COSTA DEL SOL - COSTA DEL GOLF

With some 50 courses carpeting the 130-kilometre stretch of coast from San Roque in the west, to Rincón de la Victoria in the east, and to Antequera, 25 minutes north of Málaga, it’s no surprise that the Costa del Sol is internationally recognised as one of the premier golfing destinations in the world.

The ‘Costa del Sol – Costa del Golf’ epithet was originally coined in the run-up to the 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama, reflecting the fact that the Coast was about to become the first area outside the UK and the US to host the prestigious biennial team match between Europe and US. But as more courses have sprung up – and still others are on the drawing-board – the catchphrase is even more appropriate today than it was then.

But while Valderrama is generally considered the finest golf course in mainland Europe, several other Costa del Sol courses also enjoy international recognition and respect including Sotogrande – now known as Real (or Royal) Sotogrande, Royal Las Brisas (formerly known as Nueva Andalucía), neighbouring Aloha and Los Naranjos, Estepona’s spectacular Los Flamingos, and the impressive La Cala Golf Resort, also home to the David Leadbetter Academy.

In 1966, Argentina’s Roberto de Vicenzo won the European Tour’s Spanish Open at Sotogrande, one year before becoming British Open champion. Twenty-one years later, Nick Faldo was to follow a similar path, winning the Spanish Open at Las Brisas before also carrying off the coveted Claret Jug just three months later.

In 1973, at the same course, Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller teamed up to win the World Cup for the US, and 14 years later they again coincided in Marbella, but while Nicklaus landed in a helicopter at Las Brisas to watch son Jackie compete in the Spanish Open, Miller was a specially invited player in the tournament, although neither made the cut.

Las Brisas went on to host three other editions of the Spanish Open as well as the 1989 World Cup and 1990 Mediterranean Open (won by Ian Woosnam). And during this same period, Aloha and Las Brisas were the venues for the Benson & Hedges Mixed Team Trophy, no longer on the European Tour fixture list. Featuring pairs from the men’s and women’s tours, the tournament was won in 1989 by Miguel Angel Jiménez, who coincidentally was born in Churriana on the outskirts of Málaga, and who was partnered with Xonia Wünsch-Ruiz, now a leading Spanish coach of women golfers.

Until recently, one of the lower profile courses on the Coast was the Parador, part of the state-owned chain of hotels of the same name. But having hosted two editions of the Turespaña Masters on the European Tour, the 1992 event being won by Fiji’s Vijay Singh, nowadays it is held in higher regard.

Designed by Antonio Garrido, Los Flamingos was the home of the Peugeot Oki Tour in 2001, the European Senior Tour Match Play Championship in 2002, 2003 and 2004, and also the PGAE Fourball Championship during the three same consecutive years. And now boasting three 18-hole courses, the superb La Cala Resort in Mijas is the largest golfing facility on the Costa del Sol.

Valderrama, however, continues to be the jewel in the Costa del Sol’s golfing crown. It first opened its highly exclusive greens and fairways to the wider public in 1988 with the inaugural Volvo Masters, won by Nick Faldo. The European Tour grand finale continued at the course till 1996, before moving to Montecastillo (near Jerez) while Valderrama concentrated on the Ryder Cup.

Renamed in 2002, the Volvo Masters Andalucía returned to what many consider is its rightful home and in 2004, England’s Ian Poulter carried off the cup after a playoff against Spain’s Sergio García.

VIVA TOP TIPS

*The high season for golf on the Costa del Sol is from October to April, and you should reserve your tee times well in advance.

*During the golfing low season and in summer, many special offers are available, often including a free buggy, or reduced twilight rates.

*Some residential frontline golf properties may include a golfing share in the purchase price. Secondhand golf shares are sometimes offered for sale in local weekly newspaper Sur in English.

*At Marbella’s 9-hole Dama de Noche, subject to pre-booking and sufficient numbers of players, you can enjoy a floodlit round after dark!

FURTHER INFORMATION

Federación Andaluza de Golf:
Sierra de Grazalema 33 – 5 – 1st Floor, Málaga
Tel: (+34) 952 225 590
www.fga.org; fga@golf-andalucia.net

Costa del Sol Tourist Board
Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de la Costa del Sol, Calle México, Torremolinos
Tel: (+34) 952 058 694
www.visitcostadelsol.com; info@visitcostadelsol.com