Best golf resorts in Europe for beginners

We’ve chosen some great resorts for beginner golfers that offer shorter golf courses alongside excellent tuition and academy facilities.

Arabella Golf Resort, Mallorca

This resort is a sunny haven for golfers, with four manicured golf courses and two five-star hotels in a gorgeous natural setting close to Palma. The resort has three 18-hole parkland courses, Son Vida, Son Muntaner and Golf Son Quint.

In the same excellent condition is the 9-hole Palma Pitch & Putt course where all the holes are par 3, so it’s a great place for beginners. It’s the only official pitch and putt course on the island and those new to the game will enjoy the variety of holes. It’s a guaranteed fun few hours of golf. At the resort, the Arabella Golf Academy offers guests everything they need to learn the game, from tuition from PGA professionals, to club fitting and Trackman analysis.

Amendoeira Golf Resort, Algarve

Amendoeira features elegant four-star self-catering apartments and villas with swimming pools. It’s a lovely place to stay and the golf here is top class with 18-hole courses designed by Sir Nick Faldo and Christy O’Connor Jnr. Nestled between the two is the 9-hole Academy Course, the only floodlit 9-hole golf course in Portugal.

The course is ideally suited for beginners yet it has been built and maintained to the same high standards as the other two esteemed courses. Helpfully, the course has three teeing options which varies the line of play into each hole. Also at the resort, The Amendoeira Golf Academy offers a wide variety of training programmes to cater for every standard of golfer from beginner to amateur including swing analysis using Trackman technology.

Pine Cliffs Resort, Algarve

Pine Cliffs, a Luxury Collection Resort, is one of the leading and award-winning five-star luxury and family resorts in Europe. It’s home to a 9-hole course perfect for beginners, perched on top of cliffs with beautiful ocean and beach views.

The course is a great introduction to golf as it’s not too strenuous while being a beautiful place to learn the game. Trees protect the fairways from the ocean winds and it’s obviously not too long either. It’s also close to 18-hole courses in this excellent part of Europe for golfers such as Dom Pedro Vilamoura.

The Pine Cliffs Golf Academy is equipped with the latest technology with Internationally Qualified PGA Professionals. There’s tuition service second to none for all level players and a dedicated short game practice area specifically designed to aid the beginner.

Golf Barrière Deauville, France

This fine club is home to 27 holes of stunning parkland golf and you can stay on-site at the four-star Hotel du Golf Barrière. To go along with the historic 18-hole Tom Simpson course, there is also a 9-hole beginners course, a par-36, 3,322-yard gem designed by Sir Henry Cotton in 1964.

It’s a beautiful and relaxing place to learn the game, with a mix of tree-lined and open parkland holes that are draped across rolling verdant terrain. The recently renovated clubhouse has a driving range with 20 covered bays and 40 open air bays, a putting green and practice bunker, and the Golfs Barrière Deauville Academy offers tuition using the latest technologies.

Penina Golf Resort, Algarve

This luxury five-star hotel has nearly 200 guest rooms with a private terrace with pool or mountain views, a spa, several bars and restaurants and a beach close by. It’s also home to the Algarve’s first 18-hole Championship course, designed by Sir Henry Cotton. At the resort there’s also excellent facilities for beginners.

The 9-hole Resort Course provides a gentle introduction to the game with a variety of well thought out holes. No handicap is required and it’s just a par 35 that can be played twice to make a full 18-hole round. It’s only 3,267 yards from the white tees and just 2,875 yards from the yellow tees.

There’s also the Penina Golf Academy, one of the best practice facilities in the region, with a driving range, practice green, bunker and chipping area to go with lessons and clinics with PGA professionals. Combined with its luxurious hotel and facilities, Penina Golf Resort guarantees a rewarding golf break for beginners.

Gleneagles, Scotland

Another great five-star resort, this legendary venue is home to three of the top golf courses in Scotland. The King’s Course is an ‘inland links’ masterpiece, The Queen’s Course is one of the finest par-68 heathland golf courses in the UK, and the Nicklaus-designed PGA Centenary Course has played host to the Ryder and Solheim Cups.

There’s also The Wee Course, a 9-hole course which is the perfect place to learn the game with superb par 3 holes surrounded by awesome countryside. It’s one of the best golf courses in Scotland for beginners and high-handicappers.

At the resort, The PGA Academy can offer you your first ever lesson as someone new to the game. Using the latest technology, the coaches offer personalised golf lessons for first-timers. You can then transition from your golf lessons to putting your new skills into practice on The Wee Course.

La Cala Golf Resort, Spain

This resort on the Costa del Sol is a fantastic option for a golf holiday with a four-star hotel, one of Spain’s leading Hydrotherapy Health Spas, four restaurants and multiple bars. There’s also three championship courses each designed by Cabell Robinson which blend wonderfully into the hilly scenery of Andalucia.

At the resort, La Cala Golf Academy offers lessons and group classes for beginners with multilingual professionals. There’s a grass driving range as well as putting, chipping and bunker facilities. Really appealing to beginners is its six-hole par 3 Academy Course, one of the finest short game practice facilities on the Costa del Sol.

It’s a layout of great variation despite its short length, with high quality greens and testing terrain. The fourth is the longest hole at 158 yards, while the fifth is barely 100 yards. The course is perfect for beginners who may not feel ready to take on the three La Cala championship courses.