LIV Golf Andalucía is held at the Real Club Valderrama
LIV Golf de Andalucía one of the biggest golf tournaments of the year being held at Valderrama. Here’s everything you need to know.Url: /liv-golf-andalucia-valderrama/
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[post_content] => Spain is a golfer’s paradise, with 497 courses in total. Add to the number of courses, a great climate, delicious food and plenty of things to do and see off the fairways and it’s no wonder that Spain is one of the world’s top destinations for golf holidays.
But Spain is a very big country – more than double the size of the UK in fact, so where in Spain should you look for your next golf holiday?
Golf Breaks in Spain: Best Destinations
There are a number of regions with a high density of golf courses in Spain. They are often popular with tourists throughout the year too, so they have the facilities you need for a golf break.
Andalucia is the area of Spain with the most golf clubs. It has 104 golf clubs, as well as wonderful beaches, warm weather and lots of vacation rentals and hotels for you to stay in.
Catalonia is the next biggest area for golf breaks in Spain with 53 golf clubs, followed by the Valencian community with 34, Castile and Leon with 33, Madrid with 28, the Balearic Islands with 24 and the Canary Islands with 23.
Let’s drill down a little further into the most popular destinations for golf breaks in Spain and what else these areas have to offer visitors.
Golf Breaks in Costa del Sol
The Costa del Sol is also known as the Costa del Golf and this area accounts for a large proportion of Andalucia’s 104 golf clubs. This area stretches from the city of Malaga and its international airport to the area of Manilva and includes tourist hotspots such as Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Marbella, Benahavis and Estepona. Contrary to popular belief, Sotogrande isn’t in the Costa del Sol, but is in Cadiz province, which is known as the Costa del la Luz – more on that later!
There are golf clubs all the way along the Costa del Sol, and they are of excellent quality. We’ve reviewed our favourite golf courses on the Costa del Sol on our website, to help you choose where you want to play on your next golf holiday and we also have a list of golf shops in Marbella if you need extra kit. There are also excellent academies and golf pros, and taking golf classes on the Costa del Sol during your holiday is a great way to really boost your skills and enjoy the courses to the full.
With golf courses dotted all around the Costa del Sol, you can choose your favourite town and easily travel to the courses you like the best. Alternatively, if you’re looking to be in the centre of the golfing action, the area with the highest density is Nueva Andalucia. This is nicknamed Golf Valley, because of having five golf courses along the valley just behind Puerto Banus. All five courses are very highly regarded and have great club houses and training facilities.
We recommend it because it’s very close to Marbella and Puerto Banus, so it ticks all the boxes for golf, restaurants, bars, beaches, history, culture and awesome nightlife. There’s no wonder this is one of the very best golf destinations in Spain. Browse vacation rentals in Nueva Andalucia.
Golf Breaks in Almería
Another area of Andalucia which is well known for its golf is Almeria. This is less visited than the Costa del Sol, but you may have seen it on the silver screen, as many Westerns were filmed in the Cabo de Gata natural park. It’s also known as Europe’s greenhouse and produces millions of tons of vegetables for export.
There are several popular tourist resorts in this area, including; Roquetas de Mar, Aguadulce, El Ejido, Mojacar, Vera and Cabo de Gata. Thanks to tourism and a great climate, 11 golf courses were built in this area. The Almerimar Golf resort is one of the oldest courses in Spain, designed by Gary Player and Rob Kirby and opened in 1976, which still attracts many golfers from around the world. There’s also Europe’s first and second desert course in Almeria – Desert Springs Golf Club and Golf Valle Del Este. Many of the golf resorts in Almeria also feature hotels and spas with fitness and wellness facilities to appeal to non-golfers too.
Golf Breaks in Murcia
The Murcia region has 17 golf clubs boasting 19 courses and a total of 348 holes between them. Golf in Murcia began with the La Manga Club being built by golfer and businessman Gregory Peters in 1972. This was a pioneering resort, based around golf, with two courses, which was unheard of in Spain at that time. It has since developed into a resort with lots of sports facilities and accommodation including an excellent tennis centre. Since then, more and more courses have been built, including Alhama Signature, designed by Jack Nicklaus, El Valle Golf, which has hosted many world-class competitions, and Dave Thomas’ Golf Altorreal. The golf resorts in the area, plus the beaches and calm waters of the Mar Menor, make this a great golf destination.
Golf Breaks in Costa Blanca
The stunning beaches of Spain’s “white coast” in the Alicante province stretches from Denia to Pilar de la Horada and contains many holiday hotspots, including Benidorm and Alicante. There are over 20 golf courses in the Costa Blanca. The area is split into the North and South region, with 10 in the North (Javea to Alicante) and 10 in the South (Alicante to Torrevieja). Las Colinas Golf Club is an outstanding course designed by Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Font del Llop, the Club de Golf Jávea and the historic Villamartín Golf are all highly recommended. As well as golf and beaches, you can also climb in the Costa Blanca, as part of an active holiday and the city of Alicante is stunning.
Golf Breaks in Costa de la Luz
Sotogrande is the pinnacle of golf in Spain, and although it’s close to the Costa del Sol, it is in fact in an area known as the Costa de la Luz in the Cadiz province. It is home to what’s considered the best course in Spain and one of the very best courses in Europe – Valderrama. This legendary course has played host to the Volvo Masters and the Ryder Cup and is a must play for many golfers. But there’s more on offer for golfers in Sotogrande, a total of seven golf courses in a very small area. The area is also known for its white sand beaches, yachting, polo and gastronomy, as well as beautiful countryside.
There isn’t much of a hub for nightlife in Sotogrande, particularly during the winter months. Many travellers base themselves at a holiday rental in Estepona, a vibrant and cultural town with great restaurants and several good golf courses of its own. This town sits between Marbella and Sotogrande, so can be a great base for both.
Golf Breaks in Costa Brava
We already mentioned that Catalonia has 53 golf courses, and the Costa Brava is one of the most important tourist areas in this region. It stretches from the town of Blanes, 60 km northeast of Barcelona to the French border and has been a very popular tourist destination since the 1950s. Golf in Costa Brava is very well developed, with 8 golf clubs and 11 golf courses and it has a long history, with the first course Golf de Pals opening in 1966. PGA Catalunya is ranked one of the top ten courses in Europe and the Real Club Golf El Prat hosted 10 editions of the European Tour Spanish Open. You can enjoy the beaches and towns and of course fit in a visit to the amazing city of Barcelona during a golf break on the Costa Brava.
Golf Breaks in Mallorca
Although it’s a relatively small island, Mallorca is big on golf! There are 24 golf courses in total, with 21 open for non-members to play. The top courses are the Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed Alcanada and Son Gual, which are highly regarded, but there are many more to enjoy and the travel time is low due to the island’s size. As well as the golf, you have the wonderful, historic city of Palma to enjoy, the party hotspot of Magaluf and wonderful ports such as Andratx. It’s also a hotspot for sailing, with lovely ports and coves dotted around the coastline.
Golf Breaks in the Canary Islands
There are 23 courses in the Canary Islands, most of which can be found on the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria. It’s a favourite winter golf destination as the temperatures don’t dip below 15°C and there’s very low rainfall. Gran Canaria is home to the oldest golf club in Spain, the Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas, which has been offering golf since 1891. There are wonderful courses designed by leading golf course architects including Anfi Tauro Golf Course on Gran Canaria and the Dave Thomas designed Abama Golf in Tenerife. Off the golf course, you can visit the volcanoes, enjoy amazing hiking, enjoy art, culture, wines and nightlife, soak up the sun on beautiful beaches and even spot dolphins and whales too.
Why book a golf holiday to Spain?
As you can see, Spain is an amazing golf destination, with a huge range of golf courses, in beautiful places. There are frequent and low-cost flights from the UK, Ireland and Europe, which makes it very easy to get here. Plus, as the golf season in Spain tends to be the low season for the rest of the holidaymakers, flights and accommodation are much better value and easier to come by too.
Andalucia offers the widest choice of courses and travel is easy between them. We’d recommend basing yourself in Marbella or Estepona for lots of great things to see and do, within very easy reach of a wide range of golf courses. Trust in the holiday experts and golf lovers at Vacation Marbella to help you plan the best golf holiday in Andalucia.
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[post_content] => Golf is a wonderful sport, and the Vacation Marbella team can often be found on the fairways during low season. There’s so much to learn and the technical challenge, combined with the fresh air and beautiful surroundings, is hard to beat.
However, playing golf in the UK, Ireland and Northern Europe, can be a rather cold, wet and windy experience. Challenging weather is not what you need, especially not as a beginner, trying to master the basics.
People think they are only for the best players, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Golf holidays for beginners are really valuable and a lot of fun too. This is when you have the most to learn and will really benefit from that intensive learning and practice.
Marbella is a great destination for a beginners’ golf holiday, thanks to the large choice of 9 and 18 hole golf courses, driving ranges and experienced teachers offering golf classes. Not only that, but the conditions during the spring and the autumn are perfect for golf, and you’ll enjoy bright sunshine and blue skies during your round.
Read on to find out more about golf holidays for beginners.
What do you have to know before booking your golf holiday?
When you start with your golf journey, you need the best conditions, and the best golf courses and facilities to hone your skills and lay a strong foundation. You also need plenty of practice, and not too long between sessions, to make sure you’re putting everything you’ve learned together and not picking up bad habits.
An intensive period of golf lessons, and practice on different courses, is the best way to get the best foundation and that’s where a golf holiday comes in.
I bet you’re excited to get booking, but before you do, here are a few things to consider.
Who are you going with?
Do you have a friend who’s just starting out at golf too, who might want to join you? This is a great idea, but you’ll want them to be at a similar level, so that you can take classes together and learn from each other during your golf holiday.
Perhaps your husband or wife would like to come, but doesn’t play? That works too, especially in a destination like Marbella, where there’s plenty to do off the course.
Or perhaps you’d rather come alone and really focus on the golf 100%? No problem! By joining a group class, you will make friends and have a shared interest to talk about on and off the fairways. Golf clubs are very sociable places too, so you will be sure to meet people in the clubhouse. There are also golf academies which offer intensive courses for maximum progress during your golf holiday.
Choose the destination for your golf vacation
Golf is popular across the world and there are more than 38,000 golf courses you could visit! The top 10 golfing nations are – the US, the UK, Japan, Canada, France, Sweden, Australia, Germany, South Korea and Spain.
For a golf vacation, you want to go somewhere with a good choice of courses in a relatively small area, for maximum playing time and minimum travel time. You also want to consider the journey time to the destination, and the time difference from your home country. The shorter the flight the better, to ensure you are ready and full of energy to learn and play, especially when you’re a beginner.
Last but not least, think about the weather and check the conditions for the time of year you’re planning to visit. Beginners should aim for comfortable temperatures, low winds, good visibility and no rain.
All these elements will help you choose the perfect destination for your golf holiday.
When is it best to travel for your golf holiday?
As you can see, there are a wide range of golf destinations, with different climates. So the best time to play golf varies significantly! You should be able to find a wonderful place to play golf at any time, but depending on the time of year, you might have to travel a bit further afield to find it.
Marbella is blessed with a fantastic year-round climate and boasts over 320 days of sunshine a year. You can play golf in all 4 seasons, but the peak golf season in Marbella is in the spring and the autumn. Those parts of the year aren’t too hot, but tend to be dry and sunny, so offer the best conditions for playing golf as a beginner.
Choose the best golf courses
Beginners need to choose the right golf courses, to make the experience positive and enjoyable and not be too challenging. We’d recommend leaving the championship courses until you’ve built up a good level of skills and can control the ball well. Otherwise, it can be a very frustrating experience!
If you opt for an intensive beginner’s golf course, you may well be up to the challenge by the end of your golf holiday, but that’s definitely something to work up to. We’d recommend that you start with a golf course which has a driving range and practice area, an academy and professional coaches, as well as shorter holes, forgiving, large fairways and greens and not too many hazards.
Marbella has a number of golf academies, based at golf courses which are suitable for beginners, there are also golf pros, who can recommend the best courses for you to start with and work up to the more challenging ones.
There are a number of 9-hole golf courses on the Costa del Sol that can make a good place to start, including Magna Marbella, La Dama de Noche and El Higueral. Alternatively, you can try an easier 18-hole course. The Atalaya New Course, Miraflores, Cabopino and Monte Mayor are considered to be relatively easy courses in this area.
Read our recommendations and reviews of the top 10 Marbella golf courses.
Plan the time spent off the golf course
Golf is a demanding sport and is tiring for the body and the mind, so to make it an enjoyable holiday, you need to mix golf in with other activities.
Look for an area with a good restaurant and bar scene, so you know you’ll enjoy the evenings to the full. Then research into what else there is to do nearby, and plan a few activities, like visiting a city, going to an art gallery, soothing aching muscles in a spa, or perhaps visiting a vineyard. This helps you to get to know the place you’re golfing, rather than just the golf courses and gives your body and mind a break!
Have a budget
Decide how much you’re willing to spend, and check out the prices of golf classes, driving ranges and of course green fees. Look at the price for accommodation and eating out as well and take all of those elements into account when choosing your destination.
You can book your green fees in Marbella through our website for the best rates.
Marbella, the best destination for golf beginners
The Costa del Sol is considered to be one of the top golf destinations in Europe and is known as the Costa del Golf. That’s because of the very high concentration of quality golf courses, in a small area – over 70 in total. Golfers love the great weather and the ease of travel from the UK and the rest of Europe, combined with the excellent restaurants and nightlife.
Marbella isn’t just a golf destination for pros! It’s a great place for beginners to learn, practice and enjoy the experience. Thanks to the large number of courses, there are many which are suitable for beginners, as well as academies and friendly golf classes and societies, which are really welcoming to visitors.
You’ll love the restaurants in Marbella too and there’s plenty to do when you’re not playing, including day trips, hiking, cultural and gastronomic experiences. You can also indulge in some retail therapy, in one of the golf shops, shopping malls, or designer boutiques. There’s no excuse to get bored when you’re not golfing!
If you’d like to organize a golf holiday for beginners on the Costa del Golf, Vacation Marbella are your perfect partners. We can sort out your holiday rental within easy access of the golf courses, organise your green fees and tee times, and advise you on the best teachers and clubs for beginners. As passionate golfers ourselves, we’re in the know and would be delighted to help you make the very most out of your Marbella golf holiday. Contact us for information, or browse our holiday rentals.
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[post_content] => 2025 started strong in terms of golf tournaments in Marbella!
The first big golf tournament of the year was the Marbella Legends, at Aloha Golf Club, which took place between the 14th and 16th of February. Featuring some of the biggest names in the senior tour, it shone the spotlight on Marbella as a top golfing destination.
Also in February, Villa Padierna’s Flamingos Golf Course hosted the World Junior Golf Championship. With over 250 top junior players travelling in from 36 countries, it was a real celebration of young talent.
But if you missed those, worry not! There are plenty more golf tournaments on the calendar to enjoy.
Marbella Tournaments You Can Participate In
Why not pit your wits against other players during your next golf vacation, by signing up to play in a tournament. There are golf societies which organize events and tournaments, plus golf courses also host their own, which non-members can usually join.
Here are some of the tournaments and golf events you can participate in.
This company organizes weekly golf events which move across different golf courses on the Costa del Golf. They are a great way to play, meet fellow golfers, and try different courses.
The Marbella golf course they play at include El Higueral, Cabopino and Los Arqueros and they follow an individual Stableford format. They have events booked in every Friday until the end of April 2025.
This society hosts monthly golf events in some of the best courses on the Costa del Sol. You can see the calendar for the whole of 2025 on their website. Contact them to find out more about participating.
This is another great Marbella golf course, with regular tournaments every month. There’s the Spring Scramble on March 7th, following a Texas scramble format and lunch at the club house and prize giving. Later in the year there’s the President’s Cup in May and a charity tournament on June 28th
While not in Marbella, Finca Cortesin is considered to be one of the best golf courses in Spain and they have a few events per year which are open to all. These are; The Pairs Tournament in July, Finca Cortesin Tournament and the Father & Son Tournament in August, and the Finca Cortesin Winter event in December.
Liv Golf Andalucia
If you’d rather watch golf, then you need to come to the Costa del Sol in July for Liv Golf Andalucia. This will be played at the legendary Valderrama Golf Club in Sotogrande from the 11th to 13th of July. It features some of the best players and biggest personalities in the game, in a unique team format. The mission is to “provide non-stop, supercharged, world-class entertainment”.
You can easily combine a holiday in Marbella, with seeing this tournament, as Sotogrande is under 30 minutes by car from Marbella.
Where to stay for a golf holiday?
Great question! There are a few options to consider, depending on the size of your group, what you want to do and where you want to play. A frontline golf villa can be a really nice option for small groups, who want to be within walking distance of a course and a clubhouse.
A holiday rental in Nueva Andalucia is another great option. There are apartments and villas, within really easy reach of five great golf courses. This area works well if you want to go out in the evening as well, as there are some excellent restaurants and bars in Nueva Andalucia itself, plus it’s a very short taxi ride, or even a walk down into Puerto Banus.
If you’re planning to visit courses that are stretched out along the coast, then a central holiday rental in Marbella Old Town, within walking distance of lots of great restaurants, bars and shops could also be an excellent option.
[post_title] => Marbella Golf Tournaments in 2025
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LIV Golf Andalucía is held at the Real Club Valderrama
LIV Golf is returning to the legendary Valderrama Golf Club this July for three days of amazing golf action. Once again some of the biggest names in golf will be gracing this iconic course with the new exciting LIV format.
Why not plan a golf holiday around watching this fantastic tournament? You can watch the best golfers play, take to the fairways yourself and play on some of the other incredible golf courses on the Costa del Sol, all while enjoying the beaches, nightlife and amazing atmosphere in Marbella in the summer. As this isn’t the peak golf season in Marbella, the courses are quieter and the green fees are cheaper at this time of year and of course the weather is glorious.
When and where is LIV Golf Andalucía 2025?
LIV Golf Andalucia will be played from July 11 to 13 at the Real Club Valderrama. This is one of the very best courses in Europe which has hosted the Volvo Masters and the Ryder Cup, and hosted LIV Golf’s first edition in Spain last year.
It was a really popular course with the players and fans, and the action was electric. Everyone is hoping that this year will match the epic scenes from 2024, when the home favorite, Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia beat Anirban Lahiri in a playoff to win the individual title, and his team the Fireballs GC also won. As you can imagine, the local fans went wild!
After the win Garcia said: “For me, it’s a dream come true to do it on my favorite course in front of my family and friends and in front of my teammates. But to make it even better by winning the team championship too, it was amazing. To be totally honest, there’s a connection between Valderrama and myself that I can’t even explain.”
How to get tickets for LIV Golf?
Tickets aren’t yet on sale for the 2025 LIV Golf, but you can sign up for alerts for pre-sale access. After the popularity of last year’s event, we expect this one to be a sell-out, so we recommend doing that to avoid disappointment, especially if you’re planning a golf holiday around the event.
Who will participate in the LIV Golf of Andalusia?
Everyone is waiting with baited breath for the announcement of the player list for this year’s LIV Golf, but the organizers promise the “sport’s biggest personalities”, so you know it’s going to be a great lineup.
Names confirmed when they announced the dates late last year include; defending champion Sergio Garcia, captain of the Fireballs GC team. Also confirmed are Spanish legend Jon Rahm (Legion XIII); the current U.S. Open 2024 champion, Bryson DeChambeau (Crushers GC); Brooks Koepka (Smash GC), Cameron Smith (Ripper GC), Dustin Johnson (4Aces GC) and many more will be announced in the run up to the tournament.
What is LIV Golf Andalusia?
This is a new, innovative golf tournament, which broke away from the original PGA tour, setting itself up as a rival to the traditional format and it’s been a dramatic journey.
Talks began behind the scenes in 2020 and some big names started to get behind the idea. In October 2021 it was unveiled and the fight between the PGA and the new tournament began in the media and behind the scenes.
In May 2022, the first LIV Golf teed off in the UK, with big names supporting the new format including Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, leading to the PGA suspending the players that compete. Fast forward through legal battles and emergency meetings and in 2025 we’re getting closer to a merger between LIV and PGA and an end to all the conflict. Donald Trump is even getting involved and there’s a cautious optimism that the two tournaments could come together. Find out more about LIV and PGA
While this was all going on, fans were loving the new, more dynamic format, which has been created to “modernize and supercharge the wonderful sport of golf.”
Liv Golf organizers say, “Our events represent an opportunity to revitalize and reinvigorate golf, while helping to bring new audiences to the game. Golf is a sport full of existing traditions. The LIV Golf League intends to create new ones through our innovative and transformational approach. We believe our new format will bring fans closer to the game and generate fresh levels of excitement for the sport.”
The LIV Golf format includes 54 players and 13 teams, competing in a 14-event season and there are two titles – team and individual. There are 14 three-day events between February and August and all the groups of players tee off at the same time, for action around the course. There’s also no knockouts, so all players play the whole tournament, for more action for the fans and a better experience for the players. The individual players score points for their team, as well as competing for the individual trophy, so there’s lots to play for!
The Costa del Golf boasts over 70 golf courses, in a very small area, so you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to where to play. As well as watching the LIV Golf Andalucia action we’d advise you take some golf classes in Marbella to improve your game to the maximum. Play a few rounds on the many championship courses within easy reach of Marbella. Pop in to one of the excellent golf shops to refresh your gear or pick up a little something to remind you of your holiday.
In the evening, you can enjoy the nightlife and incredible gastronomy on offer in the many restaurants in Marbella and of course a trip to Marbella in July would not be complete without a day at the beach and a visit to one of the beach clubs.
You can browse holiday rentals on the Costa del Sol on our website, to find the perfect base for your next break. We’re passionate golfers and golf fans here at Vacation Marbella, so feel free to get in touch for advice and support for making your next golf holiday the best!
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[post_content] => Spain is a golfer’s paradise, with 497 courses in total. Add to the number of courses, a great climate, delicious food and plenty of things to do and see off the fairways and it’s no wonder that Spain is one of the world’s top destinations for golf holidays.
But Spain is a very big country – more than double the size of the UK in fact, so where in Spain should you look for your next golf holiday?
Golf Breaks in Spain: Best Destinations
There are a number of regions with a high density of golf courses in Spain. They are often popular with tourists throughout the year too, so they have the facilities you need for a golf break.
Andalucia is the area of Spain with the most golf clubs. It has 104 golf clubs, as well as wonderful beaches, warm weather and lots of vacation rentals and hotels for you to stay in.
Catalonia is the next biggest area for golf breaks in Spain with 53 golf clubs, followed by the Valencian community with 34, Castile and Leon with 33, Madrid with 28, the Balearic Islands with 24 and the Canary Islands with 23.
Let’s drill down a little further into the most popular destinations for golf breaks in Spain and what else these areas have to offer visitors.
Golf Breaks in Costa del Sol
The Costa del Sol is also known as the Costa del Golf and this area accounts for a large proportion of Andalucia’s 104 golf clubs. This area stretches from the city of Malaga and its international airport to the area of Manilva and includes tourist hotspots such as Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Marbella, Benahavis and Estepona. Contrary to popular belief, Sotogrande isn’t in the Costa del Sol, but is in Cadiz province, which is known as the Costa del la Luz – more on that later!
There are golf clubs all the way along the Costa del Sol, and they are of excellent quality. We’ve reviewed our favourite golf courses on the Costa del Sol on our website, to help you choose where you want to play on your next golf holiday and we also have a list of golf shops in Marbella if you need extra kit. There are also excellent academies and golf pros, and taking golf classes on the Costa del Sol during your holiday is a great way to really boost your skills and enjoy the courses to the full.
With golf courses dotted all around the Costa del Sol, you can choose your favourite town and easily travel to the courses you like the best. Alternatively, if you’re looking to be in the centre of the golfing action, the area with the highest density is Nueva Andalucia. This is nicknamed Golf Valley, because of having five golf courses along the valley just behind Puerto Banus. All five courses are very highly regarded and have great club houses and training facilities.
We recommend it because it’s very close to Marbella and Puerto Banus, so it ticks all the boxes for golf, restaurants, bars, beaches, history, culture and awesome nightlife. There’s no wonder this is one of the very best golf destinations in Spain. Browse vacation rentals in Nueva Andalucia.
Golf Breaks in Almería
Another area of Andalucia which is well known for its golf is Almeria. This is less visited than the Costa del Sol, but you may have seen it on the silver screen, as many Westerns were filmed in the Cabo de Gata natural park. It’s also known as Europe’s greenhouse and produces millions of tons of vegetables for export.
There are several popular tourist resorts in this area, including; Roquetas de Mar, Aguadulce, El Ejido, Mojacar, Vera and Cabo de Gata. Thanks to tourism and a great climate, 11 golf courses were built in this area. The Almerimar Golf resort is one of the oldest courses in Spain, designed by Gary Player and Rob Kirby and opened in 1976, which still attracts many golfers from around the world. There’s also Europe’s first and second desert course in Almeria – Desert Springs Golf Club and Golf Valle Del Este. Many of the golf resorts in Almeria also feature hotels and spas with fitness and wellness facilities to appeal to non-golfers too.
Golf Breaks in Murcia
The Murcia region has 17 golf clubs boasting 19 courses and a total of 348 holes between them. Golf in Murcia began with the La Manga Club being built by golfer and businessman Gregory Peters in 1972. This was a pioneering resort, based around golf, with two courses, which was unheard of in Spain at that time. It has since developed into a resort with lots of sports facilities and accommodation including an excellent tennis centre. Since then, more and more courses have been built, including Alhama Signature, designed by Jack Nicklaus, El Valle Golf, which has hosted many world-class competitions, and Dave Thomas’ Golf Altorreal. The golf resorts in the area, plus the beaches and calm waters of the Mar Menor, make this a great golf destination.
Golf Breaks in Costa Blanca
The stunning beaches of Spain’s “white coast” in the Alicante province stretches from Denia to Pilar de la Horada and contains many holiday hotspots, including Benidorm and Alicante. There are over 20 golf courses in the Costa Blanca. The area is split into the North and South region, with 10 in the North (Javea to Alicante) and 10 in the South (Alicante to Torrevieja). Las Colinas Golf Club is an outstanding course designed by Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Font del Llop, the Club de Golf Jávea and the historic Villamartín Golf are all highly recommended. As well as golf and beaches, you can also climb in the Costa Blanca, as part of an active holiday and the city of Alicante is stunning.
Golf Breaks in Costa de la Luz
Sotogrande is the pinnacle of golf in Spain, and although it’s close to the Costa del Sol, it is in fact in an area known as the Costa de la Luz in the Cadiz province. It is home to what’s considered the best course in Spain and one of the very best courses in Europe – Valderrama. This legendary course has played host to the Volvo Masters and the Ryder Cup and is a must play for many golfers. But there’s more on offer for golfers in Sotogrande, a total of seven golf courses in a very small area. The area is also known for its white sand beaches, yachting, polo and gastronomy, as well as beautiful countryside.
There isn’t much of a hub for nightlife in Sotogrande, particularly during the winter months. Many travellers base themselves at a holiday rental in Estepona, a vibrant and cultural town with great restaurants and several good golf courses of its own. This town sits between Marbella and Sotogrande, so can be a great base for both.
Golf Breaks in Costa Brava
We already mentioned that Catalonia has 53 golf courses, and the Costa Brava is one of the most important tourist areas in this region. It stretches from the town of Blanes, 60 km northeast of Barcelona to the French border and has been a very popular tourist destination since the 1950s. Golf in Costa Brava is very well developed, with 8 golf clubs and 11 golf courses and it has a long history, with the first course Golf de Pals opening in 1966. PGA Catalunya is ranked one of the top ten courses in Europe and the Real Club Golf El Prat hosted 10 editions of the European Tour Spanish Open. You can enjoy the beaches and towns and of course fit in a visit to the amazing city of Barcelona during a golf break on the Costa Brava.
Golf Breaks in Mallorca
Although it’s a relatively small island, Mallorca is big on golf! There are 24 golf courses in total, with 21 open for non-members to play. The top courses are the Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed Alcanada and Son Gual, which are highly regarded, but there are many more to enjoy and the travel time is low due to the island’s size. As well as the golf, you have the wonderful, historic city of Palma to enjoy, the party hotspot of Magaluf and wonderful ports such as Andratx. It’s also a hotspot for sailing, with lovely ports and coves dotted around the coastline.
Golf Breaks in the Canary Islands
There are 23 courses in the Canary Islands, most of which can be found on the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria. It’s a favourite winter golf destination as the temperatures don’t dip below 15°C and there’s very low rainfall. Gran Canaria is home to the oldest golf club in Spain, the Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas, which has been offering golf since 1891. There are wonderful courses designed by leading golf course architects including Anfi Tauro Golf Course on Gran Canaria and the Dave Thomas designed Abama Golf in Tenerife. Off the golf course, you can visit the volcanoes, enjoy amazing hiking, enjoy art, culture, wines and nightlife, soak up the sun on beautiful beaches and even spot dolphins and whales too.
Why book a golf holiday to Spain?
As you can see, Spain is an amazing golf destination, with a huge range of golf courses, in beautiful places. There are frequent and low-cost flights from the UK, Ireland and Europe, which makes it very easy to get here. Plus, as the golf season in Spain tends to be the low season for the rest of the holidaymakers, flights and accommodation are much better value and easier to come by too.
Andalucia offers the widest choice of courses and travel is easy between them. We’d recommend basing yourself in Marbella or Estepona for lots of great things to see and do, within very easy reach of a wide range of golf courses. Trust in the holiday experts and golf lovers at Vacation Marbella to help you plan the best golf holiday in Andalucia.
[post_title] => Golf Breaks in Spain: The Best Destinations
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[post_content] => Golf is a wonderful sport, and the Vacation Marbella team can often be found on the fairways during low season. There’s so much to learn and the technical challenge, combined with the fresh air and beautiful surroundings, is hard to beat.
However, playing golf in the UK, Ireland and Northern Europe, can be a rather cold, wet and windy experience. Challenging weather is not what you need, especially not as a beginner, trying to master the basics.
People think they are only for the best players, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Golf holidays for beginners are really valuable and a lot of fun too. This is when you have the most to learn and will really benefit from that intensive learning and practice.
Marbella is a great destination for a beginners’ golf holiday, thanks to the large choice of 9 and 18 hole golf courses, driving ranges and experienced teachers offering golf classes. Not only that, but the conditions during the spring and the autumn are perfect for golf, and you’ll enjoy bright sunshine and blue skies during your round.
Read on to find out more about golf holidays for beginners.
What do you have to know before booking your golf holiday?
When you start with your golf journey, you need the best conditions, and the best golf courses and facilities to hone your skills and lay a strong foundation. You also need plenty of practice, and not too long between sessions, to make sure you’re putting everything you’ve learned together and not picking up bad habits.
An intensive period of golf lessons, and practice on different courses, is the best way to get the best foundation and that’s where a golf holiday comes in.
I bet you’re excited to get booking, but before you do, here are a few things to consider.
Who are you going with?
Do you have a friend who’s just starting out at golf too, who might want to join you? This is a great idea, but you’ll want them to be at a similar level, so that you can take classes together and learn from each other during your golf holiday.
Perhaps your husband or wife would like to come, but doesn’t play? That works too, especially in a destination like Marbella, where there’s plenty to do off the course.
Or perhaps you’d rather come alone and really focus on the golf 100%? No problem! By joining a group class, you will make friends and have a shared interest to talk about on and off the fairways. Golf clubs are very sociable places too, so you will be sure to meet people in the clubhouse. There are also golf academies which offer intensive courses for maximum progress during your golf holiday.
Choose the destination for your golf vacation
Golf is popular across the world and there are more than 38,000 golf courses you could visit! The top 10 golfing nations are – the US, the UK, Japan, Canada, France, Sweden, Australia, Germany, South Korea and Spain.
For a golf vacation, you want to go somewhere with a good choice of courses in a relatively small area, for maximum playing time and minimum travel time. You also want to consider the journey time to the destination, and the time difference from your home country. The shorter the flight the better, to ensure you are ready and full of energy to learn and play, especially when you’re a beginner.
Last but not least, think about the weather and check the conditions for the time of year you’re planning to visit. Beginners should aim for comfortable temperatures, low winds, good visibility and no rain.
All these elements will help you choose the perfect destination for your golf holiday.
When is it best to travel for your golf holiday?
As you can see, there are a wide range of golf destinations, with different climates. So the best time to play golf varies significantly! You should be able to find a wonderful place to play golf at any time, but depending on the time of year, you might have to travel a bit further afield to find it.
Marbella is blessed with a fantastic year-round climate and boasts over 320 days of sunshine a year. You can play golf in all 4 seasons, but the peak golf season in Marbella is in the spring and the autumn. Those parts of the year aren’t too hot, but tend to be dry and sunny, so offer the best conditions for playing golf as a beginner.
Choose the best golf courses
Beginners need to choose the right golf courses, to make the experience positive and enjoyable and not be too challenging. We’d recommend leaving the championship courses until you’ve built up a good level of skills and can control the ball well. Otherwise, it can be a very frustrating experience!
If you opt for an intensive beginner’s golf course, you may well be up to the challenge by the end of your golf holiday, but that’s definitely something to work up to. We’d recommend that you start with a golf course which has a driving range and practice area, an academy and professional coaches, as well as shorter holes, forgiving, large fairways and greens and not too many hazards.
Marbella has a number of golf academies, based at golf courses which are suitable for beginners, there are also golf pros, who can recommend the best courses for you to start with and work up to the more challenging ones.
There are a number of 9-hole golf courses on the Costa del Sol that can make a good place to start, including Magna Marbella, La Dama de Noche and El Higueral. Alternatively, you can try an easier 18-hole course. The Atalaya New Course, Miraflores, Cabopino and Monte Mayor are considered to be relatively easy courses in this area.
Read our recommendations and reviews of the top 10 Marbella golf courses.
Plan the time spent off the golf course
Golf is a demanding sport and is tiring for the body and the mind, so to make it an enjoyable holiday, you need to mix golf in with other activities.
Look for an area with a good restaurant and bar scene, so you know you’ll enjoy the evenings to the full. Then research into what else there is to do nearby, and plan a few activities, like visiting a city, going to an art gallery, soothing aching muscles in a spa, or perhaps visiting a vineyard. This helps you to get to know the place you’re golfing, rather than just the golf courses and gives your body and mind a break!
Have a budget
Decide how much you’re willing to spend, and check out the prices of golf classes, driving ranges and of course green fees. Look at the price for accommodation and eating out as well and take all of those elements into account when choosing your destination.
You can book your green fees in Marbella through our website for the best rates.
Marbella, the best destination for golf beginners
The Costa del Sol is considered to be one of the top golf destinations in Europe and is known as the Costa del Golf. That’s because of the very high concentration of quality golf courses, in a small area – over 70 in total. Golfers love the great weather and the ease of travel from the UK and the rest of Europe, combined with the excellent restaurants and nightlife.
Marbella isn’t just a golf destination for pros! It’s a great place for beginners to learn, practice and enjoy the experience. Thanks to the large number of courses, there are many which are suitable for beginners, as well as academies and friendly golf classes and societies, which are really welcoming to visitors.
You’ll love the restaurants in Marbella too and there’s plenty to do when you’re not playing, including day trips, hiking, cultural and gastronomic experiences. You can also indulge in some retail therapy, in one of the golf shops, shopping malls, or designer boutiques. There’s no excuse to get bored when you’re not golfing!
If you’d like to organize a golf holiday for beginners on the Costa del Golf, Vacation Marbella are your perfect partners. We can sort out your holiday rental within easy access of the golf courses, organise your green fees and tee times, and advise you on the best teachers and clubs for beginners. As passionate golfers ourselves, we’re in the know and would be delighted to help you make the very most out of your Marbella golf holiday. Contact us for information, or browse our holiday rentals.
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[post_content] => 2025 started strong in terms of golf tournaments in Marbella!
The first big golf tournament of the year was the Marbella Legends, at Aloha Golf Club, which took place between the 14th and 16th of February. Featuring some of the biggest names in the senior tour, it shone the spotlight on Marbella as a top golfing destination.
Also in February, Villa Padierna’s Flamingos Golf Course hosted the World Junior Golf Championship. With over 250 top junior players travelling in from 36 countries, it was a real celebration of young talent.
But if you missed those, worry not! There are plenty more golf tournaments on the calendar to enjoy.
Marbella Tournaments You Can Participate In
Why not pit your wits against other players during your next golf vacation, by signing up to play in a tournament. There are golf societies which organize events and tournaments, plus golf courses also host their own, which non-members can usually join.
Here are some of the tournaments and golf events you can participate in.
This company organizes weekly golf events which move across different golf courses on the Costa del Golf. They are a great way to play, meet fellow golfers, and try different courses.
The Marbella golf course they play at include El Higueral, Cabopino and Los Arqueros and they follow an individual Stableford format. They have events booked in every Friday until the end of April 2025.
This society hosts monthly golf events in some of the best courses on the Costa del Sol. You can see the calendar for the whole of 2025 on their website. Contact them to find out more about participating.
This is another great Marbella golf course, with regular tournaments every month. There’s the Spring Scramble on March 7th, following a Texas scramble format and lunch at the club house and prize giving. Later in the year there’s the President’s Cup in May and a charity tournament on June 28th
While not in Marbella, Finca Cortesin is considered to be one of the best golf courses in Spain and they have a few events per year which are open to all. These are; The Pairs Tournament in July, Finca Cortesin Tournament and the Father & Son Tournament in August, and the Finca Cortesin Winter event in December.
Liv Golf Andalucia
If you’d rather watch golf, then you need to come to the Costa del Sol in July for Liv Golf Andalucia. This will be played at the legendary Valderrama Golf Club in Sotogrande from the 11th to 13th of July. It features some of the best players and biggest personalities in the game, in a unique team format. The mission is to “provide non-stop, supercharged, world-class entertainment”.
You can easily combine a holiday in Marbella, with seeing this tournament, as Sotogrande is under 30 minutes by car from Marbella.
Where to stay for a golf holiday?
Great question! There are a few options to consider, depending on the size of your group, what you want to do and where you want to play. A frontline golf villa can be a really nice option for small groups, who want to be within walking distance of a course and a clubhouse.
A holiday rental in Nueva Andalucia is another great option. There are apartments and villas, within really easy reach of five great golf courses. This area works well if you want to go out in the evening as well, as there are some excellent restaurants and bars in Nueva Andalucia itself, plus it’s a very short taxi ride, or even a walk down into Puerto Banus.
If you’re planning to visit courses that are stretched out along the coast, then a central holiday rental in Marbella Old Town, within walking distance of lots of great restaurants, bars and shops could also be an excellent option.
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