By Robert Frishe

Malaga and the rest of the Costa Del Sol region of Spain is a tourist hotspot attracting visitors from the world over. There is plenty to do and see in the region and with over 50 golf courses it is fast becoming one of the most popular golf break destinations in the world. Thousands of golfers making the short journey from the UK every year to sample some of the best courses on offer and here is our pick of the bunch.

El Chaparral Golf Club

A real gem of a course just 5km west of Fuengirola and just 10km south west of Malaga airport. Well respected in the region, El Chaparral offers great value for a course of this pedigree. An established course in the region with tight fairways and mature trees. The super fast greens make this course a real treat for high and low handicappers alike. A long walk from green to tee on some holes and undulations means a buggy is recommended. We recommend you grab a course planner and use it well, as misplaced shots or wayward drives will see you playing a provisional ball more often than not. Fail to hit the fairway here and you’ll get through a lot of balls! Luckily, a ‘mobile pro shop’ is always on hand to replenish stocks if it comes to that. At around 80 Euro per round in high season, it’s not the cheapest but one of the best value.

Santana

A forgiving course in this region and well suited to the mid to high handicap golfer. The course itself is immaculately presented and the greens are excellent. The buggy path can make it frustrating as buggies are forbidden from the fairways so walking is the better option as it is not the longest course at just under 7000 yards and green to tee is never a problem. The small club house is a minor criticism as the facilities here are limited, but there is little to complain about once out on the course. At about 60 Euro per round it is well priced in this area.

Valderrama

Dubbed the ‘Augusta of Europe’, Valderrama will find itself on the majority of ‘Top 10 golf courses’ lists whether that be in Malaga, Spain or even the world. Etched into the golfing history books after the 1997 Ryder Cup which saw Seve Ballesteros lead the European team to a nail biting one point victory, Valderrama was a household name. One of only 2 European clubs to be awarded full Audubon status the course is always in tip top condition as not over played. This history and prestige as you can imagine does not come cheap with green fees reaching as high as 320 Euro in the peak season. For the keen golfer however, much like Augusta and St. Andrews, Valderrama is a course that you will remember forever and even at the price will we worth every penny.

Club de Golf Las Brisas

One of the eldest courses in the region, Las Brisas benefits from mature trees and is steeped in history. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Las Brisas is one of many of his masterpieces and one of the first courses in Europe to use bent grass, a decision later rewarded when being chosen to host the 1973 World Cup of Golf. Famed for its perfectly maintained greens and fairways, strategically placed bunkers and a host of water hazards, Las Brisas is a thinking man’s course. A good score is hard to come by here, but if you are patient and plan a route from tee to green the rewards are worthy. Sweeping left and right the back 9 opens up to fill you with confidence. Just 30 KM South West of Malaga airport, Las Brisas will cost you about 165 Euro per round, which compared with other prestige courses in the region offer exceptional value.

Alcaidesa Links Golf Club

Offering probably the best value golf in Malaga, Alcaidesa Links Golf course is also one of very few links course in the region and the only one in Spain to meet links competition standards. The views from the course are some of the best around, although masked by the first few holes they open up and Gibraltar over the Mediterranean is worth the wait. The course is maintained in excellent condition all year round and the greens worthy of any top course. Being coastal and links course, expect the wind to play a role in any round. Expect to pay around 70 Euro for a round, but rest assured it will be money well spent on this iconic course.

With return flights to Malaga available from as little as 60 per person and Malaga Airport car hire available for under 20 per day, golf in Malaga offers excellent value.

About the Author: Robert Frishe is an editor for www.rhinocarhire.com and a keen golfer who enjoys travelling. Where possible his clubs are not far behind and he likes to try new courses. Malaga is a region rich in golf courses all easily accessible when taking advantage of low cost

Malaga airport car hire

.

Source:

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