In this article we want to talk about the top ten best golf hotels on Costa del Sol. Some are 5 star resorts that offer the best of everything, some are 4 star resorts that offer outstanding facilities, comfort and hospitality. One thing they all have in common is that each hotel is situated on one of Costa del Sol’s iconic golf courses. Any one of these top ten list of golf hotels will provide a great base for a golf holiday. With a golf course on the doorstep, it will be easy, convenient and guarantee maximum relaxation.
Finca Cortesin
The majestic Finca Cortesin Hotel is situated in the picturesque village of Casares, in the heart of Costa del Sol, between Malaga and Sotogrande.
The stunning hotel sets itself apart from other establishments through its avant-garde yet traditional Andalusian architecture where exclusiveness and luxury together with impeccable service create an unrivalled ambiance.
The hotel has 67 bright, spacious suites with exquisite decorations and design. The rooms are palatial with 4m high ceilings ranging from 50 sq m to 200 sq m. All rooms have a generous patio or terrace and some even have a small private garden.
Finca Cortesin also offers its guests a private villa (boasting 420 sqm, 4 en suite bedrooms, a pool, a perfectly manicured garden and extremely high-quality finishings) and private houses (on 2200 sqm plots, 5 en-suite bedrooms, fully-fitted modern kitchens, private gardens and pools).
Everything about the hotel is designed to enchant the senses. Gourmets and gourmands can enjoy scrumptious dishes in the Finca Cortesin’s signature restaurant, REI, known for the perfect fusion between Japanese and Mediterranean cuisine. If you prefer Italian flavours, then Don Giovani restaurant is the place to go. The hotel lounge offers guests a homey, comfortable bar (called The Blue Bar) with a generous menu consisting of tapas, sandwiches, salads and more. Since the golf course is right next to the hotel, guests can also enjoy appetising dishes at the Club House.
But probably the most impressive place to grab a bite is at Finca Cortesin’s 6000 sqm Beach Club situated 1km from the hotel. Here, you can savour the best that the Mediterranean cuisine has to offer with breathtaking views of the sea.
Other facilities that you will find here include a 2200 sqm Spa, a fitness and Racquet Club, different activities for outdoors lovers (horse riding, mountain biking adventures, tours of Jerez wineries, sailing and more) and even a small shopping centre.
With its understated luxury, elegance and refinement, it’s no wonder that Finca Cortesin is considered to be the best resort in the country.
Golf
The golf course at Finca Cortesin is widely regarded as among the best tournament layouts in Europe. Finca Cortesin played host to the World Matchplay event in 2011 and 2012 and is returning to the world stage in 2023 as host to the Solheim Cup.
We have been lucky enough to play Finca Cortesin a few times, and when writing our playing guide and review we both agreed that along with Valderrama, La Reserva and Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, Finca Cortesin is as close to a perfect golfing experience that we have ever have experienced. Clearly the golf course is far too challenging for me to have any chance of scoring well, none the less my horrific score card was irrelevant. Playing at a golf course of this standard is pure joy.
The Finca Cortesin Resort and Golf Club are so opulently good that there is little motivation or need to visit other courses nearby. However if you feel the need, then booking a tee time at La Reserva, Real Club de Golf Sotogrande and even San Roque Old Course make the perfect opportunity to play the ultimate championship golf itinerary.
Westin La Quinta
Westin La Quinta Golf Resort & Spa is the ideal destination for anyone looking to play golf on the most attractive golf courses in the area, dine at one of the two exclusive restaurants, pamper themselves in the Heavenly Spa or simply explore the stunning area with the Sierra Blanca mountains and the Mediterranean Sea.
The hotel offers 170 rooms (163 guest rooms, 3 junior suites, 3 executive suites and a Presidential suite). All the rooms are spacious, bathed in natural light and elegantly decorated with warm, soothing tones. The rooms are equipped with everything you might expect in a 5-star hotel. In addition, guests can enjoy breath-taking views from each room’s private terrace.
Dining at Westin La Quinta is a superlative experience. The 2 restaurants serve Andalusian and Mediterranean dishes as well as international cuisine while enjoying the panoramic views of the golf course or the gardens. There are also 3 bars (Aljama Bar, Hoyo 19 and Mirador Pool bar) where guests can have their favourite drink and delicious snacks.
If you stay at Westin La Quinta, visiting the outstanding Heavenly Spa is a must. Designed in a Moorish style, the 1500 sqm spa includes a hydrotherapy pool and 8 treatment rooms where guests can get the highest quality body massages, facials, body treatments, rituals and cosmetic treatments. Also, if you combine Spa + Brunch you get Sprunch. Savour a healthy meal while relaxing at the spa’s thermal circuit.
Fitness enthusiasts can train at the fully equipped fitness studio.
Families will be delighted to know that Westin La Quinta has a 1000 sqm Kids Club designed to encourage exploration, curiosity, activity and learning in the youngest guests. The exterior area has a splash pool, a playground and sport courts. A few of the activities that kids can do here include yoga, treasure hunts, arts and crafts and gardening. The Kids Club is open during the months of July and August.
Golf
La Quinta Golf Club comprises three loops of 9 holes San Pedro (A), Ronda (B) and Guadaiza (C), each designed by the Ryder Cup hero Manuel Pinero. The setting of each of the loops is fabulous in its mature parkland with an almost sub tropical feel. Rather like the hotel the golf course is a place of serenity.
My favourite loops are the A and C. They are not brutishly long but designed with subtlety which makes every par recorded feel rewarding and yet is equally as playable for the less experienced or higher handicap player.
La Quinta Golf Club is always in outstanding condition and beautifully presented. A day of golf at La Quinta brings a wonderful sense of fulfilment and satisfaction.
Whilst enjoying the Westin La Quinta Resort you might also be tempted to sample some of the 19 golf courses dotted around Marbella’s landscape. Here are a few that we recommend (with links to our reviews)
Anantara Palace Villa Padierna
Anantara Palace Villa Padierna has an ideal location, away from the cities of Marbella, Benahavis and Estepona, but at the same time close enough for guests to still be able to enjoy an evening or night out.
The luxurious resort was designed like a Tuscan palace featuring a Roman amphitheatre, numerous original works of art, a tranquil lake and 3 golf courses.
The hotel has 125 elegant rooms, suites and villas surrounded by magnificent gardens with views to Andalusian mountains or superb golf course greens. The rooms, like the entire resort, are tastefully decorated with original paintings and only the highest standard furnishing and amenities. The villas are truly lavish, something that guests like Michelle Obama can attest to.
There are 5 exquisite restaurants to choose from where Mediterranean cooking takes a whole new dimension and allows guests to experience the best that Spanish cuisine has to offer. 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant brings authentic Japanese dishes to an Andalusian setting while at Hole 55 visitors can taste mouth watering Indian street food . Guests can also enjoy light, healthy snacks at the Beach Club or by the pool at La Pergola. Eddy’s Bar is the ideal place to sip a perfectly made cocktail in an opulent lounge.
The resort’s facilities are outstanding and include a racquet club (tennis, badminton, squash and padel courts), a croquet club, a Kids’ Club with daily activities in a safe, fun environment, a fully equipped gym with a personal trainer, Anantara Spa- one of the largest and most beautiful in Europe, featuring Roman baths and surrounded by peaceful gardens.
Anantara Palace Villa Padierna also organises extraordinary trips to discover the local culture like an authentic Flamenco experience, a trip to Ronda (one of Andalucia’s most iconic and photographed towns), an Olive Oil Journey to discover the different types of olive oils with their unique, characteristic flavours and aromas or a trip to the marvellous city of Estepona.
Golf
The Anantara Villa Padierna Palace is set amongst three 18 hole golf courses. The Tramores Golf course is a short executive course and a good way of introducing non golfers to the sport or honing your skills before playing either of the two championship courses.
Flamingos and Alferini are amongst the best that the Costa del Sol has to offer. The Flamingos course is a testing layout requiring mastery from the tee in order to record your best score. The fairways are not narrow, however it will require some thought and strategy to make sure you keep your tee shot on the short grass. If you are a little wayward then you will certainly be punished but not dreadfully so, bogeys are easy to salvage.
The Alferini Course is the jewel in the crown at Villa Padierna Golf Club. There is nothing else quite like it on the Costa del Sol. This is a leviathan, a 7300 yard beast, a glorious expression of golf designed to test mental and physical strength like no other course I have ever played. The likelihood is that Alferini will beat you up, but as a golfing experience you will want to be beaten up again and again!
With these outstanding golf courses directly outside your bedroom window I doubt that most visiting golfers would feel the need to go anywhere else for the duration of their stay. However, Benahavis is a rich golfing area, you will find excellent golf courses such as Atalaya Golf and Country Club, Los Arqueros Golf and Country Club, Marbella Club Golf Resort and the excellent nine hole course El Higueral.
Parador de Málaga Golf
Conveniently located close to the Malaga airport and about 10 km to the Malaga city centre, Parador de Malaga Golf Hotel is the ideal location for those who wish to have a relaxing and enjoyable vacation filled with exciting things to do.
The hotel is just a stone’s throw away from the beach where visitors can enjoy the smooth sand and the warm waters of the Mediterranean.
Golf lovers can play on the spectacular, historic 18-hole golf course right next to the hotel as well as other great golf courses conveniently located nearby.
Parador de Malaga Golf hotel is also a great destination for those who want to learn more about the culture in this part of Spain. With landmarks and attractions like the Cultural Centre La Termica, Picasso Museum, Museum of Malaga as well as nearby cities that are well worth a visit like the White village of Mijas, Torremolinos, Benalmadena and Fuengirola.
The hotel has a classic Andalusian design with modern touches focused on making guests feel like home. The rooms are comfortable and nicely furnished with amenities such as flat screen TV, minibar, air conditioning, free wi-fi and en-suite bathroom with all the toiletries. All the rooms have a furnished terrace with superb views of the golf course or the sea.
Parador de Malaga Golf hotel also features an outdoor pool with a poolbar, a restaurant where guest can enjoy Andalusian cuisine cooked with high-quality, locally sourced ingredients, a tennis court and free parking for those who decide to drive here.
The hotel is a popular choice for tourists due to its proximity to the beach, golf courses, highly-rated restaurants and bars, shopping centers and many attractions.
Golf
The Parador del Malaga Club de Golf is a charming links course suitable for both the highly skilled and handicap golfer. The fairways run fast and offer the tightly cut playing surface associated with links golf. The rough has a first cut abutting the fairways, this fluffy grass makes getting a clean contact more challenging. For those, like me, that hit if further off line, many of the rough zones running between the holes are naturalised areas left to nature. The wizened trees, some of great age, are home to colonies of Green Parrots noisily commenting on the standard of golf they observe. If you find the rough then you are going to start dropping shots!
Experience in the wind will often be helpful, flighting a low trajectory is a desirable skill!
I have played Parador many times, sometimes I muster enough discipline to score well and sometimes the course defeats me, either way it is always a pleasure to play this lovely golf course.
Other nearby golf courses which are well worth adding to your itinerary whilst staying in the Parador de Malaga are Real Guadalhorce Club de Golf and Torrequebrada Golf in nearby Benalmadena
La Cala Resort
Situated in La Cala de Mijas, between the Sierra de Mijas Natural Park and the Mediterranean Sea, La Cala Resort offers a beautiful environment in the middle of nature with amazing views.
The hotel has 107 comfortable rooms decorated to ensure complete relaxation. All the rooms have furnished terraces from which guests can enjoy a drink while admiring the breathtaking views of the countryside or the Sierra Ojen Mountains.
La Cala Resort has 4 fantastic restaurants and a pool bar. Even though each restaurant brings something unique to the table, they all have in common the fact that they use only locally sourced, fresh ingredients, all cooked to perfection.
La Terrazza Restaurant focuses on modern Mediterranean cuisine and avant-garde cooking techniques. La Bodega Tapas & Grill offers its guests a more traditional Andalusian experience. Here, the famous tapas take centre stage with international influences from China, Japan, Europe, United States and India. The Clubhouse Restaurant has a stunning panoramic view of the Asia Golf Course. The dishes here cater to golfers with “casual”, healthy food. Located in the main hall, The Panoramic Bar & Restaurant has a beautiful patio with sweet-scented orange trees and imposing palms and a charming interior space. The cuisine here focuses on modern cooking with rich international flavours.
The hotel’s luxury spa offers all the beauty treatments and relaxation programs one could wish for. In addition, the spa has large glass walls through which guests can admire the manicured gardens and be one with nature.
Other facilities that can be enjoyed here are 3 golf courses, a football pitch, 2 running circuits, tennis and squash courts and different activities and classes like yoga, pilates, indoor cycling, zumba, stretching and more.
Golf
The La Cala Resort offers 54 holes of hillside and mountain golf set in the most stunning scenery. Each of the three courses, Asia, America and Europa have different styles and offer different experiences. All three are challenging.
Many visitors to the La Cala resort will also book a round at Mijas Golf and Santana golf, both within a few minutes drive. The Mijas Golf Los Lagos course is my personal favourite. I cannot speak highly enough of both courses and the management team. Santana Golf is set in a former Avocado farm and offers a delightful 18 holes. My old friend and longtime General Manager Salvador Gallardo takes great pride in making sure that Santana Golf is always in outstanding condition.
Rio Real
Rio Real is a boutique-style luxury golf hotel situated just 5 km outside Marbella, in the heart of the Rio Real Golf Course, between the Sierra Bermeja mountains and the Mediterranean sea.
At Rio Real Golf Hotel guests will enjoy a traditional Andalusian atmosphere with spacious rooms magnificently decorated and fully equipped to the highest standards. All the rooms have a terrace overlooking the golf course’s 11th hole and its perfect greens. The standard rooms are spacious, however, if you require more room, the Eagle and the Albatross Suites have two luxurious living areas and a large glass jacuzzi bathtub with an incredible view.
The hotel’s elegant restaurant will treat its guests with traditional Andalusian dishes cooked to perfection. The stunning panoramic view of the golf course and the beyond reproach service will complete the exquisite experience diners will have here.
The Clubhouse with its magnificent view of the golf course, the large fireplace and welcoming decor is the perfect place to enjoy a drink after a round of golf. Non-golfers are also more than welcome here where they can socialise in a lovely atmosphere.
The charming Rio Real Golf Hotel also has a private pool, a solarium and a pool bar where guests can have a drink and light snacks.
The wellness area has everything you might desire from different types of massages, beauty treatments for body and face to podiatry and personalised treatments.
Golf
Rio Real Golf is achingly pretty, the mature lines of trees that stand sentinel lining the fairways, the beautiful gardens, tightly cut fairways and greens make this golf course a very pleasant experience.
It will take two or three rounds to figure out the best way to build a good score, you will not tire of this delightful place.
Rio Real Golf is in the heart of the municipality of Marbella and has a plethora of excellent courses around it. If you fancy a change of golf course then there are some that can recommend that will give you a good experience.
Marbella Club Golf Resort and Spa
Elegance, understated luxury and tranquillity have a home at the Marbella Club. Founded in 1954 by Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe, the hotel has evolved and transformed into one of today’s most sought-after resorts in Europe.
With 115 rooms and suites, and 17 luxury villas, the resort offers its guests an unforgettable stay. All the rooms are spacious and bright with all the high-quality amenities one would expect at such a location. The decor makes you feel right at home with a contemporary style that has a classic style at the same time.
Each room has a furnished terrace area where guests can enjoy the stunning views and fresh air. If you wish for more space, the Garden Suites, MC Suites as well as the Grand Suites have separate living rooms.
But if you want pure elegance in a dream-like setting, then the private Villas and Bungalows are the way to go.
As one might expect, eating at Marbella Club is a sublime experience in itself. There are 4 restaurants, each with its own unique atmosphere and cuisine, a winery (La Bodega) where you can sample both local wines as well as rare references, 2 beach clubs, a summer bar and a garden pool.
Marbella Club is a family paradise with one of Europe’s largest Kids’ Clubs where children aged 4 to 14 can enjoy supervised activities like gardening, various sports, science experiments, wildlife exploration and more.
Adults can pamper themselves in the holistic wellness area by the sea. Here you can experience the incredible Thalasso Spa, practice Aerial or Kundalini Yoga, Pilates and meditation in the manicured gardens or by the sea. There are also various activities available like biking, hiking, racquet sports, water sports and more.
In addition to this, since the resort is a firm supporter of a healthy lifestyle, there is also a nutrition program with healthy menus and cookery classes.
Golf
Designed by globally renowned golf course architect Dave Thomas, this parkland course boasts generous fairways, generally large greens often elevated and always undulating making this pretty golf course not just a delight on the eye but a fabulous test of golf. A courtesy shuttle service will take you from the Marbella Club beach front location a twenty minute drive into the rolling countryside to enjoy this fabulous golf course.
Other courses close to the Marbella Club that we highly recommend are La Quinta, Los Naranjos and Atalaya Golf and Country Club.
SO – Sotogrande
Located in Sotogrande, just 30 minutes away from beautiful Marbella, the luxury 5-star Resort retains the charm of an old cortijo but with a contemporary style and elegance.
SO Sotogrande offers a haven of tranquillity and relaxation. Its idyllic location with picturesque green hills and the shimmering sea invite guests to explore and discover nature. The resort encourages a healthy, active lifestyle so there are many activities available here like bike rides, horse riding, water sports, sailing across the Gibraltar strait, playing golf on one of the golf courses nearby, racquet sports or hiking through the National Park of Alcornocales to name just a few.
The Wellness area organises exciting events like organic soap making or Yoga Celebration Day in addition to other specific wellness activities (Pilates, Spinning classes, a fully equipped gym, indoor and outdoor functional fitness programmes).
The resort’s Spa offers a world of wellbeing and calm. Here, guests can relax in thermal and hydro pools or get pampered in one of the 8 treatment cabins (be sure to try the special cryotherapy and flotation treatments).
Everything at SO Sotogrande is created to bring tranquillity and comfort to its visitors especially when talking about accomodation. There are comfortable, bright rooms, stylish studios, spacious suites and luxurious penthouses with spectacular views. All the rooms are decorated in warm, natural tones with all the high-quality amenities one would expect in a 5-star resort.
SO Sotogrande also has 3 pools (2 outdoor ones and a heated indoor pool in the Spa area) and a Kids Area where the youngest guests can enjoy activities both inside and outside under the caring supervision of the dedicated staff.
When staying at SO Sotogrande it is imperative to try one of the 4 restaurants here (or all of them). The menus are innovative with Andalusian flavours that will satisfy even the most demanding palate.
The Resort also has a free shuttle service to facilitate movement around Sotogrande available from 11am to 7pm.
Golf
If you are enjoying the delights of the SO Sotogrande then you are in the right place to enjoy the ultimate, most outstanding golf itinerary anywhere in Europe! From the balcony of your exquisite hotel room you have five of Europe’s most highly regarded golf courses within easy reach. In no particular order, and if you can manage 5 rounds of golf in a 7 day stay here are my most earnest recommendations.
Real Club de Golf Sotogrande
Valderrama
Four of the big five are designs of Cabell Robinson /Robert Trent Jones, the other, San Roque, penned by the legendary Dave Thomas.
Each of these courses can be considered the finest in Spain and each should be included in continental lists. They are sublime, the finest expressions of golf design, living, breathing pieces of art!
Personally, the courses that bring the greatest sense of joy and delight to me are the San Roque Old Course, La Reserva and Finca Cortesin, each are very different , yet each offer a totally immersive experience the likes of which I have never experienced elsewhere.
There is one more golf course to consider. A thirty second walk from the foyer of the SO Sotogrande is the pretty, gentle and relaxing Almenara 27 hole golf course. It is not in any way the grand tournament venue offered by the big names, but as a mid week break a visit to this golf course will bring you back to golfing reality and remind you what a normal golf course feels like, it will also give you a few chances to score pars and birdies which will be good for the soul having experienced those highest echelon leviathans.
La Zambra – Hyatt Unbound Collection
Byblos, the former symbol of the 80’s and 90’s, is reborn today as the lavish La Zambra Hotel. Located between Malaga and Marbella, in the picturesque hills of Mijas, La Zambra invites you to experience the best that the Andalusian culture has to offer.
The 197 rooms are decorated in warm, earthy tones that promote a state of relaxation and well being. The tasteful, high end furnishings have a traditional flair with all the modern amenities to give you the ultimate Spanish experience. Depending on your needs, there are Superior Rooms (ranging from 30 sqm to 40 sqm), Junior Suites (with a private lounge) and Suites (the hotel’s most exclusive rooms, ranging from 50 sqm to 125 sqm, bursting with Andalusian character). All the rooms have a private terrace of different sizes overlooking the beautiful gardens or the stunning Mijas Golf course.
Food lovers will dive deep into the traditional Andalusian cuisine and other famous international dishes. La Zambra has 4 exquisite restaurants, each with its unique character and signature dishes. Palmito and Picador offer avant-garde menus based on the best Andalucian food while Bamboleo will take its guests on an international culinary trip with Asian, Mexican and American influences. La Bartola is the perfect place to have some tapas, light snacks and sip the perfectly made smoothies or cocktails by the pool.
The 2500 sqm wellness area is a haven of peace, tranquillity and health. As you enter the Spa area you will be assigned a therapist that will guide you through a fantastic sensory journey. Cosmetic treatments for face and body, massages, holistic rituals, complete relaxation in one of the pools, jacuzzis or Turkish baths and hammam. Yoga classes are also available in the beautiful 500 sqm studio for all levels. In addition, the wellness area also includes a gym open 24/7 with personal trainers to help you achieve your goals. Tennis and padel players will be delighted with the flawless courts at La Zambra.
Golf
La Zambra Hotel is located in the heart of Mijas Golf’s 36 holes of golfing paradise!
Los Lagos is fabulous, at 7100 yards it is a long, generous and challenging championship venue. Design by Cabell Robinson whilst he was in the employ of Robert Trent Jones Los Lagos is fabulous. Named after the lakes which feature on 11 of the holes, Los Lagos will test the highly skilled players and at the same time encourage the handicap golfer.
Los Olivos is a little shorter, with many of the fairways lined with ancient olive trees and most greens are elevated on pedestals, accuracy and a good short game are more effective than brute power. Mijas Golf has that magic quality that keeps you feeling excited about your next game. After 30 years of playing golf here I am as eager for my next round at Mijas Golf as I was all those decades ago!
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