best courses on the
Costa del Sol, but perfect if you fancy something a bit less demanding.
Designer: Pam Krings
Fairways: Bermuda //
Par: 71
/Length: 5780 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: 01/11/07 - 30/11/07, 01/02/08 - 30/04/08, 01/10/08 - 31/10/08 £52; 01/12/07 - 31/01/08, 01/05/08 - 31/05/08 £40; 01/06/08 - 30/09/08 £31
Atalaya Park hotel guests only
Preferential green fees for Atalaya Park hotel guests available - see hotel
El Paraiso
El Paraiso's friendly atmosphere and traditional British
style have made it very popular with UK golfers. Set in the Paraiso valley,
the course winds through hundreds of trees and crosses several hidden streams.
The lush fairways are wide but are bordered by heavy rough, so accuracy off
the tee is vital. The par 5 6th, where your drive must avoid two carefully
placed bunkers and your approach to a two-tiered green must flirt with water,
is regarded as the best on the course. El Paraiso is Spain's first Gary Player
designed course and offers a good challenge whatever your standard.
Designer: Gary Player
Par: 71
Length: 6689 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: 01/11/07 - 30/11/07, 01/02/08 - 31/05/08 £51;
01/12/07 - 31/01/08 £34; 01/06/08 - 30/09/08 £30; 01/10/08 - 31/10/08 £52
El Chaparral was closed for many years and has reopened this year to great acclaim. It winds through woodlands and boasts outstanding sea views. A spectacular third loop of 9 holes now offers magnificent mountain and valley views.
Designer: Pepe Gancedo
Par: 71
Length: 6236 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08:
01/11/07 - 31/12/07, 18/02/08 - 25/05/08, 01/10/08 - 31/10/08 £46; 01/01/08 - 17/02/08 £48; 26/05/08 - 30/09/08 £35.
Western Costa del Sol
Estepona Golf Club
Often unfairly overlooked, Estepona is a scenic
and challenging course that offers great value for money. It's framed by the
Sierra Bermeja Mountains and there are some lovely sea views. The sloping
fairways, which are lined with thick rough, provide a good test of technique.
The lengthy par 3s are especially demanding and the par 5 3rd is one of the
longest holes in Spain - fortunately, it's downhill! This course is something
of a hidden gem and, with much lower green fees than most other courses on
the western coast, we think it's well worth a visit. Buggies recommended.
Designer: Jose Luis Lopez
Par: 72
Length: 6600 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: 01/11/07 - 30/11/07, 01/03/08 - 31/05/08, 01/10/08 - 31/10/08 £35 01/12/07-29/02/08 £30; 01/06/08 - 30/09/08 £28
La Duquesa
Laid out around the El Hacho hill (which provides magnificent
views of the Mediterranean and the Rock of Gibraltar), La Duquesa is a Trent
Jones classic and offers great value for money. It's one of the most varied
courses on the Costa del Sol and, mainly due to its wide fairways, can be
enjoyed by players of all standards. The course is typical of its designer
in that an abundance of shrewdly placed bunkers makes accuracy more important
than power. A really good course at a really good price. Buggies recommended.
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Snr
Par: 72
Length: 6717 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: £39
Sotogrande
Opened in 1964, the exclusive Sotogrande course was
Robert Trent Jones Snr's first course in Europe and has matured beautifully.
It's rated No. 7 in Continental Europe by Golf World magazine and it's easy
to see why. The course has lots of trees, lots of bunkers and lots of water
and is lots of fun to play. Getting to grips with the huge, severely undulating
greens is a real challenge. Very expensive, but worth every penny.
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Snr
Fairways: Penncross
Par: 72
Length: 6846 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: 1 November - 31 December £109 (limited availability); 1 January - 31 October £114
La Canada
La Canada was born when the local villagers decided
that they wanted a golf course. They hacked out a mountainside track, the
municipality donated the land, Robert Trent Jones did the design and La Canada
was built as a 9-hole course. With the recent completion of a new 9 holes
by Dave Thomas, La Canada is now a thrilling blend of styles. Thomas' front
9 features a lot of water, while the back 9 is typical Trent Jones. Local
players get preference so visitors have to book in advance. It's well worth
the effort and good value too.
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Snr/Dave Thomas
Par: 71
Length: 6330 yards
Green fees01/11/07 - 31/10/08: £35
Valderrama
Valderrama more than justifies its legendary reputation.
Host to ten Volvo Masters events and, of course, the 1997 Ryder Cup, this
is probably the best course in all of Europe. Playing here truly is a 'once
in a lifetime' experience - which is perhaps just as well when you consider
how high the green fees are! It's an expensive, private club with limited
access for visitors (you can usually only tee off between 12pm and 2pm), but
anyone who plays here will remember their round forever. See if you can beat
Darren Clarke's recent 11 on the controversial par 5 17th!
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Snr
Par: 71
Length: 7020 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: weekday £175; weekend £189 (limited availability)
Almenara
Almenara is one of the most thrilling courses on the
Costa del Sol, with three sets of 9 holes that can be played in various combinations.
It has a spectacular layout built around a series of vast lakes. Strenuous
in parts, it delights at every turn and offers some breathtaking views of
the Mediterranean. Dave Thomas has designed the new 9-hole loop, opened in
2001, in similar fashion to the existing back 9, with lots of water, tight,
undulating fairways, deep bunkers and scenic beauty. Buggies recommended.
Guests at the wonderful Almenara Golf Hotel benefit from significantly reduced
green fees.
Designer: Dave Thomas
Par: 72
Length: 6800 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: 01/11/07 - 10/11/07, 26/02/08 - 31/05/08, 17/09/08 - 31/10/08 £51; 11/11/07 - 25/02/08, 01/06/08 - 16/09/08 £41
Almenara hotel guests only - Preferential green fees for Almenara hotel guests available
Alcaidesa
Alcaidesa is the closest thing you'll find to a links
course in the area. It has heather and gorse, fairways that border the beach
and the windy conditions you would associate with a links. It also offers
stunning views of the Rock of Gibraltar and the Atlas Mountains of northern
Morocco. Since opening in 1990 it has been considerably modified and is now
one of the region's most popular courses. A real test of golf and perfect
if you're looking for something a bit different from the rest of the courses
on the Costa del Sol.
Designer: Peter Allis/Clive Clark
Par: 73
Length: 6538 yards
Green fees01/11/07 - 31/10/08: November, 16 February - 31 May, September, October £48; December - 15 February,June, August £39
San Roque Old
Located in the foothills of the Sierra Bermeja,
San Roque's Old Course is one of the best in Spain and is ranked 35th in Europe
by Golf World magazine. The front 9 gives superb mountain views, winding through
a cork oak forest before heading back to the clubhouse via the demanding and
seemingly endless par 4 8th. The back 9 is laid out across rolling hills and
includes lots of shots across water that will really test your judgement and
your nerve. The closing holes incorporate the resort's shimmering lakes to
present a finish as beautiful as it is challenging. Highly recommended. The
only way to guarantee a game (and reduced green fees) here is to stay at the
lovely San Roque hotel.
Designer: Dave Thomas (bunkers redesigned by Seve Ballesteros)
Par: 72
Length: 7043 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/10/08: 01/11/07 - 31/12/07, 01/01/08 - 15/03/08 £50
16/03/08 - 31/03/08 £58; 01/06/08 - 30/09/08 £69; 01/04/08 - 31/05/08, 01/10/08 - 31/10/08 £85
San Roque Club hotel guests only
San Roque New
San Roque's second course, designed by legendary
American architect Perry Dye in collaboration with Seve Ballesteros, opened
in early 2004. It's a perfect compliment to its renowned neighbour, but also
a fine course in its own right. Built on undulating land, the layout affords
stunning panoramic views of the Guadalquiton River and the Mediterranean beyond.
Existing mature cork oak trees line the fairways and 240 new trees have been
planted. The only way to guarantee a game (and reduced green fees) here is
to stay at the lovely San Roque hote.l
Designer: Perry Dye/Seve Ballesteros
Par: 72
Length: 7246 yards
Green fees 01/11/07 - 31/05/08: 01/11/07 - 31/12/07 £44; 01/01/08 - 15/03/08, 01/06/08 - 30/09/08 £48; 16/03/08 - 31/05/08, 01/10/08 - 31/10/08 £58
Preferential green fees for San Roque Club hotel guests available