Costa del Sol: Exclusive Golf Delight

We’ve chosen some luxurious stay-and-play resorts and nearby world-class courses on Spain’s Costa del Sol for the ultimate golf vacation.

Going south from Malaga, past Marbella to Sotogrande, the Costa del Sol is more than just a holiday destination packed with luxury resorts with one of the best selections of championship golf courses in the world, including La Reserva Club Sotogrande, Real Club Valderrama and Finca Cortesin.

With over 300 days of sunshine each year, the region offers year-round golf with temperatures ranging between 15ºC and 20ºC in winter and 25ºC and 35ºC in summer.

Arrival airport: Malaga Airport

SO/ Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort Hotel

Set in the Andalusian hills, this luxury hotel is part of La Reserva Club Sotogrande, set on the western edge of the Costa del Sol in the Andalusian hills, close to beaches and the cultural hotspots of Marbella and Malaga. It’s also within easy reach of Gibraltar Airport and just over an hour from Malaga Airport.

It’s a chic, exclusive community spanning 600 hectares, comprising gated communities of upscale villas and residences and the five-star SO/ Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort Hotel. It boasts one of Europe’s finest residential clubs, La Reserva Club with its elite amenities including a luxurious inland beach club complete with magnificent freshwater sandy lagoon, a dazzling variety of water sports, an equestrian centre, a racquet club and two excellent restaurants.

Sotogrande is home to some of Europe’s most legendary golf courses, each within a 2km radius of SO/ Sotogrande, including Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, Real Club Valderrama, host of the 1997 Ryder Cup, and Almenara Golf Club.

Opened alongside these in 2003 is La Reserva Club Sotogrande, the resort’s 18-hole championship course, designed by renowned American architect Cabell Robinson. It has sweeping fairways, large undulating greens, various water features and stunning panoramic views.

La Cala Golf Resort

A fantastic option for a golf holiday, around 30 minutes from Malaga Airport and a 20 minute drive from Marbella. There’s a high-quality four-star hotel and spa, three excellent championship golf courses and a golf academy. One of Spain’s leading Hydrotherapy Health Spas, four restaurants and multiple bars add to the world-class experience.

The three courses at La Cala were designed by Cabell Robinson, while the La Cala Golf Academy offers lessons and group classes with a six-hole par 3 course, grass driving range as well as putting, chipping and bunker facilities.

The America Course has elevated tees and is beautifully maintained with spectacular views to the Sierra de Ojen and the Mediterranean. The Asia Course has elevated greens and rivals the America as the most challenging at the resort. The Europa Course is easier for the average golfer with generous fairways and flatter terrain.

Finca Cortesin

About 30 minutes from Marbella, Finca Cortesin is arguably Spain‘s premier golf resort. The five-star hotel is the epitome of luxury and just a few minutes’ walk from the beautiful coastline.

Its world-class facilities includes an elegant boutique hotel, Hotel Cortesin, the state-of-the-art Jack Nicklaus Academy, a beach club, excellent dining, and an award-winning spa featuring Spain’s only snow cave.

The main attraction at the resort is the championship-level golf course, another designed by Cabell Robinson, which hosted the 2023 Solheim Cup when Team Europe retained the trophy. The winding, highly manicured layout weaves through a valley of olive trees and the views of the Casares Mountains and the coast are stunning.

La Hacienda Links Golf Resort

This resort offers the unique opportunity of playing one of the only coastal links courses in southern Europe, as well as a superb heathland layout. There’s also the excellent La Hacienda Golf Academy. The resort is close to some of Europe’s most iconic golf venues including Valderrama and Sotogrande.

The two outstanding and recently renovated 18-hole courses, La Hacienda Links and La Hacienda Heathland, are not just superb in quality but they boast incredible views of the Mediterranean, Gibraltar and North Africa.

At the resort, Fairmont La Hacienda, part of the prestigious Fairmont Hotel chain, is set to open Easter 2024 offering its guests one of the most exclusive resorts in Spain. Located on the coast of San Roque, it will feature a five-star hotel with 153 rooms and 51 branded residences, all of them with stunning sea views together wide range of restaurants and facilities.

Hotel Don Pepe Gran Melia

One of the best options for golfers on the Costa del Sol is this five-star option at the foot of the majestic Sierra Blanca and a stone’s throw from Marbella’s famous marina, bars and restaurants.

Just a 15 minutes walk from Marbella Old Town, it offers three outdoor pools surrounded by gardens, a spa and luxurious rooms and suites with views of the sea, hotel gardens, or mountains. There’s a heated indoor pool and gym, tennis and paddle courts, restaurants, a beach club, and whisky, champagne and piano lounges.

Special rates on several great golf courses within the Marbella area are offered, including Marbella Golf Country Club, Golf Rio Real, Santa Clara Golf Marbella, Aloha Golf Club, and Real Club de Golf Las Brisas.

Other great courses to play

San Roque Golf Club

Just 5km from Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, the famous Old Course here was renovated in 2020 to produce one of the best golf courses in southern Europe, while the New Course, host of the Spanish Open in 2006, is a stunning course designed by Perry Dye, son of legendary architect Pete Dye in collaboration with Severiano Ballesteros.

Los Naranjos & Real Club de Golf Las Brisas

15km north from Finca Cortesin, these are both Robert Trent Jones Sr-designed courses. Los Naranjos is a superb, challenging layout beautifully nestled among orange groves. Las Brisas, next door, has hosted the Spanish Open three times. They’re reserved for members but are open to visitors at certain times.