Alternatives to the Malaga/Marbella area for a golf holiday

[timd77]

Hi,

Just starting to think about a golf trip for 2027. We’ve been to Vilamoura, La Cala and Puerto Banus a few times. We’re also off to Belek for an all inclusive next year. So we fancy going somewhere else in 2027.

What other regions in Spain are worth looking into? Malaga seems to be golf paradise, is anywhere else similar, with places to go for food and drink nearby? Is there a golf complex similar to La Cala elsewhere?

And then any suggestions for alternative countries in Europe, somewhere warm, again, not too far from bars/restaurants?

 

[PCWOX]

I went to Mallorca in 2024, and it was brilliant. Some top courses and places to visit. I recommend it.

 

[3 jabber]

Portugal, Bulgaria, N France all good value and easy to get to.

Or thinking outside the box, Myrtle Beach. Group of 4 inc flights, hotel and car from around £600pp for a week then book your golf online each night for the next day from around £60 a round inc buggy based on dates in October which is a great time to go. You've got about 100 courses to choose from within an hour from the centre.
Go onto expedia.co.uk and select 'package' and build your own trip.

 

[Mel Smooth]

Costa Blanca has plenty of quality courses to provide for a good golf trip.

 

[simsini]

Vilnius, Ltihuania. What a place.

https://vilniusgrandresort.com/en/golf/

Capitals

Golf club

capitals.lt

€60 and €65 for courses that would cost £150 at least in the UK, cheap accommodation near a fabulous city, everyone speaks English, beer is around £2 a pint, and flights are peanuts from Stansted or Luton.

 

[timd77]

I went to Mallorca in 2024, and it was brilliant. Some top courses and places to visit. I recommend it.

Hmmm, never really thought of Majorca as a golf destination, love the place so will check it out.

Costa Blanca has plenty of quality courses to provide for a good golf trip.

I’ll check this out too. Not sure why we’ve never ventured further up the coast!

 

[pendodave]

Depending on what you're after...
Any interesting Spanish city and then just play local courses.
I had a mate who lived in Madrid for a few years. We used to go there for a golf trip, but then also do the footy, bars and restaurants.

 

[Mel Smooth]

Depending on what you're after...
Any interesting Spanish city and then just play local courses.
I had a mate who lived in Madrid for a few years. We used to go there for a golf trip, but then also do the footy, bars and restaurants.

This is such a good shout.
Forget the golf complexes - get yourself into a city, be way cheaper to eat and drink, much more to do outside of the golf, and much more choice of accomodation.

Keep thinking I'll arrange something along those lines with my mates, Alicante for a few nights - tons of flight options, and enough decent courses in the vicinity to provide a few rounds of golf.

 

[D-S]

Depending on what you're after...
Any interesting Spanish city and then just play local courses.
I had a mate who lived in Madrid for a few years. We used to go there for a golf trip, but then also do the footy, bars and restaurants.

Seville is a great city and it has 4 excellent courses about a 15 minute cab ride from the centre. Highly recommended.

 

[sunshine]

Depending on what you're after...
Any interesting Spanish city and then just play local courses.
I had a mate who lived in Madrid for a few years. We used to go there for a golf trip, but then also do the footy, bars and restaurants.

We've been to Sevilla, Valencia and Barcelona on golf trips. All fantastic.

Places like La Manga and La Cala don't really appeal to me.

 

[sunshine]

Depending on what you're after...
Any interesting Spanish city and then just play local courses.
I had a mate who lived in Madrid for a few years. We used to go there for a golf trip, but then also do the footy, bars and restaurants.

Madrid is on my hitlist, but I hear the good courses are very private and tricky to get on. What courses did you play?

 

[Marshy77]

Send Sunshine Golf an email giving them a bit of info and see what they suggest. Brilliant company to deal with.

 

[pendodave]

Madrid is on my hitlist, but I hear the good courses are very private and tricky to get on. What courses did you play?

The 3 non private courses we used were :

Encin (a short drive east out of the city)
Centro National (hq of Spanish golf federation) on west side of Madrid.
Olivar (right next to the airport).

The first 2 have hosted tour events over the years. None of them are bucket list, but all of them are decent enough. I've listed them in my personal order of preference, but definitely ymmv.
I'm afraid I cant advise on costs or booking because my mate (now sadly back in blighty) used to sort it all out for us.

 

[KenL]

Portugal, Bulgaria, N France all good value and easy to get to.

Or thinking outside the box, Myrtle Beach. Group of 4 inc flights, hotel and car from around £600pp for a week then book your golf online each night for the next day from around £60 a round inc buggy based on dates in October which is a great time to go. You've got about 100 courses to choose from within an hour from the centre.
Go onto expedia.co.uk and select 'package' and build your own trip.

Flights, car & accommodation for £600? Got a link? Thanks

 

[3 jabber]

Flights, car & accommodation for £600? Got a link? Thanks

expedia.co.uk
select packages at the top
That price was random dates for 4 people sharing a room in October

edit: my mistake, forgot to tick the box to add a car but still starting around £700 with car inc

https://www.expedia.co.uk/Hotel-Search?misId=AgiOitWur56Jn-EBELiQn72apo3elgEgqsfSYQ~ARIIGgIIBCDV3CQaMggBEhYKA0xPThjg2fYCKgoyMDI1LTEwLTA0EhYKA01ZUhjNsskCKgoyMDI1LTEwLTExIgA&packageType=fhc&searchProduct=hotel&adults=4&sort=RECOMMENDED&tripType=ROUND_TRIP&cabinClass=COACH&pickUpTime=1030&dropOffTime=1030&startDate=2025-10-04&endDate=2025-10-11&regionId=601685&destination=Myrtle%20Beach%2C%20South%20Carolina%2C%20United%20States%20of%20America&origin=London%2C%20United%20Kingdom%20%28LON-All%20Airports%29&isInvalidatedDate=false&upsellingNumNightsAdded=&theme=&userIntent=&semdtl=&upsellingDiscountTypeAdded=&categorySearch=&useRewards=false&airlineCode&directFlights=false&infantsInSeats=0&partialStay=false

teetimes

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[sunshine]

edit: my mistake, forgot to tick the box to add a car but still starting around £700 with car inc

I rented a car for a week in Florida last year, was about £100.

When I returned the car they added on all the taxes, fees and surcharges... came to USD900.

That's America

 

[sunshine]

The 3 non private courses we used were :

Encin (a short drive east out of the city)
Centro National (hq of Spanish golf federation) on west side of Madrid.
Olivar (right next to the airport).

The first 2 have hosted tour events over the years. None of them are bucket list, but all of them are decent enough. I've listed them in my personal order of preference, but definitely ymmv.
I'm afraid I cant advise on costs or booking because my mate (now sadly back in blighty) used to sort it all out for us.

Thanks for this. El Encin looks really interesting!

 

[3 jabber]

I rented a car for a week in Florida last year, was about £100.

When I returned the car they added on all the taxes, fees and surcharges... came to USD900.

That's America

Never encountered that in numerous trips to the US. The only add-on I've seen is for covering any excess but I always take out my own policy to cover it which is a fraction of the cost.

 

[hors limite]

Costa Brava. I've previousy posted of my visits. Emporda Golf with two courses, Links and Forest is always a treat. This year they have opened up a superb new practice area. PGA Catalunya, now renamed Camiral, has two excellent courses - Stadium and Tour, again with outstanding practice facilities. There are plenty of other options but these stand out.

 

[timd77]

Costa Brava. I've previousy posted of my visits. Emporda Golf with two courses, Links and Forest is always a treat. This year they have opened up a superb new practice area. PGA Catalunya, now renamed Camiral, has two excellent courses - Stadium and Tour, again with outstanding practice facilities. There are plenty of other options but these stand out.

These look nice. I’m not familiar with this area (been to lloret de mar on holiday as a kid!), where did you stay?