There are more than 370 golf courses across Spain, and roughly a third of them sit within reach of Marbella, Sotogrande, Estepona and the villages and towns along the Costa del Sol.
This stretch of coast in the provinces of Málaga and Cadiz has hosted the Ryder Cup, the Solheim Cup and a run of European Tour events few regions can match.
It’s also where our own luxury villa collection sits most densely, and it is not a coincidence. We chose the golf courses below for design pedigree and tournament history first, from Valderrama’s tight, tree-lined fairways to the volcanic backdrop at Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas.
For a group planning a golf trip, the course is usually the easy part. Securing the tee time, moving a group of six or eight without four cars, and having somewhere to recover afterwards takes local knowledge. Our Guest Experience Team, based in Spain, handles exactly that.
From Andalucía’s legendary championship courses to spectacular fairways overlooking the Mediterranean, Spain offers exceptional golf in some truly remarkable settings.
Below, we explore some of the country’s finest courses, together with our recommendations for where to stay when one of our handpicked villas puts you close to the action.
Table of Contents
- Golf in Spain, at a Glance
- The best golf courses in Spain, by region
- Which city in Spain has the best golf courses?
- What is the most exclusive golf course in Spain?
- What is the oldest golf course in Spain?
- Where to stay for golf in Spain
- Ask your concierge: what the Luxury Villa Collection can arrange for golfers
- Why book direct with The Luxury Villa Collection
- Frequently Asked Questions About Golf in Spain
Golf in Spain, at a Glance
- Real Club Valderrama in Sotogrande, often described as the ‘Augusta of Europe’, is ranked among the world’s top 35 golf courses and remains one of Spain’s most prestigious and demanding places to play.
- Spain has more than 370 golf courses, and Marbella, Benahavis and Sotogrande hold the country’s highest concentration of prestige courses, which is also where the Luxury Villa Collection’s own villa collection is strongest.
- La Zagaleta’s Old Course is one of Spain’s most exclusive golf courses, with membership primarily reserved for residents of the private estate.
- Several of the Luxury Villa Collection villas sit close enough to a course to matter: Villa Sonata sits on the fairway at Finca Cortesin, Villa Chanya is a few minutes from Valderrama and Villa Naturi overlooks Marbella Club Golf Resort.
- Our Guest Experience Team can arrange tee times and transport, while planning the rest of your stay around your golfing schedule, so you can make the most of your time both on and off the course.
The best golf courses in Spain, by region
Andalucia
Andalucía has the highest concentration of golf courses in Spain, with many of its finest clustered around Marbella, Nueva Andalucía, Benahavís, Estepona and Sotogrande. Explore our guide to the best Costa del Sol golf courses for more of our favourites across the region.ç
In and around Sotogrande
1 Real Club Valderrama
Widely regarded as the best, and most demanding, course in continental Europe, Real Club Valderrama was designed by Robert Trent Jones and opened in 1974. It hosted the 1997 Ryder Cup, and has since held the Andalucian Masters, the Volvo Masters and LIV Golf.
Address: Avenida de los Cortijos s/n, 11310 Sotogrande, Cadiz.
Villa Match: Villa Chanya, an eight-bedroom villa in Sotogrande, sits a few minutes’ drive away.
2 Real Club de Golf Sotogrande
Opened in 1964 as Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s first course in Europe, this historic par-72 layout has hosted the Spanish Open and European Tour Qualifying School. Restored in 2016, it runs through cork oak, eucalyptus and pine, with views towards the Mediterranean.
Address: Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, Paseo del Parque, 11310 Sotogrande, Cadiz.
3 La Reserva Club Sotogrande
Designed by Cabell B. Robinson and opened in 2003, La Reserva is a par-72 championship course carved into the Sotogrande hillside. Wide fairways, large greens, elevation changes and challenging water features are complemented by panoramic views towards the Mediterranean.
Address: Avenida La Reserva s/n, 11310 Sotogrande, Cadiz.
4 The San Roque Club, Old Course
Designed by Dave Thomas in 1990, with bunkers later redesigned by Seve Ballesteros, the par-72 Old Course winds through mature cork oaks and has hosted the Spanish Open and 15 consecutive European Tour Qualifying Schools.
Address: San Roque Club, A7 Km 1098, 11360 San Roque, Cadiz.
Villa Match: Villa Onze, near Almenara Golf, both sit within the same short radius as this cluster of courses.
Casares and Estepona
1 Finca Cortesin
Finca Cortesin Golf ©
Located near the village of Casares, Finca Cortesin Golf Club is currently ranked No. 5 among Spain’s best golf courses by Golf Digest. an acclaimed 18-hole championship course designed by Cabell B. Robinson, known for its immaculate conditioning, wide fairways and dramatic Mediterranean setting.
Address: Ctra de Casares s/n, Km 2, 29690 Casares, Malaga.
Villa Match: Villa Sonata sits on the frontline of the course itself, with an infinity pool overlooking the fairways. Villa Kianga, also on the estate, has access to the resort’s facilities and golf buggy rental.
2 El Paraiso Golf Club
Designed by Gary Player in 1973, El Paraiso Golf Club is a par-71 course with wide fairways, strategic bunkering and water hazards. Designed to be enjoyable for golfers of all levels, it is a particularly good choice for mixed-ability groups.
Address: Urbanizacion El Paraiso, N-340 km 167, 29680 Estepona, Malaga.
Villa Match: Villa Kynthia is a five-minute walk from the course, and Casa Anneli sits around 700 metres away.
Benahavis
1 Flamingos Golf at Villa Padierna
Designed by Antonio García Garrido and opened in 2001, the par-71 Flamingos Golf course at Villa Padierna has hosted the European Senior Tour three times and the Ladies European Tour in 2010, with its landscaped fairways offering sweeping views towards the Mediterranean.
Address: Flamingos Golf at Villa Padierna, Carretera de Cadiz km 166, 29679 Benahavis, Malaga.
Villa Match: Villa Espace comes with a TrackMan simulator built in and a golf buggy available on request. Villa Eirena and Villa Lusso are both on the same estate.
2 Marbella Club Golf Resort
Designed by Dave Thomas and opened in 1999, the par-72 Marbella Club Golf Resort winds through the hills of Benahavís, with contoured fairways, lakes and strategic bunkering, and far-reaching views across the Mediterranean to Gibraltar and the African coast.
Address: Marbella Club Golf Resort, Carretera de Benahavis km 3.7, 29679 Benahavis, Malaga.
Villa Match: Villa Naturi looks directly over the course and sits a few minutes’ walk from the clubhouse.
Atalaya Golf & Country Club, Old Course
Designed by German architect Bernhard von Limburger in 1968, the par-72 Old Course at Atalaya Golf features wide, gently undulating fairways lined with mature trees, elevated greens and views towards La Concha and the Mediterranean.
Address: La Alqueria, 29680 Benahavis, Malaga.
Villa Match: Villa Jacques is within walking distance of the academy and to several other golf courses along this coast.
Nueva Andalucia’s Golf Valley
1 Los Naranjos Golf Club
Credit: FalGordo on Wikimedia
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and opened in 1977, Los Naranjos Golf is a classic par-72 course with generous fairways, large undulating greens and strategically placed bunkers and water hazards. Its championship pedigree includes hosting the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España in 2021..
Address: Plaza de Cibeles s/n, 29660 Marbella, Malaga.
2 Aloha Golf Club
Designed by Javier Arana and opened in 1975, the par-72 course at Aloha Golf Club is one of Nueva Andalucía’s most established private clubs, with an undulating, tree-lined layout that rewards strategic play and accuracy.
Address: Urbanizacion Aloha, Nueva Andalucia, 29660 Marbella, Malaga.
3 Real Club Las Brisas
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and opened in 1968, Real Club Las Brisas is a par-72 course known for its raised greens, extensive bunkering and numerous water hazards. Reconstructed by Kyle Phillips in 2015, it has hosted four Spanish Opens and the World Cup of Golf twice.
Address: Apartado de Correos 147, 29660 Marbella, Málaga.
Villa Match: Villa Abie sits in Nueva Andalucia with all three of the above, plus Magna Marbella, within easy reach. Villa Nesia, also in Nueva Andalucia, looks directly over the Las Brisas fairways.
Marbella East
1 Rio Real Golf
Designed by renowned Spanish architect Javier Arana and opened in 1965, Río Real Golf is a par-72 course that follows the river towards the Mediterranean, with tree-lined fairways and several sea-view holes, including the memorable par-four fourth played directly alongside the beach.
Address: Urbanización Golf Río Real, s/n, 29603 Marbella, Málaga
2 Higueron Marbella Golf Resort
Formerly Marbella Golf Country Club, Higueron Marbella Golf Resort is a par-72 course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and opened in 1994. Its undulating layout combines fast greens, strategically placed bunkers and water hazards with views across the Mediterranean and Sierra Blanca.
Address: Autovía A-7, Km 188, 29604 Marbella, Málaga
Villa Match: The beachside Villas Zuri and Zayana in Los Monteros, both sleep 10+ guests, perfect for golf groups, and Villa Mae in El Rosario with its sweeping sea views, plus a gym and sauna for post-golf relaxation.
Mijas
La Cala Golf Resort
Set between the Sierra de Mijas and the Mediterranean, La Cala Golf Resort is home to three 18-hole championship courses all designed by Cabell B. Robinson. Each has a distinct character, from the technical, precision-focused Asia Course to the panoramic America and more forgiving Europa.
Address: Calle Mirador del Golf, 1, 29649 La Cala de Mijas, Málaga
Villa Match: La Cala de Mijas beachfront Villa Las Olas and one of the Costa del Sol’s most prestigious residences, Villa Andreas with its own spa, tennis court and gym.
Madrid
Golf Santander
Ranked among Spain’s top 10 courses by Golf Digest, Golf Santander was designed by Rees Jones with Seve Ballesteros. The par-72 championship course combines wide fairways, strategic bunkering and numerous water hazards across its 6,856-metre layout.
Address: Avenida de Cantabria, s/n, Ciudad Grupo Santander, 28660 Boadilla del Monte, Madrid
Cantabria
Real Golf de Pedreña
Designed by Harry Colt and opened in 1929, this historic par-70 course sits among pine trees overlooking the Bay of Santander. Closely associated with local golfing legend Seve Ballesteros, the club also features nine additional holes designed by Seve himself.
Address: Carretera General, s/n, 39130 Pedreña, Cantabria
Catalonia
Camiral Golf & Wellness (formerly PGA Catalunya Resort), Girona
Camiral Golf & Wellness ©
Designed by Neil Coles and Ángel Gallardo and opened in 1999, the par-72 Stadium Course at Camiral is consistently ranked among Spain’s finest. A three-time host of the Spanish Open, it will step onto an even bigger stage in 2031 when it hosts the Ryder Cup.
Address: Carretera N-II km 701, 17455 Caldes de Malavella, Girona.
Mallorca
Club de Golf Alcanada, Mallorca
Club de Golf Alcanada ©
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened in 2003, Club de Golf Alcanada is a par-72 course set directly beside the Mediterranean on Mallorca’s north coast. Pine and olive groves frame sweeping views across the Bay of Alcúdia towards the distinctive Alcanada lighthouse.
Address: Carretera del Faro s/n, 07400 Port d’Alcudia, Mallorca.
Levante (eastern coastal regions):
6 La Finca, Algorfa, Alicante
La Finca Algorfa ©
Designed by Pepe Gancedo and opened in 2002, La Finca Golf is a par-72 course with wide, generous fairways and unusually shaped greens. Currently ranked among Spain’s top courses by Golf Digest, it combines water features and strategic bunkering with views across the Vega Baja countryside.
Address: La Finca Resort, Avenida Antonio Pedrera Soler, 03169 Algorfa, Alicante.
7 El Saler, Valencia
El Salar ©
Set within a protected natural landscape on the Mediterranean coast just south of Valencia, El Saler moves between coastal dunes and Mediterranean pine forest. Designed by Javier Arana and opened in 1968, the par-72 course has hosted the Spanish Open four times and forms part of the Parador de El Saler.
Address: Parador de El Saler, Avenida de los Pinares 151, 46012 El Saler, Valencia.
8 Real Golf La Manga Club, Cartagena, Murcia
La Manga Golf Club ©
La Manga Club has three 18-hole courses, with its championship South Course designed by Robert Dean Putman in 1971 and remodelled by Arnold Palmer in 2005. The par-73 layout features water hazards on 15 of its 18 holes and has hosted several Spanish Opens and PGA qualifying championships.
Address: La Manga Club, 30389 Cartagena, Murcia.
Which city in Spain has the best golf?
Marbella, together with Benahavis, Estepona and Sotogrande immediately around it, holds Spain’s highest concentration of prestige golf courses. More than a dozen courses of genuine quality lie within a short drive of each other here, from Valderrama’s tournament pedigree to the older, quieter fairways of Finca Cortesin.
Ask our Guest Experience Team which stretch of coast to build a golf trip around, and this is where the conversation starts. See the full list above for what is actually worth playing.
What is the most exclusive golf course in Spain?
La Zagaleta New Golf Course ©
La Zagaleta, in the hills above Benahavís, is one of Spain’s most exclusive golf addresses, with two private championship courses. The Old Course belongs entirely to members and residents; the New Course, a par-70 layout through wooded hillside, is the one most visiting golfers will ever get to play, and even that calls for the right introduction.
Address: Carretera Ronda Km 38.5, 29679 Benahavis, Malaga.
What is the oldest golf course in Spain?
Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas traces its history back to 1891, when a group of British residents founded Spain’s first golf club on Gran Canaria. The club moved to its spectacular present-day setting in 1957, where Mackenzie Ross designed the par-71 course 400 metres above sea level on the edge of the ancient Bandama volcanic crater.
Address: Lugar Campo de Golf 12, Santa Brigida, 35300 Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.
Where is the best place to stay for golf in Spain?
Marbella, Estepona and Sotogrande hold the country’s densest cluster of golf courses, which is why our Golf Collection is built around this stretch of coast rather than spread thin across the whole country.
The five villas below are a starting point, not the whole Collection, each one chosen for a genuine, walkable relationship to a course above rather than simply sitting in the right postcode.
- Villa Espace, Benahavis, sleeps 14, near Los Flamingos, Alferini and Tramores, with a TrackMan simulator and golf buggy available on request. Best for a group that wants to practise between rounds.
- Villa Chanya, Sotogrande, sleeps 16, a few minutes from Valderrama, Real Club de Golf Sotogrande and San Roque Golf. Best for families combining golf with beach clubs nearby.
- Villa Naturi, Benahavis, overlooks Marbella Club Golf Resort, a few minutes’ walk from the clubhouse. Best for a quieter, more established course setting.
- Villa Erina, 14-bedroom Villa Eirena overlooks Villa Padierna’s three golf courses and features a private spa and indoor pool.
- Villa Kynthia, Estepona, five minutes’ walk from El Paraiso Golf. Best for a mixed-ability group who want the course close but not overwhelming.
- Villa Monterey, First line to Los Naranjos Golf, six-bedroom Villa Monterey sleeps 12 and is just minutes from Puerto Banús.
Ask your concierge: what The Luxury Villa Collection can arrange for golfers
For one group of 14 guests on a wellness-focused stay, our concierge team arranged exclusive tee times at prestigious local courses, timed alongside a private yacht charter and in-villa wellness treatments during the same week.
Golf was one thread in the stay rather than the whole of it, and nobody in the group had to plan a single piece of it themselves.
Ask your concierge what is possible for your dates. Beyond the tee time itself, the kind of requests worth raising include:
- Coordinating transport between the villa and the first tee, and between courses if you are playing more than one during the stay.
- Arranging a private practice or warm-up session at a course academy the morning of a bigger round.
- Booking a table at the clubhouse, or arranging a private in-villa dinner timed for when the last group comes off the eighteenth.
- A post-round recovery treatment in the villa, timed to when the group finishes.
Why should you book direct with The Luxury Villa Collection?
I-PRAC Approved. The Luxury Villa Collection is a registered member of I-PRAC, the independent travel protection scheme, giving guests a level of financial protection an unregulated listing site cannot offer.
Personally inspected. Every villa in our collection is inspected before it joins us, and because our team is based in Spain, we check again on a regular seasonal basis rather than relying on photographs taken once, years ago.
On-the-ground support. Our Guest Experience Team lives and works in Spain. A question about tee times, transport or a last-minute change is answered by someone who knows the course, not a call centre.
Start planning your golf trip in Spain
None of this is really about the golf. It is about arriving in Spain and having the week unfold the way you pictured it: the right course booked without three phone calls, a villa close enough to play without living on the fairway, and a team who already know which restaurant to book for the evening you come off Valderrama. That is the difference between organising a golf holiday and simply being on one.
Explore the full Golf Collection to see which villas sit closest to the courses above, or read more about how our Guest Experience Team plans a stay end to end. Wherever on this coast you choose, from Sotogrande to Casares, tell us what you have in mind and we will build the trip around it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Golf in Spain
What are the top golf courses in Spain?
Real Club Valderrama, Real Club de Golf Sotogrande and Finca Cortesin, all in the Sotogrande area, are consistently ranked among Spain’s very best. See the full region-by-region list above for the complete picture.
Is golf expensive in Spain?
It varies enormously by course and season. Around Marbella and Sotogrande, green fees at more accessible courses typically range from around €80 to €150, while many of the region’s leading courses cost between €150 and €350. At the very top end, a round at Valderrama can cost €550 or more.
How many golf courses are there around Marbella?
Estimates put the number at around 19 within roughly 26 kilometres of the town, spanning Nueva Andalucia, Benahavis and the coast toward Estepona, though the exact count moves as courses open, close or rebrand.
Which golf course near Marbella is best for beginners or a mixed-ability group?
El Paraíso Golf Club, in Estepona, is a good choice for mixed-ability groups, with relatively wide fairways and a layout designed to be enjoyable for less experienced golfers while still providing plenty of challenge for stronger players.
Can The Luxury Villa Collection arrange tee times and villa logistics together?
Yes. Our Guest Experience Team can arrange tee times, transport between the villa and the course, and a villa suited to a golfing group, so the trip is planned once rather than in pieces.
Fiona Flores Watson
You might also like
