The best golf courses in Spain

Spain is one of the best countries in Europe for playing golf / Pixabay

23 April 2019, 18:56

With its over 3000 hours of sunshine a year and ample green spaces, Spain is an ever-popular place to play golf. In fact, there are around 350 golf courses in Spain, many of them recognised as some of the best golf courses in Europe, if not in the world. Many of them are built into golf resorts with their own hotels or in golf communities with homes built right next to the fairway, so whether you want to go on an all-inclusive golf holiday to Spain or you want to buy a golf property in Spain, you can find whatever you’re looking for.

Spain hosts such famous golf tournaments as the Andalucía Valderrama Masters, the European Tour Qualifying School and the Challenge de España, and the country has produced many famous golfers like Steve Ballesteros, Sergio García and Miguel Ángel Jiménez.

So, to join such good company, let’s tee off our list of the top 10 Spanish golf courses:

1. Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, Cádiz

Designed by the distinguished Robert Trent Jones in 1964 and granted the title of ‘Royal’ by the King of Spain, Sotogrande is widely recognised as one of the best golf courses in Spain. It has a par of 72 but is suitable for players of all abilities. It has been the scene of many golf championships over the years and players such as Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy have competed on its beautiful fairways.

Where: Paseo del Parque, 11310 Sotogrande, Cádiz
Website: www.golfsotogrande.com

2. Valderrama, Cádiz

Valderrama is the site of the Andalucía Valderrama Masters tournament as part of the European Tour, as well as many other championships. It was first opened back in 1974 and features 18 challenging holes that will set you back around 300 euro. It is located in the luxury urbanización residential estate of Sotogrande in Andalusia.

Where: Av. los Cortijos, s/n, 11310 Sotogrande, Cádiz
Website: www.valderrama.com

3. Golf Son Gual, Mallorca

This golf course was the very first on the island of Mallorca in the Mediterranean Sea and has gained a reputation as top-quality championship course, with Ian Woosnam even calling it “a bit like Augusta”. Son Gual is also notable for its excellent clubhouse restaurant with fine dining.

Where: 07199, Balearic Islands
Website: www.son-gual.com

4. PGA Catalunya Resort, Girona

In the town of Caldes de Malavella in Catalunya is one of the most exclusive 5-star golf resorts in Spain. The PGA Catalunya Resort has two 18-hole courses, one for professional standard golfers and one that is slightly easier. As well as a hotel and other holiday rentals, there are also villas and property for sale on this golf course, along with luxury features like a gym, swimming pool, children’s park and sauna.

Where: Carretera N-II Km 701, 17455, 17455, Girona
Website: www.pgacatalunya.com

5. Mijas Golf Los Lagos, Malaga

Just twenty minutes from Fuengirola and Malaga International Airport on the Costa del Sol, the Mijas Golf Club offers two courses: Los Lagos and Los Olivos. The Club House sits in between the two courses and around the edges are numerous private golf communities with homes for sale. Los Lagos is the harder of the two courses and stands out for its ‘Ball Bridge’, which spans across one of the lakes and is in the shape of a golf ball on a tee.

Where: Avenida Louison Bobet, 29650 Las Lagunas de Mijas, Málaga
Website: www.mijasgolf.org

6. La Manga, Murcia

This luxury golf resort has a truly impressive three courses with 18 holes each, plus an added 18-hole pitch & putt. There are two hotels, one 5-star and one 4-star. The whole resort has won numerous awards for its outstanding golf facilities, not to mention the additional sports academies and events, including rugby, tennis, football and many more.

Where: Urb. La Manga Club, 30389 Cartagena, Murcia
Website: www.lamangaclub.com

7. Alcaidesa Links Golf Resort, Estepona

Alcaidesa Golf Resort / Wikimedia Commons

Alcaidesa is located near the island of Gibraltar and with spectacular views from the fairway of the Mediterranean Sea along the Costa del Sol. You can get package holidays to the golf resort and stay in its hotel or a holiday apartment in one of the two bespoke complexes. If you don’t fancy playing on the only links course in southern Europe because of the high sea winds, you can go to the adjoining Alcaidesa Heathland golf course instead.

Where: Avda. del Golf s/n, 11360 San Roque, Cádiz
Website: www.alcaidesagolf.com

8. Desert Springs, Almería

On the easternmost side of Andalusia is the Desert Springs Resort, a golf community with many luxury villas and private homes incorporated into the course. Based on the famous golfing resort in Arizona, it even comes complete with cacti. Aside from the golf properties for sale and the fact that it’s one of the best places to play golf in Spain, it’s also great for a family holiday with its pools, football pitch and kids’ play area, and even a cricket ground and academy so good Ian Botham and Nasser Hussain frequent it!

Where: Las Cunas-Palomares, 04618 Cuevas del Almanzora, Almería
Website: www.desertspringsresort.es

9. Mataleñas Golf Club, Santander

One of the best quality golf courses in the north of Spain is without a doubt Mataleñas in Santander, Cantabria. There are only 9 holes, but they are located right by the beach, giving players excellent views of the sea. For a different golfing experience in Spain away from the heat of the south, try out the Club de Golf Mataleñas.

Where: Av. del Faro, s/n, 39012 Santander, Cantabria
Website: www.golfmatalenas.es

10. El Saler, Valencia

This alternative style of golf course is slap bang in the middle of a Spanish national park, the Parque Natural de la Albufera. This affords it some fantastic views that you can’t find anywhere else on the Spanish mainland while playing a round of golf. Even better, it’s relatively cheap, with a full 18-hole round costing about 50 euro in the high season if you stay at their hotel.