Central Costa del Sol Golf and Green Fees

The Costa del Sol is now synonymous with great green fees and golfing holidays, its popularity is quite simply defined by its nickname ‘Costa del Golf’.

The beautiful climate and close proximity to the UK and other northern European countries, together with a wealth of top class golf courses, including the world famous Valderrama, have helped make the Costa del Sol in Andalucia, southern Spain, one of the world’s leading golf holiday destinations. We have venues stretching all across the region, the popular areas in the central belt of the Costa del Sol include Marbella, Puerto Banus, Guadalmina and Nueva Andalucia to name but a few.
There are many golf courses along the coast in the central belt, with every one offering different challenges, not to mention a vast array of green fees to choose from. Courses such as Guadalmina South, famed for previously hosting the European qualifying school, is unquestionably one of Marbella’s elite golf courses. Given the stature of this course the green fees offered are very competitive, most definitely worth adding to your golf holiday schedule.

Alferini golf course, (originally Gran Flamingo golf course), opened in 2007 and has been described as one of the most exciting new courses on the Costa del Sol. Comparable to the older Flamingos Golf Course, each course is home to water obstacles and natural vegetation. Overall the course has been described as technical with long fairways and fast greens, there are plenty of starting platforms on each of the tees, which means it will test players of all abilities. This fantastic new course is a welcome addition to the Costa del Sol, and is located within the Los Flamingos Golf Resort. There are so many reasons why you should play here, amongst them its location in one of the most picturesque areas on the coast, with stunning views, and set amongst a beautiful mountain backdrop.
Los Flamingos golf course, a neighbour to Alferini golf course, has good access and is easy to find. This course has been a fixture on the professional senior circuit for a number of years, and is very popular with our locals. The club has hosted tournaments such as the European Senior Final, The Daily Telegraph and the European Seniors Match Play Championships. The club also houses the 5 star hotel Villa Padierna – think Michelle Obama, who rented out the entire hotel in the summer of 2011!

The Los Flamingos Golf Resort is now home to three courses, Los Flamingos, Alferini, and the newest course Tramores. The latter used to be the executive Par 3 course, although now another 9 holes have been added, and although it’s only 3,268 Meters off the red tees, it’s still well worth playing. The course is relatively new, opening in 2001, although the conservation of existing trees and the re-planting of shrubs and trees gives it a mature feel. Greens and tees have been sown with Pencross, and Bermuda has been used on the fairways. At around 5.800 meters in length, it’s not one of the longest courses, but some tight fairways, especially on the front 9, and water hazards can cause quite a few problems. The first couple of holes are not the easiest of starters, with the first tee over a ravine with a lake on the right.
If you book to play all three courses then you qualify for a heavily discounted green fee pass. Download our discount green fee pricelist here for all the Costa del Sol’s best green fee rates.

Moving on to one of the more established and much loved courses, namely La Quinta golf course, looking more and more likely to be the continual hosts for the Benahavís Senior Masters.

Yet another terrific venue is the Los Arqueros golf course, it nestles in the foothills of the Sierra de Ronda mountain range and yet is close to Puerto Banus.
Although Los Arqueros golf course is renowned as being one of the most tranquil and stunning golf settings on the Costa del Sol, the course was designed by the mercurial genius that was Severiano Ballesteros, consequently providing you manage to keep your ball in play from the tee, there will be many birdie opportunities; if not, danger is just around the corner. Truth is that once you find the fairway the approach shots only require a short or medium iron to small-bunkered targets. Although not as hilly as it may appear, the Los Arqueros golf course does enjoy a few big elevation changes, which not only creates dramatic driving holes but also makes walking the golf course a little difficult!

Next up but by no means last is the beautiful Marbella Club Golf Resort. This resort rests neatly among the hills of Benahavis, and is as peaceful and as private as one would expect. The first thing that catches the eye on arrival is the small thatched Balinese style clubhouse, which more than makes up for its size by offering excellent service in comfortable surroundings. The beautifully contoured fairways of Marbella Club Golf Resort seem to run perfectly from valley to valley, through the indigenous cork oaks and pines without interference from neighbouring holes. Although water doesn’t play a large part in this course, when it does, the strategically placed streams cascading into the lakes are more of a joy than mischievous water hazards. There’s no doubting that the Marbella Club Golf Resort is demanding, however it has to be said it’s a fair golfing test, and certainly one of the finest along the Costa del Sol.

Yet another golfing challenge is the Santa Clara Golf Course. Santa Clara was designed by Enrique Canales, and designed to respect the natural environment and wide range of native wildlife and vegetation. Situated on the edge of Marbella in the heart of the Costa del Sol, Santa Clara Golf Course presents a challenging yet straightforward layout. The fairways are generous with little rough, taking the emphasis off the tee shots. The premium however is on the approach shots, with many large elevated plateau greens that make club selection very tricky. The 5,878 metre, par 71 golf course is highlighted by the ‘Santa Clara Corner’ formed by the 12th, 13th and 14th holes, which are a perfect combination of pars 4, 3 and 5. This part of the course requires long and accurate shots with little room for error. With the long par 3’s testing even the best ball strikers and with water coming into play on several holes, Santa Clara provides a challenge for golfers of all levels. The impressive clubhouse overlooks the 9th and 18th holes and the golf academy, and provides lovely views of the Mediterranean from the large terrace. Situated in one of the most exclusive areas of Marbella, Santa Clara is set to become a must play golf course on the Costa del Sol.