Throughout the area known as the Costa del Golf you can see more than 70 golf courses, each one with its own peculiarities, style, difficulties, lakes, bunkers, trees and obstacles that make it different from the rest. Each architect and designer has given their personal touch to each course, but did you know that some of the golf courses on the Costa del Sol were constructed by some of the big names in architecture and sport?
The legend: Severiano Ballesteros
‘Seve" Ballesteros was a golfer with one of the best track records in the history of golf. After carving out an unequalled record of triumphs as a player, he went on to work on events organisation and golf course design. As a designer, he has left his mark on two courses in the province of Málaga: Alhaurín Golf and Los Arqueros.
Alhaurín Golf is one of the few courses in inland Málaga. This course is varied and allows players to use all the clubs in their bag. It also has one of the biggest practice courses in Málaga.
Los Arqueros Golf & Country Club was designed with the aim of maintaining the harmony with its surroundings, adapting to the contours of the land, which creates a truly challenging course.
Robert Trent Jones' footprint
With more than 500 golf courses in his portfolio, the Costa del Golf had to have some designs by Robert Trent Jones. Mijas Golf Club, Marbella Golf & Country Club, La Duquesa (Manilva), Real Club de Golf Las Brisas (Marbella), Real Club Valderrama and Los Naranjos are all creations by the British architect.
The latter is one of the jewels in the crown: Los Naranjos Golf Club is one of his best creations in Europe. Its design is based on large rolling greens, narrow paths and water, which makes it a demanding layout for all handicap levels.
José María Cañizares' varied courses
Baviera Golf and Añoreta Golf are the two courses in Málaga designed by José María Cañizares. Both offer a course that is varied and pleasant to play on. The first of these offers expansive greens, with lots of movements and a wide range of obstacles, for any handicap. Añoreta Golf is a course that is suitable for all types of player.
Other names
Tom Simpson, who created such major courses as Turnberry, Muirfield and Ballybunion, took on the remodelling of the Málaga Campo Parador de Golf. Cabell Robinson put forward the idea for the design of the Santana Golf, Finca Cortesín and La Reserva de Sotogrande courses.
Among the Spanish architects, in particular we can point to Antonio García Garrido, responsible for some of the most emblematic golf courses in Spain, who was instrumental in the construction of Doña Julia Golf (Casares) and Flamingos Golf (Marbella), Juan Ligués Creus (Cabopino Golf Marbella), Juan Carlos Martínez (Casares Costa Golf), Mariano Benítez (Lauro Golf) and Enrique Canales Busquets (Santa Clara Golf Marbella).
