Padel is one of the most popular sports in Marbella and Spain. Discover the best clubs to practice it in Marbella, trainers and how to find people to play.
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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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Padel tennis is one of the most popular sports in Spain. It’s an exciting cross between squash and tennis, played doubles-style in a glass-sided court. It’s a fast-paced game, and pretty easy to pick up, plus it’s very sociable. Joining a padel club in Marbella is a great way to keep fit and meet new people. Today we’re giving you a low-down of the best padel clubs in Marbella, as well as its history and evolution.
Enjoy Padel in Marbella
Although Padel was originally invented in Mexico, Marbella remains the birthplace of the modern style of Padel we know today. Not surprisingly there are loads of fantastic clubs to play in and they are great communities to be a part of. Where better to play padel than where it was developed and became one of the fastest growing sports in the world?
In this article, we will share our favorite padel clubs in Marbella, where you can enjoy this wonderful, fast-paced sport. However, this really is just the tip of the iceberg!
The Royal Padel Club Marbella
Real Club Pádel Marbella is a fantastic place to play padel in Marbella, work out at the gym and hang out with family and friends. With six panoramic glass paddle tennis courts, with WPT approved grass, and latest technology LED lighting. They also boast a dedicated Padel school where you can learn one of the most popular growing sports in Spain and improve your skills with some of the best coaches and trainers. And that’s not all…. This is a sports center with indoor and outdoor gym facilities, a kindergarten, boxing and martial arts classes for kids, a restaurant, salon, barber shop and restaurant. Highly recommended for all the family.
Manolo Santana Racquets Club Tennis, Padel & Fitness
Founded in 1997 by the famous tennis player, Manolo Santana, this legendary Racquets Club is steeped in the history of the sport and remains one of the Marbella’s most renowned tennis clubs. Manolo Santana Racquets Club also has four Padel courts and a gym and fitness center. They offer private lessons, there’s a padel tennis school, you can hire a court for matches, or join their mix-in sessions where you can play and make new friends too. Is there a better place to enjoy Padel than one of Marbella’s historic clubs? Sadly, Manolo is no longer with us, but his legacy remains strong in this fantastic club.
Puente Romano Tennis Club
Puente Romano is one of Marbella’s most glamorous hotels, famous for its wonderful restaurants and bars. But you may not know that it also offers one of the most important tennis and padel clubs in Europe. The Puente Romano Tennis Club includes 10 tennis courts, a gym, sauna and Turkish bath and a restaurant. It also has four padel courts and boasts an academy where kids and adults can learn to play Padel. All their coaches are licensed and highly experienced and they have coaches to suit all levels and types of players. This club has held many prestigious tournaments, including the World Padel Tour, ATP, WTA, Fed Cup and Davis Cup tournaments. You can play there too and enjoy the luxurious facilities.
Royal Tennis Club Marbella
The Royal Tennis Club Marbella offers expert training and the opportunity to play on two premium visitor’s Padel courts with excellent lighting, so even if you want to play at night or after work, you can enjoy a match at the club. You can also enroll in group and private training sessions with experienced coaches for either adults or children to develop your padel skills. There are also tennis courts, a gym, swimming pool, table tennis tables and you can even play billiards – something for everyone!
Nueva Alcantara Club
This is a fantastic padel club very close to Marbella, in San Pedro de Alcantara. It offers 16 courts, a fine dining restaurant, two snack bars, luxury changing rooms, a hair salon and more. They recently held the Andalucia Championship and offer lessons for kids and adults, plus padel tennis camps during school holidays. We’d definitely say the Nueva Alcántara Club is worth a short trip out of Marbella for!
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to pick up your racquet and discover one of Spain’s most popular and accessible sports at one of these top picks to begin your padel journey.
Find people to play padel with in Marbella
On holiday in Marbella and want to play padel, but don’t have anyone to play with? No problem! Most of the padel clubs in Marbella run regular mix-in events. These events are usually open to all and allow anyone to come along and play with others, plus share a few drinks after the matches.
Manolo Santana Club arranges several mix-ins a week, with something for all abilities. There’s a beginners mix-in on Wednesday at 11am, for higher levels there are events in the evenings on Thursdays and Fridays with food afterwards and there’s one for all abilities with a BBQ on Sundays at 12. Manolo Santana Club has Mix-In Paddle Tennis Matches.
We’d recommend that once you’ve settled in to your holiday rental in Marbella, you pop down to your nearest padel club and ask about their mix-in options as soon as you arrive. It’s a great way to meet people and get active during your holiday.
Learn padel in Marbella
As you’ve seen in our list of padel clubs in Marbella, they all offer private lessons and also padel tennis schools for kids and adults which run throughout the year. So if you’re within easy reach of a padel club, you can get lessons during your visit.
There’s also Beyond Padel Academy, based at the Villa Padierna Raquet Club. Experienced and passionate coaches David Cano and Guillermo Vizcay promise to supercharge your padel skills, no matter your level.
There are also private padel teachers that can come to the padel courts in your development, or villa, to give you and the family private lessons, without having to travel.
Padel championships in Marbella and beyond
The International Padel Federation organizes World Padel Championships around the world. There are tournaments in Italy, Hungary and Qatar scheduled this year and you can check out their tournament calendar to find out what’s going on near to you!
If you’re on holiday in Marbella in July, you should head to Malaga for one of the best padel tournaments of the year, the Málaga Premier Padel tournament. Taking place from the 6th to the 14th of July, it will feature some of the best players in the world competing to improve their FIP ranking and for glory! Tickets are €16 for the main matches and just 7.50€ for the qualifiers.
You’ll also find regular tournaments and matches at all of the padel clubs in Marbella, so pop in and ask whether there’s anything happening during your stay.
History of Padel
Padel tennis originated in Mexico and was started by Enrique Corcuera in 1969, when he decided to adapt his personal squash court in Acapulco, creating a new sport called Platform Tennis which involves two players on a smaller court, for a fast-paced, dynamic game.
One of Enrique’s Spanish friends, Alfonso Hohenlohe-Langenburg (the founder of the Marbella Club Hotel) fell in love with the sport and decided to bring it back to his home country, establishing the first two Padel courts in Spain at the Marbella Tennis Club in 1974. He adapted Enrique’s original concept to create a more competitive sport, and over the following 25 years, began to spread this new sport across the country, until over 500 Padel clubs had opened across the Spanish territory in the early 2000s.
The evolution of Padel in Spain… and in the world
Spain has continued to be enamored with the sport, and it is one of the country’s fastest-growing sports activities. By 2005, there were over 1000 Padel Clubs across the country, and the largest Padel Associations decided to establish an international championship that launched the Padel Pro Tour, a championship that lasted until 2012.
The World Padel Series was founded in 2013 to firmly establish padel on the map, and professional worldwide championships replaced the Padel Pro Tour to join elite players around the world, to create an unstoppable momentum. Nowadays, the World Padel Series hosts around 15 to 20 tournaments a year and a Master Series at the end of the season, and the sport is starting to take off in other countries as well.
In 2022, according to padel.fyi there were more than 25 million active padel players in 110 countries and 40,000 padel courts globally. It is continuing to grow in popularity because it’s easy to learn, fun to play and really social.
Join the fun on your next holiday in Marbella
If you’d like to make padel part of your next holiday to Marbella, contact us today. Give us your requirements and your dates and we’ll come up with a shortlist of holiday rental properties in Marbella, which are close to a padel club, or have padel courts within the community. Some of our villas even boast their very own padel tennis courts for you and the family to enjoy! It’s a great thing to incorporate into your holiday plans!
When you book your holiday rental in Marbella, feel free to reach out to us for recommendations of the nearest clubs to where you’re staying. Many developments also have padel courts which are free to use for guests, so let us know if that’s a priority for you, and we can share a shortlist of holiday rentals in Marbella with padel courts for you.
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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.
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