Cream of Costa del Sol

Alcadeisa Golf Links

Finca Cortesin 6th Hole

Real Club de Golf Las Brisas

San Roque Old 18th Hole

La Reserva

Real Club de Golf Sotogrande Old

Valderrama 6th Hole

The Costa del Sol is the heart and soul of Spain’s very best golf and so much more – beautiful Mediterranean beaches, a laid back, relaxed life-style, a glorious, year round climate, wonderful food and wines, a night life that goes on longer than most of us and a fascinating history and culture, reaching back more than ten centuries.

From the Mediterranean shoreline to the spectacular mountains just a few miles inland, this is Andalucia at its most enchanting, filled with variety and intrigue and always so very delightfully Spanish. Our selection of courses is as varied as the scenery and includes Real Valderrama, consistently ranked as one of continental Europe’s top courses, together with a stunning gem of a layout called La Reserva de Sotogrande. You will also play well established San Roque, Finca Cortesin, past host of 3 World Match Play Championship, two golf royalties, Las Brisas and Real Sotogrande Old and, last but not least, Alcadeisa Links.

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive Spain
Transfer to Costa del Sol for a 7 night stay

Play Alcadeisa Links on arrival afternoon
With the stunning backdrop of the Rock of Gibraltar and North Africa’s Atlas Mountains beyond, Alcaidesa is not only a treat for the eyes, but a unique test for every golfer. The first links type design to be built in Spain, the course has recently been redesigned by Kurtis Bowman. Made up of wide fairways, double greens, large bunkers strategically located and gentle slopes that descend towards the sea, with a large part of its holes bordering the beach. A regular host to the Andalusian and Spanish P.G.A. Championships.

Day 2
Play Finca Cortesin Course
Cabell Robinson is a trans-planted American architect who opened his own design company on the Costa del Sol after being responsible for all of Robert Trent Jones Jr’s European projects for a number of years. Robinson is today probably the most respected golf architect in Spain and France, with more quality designs to his name than any other and Finca Cortesin, ranked among Spain’s top 5, is undoubtedly his very best and an experience not to be missed by any visiting golfer. Selected by the European Tour as the venue for the Volvo World Match Play Championship just a year after the course was inaugurated in 2009, then chosen for the honor again in 2011 and 2012, Finca Cortesin has become a firm favorite with the world’s top tour players as well as discriminating amateurs from around the globe. The 5 star luxury hotel located in site (also ranked as one of Spain’s best) is just another reason among the many, to include Finca Cortesin on your trip.

Day 3
Play Las Brisas Course
A frequent past host to The Spanish Open, Las Brisas is a Robert Trent Jones Jr. masterpiece and one of the Costa del Sol’s great layouts that helped pioneer Spain’s golf development in the 1960’s. The elevated greens are well protected by numerous bunkers and water hazards, often making approach shots tricky. Once on the greens the test continues, with often subtle contouring bringing big benefits to players skilled with the short stick. Las Brisas is never boring and brings a touch of excitement to all skill levels.

Day 4
Play San Roque Old
Two famous members of Britain’s golf fraternity, Tony Jacklin and Dave Thomas, collaborated efforts in 1990 to bring us San Roque’s first layout, a lengthy, testing woodland course with a stadium approach. Immediately acknowledged as an inspired piece of golf architecture, within a year of opening it was hosting the Spanish Open and has never looked back. Very long off the back tees, the challenge is compounded by tight fairways on the front nine. There is no shame in double digit handicappers playing off the front tees, making the challenge much more manageable.

Day 5
Play La Reserva de Sotogrande
This is a big, handsome good-looker and another gem from Cabell Robinson that virtually guarantees an enjoyable round for all levels As always, Robinson has provided multiple tee positions to accommodate everyone from scratch golfer to those who still treat golf as a game. The wide fairways provide every opportunity for the big-hitters to flex their muscles and generous, often multi-tiered greens are filled with their own brand of challenges. La Reserva is a beauty from start to finish, but make sure you have a spare hour or two after golf to relax in the palatial clubhouse and sample this club’s own version of Andalucian hospitality.

Day 6
Play Real Sotogrande Old
Another member of Andalucia’s Royal Family of golf, designed by Robert Trent Jones and one of the most exclusive private clubs on the coast. Visitor times are not easily come by, but well worth the effort to secure and Golf International can help gain access. Sotogrande Old is one of the best layouts on the Costa del Sol but at first glance, a course that seems to be far easier than is the reality, which presents the serious challenge, so appreciated by good players. Wide fairways combine with strategically placed bunkers and water hazards, en route to the generously large greens where the often exaggerated undulations will calmly destroy any score card. For any who may have thought that Sotogrande would be a walk in the park, a new found respect for this great course will be inevitable.

Day 7
Play Real Valderrama
Home to the European Tour’s season closing event, The Volvo Masters, for more than 20 years, legendary Valderrama has gone on to host two World Golf Championships and in 1997, received the ultimate honor of being the very first course located outside of Britain to host the European leg of The Ryder Cup. And the show is far from over. This is the undisputed crown jewel of Spanish golf and for many, the best in Europe – Valderrama enjoys a golfing reputation that is deservedly, second to none. Perhaps the most exclusive private golf club in all of Spain, the members have graciously acknowledged a responsibility to share their golfing treasure with other golfers and accept a very limited number of visitors with 8 times a day starting at 15 minute intervals. Immaculately maintained and packed to the gills with a never ending array of serious challenges, this is as tough a test of golfing skills as can be found and one that delivers a sense of excitement like no other. Don’t miss it!

Day 8
Depart Spain