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Golf Courses - continued

La Canada G.C.

La Canada, near the Sotogrande Estate on the Costa del Sol, was originally built as a nine-hole Golf Course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. A few years ago a second nine holes designed by Dave Thomas was opened and this course is fast becoming a very popular Golf Holiday destination.

La Duquesa G.C.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., La Duquesa is one of the Costa del Sol’s most varied and spectacular golf courses, and thanks to its wide fairways, it offers a reasonable challenge to golfers of all standards. The par-3 8th hole, just 129 metres, has a lofty, perched tee form whose balcony players have panoramic views over the sea and coastline. The second nine is a little more complex but the Mediterranean, Puerto de la Duquesa, Gibraltar and the mountains are always in sight and from the par-4 15th the view stretches as far as Marbella.

La Quinta G.C.

Designed by Antonio Garciá Garrido and former Ryder Cup player and two-time World Cup champion Manuel Pinero, La Quinta offers panoramic vistas over Marbella’s Golf Valley on the Costa del Sol. A successful round on this golf course during your golf holiday requires not only accuracy in order to avoid its trees, water hazards and the large albeit shallow sand traps along the fairways, but also stamina, for it is forgivingly up and down. Deeper bunkers lie in wait for stray approach shots to the greens. The most difficult hole is considered to be the long 15th with its dogleg to the left. Since it first opened La Quinta has added an extra nine holes and replaced several holes on the original course. The third loop of nine, which can be played either separately or together with the other course, leads you back to the clubhouse past the Pinero-managed golf school near the 6th hole. The clubhouse is one of the best equipped on the Costa del Sol. La Quinta is developing a reputation as host of the prestigious charity Pro-Am Protagonistas tournament.

Las Brisas G.C.

Las Brisas is recognised as one of the finest golf courses in Europe. Designed by Robert Trent Jones and opened in 1968, it has hosted the World Cup on two occasions, the Spanish Open three times and the Mediterranean Open. For club golfers and professionals alike it represents one of the ultimate challenges. Playing here is a major event for any golfer. A typical Trent Jones design, Las Brisas features raised greens and numerous strategically placed sand traps. Water comes into play on no fewer than 12 of its holes. The three opening holes require particular concentration but, not being overly difficult, are a deceptive introduction to the rest.

Length: 6,130 metres Par: 72

Lauro G.C.

Inland from Málaga and Mijas at Alhaurin de la Torre, Lauro Golf is a relatively flat parkland-style course. Based on an old country house, which serves as the clubhouse, Lauro has just opened a spectacular third loop of nine holes, which brings variety, height and depth to the complex. Lines of olive trees define many of the fairways. There are several water hazards, including one at the 18th waiting to catch golfers as they come home.

Los Arqueros G.C.

Located five kilometres from San Pedro de Alcantara up the mountainous Ronda road, this was the Costa del Sol’s first golf course to be designed by Seve Ballesteros and its layout is stunning. Although not overly long it offers a stiff test even for professionals. Under its new owners, Taylor Woodrow, the course has undergone further improvements. Watch out for the strategically placed trees.

Length: 6,048 metres

Los Naranjos G.C.

Close to its sister courses Aloha and Las Brisas in Marbella’s Golf Valley on the Costa del Sol, Los Naranjos opened in 1977 and has just undergone a programme of improvements including new greens and a computer-controlled irrigation system. Like many Robert Trent Jones designs, the golf course features long terraced tees and large undulating greens, though the broad sweeping fairways of the front nine are significantly different from the back nine with their extensive orange groves from which the course gets its name. Under the direction of Christer Sorensson, Los Naranjos is run according to the philosophy that golf means more than just hitting a ball, and you will see on your golf holiday that this is amply illustrated in the clubhouse, which bills itself as a total golfing experience and ‘the Costa del Sol’s friendly golf club’.

Length: 6,457 metres Par: 72

Marbella G & C.C.

Adjacent to its new neighbour Santa Clara on the Costa del Sol, Marbella Golf & Country Club is a typical Robert Trent Jones design, with its sweeping fairways, abundant bunkers and large undulating greens. The first few holes require accurate and brave tee shots to get across the ravines and gulleys. Although the next holes are somewhat easier on the nerves, players on their golf holiday should beware the fearsome 11th, a sharp dogleg right with hills and valleys. From the raised tee at the 12th you can get a magnificent view of the sea.

Length: 6,000 metres Par: 72

Marbella Club Golf Resort.

Marbella Club Golf Resort is located in the foothills of the Benahavis mountains. Designed by Dave Thomas, Marbella Club Golf winds between pines, cork oaks, quejigos and other indigenous vegetation offering marvellous views down to the Mediterranean and across to Northern Africa. The layout’s variety means that players will use all the clubs in their golf bags as the golf course demands precision and technique. The 3rd, with a slight dogleg uphill to the right, requires care over the second shot to avoid the large lake in front of the wide, horizontally laid green. The 9 th offers a spectacular finish from high tees. There is plenty of room but two trees in the middle of the fairway will give pause for thought and further down a 150-year old quejigo tree guards the approach to the green some seventy yards out.

Length: 6,247 metres Par: 71

Mijas Los Lagos G.C.

Mijas Golf, probably the most popular golf complex for golf holidays on the Costa del Sol, has two 18-hole golf courses, of which Los Lagos is the older, opened in 1976. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, it features wide fairways, large raised greens and an abundance of bunkers and water hazards. Los Lagos was aptly named for there are eight lakes in and around the course. Nonetheless, there is virtually no rough and relatively few trees, giving an overwhelming impression of freedom and space. At 6,348 metres, Los Lagos is one of the longest golf courses on the Costa del Sol.

Length: 6,348 metres Par: 71

Mijas Los Olivos G.C.

The other course at Mijas Golf on the Costa del Sol, Los Olivos was designed by Robert Trent Jones and is the antithesis of its ‘brother’, Los Lagos. The Los Olivos golf course is younger (1984) and shorter, there’s less water and the fairways are tighter. The terrain is more inclined and features more trees. The greens are smaller and many are in an elevated position.

Length: 5,840 metres Par: 70

Miraflores G.C.

From this golf course set in the hills behind the Miraflores resort on the Costa del Sol you can enjoy terrific views of the countryside down to the sea. It was designed by Folco Nardi and has many interesting and challenging holes; tee shots from both the 5th and 6th must clear the water, from the 8th you get a spectacular view over the out-of-bounds countryside, a lake divides the fairway on the 570 metre 12th, and the water hazard at the 15th forms a protective moat around the green. This is ideal for a golf holiday as there is also a floodlit Golf Academy.

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