Santa Maria Golf and Country Club is located in Elviria, close to Marbella, with easy to access from the main N340 coastal road. This course, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, started life as a 9 hole course, with the second 9 hole opening in 1996.
It is a hilly course stretching down the valley, with a very unusual feature of taking a tunnel to the new 9 hole course the other side of the motorway. Due to the steep elevations, a buggy is recommended, at least for your first visit. Despite the proximity to the motorway, the countryside is beautiful and the course is in excellent condition, including streams and lakes for challenge and beauty.
It has a real club feel with lots of permanent members, but visitors are welcome and staff are friendly and helpful. On the blog you can read tips from the golf pro Dean Symonds to help you prepare for your round. Comments on TripAdvisor say that it is quite expensive, with green fees for 75€ in low season and 100€ in high season, but it is a very popular course with locals and tourists alike.
As well as the main 18 hole course there is a picturesque putting green, tennis courts and bowls club. There is also a restaurant with large terrace in a beautiful location, which comes highly recommended.
It’s not a big menu, but everything is delicious, with small, tapas style dishes being served up quickly from the efficient kitchen. To start try the provolone cheese, bubbling and hot and the crispy empanadas filled with minced meat. Don’t fill yourself up too much though, the meaty mains are the real reason to visit this place!
