Mijas Malaga Golf Courses

Costa del Golf  Malaga’s delights and  Mijas’ unique golfing challenges

With over 70 golf courses tempt on  Andalusia’s superb Costa del Golf attracting golfers from around the globe  to these renown fairways. Played by golf’s champions over the decades, the Costa del Golf’s fairways have been graced by important Royal visitors, numerous cinema and sport stars, too.  All enjoy  the Costa’s charms away from the links too. From Malaga to Sotogrande discover seaside links courses, undulating verdant layouts tempt on this spectacular coast,  the Sierra Blanca’s valleys call, discover  the renowned 1997 Ryder Cup host Valderrama, and  2023’s  Solheim Cup host featuring Europe’s valiant victory – Finca Cortesin.

With over 300 sunny days yearly, enticing Spanish cuisine, wine and tapas, plus the friendly Spanish ambiance have catapulted the Costa del Golf to its global pinnacle for fall, winter, spring and summer golfing delights. An exceptional concentration of challenging golf courses and clubs have been  built in less than a century.

Marvelous Malaga and Mijas Must Plays…

 In 1926, the first golf course opened in Malaga – the Royal Club del Campo designed by Tom Simpson – today it is Parador del Golf de Malaga. Getting the limelight in 1926 when famed  designer UK’s Harry Colt, selected the land and then executed the initial design.  Sadly, with the Civil War it was destroyed. Tom Simpson re-designed the course in 1947; today, it’s the Parador Malaga fronting the Mediterranean near Malaga’s airport. 

Highlights

Malaga and Mijas’ top plays are championship layouts maintained to excellent standards providing memorable golf for players of all levels. Reservations are essential or a guest card.

In 2025 an exciting  new DP World Legends Tour event – “Marbella Legends”  –  will be inaugurated at Aloha Golf Club, Marbella, February  14-16, 2025 – a not to miss with  global legends teeing it up and some unique opportunities to play with the Legends in their inaugural event on the Costa del Golf.

 Malaga Golf Courses

Campo del Parador Malaga Golf Course, Malaga

The Costa del Golf’s oldest course – dating from 1926 –  it was inaugurated Royal Club del Campo on Malaga’s seaside attracting all to this enchanting Costa. Today, Campo del Parador Malaga offers a delightful links feel on its seaside layout, with towering pines and palms defining its routing. Parador Malaga is a favorite of globally popular locally-born  Miguel Angel Jimenez, Spain’s superstar pro who also claims its course record. Breezes impact, fairways are fairly generous and the greens test, sadly airplanes distract frequently. Parador Malaga hosted the 2010 and 2011 Open de Andalucia prior to the airport’s arrival.

Stretching 6259 m, the Old Course is a par-72 with strategic bunkering and several water obstacles to avoid with  large undulating greens. A very walkable layout. The first holes allow one to warm up…the eight is a delight- particularly from the tips. The par-3’s test.  The 12^th is a superbly bunkered par-5 – top test for all. With the sea breezes it can play like a par 6!

On a sunny breezy day, Parador Malaga is memorable. Have a sangria at the poolside enjoying the sunset.  A nine- hole pitch and putt course is adjacent to the Old Course. Practice facilities are spacious, Pro-shop, Restaurant, plus club rental and changing facilities complete the offering.

The adjacent four-star Parador welcomes with swimming pool, restaurant, and attractive beach front accommodations near to Malaga’s international airport, train connections plus main motorways. Shh… a nude beach nearby attracts many.

Real Guadalhorce Club de Golf, Malaga

A group of friends and players joined together  to create this private club in Malaga, they were assisted by  Kauko Rastas’ financial contribution plus his efforts with the Finnish community. Growing the Club and its golfing activities just north of Malaga airport, they converted a lovely 18^th Century country house to  Guadalhorce’s Clubhouse. A family atmosphere reigns strong today at this  private members club. Visitors have limited time slots, reservations required.

Honorary Member Miguel Angel Jimenez redesigned Guadalhorce, par-72, 6202 meters. It is considered long, testing with two very different nines   Hosting the  2024 Ladies European Tour Final, the Guadalhorce team did a remarkable work to prepare the course after diluvian rains closed it and many other courses. Sadly, I wasn’t able to play, review it due to this closure. The Club offers a par-3 course, pro-shop and practice facilities, plus dining and a variety of Club activities. Handicaps essential as are reservations.

Golf Torrequebrada, Benalmadena Costa, Malaga

Since 1976 lying between the sea and mountains, this 18-hole masterpiece of “the Picasso of Golf”  designed by José ‘Pepe’ Gancedo has attracted golfers from all corners of the globe.  Funded by German investment in the late 60’s, Torrequebrada’s  lush tropical jungle offers an immense variety of trees, verdant growth with several strategic water hazards  adding to Torrequebrada’s zest and fun. Stretching 5842 meters from the tips, this par-72 is very undulating with rather large American style greens.  The views and nature leave one breathless, as does the walk. Golf Academy is available for lessons, training annually.  Carts for hire –  helpful for one’s first round!

Numerous great Spanish and International players have been honored and competed here. in 1979’s 53^rd Spanish Open and other key events – Bernard Gallacher, Nick Price, Bernhard Langer, Jose-Maria Olzabal, Sergio Garcia, etc. Severiano Ballesteros conquered 1978’s Under-25 Spanish Championship.

Teeing off on the first, an uphill par-5 to the highest point on the course gives one room off the tee. Testing from the start, plus being captivated by the views and the nature, beware of the undulations in the greens, pars can be hard to get. Bogey on the par-4 eight was a relief…the closing stretch from the 16th of par-4’s demands one’s “A game” to finish this superb challenge. Precise tee shots over trees are common to small landing zones, as is extra distance required on many steep uphill shots off tricky lies. Water hazards and bunkers are devilish…Enjoy the challenge – the 19^th hole awaits!

The Club House offers a warm ambiance, all appreciate their “riojas” selection and many tasty tapas…a friendly team offered great wine selections, plus an excellent welcome by all the staff everywhere.  Photo ops and memories galore at Torrequebrada!

Mijas Golf International –  Los Lagos, 18 holes and Los Olivos, 18 holes, Mijas Valley

Mijas Golf International is a magnificient golfing complex attracting many to the Costa del Golf with Los Lagos being the more challenging of the two layouts. An attractive Club House features an excellent restaurant plus bar and patio with stunning panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding verdant Mijas Valley. Food and service were excellent.  Locker rooms, changing facilities, Pro-shop are open for all. Practice facilities offer Trackman solutions providing great practice and development as well as an efficient pre-game warm-up. The Mijas Academy is famed for its learning programs plus a range of fun activities for all levels of players.

Los Lagos Golf Course

In 1976, the first of the two Mijas courses – Los Lagos was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. incorporating his design philosophy of “Difficult Par, Easy Bogey.”  The layout featured little rough, a lot of water hazards plus relatively flat terrain. Los Lagos’ 52 hectares was dotted by many lakes sprinkled adjacent to wide fairways. The nine lakes on the course create water hazards on 11 holes of the slightly undulating layout.  Weeping willows, jacarandas, figs, coconut and some pines adorn the layout as do strategic bunkering defending wide flat greens. Los Lagos – par-72, 6536 meters tests all handicaps,  it is very walkable. Refurbished in 2013, Los Lagos is the competition course for the complex offering a supreme challenge from the first tee. Breezy conditions add zest.

The opening par-5 is a perfect start…the par-3 second with a birdie was a delight!  The downhill third was a relaxing par, while the tough sixth with water lurking behind the green tested. The back-nine with a wind drop was more accessible after battling for bogey on the tough 10^th. One’s A game was demanded with the breezes. Photo ops galore….a memorable afternoon of golf gives a longing to return. Sublime nature, sunset vistas, and testing shots…memorable! 

Los Olivos Golf Course

Undulating Los Olivos was built in 1984 after Los Lagos success and the positive economic situation. Covering 40 hectares Los Olivos is smaller; it was rebuilt in 2000/2001 by RT Jones Sr’s disciple Cabell Robinson. In Fall, 2024 it was closed for play.

Los Olivos stretches 5875 meters, par-70 featuring  smaller more burrowed, sloping greens, protected by bunkering. Olive trees are prevalent; lining fairways beautifully, strategically. Higher handicap players prefer this track as do many ladies.

Santana Golf, Carretera La Cala, Mijas Golf Valley, Mijas

Beautifully located in the Mijas Valley between Mijas and Fuengirola, Santana Golf offers 18-holes of championship golf. An challenging par-72, 6207 meters of undulating terrain tests all. Renown far and wide, Santana delights with its imaginative layout, superb trees, white sand bunkering, water hazards, plus fast devilish uniquely shaped undulating greens designed by Cabell Robinson.

Amazing avocado and orange groves pervade. Part of the course was a former avocado plantation with the Mijas mountains rising behind making it memorable as well as the many indigenous bird species.  Ancient cork oaks on the 5^th hole are superb.  Opened in 2004 it’s fame spread rapidly to being a “must-play” on the Costa del Golf… Walkable, carts for hire. Course upkeep and maintenance are good; strategic white bunkers, greens well rolled. The practice facilities are limited compared with other courses. Santana’s Cluh House is classic, a very traditional Club House with restaurant, bar with a lively, welcoming atmosphere.

Robinson’s design is very playable and challenging when  one plays the correct tees. The first is a short par-4 getting the round started positively.  The fourth, par-5,556 mts long challenges – deep bunkers, water test as does the very sloping green. The eight is the longest hole on the Costa del Sol at 602 mts! Definitely unforgettable – this tough Spanish test. The blind tee shot at the ninth challenges. While the par-5 10th is a delight too with water backing, attention on the impressive par-5’s – 15th and 18th …particularly with all the elevation variances on the back nine’s closing holes. Santana’s par-3’s are relatively short but demanding. A hot putter helps greatly…as does driving accuracy.  Santana seduces most…

Away from the Links…

Globally renown for its golfs, Malaga and Mijas’ spectacular sunny beaches and climate, Andalucian hospitality, exciting cuisine, plus music, dance, and flamenco galore. Malaga’s international airport welcomes millions annually with Mijas and the  Mijas Valley, and Malaga catering to golfing guests. 

Wander along the steep, narrow streets of Mijas Pueblo, one of Andalusia’s mountainside white villages. Bars and restaurants surround Plaza Virgen de la Peña, where traditional Sevillana dances are held during the annual Mijas Fair. Frescoes from the 1600s adorn the Church of the Immaculate Conception, while the 18th-century Ermita del Calvario chapel offers sweeping views of the Costa del Sol ― discoveries galore..

Varied attractions are to be enjoyed in all seasons on the Costa del Golf creating wonderful memories.  Experience these  great courses in Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer…

See you soon in Malaga and the famed Mijas Valley – Hasta luego !