Are you planning a golf break for your group of friends, colleagues or clients? An upscale golf holiday in Fuengirola could be the answer your group is looking for. Its perfect location and proximity to the finest golf courses and fabulous nightlife make it ideal. In this article we share with you a guide to organising the ultimate golf holiday for a group of friends and why golf in Fuengirola makes sense.
If you have been tasked with organising the Fuengirola golf holiday for your group then your priority is to make sure that everything runs smoothly and that your friends, guests or clients have a great time. The key to organising and participating in a successful group golf holiday in Fuengirola is to minimise the elements of stress and hassle for both you as the organiser and your guests.
UNBEATABLE VALUE - 5 Star, Grand Lux, 3 nights, 2 rounds of golf including breakfast from 535 Euros
What are the elements of stress?
Travelling is stressful, doubly so if you feel responsible for the people travelling with you. Here we examine the sources of stress and anxiety from the viewpoint of you, the organiser and also from the perspective of your guests.
From the viewpoint of the organiser
As the organiser of the trip you will be in the spotlight from the moment the trip is discussed right up until your friends, guests and clients are returned safely to their homes! The challenges you are going to face are:
Making sure that your friends, guests and clients are seamlessly able to get from the airport to the hotel in and then to each of the golf courses without getting lost, missing tee times, losing golf clubs, etc.
Selecting the right hotel that matches the budget, service levels and expectations of your fellow travellers
Selecting golf courses that are going to suit all of your players, test the low handicappers and be kind to the high handicappers
Finding the right venue, restaurants or bars to host your groups social events such as prize presentations, dining, gala dinners.
For business travellers, to find suitable locations and facilities to host your product presentations or conference.
From the viewpoint of a guest
Being uncertain as to where you should be and at what time can bring a great deal of frustration. It is very helpful to have an itemised itinerary that can be referred to in order to make sure that these issues are avoided. The most stressful part of any golf trip is getting from the airport to the hotel and then from the hotel to the golf courses with plenty of time to spare before you tee off. The itinerary should clearly explain where to muster, at what time and how long each journey is going to be. Instructions on what to do (Taxi numbers, Uber app etc) should be provided so that any of your group who miss the group transport know how to deal with it.
Oddly enough, after a couple of drinks in the 19th no such anxieties are attached to the return journey to the hotel!
How can you pick the right hotel, golf courses, bars, restaurants and get the transport seamlessly organised?
There is one thing you need to make this task manageable, that is expert local knowledge.
There is no substitute. Use local specialised golf tour operators that have people on the ground and a good track record of organising events. A good local golf specialist will know the hotels that will provide the experience you want at your budget point. They will guide you towards the golf courses that will provide you with the best experience at the best price and of course their local knowledge of traffic and journey times is essential keeping everything on time and on track.
We, at Golf on Costa del Sol, are experts in our field with intimate knowledge of the best hotels, golf courses and apres golf around Fuengirola and indeed the entire Costa del Sol.We specialise in creating itineraries for golfing groups ranging from 4 to 144 players. We host tournament weeks, corporate weeks, wedding parties, golf societies and more. Enquire here.
What makes golf in Fuengirola a good choice for your Golf holiday?
Short journey from the airport
Firstly, Fuengirola is easy to get to. It is only 25 minutes from Malaga airport which means that from the time the aircraft wheels touch the runway to the time when your friends are enjoying that first drink in the hotel is less than an hour! It could not be easier!
Huge choice of golf courses
The Costa del Sol is home to more than 70 golf courses. Many consider the Costa del Sol to be the best golf destination in the world because of the huge array of golf courses in a small area. There are some of the finest tournament golf courses in the world that are accessible from Fuengirola. We can recommend to you the most suitable golf courses near Fuengirola that will suit the players in your group and make sure they get the best possible golf experience.
Each of the courses we recommend here are within 20 minutes journey time from Fuengirola and are perfect for hosting golfing groups. Many of the courses near Fuengirola have attractive offers to tempt group booking such as 1 in 8 play free, reduced rates with higher numbers of players, golf and lunch package deals etc. The Fuengirola golf fraternity values you as a visitor and offers a range of incentives to make sure that you choose Fuengirola for your golf break.
Which course do we recommend for visiting groups?
Mijas Golf
36 Holes Los Lagos and Los Olivos. These golf courses are perfect. Los Lagos will make everyone feel great. It is always in pristine condition. The fairways are generous and wide, the greens are vast. The first 13 holes have lots of lakes which make it look fabulous and also give the golf course its name. Los Lagos will delight low and high handicappers alike. From the back tees this is a long golf course, but sensible tee box placement means that you can choose the tee boxes to suit your game.
Los Olivos is not as long as Los Lagos and is a little tighter. The greens are smaller and usually elevated. The condition is outstanding and the feel good factor is very high. Los Olivos compliments Los Lagos perfectly. Precision and good short game skills are the secret to making a big score on Los Olivos, whereas brute power is a plus on Los Lagos.
The green fee prices offer unbeatable value and make playing this world class venue very affordable
La Cala Resort
The La Cala Resort offers 3 golf courses, Asia, America and Europa. Set in the hills above La Cala de Mijas they are a 15 minute drive from Fuengirola. The La Cala Resort is hugely popular with visiting golfers from across the globe. With a wide array of offers and promotions to win your favour La Cala Resort is a strong option for visiting groups.
All 3 of the golf courses are more “technical” than Mijas Golf meaning that they can be narrow and occasionally tough to navigate. The America course is best suited to long but wayward hitters, Europa has some of the most devilish holes you will find anywhere and Asia is a delight for those with slow swing swings. La Cala Resort has a golf course to suit everyone.
Santana
A close neighbour of Mijas Golf, situated a few minutes away from Fuengirola, Santana Golf is a very popular choice with visiting golfers. The course layout is super, accessible to players of all standards. The team at Santana Golf are widely known for the excellence of the golf course conditioning. If you bring your group here then you will have a bunch of very happy golfers.
Torrequebrada
Torrequebrada Golf brings with it a great sense of occasion and heritage. All of the great players of the game over the last 30 years have walked these fairways and battled these greens. Famously on the 3rd hole, a diminutive par 3 of 80 yards the great Seve Ballesteros managed to run up a tally of 7 strokes!
The golf course has matured beautifully and gives a tropical feel. As you would expect for such a prestigious venue the conditioning is first class. Whilst not the most gentle golf course for high handicappers due to the precision required with tee shots, this is a good choice for a golf day with your group as it brings a very special feel with it.
El Chaparral
El Chaparral Golf Club is set in a pine forest in the hills between Fuengirola and La Cala, about 9 minutes from Fuengirola. The layout of six par 3s, six par 4s and six par 5s make it unique. The setting of the golf course is beautiful, although it is the hardest course on this list upon which to build a score. Despite its difficulty, the feedback we receive from guests is always positive. Folks simply love it!
El Chaparral is very well priced and allows you to stretch the golf budget to make room for something very special.
Want something special?
Only 50 minutes travelling time from Fuengirola and you will be able to play the finest golf courses in Europe. If you want to give your friends a once in a lifetime experience to cap the golf holiday then it might be worth considering a day at one of the big 5.If your group can cope with the 50 minute ride from Fuengirola then this might be a great way to cap the week.
Finca Cortesin
Along with La Reserva, in my opinion are the finest golf courses in Europe. The playing experience is totally immersive. This Is a golf experience like nothing else.
Home to the 2023 Solheim Cup and prior to that the World Matchplay event
Finca Cortesin has the credentials to be considered amongst the finest golf courses in the world.
La Reserva
A masterpiece of course design, in my opinion there is nothing better than La Reserva- anywhere.
This, like the others on the Big 5 list is a tournament golf course and as such is largely hostile towards high handicappers. However, I have played La Reserva from its different tee boxes and I am excited to share with you that La Reserva simply gets better, more fun, more satisfaction if you play from the forward tee boxes.
The first time I played at La Reserva was from the back tees. The golf course was majestic and my game was no match for the demands it made of me. The next time I played we elected to play from the forward tees, the transformation was incredible! The challenge, the visual feast and the character of each hole remained the same. The forward tees took away a great deal of pressure from my long game and allowed me to bask in the joy of this golf course. This experience
of La Reserva was sublime.’ A golfing experience that has formed an indelible memory!
San Roque Old Course
The San Roque Club has 36 holes, the Old and New Course. Both have hosted the Q School for the European Tour, both have seen the finest players on the European continent either see their dreams come true or fade achingly away.
Both courses are excellent, it is widely acknowledged that the Old Course is a very special place indeed. The San Roque Club was home to the American Ryder Cup team in 1997 and is steeped in golfing history. The golf course is incredible. It is tough. Unless you have an amazing day, or your handicap starts with a + this golf course is going to beat you up. The thing is that the golf course is so special that you will enjoy the beating enormously!
Real Club de Golf Sotogrande
This is a revered place. A golf course of sublime elegance presented to a standard that is as close to perfection that an earthly body can muster. Sotogrande has hosted many high profile professional and amateur events over the years, reading the honours boards makes the hair on the back of one's neck stand up such is the stellar list of names that feature as champions at Sotogrande. Tee times are restricted, the number of guests that are allowed to bask in the glory of this ethereal place is low. If exclusivity is your thing, then Real Club de Sotogrande might be the place.
Valderrama
Home to the 1997 Ryder Cup, The Volvo Masters, the Open de Espana, Estrella Damm Andalucia Masters , and in July 2023 the LIV Tour. Valderrama is probably the biggest name in Spanish golf and has a rich history. Valderrama Is impeccable, it can be likened to Augusta National in terms of the presentation and the attention to detail. Valderrama inspires awe in those who play it. This too is not an easy course. However it is equitable, that is, no one finds it easy, from the world's best tournament players to a regular golf club member, no one finds Valderama to be an easy golf course. Again tee times are hard to come by adding to the allure of the occasion
Which hotels should I choose for my golf holiday in Fuengirola?
In this case we are focussed on high end five star venues. The right hotel for your group is firstly determined by budget and then by location. You can choose to be on the golf course, by the sea, amongst the mountains, in the heart of the town. The hotels that we recommend are the best of their type and will provide a great experience to you and your party.
5 Star and 5 Star GL - from 115 Euros per person per night in low season!
The 5 star options in Fuengirola offer the very best in hospitality and service whilst also offering outstanding value!
La Zambra Hotel, Hyatt Unbound Collection, Mijas Golf
The La Zambra Hotel is the latest 5 Star GL to open on the Costa del Sol. Located exactly between the Los Lagos and Los Olivos golf courses at Mijas Golf. La Zambra has already shown itself to be a place of exceptional quality and serenity.
The rooms range from the opulent and graceful standard to the Junior, Signature and Penthouse Suites. The Spa is the largest of its type on the Costa del Sol and is quite simply astounding.
There are a variety of restaurants and bars to choose from, each offering a different experience to attend to your mood and desires.
La Zambra is one of the finest 5 Star venues on the Costa del Sol ande makes a perfect venue for those guess that seek the highest standards of comfort and hospitality whilst playing golf in Fuengirola.
UNBEATABLE VALUE - 5 Star, Grand Lux, 3 nights, 2 rounds of golf including breakfast from 535 Euros Book now!
Higueron Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
Set in the hills above Fuengirola offering breathtaking views over the sea, the Higueron Hotel offers the best of everything. The Higueron Hotel is ideally located to give you access to the beaches and the local nightlife whilst being a short distance from the cultural delights of Malaga.
This Hotel is aimed at guests over the age of 16. This is a cosmopolitan venue where you are certain to meet like minded people whilst enjoying the height of elegant, sophisticated luxury.
UNBEATABLE VALUE - 5 Star, Grand Lux, 3 nights, 2 rounds of golf including breakfast from 535 Euros Book now!
4 Star options
There are several good 4 star options around Fuengirola. Those featured here share a common trait - their devotion to making your experience memorable.
Available from an incredible 48 Euros per person per night including breakfast these high quality 4 star venues offer amazing value too!
Hotel Ilunion Fuengirola
Front line beach with a gorgeous cafe terrace at ground level the Ilunion Fuengirola gives you a Mediterranean lifestyle experience. Lining the beachfront opposite you are Fuengirolas finest seafood chiringuitos, for non fish eaters they also grill the most amazing meat and veggie options. You will never tire of the range, style and freshness of the food available to you within a few paces of the Ilunion Fuengirola.
Sports bars, cocktail bars, tapas bars abound in the immediate neighbourhood and will immerse you and your guests onto the local culture.
The hotel is modern in decor, peaceful and hugely popular! This is a good choice for your group.
7 Nights, 4 Rounds of golf from 470 Euros per person
3 Night, 2 Rounds of golf from 222 Euros per person
Hotel Occidental Barcelo Fuengirola
The Hotel Occidental Barcelo recently benefited from a ground up refit and is stunning. Located 30m from the sea on the Fuengirola’s Paseo Maritimo the location could not be better . You have the options of enjoying a beach lifestyle, eating in beach side restaurants, or a short walk takes you into Fuengirolas famous gastro district Plaza de Chinorros and Calle Moncayo.
The hotel offers very high stands of hospitality and service. The rooms fully equipped and designed to be comfortable. Hotel Occidental Barcelo is always in demand with those enjoying a golf holiday in Fuengirola and will make a good base for you too.
7 Nights, 4 Rounds of golf from 527 Euros per person
3 Night, 2 Rounds of golf from 243 Euros per person
Hotel Yaramar
Another seafront Hotel on the other side of Fuengirola the Yaramar is a great location for which to sample Fuengirolas famous nightlife.
The rooms are large and light with big windows, in some rooms the windows are floor to ceiling which give the most incredible sensation of being on the sea. For a brief moment you might feel as though you awoke on a cruise ship!
This is a great venue for couples who will appreciate the tranquillity of its location.
7 Nights, 4 Rounds of golf from 513 Euros per person
3 Night, 2 Rounds of golf from 237 Euros per person