As a golfer you will find everything in Spain golf courses, from outstanding practice facilities, right through to championship level golf courses where the Ryder Cup and European Opens have been held. No matter what your handicap, you will love playing these world class courses, and get the opportunity to improve your personal golf game. In addition to this, Spain also boasts some of the world’s best teaching professionals who are attracted here by the quality of the courses and the climate - whatever level you play at, we can all improve our game.

When planning your golf vacation in Spain, you might be surprised to find that you will have the widest variety of golf accommodation to choose from anywhere in Europe. Spain has more hotel rooms per head than almost anywhere else in the world, ranging from budget apartments through to truly luxurious purpose built golf resorts, like the newly-built Gran Hotel Villaitana in Alicante.

In terms of popularity and number of golf courses, the Costa del Sol is the top destination in Spain for golf, but you should not discount other regions, there are some real gems to be found if you know where to look. Murcia for example is home to the famous La Manga Club, where you will regularly find some of the world’s top sportsmen playing one of its three stunning courses.

The real beauty of taking a golf vacation in Spain is that, when you finish your round, you have the rest of Spain to explore - beautiful beaches, tapas bars, vibrant nightlife, Spain has it all. If I were to recommend golf vacations Spain would be extremely high on my list.

Two golf travel sites that are notably different from the rest are Golf Holidays Online.com and Your Golf Travel.com. Both have great information about golf vacations in Spain.

Golf Holidays Online.com

Known as Course Master Golf Holidays, they offer a complete service for golf vacations in Spain, from booking a single tee time, right through to providing a custom design service for your entire golf vacation.

Golf Holidays Online will design a package for any sized group and claim that it is more cost effective than making all the arrangements yourself. One aspect of their service that I particularly like is their guaranteed pre-booked tee times which should take the heartache out of finding your favorite Spain golf courses fully booked during the busy summer months.

As well as Spain, they offer golf vacations in Portugal, Cyprus, Scotland, Ireland and all of the world’s best golf locations and always have local representatives on the ground.

Your Golf Travel.com

Their unique golf concierge service will take all the hassle out of planning and organizing your golf vacation by doing all the searching for you. They will negotiate the best rates available for you, whether you are a small group or looking to book a corporate golf day.

They have access to more than 300 golf resorts and venues in Europe, and their specialized local knowledge will help you squeeze every last drop of enjoyment out of your next golf vacation.

If I were to make one final recommendation about booking golf tee times Spain is enormously popular in the summer months and tee times are difficult to come by. Using a service such as the ones above, will help you get to play the most fashionable golf courses, particularly in July & August.

Hyatt Regency La Manga Club - 5 Star

La Manga Club is without doubt one of Europe’s top golf and sports resorts, which boasts something to do for virtually everyone. There are 3 championship level golf courses at La Manga (home of 5 Spanish Opens), as well as a first class tennis academy with 22 courts.

The resort also includes a diving school, large outdoor pool, squash courts and a fully equipped gymnasium.

If you are less energetic, choose from a wide range of massage therapies or beauty treatments in the day spa - you will love it.

The St. Regis Mardavall Resort Majorca - 5 Star

The St. Regis Mardavall Resort is something special, set against the beautiful Tramuntana Mountains facing the Mediterranean Sea, this place is a real Majorcan gem. The suites are luxurious with custom designed furnishings, and feature spacious balconies overlooking the Mediterranean or the tropical gardens.

As well as golf, other sporting options include tennis, water skiing, diving, windsurfing and sailing.

If you prefer less strenuous activities, the Arabella Spa will provide everything from Chinese medicine specialists through to an indoor pure mineral water swimming pool.

If you really want to dedicate yourself to idyllic relaxation, why not just settle down on one of their private yachts.

La Cala Golf & Resort Spa Mijas - 5 Star

Ideally situated between the 3 Mijas golf courses, this traditional Andalucian style resort is the largest golf resort in Spain. It’s 107 bedrooms boast wonderful views of the South Course which, in my opinion, are best viewed from your private terrace while you’re enjoying breakfast.

If you want to immerse yourself in golf, then this is undoubtedly the place for you. For the non golfers there is floodlit tennis, fully equipped gym and squash.

No golf resort nowadays is complete without a spa, and La Cala is no different. La Caracala Spa offers the chance to relax in beautiful surroundings and choose from the extensive and innovative treatments.

If I were to recommend golf resorts Spain has a number of first class resorts that would be top of my list. If you have any questions regarding any of the resorts I have mentioned please contact me at the Golf Vacations Spain Guide and I will do my best to help.

Of all the places with golf resorts Spain is not cheap; if we take a look at the Costa del Sol (the most popular region in Spain for golf), at the high end you will pay upwards of $400 to play the championship quality course at Valderrama Golf Course. Among green fees Spain is not cheap. For your money though, you get to play one of the top ten courses in Europe and THE top course in Spain - but is it worth it? It’s a lot of money for one round of golf that’s for sure, but it is a magnificent course with immaculate elevated greens and lush tree-lined fairways and don’t forget, they held the Ryder Cup here in 1997.

You don’t need to spend a fortune however to play some good golf on the Costa del Sol, prices start at around $30 to play the Magna Marbella golf course and around $90 at the neighboring Marbella Country Club, a course designed by Robert Trent Jones Snr, the same person who designed the Valderrama course.

My personal favorite, and a course with reasonably price green fees for Spain, is the Lauro course situated inland in the municipality of Alhaurin de la Torre. It is in effect three different golf courses in one with the days 18 holes being chosen from the 27 that are available. Prices start at a reasonable $46 and each of the holes are named after a famous Spanish bullfighter.

You can see that green fees in Spain vary greatly from course to course, but if you shop around there are bargains to be found and some really outstanding games of golf to be played.

Golf Courses in Almeria

Desert Springs - 6,231 meters, Par 72

The Desert Springs Indiana course is built to full USGA standards and is a joy to play. If you have been lucky enough to play the course before, I’m sure you will agree with me. The course has fabulous mountain views and offers a unique game of golf in this part of Spain.

La Envia Golf & Country Club - 6,224 meters, Par 70

Mountains protect this course from prevailing winds which makes for near perfect golfing conditions. The course is a challenging one that will test your accuracy and expertise. La Envia is also well renowned for its hotel and fine cuisine.

Costa del Sol Golf Courses

Valderrama Golf Course - 6,402 meters, Par 72

Valderrama is the number one golf course in Spain. Home to the Ryder Cup in 1997, it has challenged some of the world’s best. No wonder then that you need to book real early to guarantee a round - the course is famous for its exceptional course maintenance standards.

Rio Real Golf Club - 6,057 meters, Par 72

Set in spectacular surroundings, the Rio Real spreads out over a beautiful valley gently sloping towards the Mediterranean. This is certainly not an easy course, with streams, ravines and bunkers to negotiate, but on the whole it is relatively flat.

Alicante Golf Courses

Villaitana Levante Course - 6,626 meters, Par 72

One of two courses at Villaitana, the Levante, or championship, course is typical of Jack Nicklaus designs, with broad sweeping fairways and exquisite greens. Close to the sea, this course is in a spectacular setting with mountains to the west and the Mediterranean to the east. If you feel up to a challenge, try the Par 62 Poniente course - low handicap golfers will need to be on their game to card a decent score.

Golf in Spain is still a relatively young sport, so the majority of facilities are top quality and fairly new, which means that golf vacations in Spain are ideal for experienced golfers or beginners. Spain golf courses are varied in type and are, more often then not, set in the most beautiful surroundings.

If any of you would like more information on golf vacations in Spain, please feel free to let us know. Thanks again for the visit and make sure to check back often to receive up to date information on Spanish golf.