The 13 Best Spain Golf Courses You Can Play: Mountaintop Views & World Class Spanish Hospitality

Spain is home to many famed golfers, from the legendary Seve Ballesteros and his close friend Jose Maria Olazabal to modern greats Sergio Garcia and Jon Rahm. These Iberian legends were born and raised on some of the world’s best golf courses. 

A golf vacation to Spain focussed around Andalucia, the southeast coastline of the Mediterranean Sea, offers some of the finest golf courses of any region in the world. 

Here are our favorite courses in Spain that you can tee off on:

1. Real Valderrama, Andalucia

The most famous course in the Andalucia region, Valderrama is notorious as one of the most challenging golf courses in the world. The reputation of Valderrama dates back to 1997, home of the first Ryder Cup held in continental Europe, where USA and Europe battled in the Spanish sun, with the European team led by Severiano Ballesteros coming out victorious.

A world top 100 course and a must-play when in southern Spain. Valderrama’s challenge is defined by the long, tight fairways, strategic bunkering, and undulating greens. The course is always kept in pristine condition allowing for an exceptional experience year-round.

Opened: 1985
Par: 71
Length: 6392 meters
Designers include: Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Kyle Phillips,  Severiano Ballesteros, Roger Rulewich, David John Krause, Craig Cooke 
Difficulty: Slope 147 / Rating 76.1

2. Finca Cortesin, Andalucia

The beautiful accommodations, clubhouse, and facilities at Finca Cortesin do justice to the phenomenal golf course. Undulating and testing, offering dramatic views through the valleys and out over the Mediterranean Sea, Finca is an unmissable addition to a Spanish golf tour itinerary.

Finca Cortesin first opened in 2006, however, it rose to international fame in 2023 when it hosted the Solheim Cup. The tense event saw a tie, resulting in Team Europe retaining the trophy. 

Opened: 2006
Par: 72
Length: 6802 meters
Designers include: Cabell B. Robinson
Difficulty: Slope 123 / Rating 75.3

3. La Reserva de Sotogrande Golf Club, Andalucia

La Reserva sits on the Sotogrande estate, neighboring the famed Valderrama Golf Course. Designed by Cabell B. Robinson, the vast landscape was maximized, with sweeping fairways, long distances between holes, and the tips reaching 7,500 yards.

While Valderrama is known as one of the toughest challenges in golf, La Reserva offers more playable conditions. The course offers a real connection with nature, with only the stark white bunkers and dramatic, elegant clubhouse breaking the natural flow of green.

Opened: 2003
Par: 72
Length: 6721 meters
Designers include: Cabell B. Robinson
Difficulty: Slope 145 / Rating 75.7

4. Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, Andalucia

A second ‘Real’ (Royal) course to make our list, Sotogrande dates back to 1964, founding the region that has now become the epicenter of Spanish golf. Lying in the lowlands alongside the coastline, the courses offer ocean views and plenty of water hazards to challenge golfers. 

Real Club de Golf Sotogrande is a private course, however, it opens its doors to a limited number of fortunate guests each year. 

Opened: 1964
Par: 72
Length: 6492 meters
Designers include: Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Roger Rulewich, David M. Fleury 
Difficulty: Slope 142 / Rating 75.3

5. San Roque Old Course, Andalucia

The newly refurbished San Roque Old Course elevated the status of the already popular layout, into one of southern Europe’s finest. Neighboring Real Valderrama, the course offers familiar characteristics, with natural shrubland waiting to penalize any errant tee shots, tree-lined fairways creating accuracy off the tee, and well-guarded greens.

While there are many options for a great round of golf in the Sotogrande region, San Roque is worthy of inclusion on any itinerary.

Opened: 1990
Par: 72
Length: 6311 meters
Designers include: Dave Thomas, Severiano Ballesteros  Jacklin Design Group.
Difficulty: Slope 133 / Rating 74.1

6. Links Course – La Hacienda Golf Links Resort , Andalucia

Named the links due to its proximity to the Ocean, La Hacienda’s headline course offers one of the most spectacular golfing experiences on mainland Europe. While not a true links, many holes do play along the coastline, providing spectacular views over the Mediterranean sea and the distant rock of Gibraltar.

The natural scrub landscape provides a unique test for golfers when they stray offline, not dissimilar to the challenges faced on the heathland courses of the UK.

Opened: 1992
Par: 72
Length: 5841 meters
Designers include: Peter Alliss, Clive Clark
Difficulty: Slope 132 / Rating 70.8

7. Heathland Course – La Hacienda Golf Links Resort, Andalucia

The Heathland Course takes its name from the natural landscape and foliage that surround the layout. Playing inland from the Links course, the Heathland runs through the valleys and hilltops of the Andalucian hinterland, providing natural elevation changes, complimented by some spectacular views.

Given the landscape, the course is naturally spread out, while this does create long drives between holes, you will experience a sense of escapism and a connection to nature during your round.

Opened: 2007
Par: 72
Length: 6415 meters
Designers include: Dave Thomas
Difficulty: Slope 134 / Rating 74.0

8. Camiral Golf & Wellness – Stadium Course, Catalunya

The first course on our list to sit outside of Andalucia, Camiral formerly known as PGA Catalunya, is located one hour north of Barcelona. The Stadium Course is set in the pine-covered hills of Catalunya, with beautiful views and a sense of escapism from the nearby metropolis.

Formerly the host of multiple Spanish Opens and DP World tour events, the Stadium Course is perennially ranking among the best in Spain, and providing a testing challenge to golfers of all skill levels.

Opened: 1999
Par: 72
Length: 6530 meters
Designers include: Neil Coles, European Golf Design, David Williams
Difficulty: Slope 155 / Rating 76.0

9. Marbella Golf Country Club, Andalucia

A Robert Trent Jones Sr. layout in the heart of the glistening town of Marbella. Founded in the 80’s, Marbella Golf has become an established, easy-access course for wealthy vacationers. Elevated above the town, many of the holes offer views over the quaint streets, famed harbor, and glistening sea beyond.

An enjoyable test for any level of golfer, Marbella Golf is ideally suited for those who choose to stay in the town, with only a short drive to the cobbled streets of the town center, rather than the longer transfers to Sotogrande.

Opened: 1990
Par: 72
Length: 5867 meters 
Designers include: Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Bill Boswell
Difficulty: Slope 136 / Rating 72.1

10. Los Naranjos Golf Club, Andalucia

Located south of Marbella, near the beautiful marina of Puerto Bauns, Los Naranjos is another Robert Trent Jones Sr. design established in the late 1970s. Tree-lined fairways offering respite from the strong Spanish sun are a signature of an RTJ classic. Fairways gently undulate, with extensive water hazards and firm, fast greens offering the core a challenge. The par 5, 18th provides a dramatic finish, the sharp dogleg allows for a scoring opportunity for those willing to take a brave line, while a lay-up is the best option for shorter hitters.

Opened: 1977
Par: 72
Length: 6564 meters
Designers include: Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Les Furber Design, Craig Cooke
Difficulty: Slope 133 / Rating 79.4

11. El Saler Golf Course, Valencia

Located south of Valencia, El Saler offers a high-quality golf experience outside of the regular Andalucia tour.  Located in the El Saler Natural Park, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the layout offers a flavor of links, forest, and parkland courses.

Easy access to Valencia provides an alternative cultural experience, the home of Paella (made with Rabbit and Chicken) offers one of Spain’s greatest markets, extensive modern architecture, and a beautiful shoreline.

Opened: 1968
Par: 72
Length: 6357 meters
Designers include: Javier Arana
Difficulty: Slope 136 / Rating 74.2

12. Camiral Golf & Wellness – Tour Course, Catalunya

Camiral’s second course, the Tour Course, is shorter and more forgiving, allowing for a lower scoring and a more enjoyable round for all skill levels. However, what the Tour Course may give up in difficulty, it doesn’t lose in beauty.

A feature of the Tour Course is the extensive water hazards, while they may not always be in play, they are ready to punish errant shots.

Opened: 2005
Par: 72
Length: 5863 meters
Designers include: Neil Coles, David Williams 
Difficulty: Slope 141 / Rating 72.5

13. El Paraiso Golf Club, Andalucia

A Gary Player design located in Marbella’s southern suburbs, the course offers stunning views of ‘La Concha’ mountain, and the Mediterranean Sea. A parkland layout, the course may not match up to some of the more prestigious layouts in the Sotogrande region, but proves a very enjoyable and playable round for those located in the Marbella region.

Opened: 1973
Par: 71
Length: 6129 meters
Designers include: Gary Player
Difficulty: Slope 129 / Rating 71.4

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