Finca Cortesin is set just a short distance inland from the Mediterranean Sea and is routed through a dramatic valley. Cabell Robinson designed the course, which is one of Europe’s longest layouts measuring almost 7,000 metres from the tips. There is a good variety of tees to choose from though so there’s no need to be daunted.

Robinson’s vision was to create a golf course where “no hole has less than championship quality”. This vision has turned into a reality and has hosted multiple European Tour events as well as the 2023 Solheim Cup.

The Links Course at La Hacienda is one of southern Spain’s most distinctive modern layouts and the the closest to a links-style course on the Costa del Sol. Redesigned in 2021, it runs directly along the Mediterranean, with a bold, open routing shaped by coastal winds and uninterrupted sea views towards Gibraltar and North Africa. Fairways are generous but positioning matters, particularly around large, exposed greens that demand imagination and control.

The course feels markedly different from the region’s inland designs, with its firm turf and natural movement in the land from the opening holes through to a dramatic finish by the water. It is now firmly established among Spain’s leading contemporary golf courses.

La Reserva is another design of the prolific American architect Cabell B. Robinson, the course only opened for play in 2004 but has drawn much acclaim and has hosted events on both the European men’s and women’s tours. La Reserva is long – more than 6,700 metres from the back tees – but fairways are wide so you can afford to open your shoulders on the tees to aim at relatively generous fairways.

Greens are on the large size but it is one thing to be on the putting surface in regulation and another to avoid three putting when a long way from the pin position! Water features at half a dozen holes, but apart from one hole, it does not present itself as a frontal hazard. La Reserva is always in fantastic condition and all the ingredients are here for a good fun round.

Sotogrande is one of Spain’s really classic courses. Opened in 1964, the course was designed by Robert Trent Jones. It was his first European course, and it is a credit to the man and his design that the par 72, 6,224-metre layout is still enthralling players after all these years.

Sotogrande is one of Spain’s premier private members’ club and has an old school charm to it. The course maintains its position as one of the best anywhere in Europe.

The fairways appear wide and the semi-rough is Augusta-like in its appearance, but stray from the short stuff and the wonderful cork, eucalyptus, pine, oak and palm trees – which line almost every fairway – will make life and making par very difficult. The putting surfaces are expertly shaped and contoured and they are all wonderfully maintained, making them fast and true all year round.

Sotogrande has hosted many top European Tour events and really is one of the continent’s most highly regarded courses.

Valderrama is the undisputed number 1 course in Spain and one of the finest anyone in Europe – many believe it may be Trent Jones’ finest work.

The course is often described as Europe’s Augusta and the lush fairways, devilish greens and brilliant white bunker sand all just enhance that impression. The course is famed for the cork trees which mean precision is rewarded – it really is an excellent test of golf.

The conditioning here is always phenomenal – it is a course that really needs to be seen to be believed! Host to the Ryder Cup, the European Tour season ending finale and many more professional events, Valderrama will be a course you remember for a long time.

The Old Course at San Roque lies nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Bermeja Mountains, which eventually peter out into the Mediterranean. Dave Thomas and Tony Jacklin designed the Old course and it opened for play in 1990 at an alleged cost of a million dollars per hole. It remained pretty much unaltered until Seve Ballesteros made changes to the bunkering.

From day one, San Roque was heralded as a great test of golf, even for the best players. Measuring 6,494 metres, this par 72 layout has been used on many occasions for professional tournaments and it’s now the winter home of the European PGA Tour School.