Golf Guide to Marbella, Malaga and the Costa del Sol

No matter what your standard, you will find a course to suit you in the area. Most are immaculately manicured, featuring superb greens, trees and water hazards. There are also courses to suit every pocket. Be aware that some green fees in this part of the world are pretty steep so make sure you sort out your tee times before you go.

Check out Nueva Andalucía, which is also known as Golf Valley. The bullring by Centro Plaza marks the entrance to Nueva Andalucia where the villas and apartments are based on traditional Andalusian architecture and design. It features three courses, Los Naranjos, Las Brisas and Aloha, as well as restaurants and entertainment venues.

• Los Arqueros Golf & Country Club
• Los Naranjos
• Marbella Club Golf Resort
• Santa Clara Golf Course, Marbella
• Valle Romano Golf Course
• El Paraiso Golf Club
• Santa Maria Golf & Country Club
• Aloha Golf Club
• Finca Cortesin Golf Club
• Tramores Golf Club
• Flamingos Golf Club
• Golf Torrequebrada
• Mijas Golf

Costa de Sol Resorts

Marbella and Malaga are renowned for the quality of their hotels and restaurants. All the hotels listed here are either located as part of a golf complex or offer packages that come with tee times. You can be sure that the food and facilities at all of them are of the highest quality. They all have swimming pools, and most have children’s clubs, spas, gyms, free Wi-Fi and offer all-inclusive options.

• Eurostars Mijas Golf and Spa
• Alhaurin Golf resort
• Westin La Quinta Golf & Spa Resort
• Sol Marbella Estepona Atalaya Park
• Hotel Guadalmina Spa & Golf Resort
• Los Monteros
• Amare Beach Hotel Marbella
• Parador de Malaga Golf Hotel

A pint of local beer with cost you about £2, while you can expect to pay £5 for a bottle of wine. Some bars and restaurants will give you free tapas if you buy beer or wine. A decent lunch will cost no more than £10 and a three-course meal for two will set you back around £35. A one-way bus trip will cost no more than £1, and local taxis charge around £1 per kilometre.

The Climate

Marbella, Malaga and the Costa del Sol are protected on the northern side by the coastal mountains of the Cordillera Penibética and enjoys a climate with an average annual temperature above 18°C (64°F) with an impressive 2,900 hours of sunshine annually. In the summer the mercury routinely hits 26°C.

  Local Time

The Costa del Sol is one hour ahead of the UK.

  Local Currency

The local currency is the euro and there are plenty of ATMs, banks and bureaux de change.

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Flying time to Marbella, Malaga and the Costa Del Sol from the UK is approximately two hours and 40 minutes from London.

Flight Information

You can get the region from most regional airports in the UK, including Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow. Budget flights are available throughout most of the year, although prices will rise during school holidays. Airlines flying there include Monarch, British Airways, EasyJet and Ryanair.

Marbella, Malaga and the Costa del Sol form part of the most popular Spanish destinations.

Things to do

Located on southern Spain’s Costa del Sol, the Sierra Blanca Mountains form the backdrop to 20 miles of beaches, villas, hotels, and golf courses. West of Marbella town, the Golden Mile of nightclubs and coastal estates leads to Puerto Banss marina, filled with luxury yachts, and surrounded by boutiques and bars.

The old town of Marbella includes the ancient city walls and the two historical suburbs of the city, the Barrio Alto, which extends north, and the Barrio Nuevo, located to the east. One of the highlights of the Barrio Alto is the Ermita del Santo Cristo de la Vera Cruz (Hermitage of the Holy Christ of the True Cross), built in the 15th century and enlarged in the 18th century, which consists of a square tower with a roof covered by glazed ceramic tiles.

Marbella’s old town has narrow cobblestone streets and whitewashed Moorish houses. It centres on the 15th-century Plaza de los Naranjos, where the ruins of the city’s medieval Arab walls stand alongside Renaissance buildings, palm trees and tapas bars. The Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo and the Museo Ralli hold works by Spanish artists such as Dalí, Miró and Picasso. Along the busy waterfront, beaches include La Fontanilla and La Venus, public spaces with facilities for families and water sports, as well as private beach clubs. The Golden Mile begins at the western edge of Marbella city and stretches to Puerto Banús, home to some of Marbella's most luxurious villas and estates.

No trip to Malaga is complete without visiting Alcazaba, an Arabic castle with amazing views over the city and the harbour. The Museum de Malaga splits exhibits into two categories - fine art and archeology. Note that it is closed on Mondays. Families should head for the Sea Life Aquaurium Benalmadena - tickets bought online in advance are just 9.95 euros.

The Cuisine

Regardless of your taste in food or your budget, you will find something to suit you in the Costa del Sol. It is based on the Mediterranean, which means that seafood is a speciality, together with tapas. There is a wide range of restaurants, bars and cafes, many of which are located at the world-famous marina. The most typical dish is fried fish, using anchovies, mackerel, mullet or squid, amongst others. Bakeries sell oil cakes, wine donuts, borrachuelos (aniseed rolls fried with a little wine and dipped into syrup), torrijas (similar to French toast) and churros (fritters). Here are a few of the best.

Where to Eat

Dani Garcia

Sensational food, great service - and prices to match. The restaurant offers a 19-course tasting menu at €168, a short version at €75 and a full a la carte selection. Food is cooked in an open kitchen.

BiBo

BiBo is a busy bistro with four eating areas - a  terrace, Grandma’s table, the Raw and Oyster Bar and the Cocktail bar. There’s a choice of stone-baked pizzas, burgers, stuffed whole chickens and slow-cooked lamb, as well as  sushi, tapas, steak and fried fish dishes. The cocktails are among the best in Marbella

Taberna La Niña Del Pisto

This tapas bar serves a range of simple classic dishes from the province of Cordoba, including salmorejo (a thick, cold soup served with jamon and boiled egg), berenjenas con miel (lightly fried aubergine drizzled with honey), snails in a spicy sauce, local cured cheese and bull’s tail stew.

Bar Estrecho

Founded in 1954, Bar Estrecho is still family run. It serves tapas in an informal dining area and also offers a great selection of croquettes, fresh clams, prawns, octopus and pork dishes. Cheap and cheerful

Beckitt’s

Located on a corner with terrace tables, Beckitt’s offers an early bird menu served before 8pm costing t €25 per head. It specialises in steak, particularly Angus fillets of beef. This is a lively restaurant featuring live music that accommodates large groups

Paella Y Mas

If you want authentic paella, this is the place to try. It also serves fideua, which is similar to paella but made with pasta noodles rather than rice. Another speciality is Iberian pork.

El Pimpi

El Pimpi is one of Malaga’s most famous restaurants, located in an 18th century house, offering its guests traditional Spanish dishes in themed rooms, and on its large outdoor terrace that offers splendid views of the surrounding historical attractions. It features weekly flamenco nights, and has been visited by many artists who have left their autographs on the restaurant’s wine barrels, including the Picasso family and Antonio Banderas.

Vino Mio

Situated next to the Cervantes Theatre in Lagaa, Vino Mío opened in 2003. Winner of Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence in 2013, it is another restaurant that features live flamenco performances every night while serving traditional tapas. The restaurant also displays the creations of various artists and offers a menu that includes pâté Picasso, black tagliatelle with marinated chicken, cod fillet and mango mousse or dark chocolate brownies for dessert.