Book your green fees in Basozabal!
A few days ago we added the Real Nuevo Club de Golf San Sebastián to the courses we market in the north of Spain. This extensive course designed by José María Olazábal, which promises an exciting round, is located on the outskirts of San Sebastián. The course is surrounded by a beautiful natural environment that besides being the perfect background to enjoy golf, gives difficulty to the course. Although you can occasionally book on weekends, we recommend Monday through Friday (before 12:00) when booking your green fees at Basozabal.
Magnificent Marbella – A True Golfing Mecca
Marbella is continental Europe’s premier destination for travelling golfers.
With more golf courses (15) than any other municipality in Spain, the popular international resort has some impressive numbers to attract golfers keen to play at various different clubs during their stay, but it is just as much (if not more) about quality as quantity.
Those 15 include some of the top courses not only in Spain but also at a global level. Several Marbella clubs have hosted numerous European Tour and other international events over the past half-century, attracting some of the greatest stars in the history of the game.
Royal Las Brisas, for example, hosted World Cups in 1989 and 1973 – the latter won by the US team of Jack Nicklaus and Johnnie Miller. Other players who have won major titles at Marbella clubs are Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Lee Westwood, Curtis Strange and Málaga’s own Miguel Ángel Jiménez.
There are three other renowned clubs in the same Nueva Andalucía area as Las Brisas, popularly known as Marbella’s “Golf Valley”: Aloha, Los Naranjos and La Quinta (27 holes).
On the eastern outskirts of Marbella town centre, Río Real is one of Spain’s most venerable clubs, having been founded in 1965 and designed by the late doyen of Spanish golf course architects, Javier Arana. Four other 18-hole courses are located further east in this part of the municipality, Santa Clara, Marbella Golf Country Club (designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones Sr.), Santa María and Cabopino – as well as the nine-hole par-three course Greenlife.
At the western end of Marbella municipality is Royal Guadalmina, with two courses, the South (opened in 1959) and North (1973), while one of the more recently opened courses, Marbella Club Golf Resort, is located just off the iconic Golden Mile.
There is also the nine-hole Magna Marbella course between Nueva Andalucía and San Pedro de Alcántara and another short par-three layout, Banús Executive, previously known as La Dama de Noche when it was inaugurated near Puerto Banús in 1991 as Spain’s first fully-illuminated 24-hour course.
Complementing these courses are modern golf academies and meticulously maintained driving ranges with the latest cutting-edge technology, while many golf clubs also offer players gourmet cuisine that rivals that of the finest restaurants in Marbella.
Speaking of which, four restaurants have attained prestigious Michelin recognition: Skina (in the Old Town) with two stars, and Messina and Nintai (Marbella town centre) and El Lago (at Greenlife in Elviria), both one each.
For travelling golfers who also like to spend time away from the fairways exploring the local attractions, Marbella’s Old Town offers a fascinating historical journey spanning several centuries, the Puerto Banús marina is renowned as one of Europe’s hotspots of glamour, and the municipality extends along 30 kilometres of coastline replete with luxury beach amenities and a wide array of nautical activities.
Getting to Marbella is convenient from just about anywhere in the world, with the Málaga-Costa del Sol international airport one of Europe’s major flight hubs. If renting a car on arrival, the municipality is serviced by a modern transport infrastructure, and it is an excellent base for visiting other parts of Andalucía including Granada, Córdoba and Sevilla.
Finally, Marbella is an exceptional five-star destination when it comes to hotels, with a superb choice of establishments both next to golf courses and in convenient urban areas – most with state-of-the-art spa and wellness amenities for relaxing après-golf and for non-golfing companions.
At Golf in Spain we can provide you with green fees at most of Marbella’s golf courses at preferential rates.
Time to look for your flights to Marbella and plan your next golf break to the Spanish golfing Mecca.
LIV Tour Event to be Held at Valderrama in Summer 2023
There had been intense speculation since this year’s decaffeinated Andalucía Masters, and now the rumours have been confirmed officially. LIV Golf has announced that Royal Valderrama Club will host one of the renegade tour’s 14 events in 2023, from 30 June to 2 July.
The announcement follows reports in recent months that Valderrama had become increasingly irritated with the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) at the diminishing status of the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters, which attracted a second-tier field for the 2022 edition in October.
Now, that annoyance has culminated in Valderrama agreeing to host a LIV Tour event for the next five years.
Announcing that El Camaleón (Mexico) and Sentosa (Singapore) would also be hosting tournaments in 2023, as well as the previously confirmed The Grange in Australia, LIV Golf CEO and commissioner Greg Norman said, “LIV Golf is truly a global league dedicated to expanding the sport throughout the world, and these destinations for the league’s 2023 launch showcase our commitment to tournament play at the highest level. These venues have played host to signature moments in golf, and we’re excited to build new traditions for the sport while delivering a first-class fan experience at some of the world’s best courses.”
Valderrama chief executive Javier Reviriego said, “Royal Valderrama Club has a rich history of hosting extraordinary golf tournaments, and we are excited to initiate this new partnership with LIV Golf. The quality of players that will compete at Valderrama will no doubt attract many European fans that are eager to see some of the best golfers in the world. We will ensure that the golf course is presented in top condition and that it represents a true challenge, where precision and strategy will play a key role. There is no doubt that the five LIV Golf events that we will be hosting in the coming years will further position Andalucía as one of the top golf destinations in the world.”
5 Reasons Why Murcia is a Travelling Golfer’s Paradise
When considering a golfing trip to Murcia you can be sure that your key holiday bullet points are all well covered.
First, the weather will be superb for golf, in an area renowned for having more than 300 days of sunshine a year and justifiably known as the “Warm Coast” (“Costa Cálida”).
Second, you will be able to play at a different club every day, as the region has 22 outstanding courses – both inland and in its popular coastal resorts.
Third, away from the fairways you will have plenty of other leisure activities to keep you – and any non-golfing companions – fully entertained, from nautical activities to hiking in the mountains.
Fourth, the region offers a diverse and extensive selection of accommodation options, from five-star luxury hotels by the beach to rustic boutique hotels surrounded by stunning nature parks.
And finally, closing out our top five reasons for planning a getaway on the Costa Cálida, for golfing foodies and wine-lovers Murcia truly is a gastronomic jewel. The region was Spain’s official “Capital of Gastronomy” in 2020 and 2021, in recognition of its exceptional Mediterranean cuisine and three “Denomination of Origin” wine regions: Bullas, Jumilla and Yecla.
Reigning US Open Champion Matt Fitzpatrick To Defend Title at Valderrama
Winning at Royal Valderrama last year meant Matt Fitzpatrick could tick off another achievement on his career bucket list. He had always wanted to win at the renowned Sotogrande course, and he was delighted when victory last year in the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters gave him his seventh European Tour title.
This year, he made it eight – the most important of all, his first major – in the US Open. Continue reading
Spectacular New Opening Grandstand Hole for 2023 Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesín
Finca Cortesín has officially unveiled a new opening hole at the Casares course as the 365-day countdown to next year’s Solheim Cup begins. Announcing the change to the course – part of a general revamp and upgrade overseen by original designer Cabell B. Robinson – the tournament organisers said, “The ambience on the first hole of the Solheim Cup is unlike any other golf tournament. The atmosphere and the decibels created by the European and American fans with their chants, music and colours mean that at that moment, the spectacle is turned from the golfers to the stands.” Continue reading
Countdown to 2023: Solheim Cup Another Historic First for Costa del Golf
The 2023 Solheim Cup will be the final link of a cycle that began with the designation of the “Costa del Golf” in 1997. The name was coined in the lead up to that year’s historic Ryder Cup at Valderrama, with signs appearing along the coast declaring, “Costa del Sol-Costa del Golf”.
Twenty-five years later, the Costa is home to 70 golf courses, the most of any similar-sized region in Europe, extending for 120 kilometres from the Axarquía area east of Málaga city to Sotogrande – actually in Cádiz province but customarily grouped under the Costa del Sol moniker by local tourism authorities. Continue reading
How to repair pitch marks
Are you one of those who bends down?
We all like to find a “carpet” when we reach the green. An unrepaired pitch mark could take up to four weeks to recover, or just one or two days if repaired right on the spot. As well as being aware of the golfing etiquette of bending down, it is also important to know how to repair a pitch mark correctly.
In this video, recorded at a course with some of the best greens in the world, Royal Valderrama Club, you can see how the professionals repair pitch marks.
And you – do you bend down?
Offer updated at Villaitana
We have updates our hotel with golf offer at Meliá Villaitana until the end of October 2023!!
If you book for the months of May and June you can take advantage of the group offer, 1 free in groups of 8 with only a 3 night stay (in other seasons the groups offer is valid for a minimum of 4 night stay)
Update of rates to fly with golf clubs according to the different airlines
We have updated the chart of rates to be able to travel with golf clubs. There hasn´t been much of a variation in prices since the last update.
In most airlines, if you exceed the maximum weight of 23kg of luggage, you will have to pay a certain amount for the excess.
From the last rate chart that was published in 2019 and up to today, it must be taken into account that in the majority of cases it is cheaper to prebook in advance and it is very important to remember that the payment is usually per trip. Payment at the airport is usually more expensive than doing it beforehand online.
Regarding the golf clubs to transport them, invest in a good travel bag, preferably rigid, since this way they will be more protected. Pack your clubs carefully, if you use a soft tissue travel bag, protect your clubs by wrapping them with cloth, towels or bubble wrap.
If you want to travel lighter of luggage and more comfortable, we can offer you the possibility to rent golf clubs in almost all destinations.
