If you are hoping to go on a golf holiday when the current restriction resides, you may want to consider the sunny Costal del Sol in Southern Spain. This region of Spain has attracted millions of tourists each year since the 60s. Visitors have come to experience everything the sunshine coast has to offer including wonderful nightlife, miles of sandy beaches and many sporting and leisure activities for the entire family. However, the Costa del Sol has also come to be synonymous with golfing holidays, for those who want to play a few rounds while taking advantage of the glorious weather that remains for 325 days of the year.
Below are some of the main reasons so many golfers visit Spain’s Mediterranean coastline to relax and enhance their golf swings.
Interesting Facts About the Costa del Sol
The Costa del Sol translates to ‘Coast of Sun’ and the name sums up this region perfectly. The Costa del Sol boasts some of the greatest year-round weather anywhere and is why it continues to be one of Europe’s most popular golfing destinations. Around 1 million people actually visit Spain each year to have a golf holiday, according to a recent study.
The sub-tropical climate in Spain means you can expect the average annual temperature to be 24c. Plus, you can expect very little rainfall. This is a big plus for golfers as it means that Spanish golf courses are available all year round. However, August and July are best avoided with average temperatures typically reaching about 40c in the shade. Spring and Autumn are by far the most popular months to go and play golf in the Costa del Sol.
In regards to accessibility, the Costa del Sol is a brilliant choice for golfers who are coming from the UK and other European countries. From the UK, the Costa del Sol is just over 2 hours away by air with regular flights available from all of the major UK airports flying into the Malaga AGP airport.
Additionally, most of the Costa del Sol’s main golf courses and tourist areas are within just a one-hour drive from the airport including the popular towns of Benalmadena, Mijas, Torremolinos, Puerto Banus and Marbella.
The Top Golf Courses to Choose from in the Costa del Sol
What truly makes the Costa del Sol so appealing to golfers, is that it boasts more than 50 championship quality golf courses to challenge people of all abilities. The Finca Cortesin course in Casares hosted the famous Volvo World Matchplay tournament between 2009 and 2012. Before this, the championship was played at the prestigious Wentworth course in the UK for 45 years.
One of Spain’s best courses by the popular golfind magazine, Golf Digest is the Cabell B. Robinson designed 18-hole championship course. There is also the well-known and much loved Valderrama course. The course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr, the renowned course architect and has had the pleasure of hosting some of golf’s biggest tournaments over the last number of years, including the Volvo Masters, the memorable Ryder Cup of 1997, the Andalucia Masters and the Spanish Open.
While green fees at these courses could be at the top end of your budget, it is definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity to tee-off at the same courses played by so many golfing legends. If you want great value while on your golf holiday in the Costa del Sol, consider the Torrequebrada course in Benalmadena, Santana Golf, Rio Real, Mijas Golf and Maria Golf.
The Luxury Golf and Spa Resorts the Costa del Sol Has to Offer
The Costa del Sol is also synonymous with leisure resorts and luxury spas, which provides golfers the chance to entirely unwind after a ‘hard day’ on the golf course. La Cala Resort is located in the popular area of Mijas Costa. It is well-known for being one of the finest leisure and golf resorts in Spain and is frequented by sports professionals and footballers during their winter training camps.
TV personalities and celebrities also visit the resort throughout the year, looking to experience the three amazing golf courses and the luxury leisure facilities there. Offering two of the Costa del Sol’s most established and most best golf courses (The Old and New courses) alongside the world-class practice facilities, Atalaya Golf is another great sport and leisure resort in the Costa del Sol.
Finally, the aforementioned Finca Cortesin has been rated as one of the top places to relax on the Costa del Sol by Conde Nast Traveller magazine which described this spot as a “relaxing bolthole of supreme refinement”.
The ultra-stylish and luxurious resort not only boasts one of Spain’s most premier golf courses, but also a hotel, beach club and its very own shopping area.
Miles of Golden Sandy Beaches
Approximately 125 golden beaches cover over 100 miles of the Mediterranean coastline in the Costa del Sol. As a result, you will not have any issues finding places to sunbathe when you are not playing golf. In fact, your greatest challenge will be deciding on which of the fabulous beaches to spend the day on.
The Western Costa del Sol is where the majority of the best golf courses are situated. It boasts more than 25 blue flag beaches meaning that these beaches have been certified by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) as meeting their standards of public safety, environmental management, cleanliness and water quality.
Some of the greatest beaches to explore include, Los Boliches in Fuengirola, Playa Malaspequera in Benalmadena, Cabopino Beach in Marbella, Playa de la Crihuela in Torremolinos, Playa de Burriana in Nerja, Butibamaba Beach in La Cala de Mijas and Playa de la Malagueta in Malaga.
The vast majority of the Costa del Sol beaches provide facilities such as bars and restaurants so you will always have somewhere to grab a snack and cool off.
There are Endless Things to Do in the Costa del Sol
The best thing about visiting the Costa del Sol for a luxurious golf holiday is that there is so much to do when you are not playing golf. Those who want to take their children with them on their golf holiday will discover ample things to do and see to keep them entirely entertained and occupied.
As the Costa del Sol is such a well-established tourist spot, there is so much to do and see throughout the day and late into the nigh time. Popular destinations such as Marbella, Benalmadena, Fuengirola and Puerto Banus have an abundance of restaurants, shops and bars to keep you entertained.
Some places worth a visit include, the Buddhist Stupa in Benalmadena, Aqualand Waterpark in Torremolinos, Bioparc Zoo in Fuengirola, Benalmadena Marina in Benalmadena, Orange Square in Marbella, Tivoli World Amusement Park in Benalmadena, Teleferico Cable Car in Benalmadena and the Miramar Shopping Complex in Fuengirola.
