Although historians still hadn’t agreed on the origin of golf, formation of the game in its modern form with a rigorous set of rules and an 18-hole course is not contentious. The birthplace of modern golf is Scotland, and the first golf courses were built on that territory. From Scotland, this game instantly spread to the whole of the United Kingdom, followed by Europe and the wider world. Spain just couldn’t keep away: what better place than here, in a country of endless summer with a minimum of precipitation and a maximum of sunny days, to enjoy a holiday, combining it with one of the most interesting sports.
Back in the early 80s of the last century, there were only a few dozen golf courses in Spain, and today, the number is closer to 400. Moreover, many of these courses enjoy the status of the best in Europe.
The popularity of golf in Spain is resulted not only from the game itself that does not require the participants to make great physical effort, but let’s just say, from the entourage around it. Firstly, golf still continues to be enveloped in elitist and aristocracy (it was originally a game of rich). Secondly, golf courses in the southern part of Spain are akin to desert oases: it’s nice to find yourself in an eye-candy place with extraordinary landscapes and lush greenery.
A number of new golf courses are being built in Spain every year. As a rule, golf clubs do not function on their own, and in most cases it is about entire complexes – residential and sports ones. It looks like this: a golf course (or several courses at once, including a pitch & putt beginner course) is broken down over a wide area, and urbanizations and residential complexes are being built around. All that is connected by a common infrastructure, while membership in the club is voluntary. You don’t have to play golf to be able to live with a view of the green lawns. Experience has shown, however, that this game possesses an unique charm and appeal: those who held a putter in their hands at least once, often fall in love with golf selflessly and for a long time.
The best golf urbanizations of Spain are located not on the coast itself, but a few kilometers from the sea, where the land price is more affordable, and where it is possible to undertake a landscape project on the area of several hundred hectares. The distance from the sea has a positive impact on housing prices, making them quite attractive. At the same time, in terms of comfort and quality of this housing, golf urbanizations have always kept and continue to keep a pretty high bar.
Golf in Spain: the best golf clubs
The best golf clubs of the Costa del Sol
The Costa del Sol is a coastal of Spain, where golf is paid a great attention, and where the entire infrastructure is designed with the expectation of golf clubs and adjacent residential complexes and houses. The Costa del Sol is fondly called by golfers The Costa del Golf: it’s the very place where the best golf courses in Europe are located, and plus with such density that any other country would envy.
Almost all the golf clubs of the Costa del Sol are surrounded by urbanizations around the perimeter, where everyone can buy housing for every taste and budget.
The most famous golf clubs of the Costa del Sol are placed on the coastal from Marbella to Estepona, and also in the vicinity of Sotogrande. Prestigious international tournaments are held annually on these club fields, and own academies are active in the clubs, where professional teachers give classes to beginners how to play golf.
The best 18-hole golf courses of the Costa del Sol
- Real De Golf Sotogrande: par – 72, length – 6304 m.
It is a true veteran among the Spanish golf clubs. Its opening took place in 1964, and thanks to the magnificent project of Robert Trent Johnson, the club is counted among the TOP-10 in Europe. At the turn of the millennium, from 1998 to 2001, the European Tour Qualifying Finals was held on the territory of the club. Renovation works were carried out 5 years ago that enabled the club to fully correspond to modern international standards.
- Rio Real Golf Club: par – 72, length – more than 6000 m.
That is one of the oldest Spanish clubs, located just 5 minutes from the center of Marbella. The club was opened in 1965. Later, the Royal Spanish Golf Association recognized it as one of the best in Spain at size and design. The club has a golf academy offering group and individual classes, as well as a children’s golf school.
- Real Club Valderrama: par – 71, length – 6354 m.
This is one of the oldest clubs in Spain (the foundation year is 1974), located in the suburb of Sotogrande (southwestern part of the Costa del Sol, stopped by Gibraltar) and is considered the best golf club in Europe. International tournaments are regularly held here, the most famous among them are the Ryder Cup, Volvo Masters and American Express Championships. The golf courses of the Valderrama club is both very beautiful and very difficult: it is not easy to pass it even for professional players.
- Aloha Golf Club: par – 72, length – 6293 m.
This private club has a beautiful well-groomed course and located on the territory of the urbanization Aloha Golf, in Nueva Andalusia. Since its opening in 1975, prestigious tournaments have been held on its green fields not once. The club offers beautiful views of the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. It also owns a golf school and a sports and spa center.
- Los Naranjos Golf Club: par – 72, length – 5056-6532 m.
The club is situated in the suburbs of Marbella, in the Nueva Andalusia area. The construction date is 1977, but it was completely renovated in 2009. Now Los Naranjos is considered one of the most hospitable golf clubs in Spain, famous for its comfort and incredible friendly atmosphere. The doors of the club are open even for the youngest: within its walls there is a school for children from 5 years old.
- Monte Mayor Golf & Country Club: par – 71, length – 6500 m.
This is a club with a history, which located in Benahavis near the port of Puerto Banus. It was projected by Spanish designer Jose Gancedo and opened in 1989; since then it has earned a solid reputation. On the complexity scale, it is given 4 out of 5 score.
- La Zagaleta Golf & Country Club: Old Golf Course: par – 72, length – 4800-6000 m, New Golf Course: par – 70, length – 4360-5380 m.
The golf club is situated on the territory of the most prestigious urbanization in Spain, La Zagaleta. Only club members and their guests are allowed here. The club was opened in 1991, and in 2016 the first golf course was upgraded according to a new project. In the same year, the opening of the second course took place. Currently, both courses meet the highest international standards of quality and service.
- Marbella Club Golf Resort: par – 72, length – 6247 m.
This is a project of Dave Thomas, a professional player and designer, whose portfolio includes more than a hundred golf courses in different parts of the world. The year of construction is 1999. The club is located in the vicinity of Benahavis near Marbella. In terms of quality and complexity, it belongs to the top golf courses. Private classes can be taken at the club, which are conducted by professional players who are members of the Professional Golfers’ Association.
The best golf clubs of the Costa Blanca
Despite the fact that the title of the golf coast in Spain belongs to the Costa del Sol (the second informal name is the Costa del Golf), the best golf clubs in Spain (according to IAGTO – The Global Golf Tourism Organization) are concentrated on the Costa Blanca. There are more than 20 golf clubs in the province of Alicante. The reasons for such a concentration of golf courses within the borders of one province are obvious: a wonderful climate, a suitable landscape, reasonable land prices and the incredible popularity of the Costa Blanca among European citizens, and first of all, the British.
The best golf clubs of the Costa Blanca are plased in the southern part of the coastal – the Orihuela Costa area, bordering the neighboring region of Murcia and the Costa Calida coast, as well as in the north in the area of Denia and Altea. The hilly landscape of Orihuela Costa and the foothills of the northern part of the coast are the best suited for placing of artificial green fields with panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea from the higher ground.
The best 9-hole golf clubs of the Costa Blanca
- Club de Golf Don Cayo: par – 36, length – 3078 m.
This is a golf club with a long history. Its opening took place in 1974, and since then the Don Cayo Club has not lost its popularity, attracting the best golfers from all over the world year after year. The club is located in the north of the Costa Blanca in the suburb of Altea. Don Cayo offers magnificent views of the Sierra de Bernia mountain range.
- Club de Golf Javea: par – 72, length – 3040 m.
This golf club with a 30-year history is situated in the north of the Costa Blanca, in the suburbs of Javea. The club is known for its unusual pitch, designed by Francisco Moreno and having additional obstacles that make the game more dynamic and intense.
The best 18-hole golf clubs on the Costa Blanca
- Club de Golf Villamartin: par – 72, length – 6132 m.
It is one of the oldest golf clubs on the Costa Blanca. It was opened in 1972 in the Orihuela Costa area, in the southern part of the Costa Blanca. Annually, its courses hold several major international tournaments.
- Real Club de Campoamor: par – 72, length – 6277 m.
This is one of the best golf clubs in Spain, located in the Orihuela Costa area, in the southern part of the Costa Blanca. The opening took place in 1988. The guest of honor who attended the opening was a member of the royal family, Juan de Bourbon and Battenberg, Count of Barcelona. Every year in August, a championship is held in his honor. In addition, the club regularly hosts numerous international tournaments.
- Club de Golf Las Ramblas: par – 71, length – 5770 m.
This golf club with a 30-year history was a project of the famous designer Pepe Gancedo. Its field was projected to pass sections with a constant multiple change of golf clubs. This introduces extra reviving and gambling to the game. The club is located in the Orihuela Costa area, in the southern part of the Costa Blanca.
- Club de Golf La Sella: par – 72, length – 6028 m.
The club is placed in the northern part of the Costa Blanca, in the suburb of Denia. In a year, La Sella Golf Club will celebrate its 30th anniversary. The golf course is located near the Montoro Nature Park, providing players the opportunity to admire the surrounding forests and mountain peaks.
- Las Colinas Golf & Country Club: par – 71, length – 6209 m.
This is a young, modern golf club that celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. It is located in the Orihuela Costa area, in the southern part of the Costa Blanca, in a conservation area that prohibits any further construction. The club is famous for its service, highly qualified players, privacy and tranquility. It is among the TOP-100 golf courses in the world.
The list of excellent Spanish golf clubs goes on and on. In any case, if you like this game and you would like to combine life in Spain with sports, whatever coast of Spain you choose to live on, there will be one or several perfect golf clubs nearby, for sure.
