---
title: Costa del Golf, a land of champions
description: Several golfers in the global elite were born in Málaga or chose it as their place of residence. Meet them in this post.
image: https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/hubfs/blog-files-en/GOLF_-_Blog_-_Campeones_GRANDE.jpg
---

[DE | ](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/de) [FR | ](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/fr) [EN | ](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en) [ES | ](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/es) Blog:  [> Back to visitcostadelsol.com | ](https://www.visitcostadelsol.com/)

[![fondo_logo.png](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-files/fondo_logo.png?width=567&height=125&name=fondo_logo.png "fondo_logo.png")](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/es)

- [Activities](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/adventure-activities)
- [Culture](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/culture)
- [Holidays](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/holidays)
- [Gastronomy](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/gastronomy)
- [Experiences](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/experiences)
- [Golf](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/golf)
- [Professional](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/professional)

# Costa del Golf, a land of champions

![](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/hubfs/blog-files-en/GOLF_-_Blog_-_Campeones_GRANDE.jpg)

 Tags: [Golf](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/golf)

You must probably know that **Costa del Sol** is a privileged setting to play **golf**. That it offers the finest golf courses in Europe. That there are over [70 coastal and hinterland golf clubs](http://www.visitcostadelsol.com/explore/the-costa-del-golf) in Málaga Province. What you may not be familiar with is the fact that Costa del Golf is also a land of champions. Several golfers in the global elite were born in [**Málaga**](http://www.visitcostadelsol.com/towns-and-villages/malaga-p9831) or chose it as their place of residence. Meet them in this post.

- **Alejandro and Gabriel Cañizares**. **‘Cañizares’** is a family name that is tied to golf in Spain. Alejandro and Gabriel got their passion for golf from their father, the legendary golfer **José María Cañizares**. Born in Madrid, they settled in Málaga to learn how to play golf in the courses available on the Costa del Sol. Actually, Alejandro feels he is a *Malagueño*, having been raised in [Manilva](http://www.visitcostadelsol.com/towns-and-villages/manilva-p9841). Gabriel lives in Málaga too. He has been a pro since 1998.
- **Pablo Martín-Benavides**. Pablo was the first amateur golfer to win a **European Tour** tournament (Portugal, 2007). This ushered him into professional golf. In 2010, he won the **Alfred Dunhill Championship**, and again in 2011, thus totalling three European Tour wins. He was born in [Málaga City](http://www.visitcostadelsol.com/towns-and-villages/malaga-p9831).
- **Azahara Muñoz,** the ‘Queen of Spanish Golf’, was born in **San Pedro de Alcántara**. In 2013, she got the **Lady of Golf Award** for best Spanish pro. She took her first steps in professional golf in 2010, becoming the **LPGA Rookie of the Year**. By then, she had scooped more titles than any other female golfer in Spain, including the **NCAA** championship and the **British Ladies Amateur Championship.**
  
  Today, Muñoz rubs shoulders with the world’s best golf ladies. But she misses **Málaga**. With so many tournaments, so much travelling and residence abroad, she cannot enjoy the **Costa del Sol** as much as she would want to. Her goal now is to get ready for the **Rio 2016 Olympic Games**, where golf will be present again after more than a century.
- **Miguel Ángel Jiménez.** The best Málaga-born golfer of all time. Aka **‘El pisha’**, Jiménez has played golf since he was still very young. At 15, he set foot on a golf course for the first time as a ball boy and **caddie**. He became a pro in 1982, after being close to his idol, **Severiano Ballesteros**. Since then, he has filled his records with lots of victories. Last year, he won in Hong Kong, Spain and his first **Champions Tour** event in USA.

12 May 2016

[![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.visitacostadelsol.com%2Fen%2Fcosta-del-golf-a-land-of-champions%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.visitacostadelsol.com%2Fen%2Fcosta-del-golf-a-land-of-champions%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.visitacostadelsol.com%2Fen%2Fcosta-del-golf-a-land-of-champions%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Costa%20del%20Golf%2C%20a%20land%20of%20champions) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Échale%20un%20vistazo%20a%20%20https%3A%2F%2Fblog.visitacostadelsol.com%2Fen%2Fcosta-del-golf-a-land-of-champions%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Échale%20un%20vistazo%20a%20https%3A%2F%2Fblog.visitacostadelsol.com%2Fen%2Fcosta-del-golf-a-land-of-champions%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail)

## Search in our blog

This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached.

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

## All about the Costa del Sol in your inbox

Submit your email address and receive exclusive information and great offers about the Costa del Sol.

### Categories

- [Leisure (280)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/leisure)
- [Golf (198)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/golf)
- [MICE (190)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/mice)
- [To do (125)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/to-do)
- [Getaway (94)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/getaway)
- [Culture (81)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/culture)
- [Family (69)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/family)
- [Innovation (63)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/innovation)
- [Friends (48)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/friends)
- [Lujo (44)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/lujo)
- [holidays (41)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/holidays)
- [Spanish learning (39)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/spanish-learning)
- [Where to eat (30)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/where-to-eat)
- [Cruises (27)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/cruises)
- [Business (25)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/business)
- [Small Towns (24)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/small-towns)
- [Wellness (24)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/wellness)
- [Health (23)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/health)
- [Nautical (22)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/nautical)
- [Local food (19)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/local-food)
- [Remote Work (19)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/remote-work)
- [Cultural Events (18)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/cultural-events)
- [Golf Courses (18)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/golf-courses)
- [events (18)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/events)
- [Romantic Getaways (17)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/romantic-getaways)
- [Sun & beach (17)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/sun-beach)
- [Acommodation (15)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/acommodation)
- [Hotels & Resorts (14)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/hotels-resorts)
- [Luxury (14)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/luxury)
- [Urban (14)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/urban)
- [Landmarks (13)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/landmarks)
- [Museums (13)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/museums)
- [idiomatic (13)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/idiomatic)
- [Adventure activities (12)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/adventure-activities)
- [Holy Week (12)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/holy-week)
- [Spanish (11)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/spanish)
- [Companies (10)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/companies)
- [On the water (10)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/on-the-water)
- [familia (10)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/familia)
- [Food festivals (8)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/food-festivals)
- [Vineyards (6)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/vineyards)
- [Golf Tournaments (5)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/golf-tournaments)
- [Food and Drink (3)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/food-and-drink)
- [Golf Lessons (3)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/golf-lessons)
- [Christmas (2)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/christmas)
- [Gourmet (2)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/gourmet)
- [valentin day (2)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/valentin-day)
- [Loisirs (1)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/loisirs)
- [gastronomy (1)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/gastronomy)
- [monuments (1)](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/en/topic/monuments)

[![Nuevo llamado a la acción](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/1995901/ccc2d4eb-901e-4521-9e39-7f630127ef37.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/1995901/ccc2d4eb-901e-4521-9e39-7f630127ef37)

## Related posts

- [Español Blog](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/es)
- Inglés
- [Alemán Blog](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/de)
- [Francés Blog](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/fr)
- [Noruego Blog](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/nor)
- [Sueco Blog](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/se)
- [Danés Blog](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/dk)
- [Finlandés Blog](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/fin)
- [Ruso Blog](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/ru)
- [Chino Blog](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/ch)

![costa_del_sol_logo_color](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/hubfs/costa_del_sol_logo_color.png "costa_del_sol_logo_color")

### Follow us on social media

[![](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/hubfs/Blog/logos-01.png)](https://www.facebook.com/visitacostadelsol) [![](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/hubfs/Blog/logos-02.png)](https://www.instagram.com/visitacostadelsol/) [![](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/hubfs/Blog/logos-03.png)](http://www.visitacostadelsol.com/social-media/twitter) [![](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/hubfs/Blog/logos-04.png)](https://www.youtube.com/user/visitacostadelsol) [![](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/hubfs/Blog/logos-05.png)](http://www.visitacostadelsol.com/social-media/pintrest) [![](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/hubfs/Blog/logos-06.png)](https://plus.google.com/+VisitcostadelsolM%C3%A1laga/videos)

![Rectángulo 21](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/hubfs/Rect%C3%A1ngulo%2021.jpg "Rectángulo 21")

© Turismo y Planificación Costa del Sol S.L.U. Todos los Derechos Reservados

![logo-diputacion](https://blog.visitacostadelsol.com/hubfs/logo-diputacion.jpg "logo-diputacion")

X