7 Must-Play Courses within 50 Miles of Barcelona

Barcelona is a beguiling city that has long made for one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations. Tear yourself away from the enchanting Catalonian capital, and you will find some of Spain’s most arresting countryside, which hides a myriad of exceptional golf resorts. From European Tour host venues to lesser-known mountain retreats, we take at Barcelona’s best courses.

PGA Catalunya Resort

PGA Catalunya Resort is ideally located 50 minutes from Barcelona and just 15 minutes from Girona. There are two world-class golf courses at the resort. Opened to much acclaim in 1991, the European Tour originally built the Stadium course to rival the PGA Tour’s offering at Sawgrass. They undoubtedly succeeded in that goal, with the layout consistently ranked among Europe’s finest courses. Host to multiple Tour events, the Stadium course should be on every golfer’s must-play list.

Somewhat overshadowed, the Tour Course is also a layout all golfers should experience.

While the Stadium was designed specifically with tournament golf in mind, the Tour Course with its constant challenges and spectacular holes will meet the expectations of all types of player.

The resort also boasts Europe’s largest chipping and putting green. There is also a Sergio Garcia Junior Golf Academy and the Dave Pelz Spanish Golf School.

Peralada Golf Club

Do you love your wine and enjoy nothing more than a round or two of golf under the Spanish sunshine? If so, look no further than Peralada Golf Club. Situated in one of Spain’s premier wine growing regions, the beautiful Catalonian resort is home to one of the Costa Brava’s best courses.

The course has hosted several top events including the 1995 Catalonia Open, and the Senior PGA Qualifying School.

The beautiful par-71 course is a pleasure to play. Carving its way through natural woodland, generous gardens surround the layout. Meanwhile lake areas and water hazards come into play throughout. Measuring 6071 meters, it is not an overly long course, and as a result is suitable for all levels of player.

Infinitum Golf

Infinitum Golf is a golfers’ paradise. Home to European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage this sun-soaked resort is one of Europe’s most popular golf destinations. Located close to the historic town of Tarragona, there are no fewer than 45 holes at the resort. Each of these courses gives the player a different experience. The Lakes Course carves its way through the wetlands; the 9 holes in the Ruins Course run between archaeological ruins; while the 18-hole Hills Course offers sensational views of the quarries, pine groves and the sea.

Sustainability runs at the heart of the resort, and Infinitum Golf was awarded the Audubon International Gold Signature Sanctuary Certificate in recognition of its environmentally friendly practices.

Real Club de Golf El Prat

Real Club de Golf El Prat is located just outside Barcelona and is home to two of Spain’s best golf courses. Originally named Barcelona Golf Club, the prestigious club moved to its new home in the Llorenç del Munt l’Obac Natural Park in 2003. Despite the move, the club continues to boast some of the best golf in all of Spain. There are an extraordinary 45 holes of golf at the resort, all of which are built to USGA stadium specifications. With this in mind, each of the layouts offers a long and fairly wide challenge, with plenty of room to open your shoulders.

The venue holds the rare feat of hosting the Spanish Open at two different venues, with Europe’s best returning to compete in the event three years ago.

Golf & Country Club de Bonmont

Robert Trent Jones Jr. is synonymous with ingeniously designed golf courses. That is certainly the case at Golf and Country Club de Bonmont. Located at the foot of the towering Serra di Llaberia mountains, the course is perhaps the most scenic of all the courses on the Costa Durada. With gullies carving their way in front of many of the greens, a strong approach game is essential. Add in six rock-cut lakes, woods, more than 90 bunkers, and spacious, perfectly manicured greens, and here you will find a course that tests every element of your game.

The course’s elevated mountain setting ensures a cooler environment to play, making Bonmont a great selection during the searing summer months.

Emporda Golf Resort

Emporda is one of the most idyllic and charming golf resorts in Spain. Located just north of Barcelona, the resort is home to two Robert von Hagge designed courses. Originally four loops of nine holes, there are now two distinctive courses, the Forest and the Links.

The Forest course is the jewel in Emporda’s crown. Flanked by umbrella pines, the course is a delight to play with bold bunkering and raised greens featuring heavily throughout. The Forest may be the more scenic of the two courses but the Links is also a top golf course. The barren, treeless layout is a stark contrast to the resort’s other offering. Nonetheless with punishing rough, plenty of bunkers and small, firm greens it provides a challenging test of golf.

Golf Platja de Pals

Founded in 1966, Golf Platja de Pals is the Costa Brada’s original layout. Designed by FW Hawtree, the venue hosted the Spanish Open in 1972 and more recently staged the Catalonia Ladies Masters (Ladies European Tour) in 2005. Flanked by an umbrella of pines, the beautiful layout is situated just 500m from the ocean.

The layout is the only par-73 in the Barcelona area, with five par-5’s. Nonetheless, length has never been an issue, with strategy essential to negotiate the course’s narrow fairways. A sprinkling of water only enhances the magnificent course. A must visit on a trip to the region.