Spain has been popular in testing the mettle of golfers from around the world. The country is no stranger to artfully designed golf courses – from private member clubs overlooking sunny coastlines, to tricky scapes that will challenge your clubs. To that end, here is a list of exciting courses that will drive your next golfing challenge.
Valderrama
Known across the world and having appeared on television many times while hosting championships like the Ryder Cup. Valderrama, originally known as Los Aves, was founded in 1975 by Robert Trent Jones and sits above the beautiful Andalucian village of Sotogrande. The course was subtly redesigned by Trent Jones in the 1980s and by 1999, it was the top-rated golf course in mainland Europe. La Cascada, the fourth hole on the course, is the club’s signature hole. It is a 5 par with a pond to the right of a two-tiered green. Many international teams have tried to complete the challenging La Cascada in record time, with a French team breaking the world record and completing it in four shots in 2016. Be sure to keep an eye out for the 17th hole, Los Gabiones, where there is a stunning water feature. Golfers routinely name Valderrama as one of the best clubs in Europe and it is a must-visit for any keen golfer.
El Saler
In Albufera Nature Park, spanning the shores of the Mediterranean, you will find the internationally celebrated Campo de Golf El Saler. Designed by Javier Arana, the course flows over varied terrain, with some holes encircled by umbrella pines while others dwarfed by impressive sand dunes. There are remarkable sea views from many of the holes, which look out over the brilliant blue of the Gulf of Valencia. El Saler, however, is not for the faint hearted. It is a long and challenging course and the greens of El Saler are unlike any others in the world. The course is 6,042 metres long, spread over 18 holes, with a par of 72 strokes. With a golf school, 3 putting greens, 2 approaching greens and driving range, the club is fair game for both pro and amateur golfers.
Real Club de Golf Las Brisas
Although there are many golf courses in Spain's Costa del Sol, Las Brisas holds its own as one of the best and oldest courses in the Malaga region. Much like El Saler, it was first opened in 1968 and is the work of Robert Trent Jones, the mastermind behind Valderrama. This innovative course was one of the first in Europe to use bent grass and while this was a bold and contentious choice at the time, it earned the club the honour of hosting the World Cup of Golf in 1973. Las Brisas is a fundamentally well-designed course, with a good number of water hazards and raised green sites. Of note are holes eight and twelve. Both feature a water hazard running almost the entire length of the hole, making it a real challenge to get to the green. The creativity and imagination behind the design also reflect, as the grounds host rare tree species from Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia.
Camiral Stadium
Camiral Stadium is located in one of the most spectacular parts of Spain, tucked away beneath the Pyrenees on the eastern coastline in Catalonia. This picturesque part of the country is known for its outstanding golf courses, and Camiral has consistently ranked in the top 100 courses in Europe since its opening in 1998. The stadium was commissioned by the European Tour in the hopes of building their own Players Championship course. The ambition was to rival the PGA Tour's Sawgrass course, and within months of opening, the Camiral hosted the 1999 Gene Sarazen World Open and the Spanish Open in 2000. The course is only 45 minutes north of Barcelona, just outside the idyllic town of Caldes Malavella under the Girona mountains. Designers Angel Gallardo and Neil Coles have painstakingly created an engaging and exciting course that is well worth a visit.
Finca Cortesin Golf Club
Designed by Cabell Robinson, Finca Cortesin is one of the longest layouts in Europe, measuring 7000 metres from the tips. Robinson wanted to create a course where 'no hole has less than championship quality.’ It winds through a beautiful valley overlooked by the Estepona Mountains. Complete with 20 varieties of flora, perfectly manicured and environmentally friendly Bermuda grass and your typical Mediterranean forest, the club has been host to high-profile events like the The Solheim Club 2023, and the Volvo World Match Play Championship on three occasions. The club is also home to practice facilities that take their methods from the Jack Nicklaus Academy, where revolutionary methods around swing are taught.
Real Club de Golf Sotogrande
Sotogrande is another of Robert Trent Jones' masterpieces. Opened in 1964, the club was his first European course and has kept golfers coming back over and over in the sixty-some years it has been open. The club has been used for European Tour Qualifying Finals and now has royal status, granted by King Juan Carlos I, which is reflected in its current name, which bears the royal honorific, ‘Real.’ Built a mere 150 metres from the Mediterranean, the course has a par of 72 and measures 6,492 metres. It truly pushes the player out of comfort zone with 69 out of 100 bunkers placed around the greens – warranting higher accuracy.
Real Puerta de Hierro
As one of the oldest golf clubs in Spain, Real Puerta de Hierro holds special status in the golfing world. First established in 1895, this club is one of the most exclusive in Spain. The only non-members allowed access are professionals. The club has hosted the Madrid Open 19 times and has been masterfully designed over the years to get the best out of its members and competing players. The club features two 18-hole courses, with the North Hole 1 warranting special notice as it offers a full view of the facilities, from the Clubhouse to the surrounding area.
Real Club Sevilla
Opened in 1991, this club is known for strategically testing golfers. Located near the city of Seville, Real Club Sevilla was host to the World Golf Championships in 2004 and is a challenging course although it initially appears to be gentle and flat. While golfing here is no walk in the park, the walk around the course is easy and scenic and the city of Seville offers plenty to explore after you will have finished your game.
Real Sociedad Hipica Espanola
With roots tracing all the way back to 1901, this is one of the founding members of the Spanish Golf Federation. It began as a multi-sport club, and still offers horse riding, swimming and racquet sports, but its true focus is golf. It boasts two courses designed by Robert von Hagge, laid out over undulating and occasionally hilly ground with creeks and ponds scattered throughout. RSHE is known as a 'thought-provoking' course and is well worth a visit in a country with many outstanding golf courses.
