Costa Del Sol (Marbella) Golf Trip - Which Courses?

[silliwilli]

Myself and a group of friends are heading to Spain for our annual golf trip. We plan to play 4 times in the week and this will include playing at Santana Golf Club and La Cala. We are looking for a couple of other recommendations. We won't be playing Valderamma or Sotogrande due to cost and the fact they are about 90 minutes down the coast...same goes for Finca Cortesin.

[Png78]

La Cala is awesome. I think they have 3 different courses. Try the Seve course Alhaurin. Avoid the courses in Mijas.

[potomacgolfer]

Flamingos GC in Marbella (at the hotel that used to be the Ritz but is now something else) was fun when I played in '07 -- hosted a European senior match play once.

[cambo3295]

Santana is ok and I'd probably recommend it.

La Cala, unless they have bulldozed 450 cubic miles of mountain and rebuilt all the courses since I was there 7 years ago, is off the charts horrific. If you like blind 120 yard par threes where you hit over someone's house to a green 80 feet below you, or playing golf up and across a black ski run, you'll love it....... I've never been back and you could not pay me enough to do so.

Alhaurin is similarly handicapped by being built on the side of a mountain and houses/villas/apartments 6 feet from every hole. Do not go there.
Los Flamingos is ok.
Mijas - Lagos is one of the better layouts of the area in fact, but condition can let it down and it's basically set up for holiday golf, so not much definition from fw to rough and soft greens, and maybe a bit monotonous? Off the back and set up properly it's a good test with no weak holes. Olivos is newer, more contrived and while it has some good holes, it doesn't feel very natural.
Rio Real has about 15 good holes and a couple of disasters.
Torrequebrada is one of the older courses of the area and I like it much more than most. You could put Aloha in that category too but I might be going too far from where you are staying.
Parador in Malaga has held the Spanish Open or another European Tour event, and aside from being a little bit scruffy, is a really good course.
I really like San Roque (both old and new, though the new has one or two contrived holes....) but that is close enough to Valderrama etc that you might not want to travel that far.
On the other hand, if you're going that far in the first place, I wouldn't baulk at an hour in a car to play a far better course. And I certainly wouldn't play La Cala, even if it was free.....

Iain

[rocketrod]

Hi there

I have been on the coast for 28 years and actually run one of the course down here (none of those mentioned).

I agree in the most part with the post above who knows the coast for sure.

I would also give La Cala a miss and for sure Alauhrin as they are on the side of mountains and very unfair.

Santanna good solid course if a little boring but in good condition. If you have to stay down that end then I would for sure play the Parador at Malaga, like the above post says can be a bit scruffy but a great design and layout and far better than most. Same goes for Guadalhorce which is behind the airport and is Miguel Angel's home course. He has redesigned it lately but a pretty good course.

The Los Lagos course at Mijas has just had a complete renovation and that has now turned into a very good course just reopened about 5 months ago. Dont play Olivos.

The closest other option has been mentioned, Rio Real, very good course but can be very wet and also quite busy.

So my chioces down that end would be:

Santanna
El Parador
Mijas LAGOS
Guadalhorce

Not sure when you are going but be careful the second half of May and September as thats when most of the courses core and topdress their greens and they are not very open with telling the players so ask.

Have fun you should enjoy the coast.

Rod

[silliwilli]

What do you think of Santa Clara? Booking agent say it's pretty good?

[Spanishgolfer]

[quote name='silliwilli' timestamp='1368911942' post='7060696']
What do you think of Santa Clara? Booking agent say it's pretty good?
[/quote]

Santa Clara is not your best choice, tell me where exactly are you staying and I'll give you advice about golf courses, also your budget per greenfee

Sotogrande for example is not far from Marbella, just 30 minutes, it is pricey but it worths it.

[wrigley]

Was in Costa Del Sol several years ago, Valderama was 275 euros and I almost pulled the trigger. I figure it was a once in a lifetime round, but it was closed the day I wanted to play. Ended up playing Alcaidesa Links, green fee was very reasonable, and it has several holes that borders the Mediterainian with Girbraltar as a backdrop. Be prepared for wind, lots of wind!

[carn9698]

Guadalhorce is wide open so great for just hammering your driver and attacking. Such good fun.