Ten Top Spanish Holiday Golf Courses

Spain is well known for its stunning golf courses and the country represents great holiday value combined with excellent year-round weather. Golf enthusiasts looking to combine their love of the sport with a perfect holiday destination, could consider these ten top Spanish golf holiday courses.

Three Top Costa del Sol Courses

In the Eastern Costa del Sol, you?ll find the par 72 El Parador ? the district's oldest course, founded in 1925 by the Spanish Royal family. The course combines parkland with links style holes and is renown for its fast greens.

El Parador?s 6,824 yards is easy to walk and the course is suitable for all levels, although some holes are challenging, especially when the wind is up. Designer Tom Simpson created the course which has hosted several international events.

Challenging par 72 Torrequebrada, designed by Pepe Gancedo, is one of the most beautiful courses on the Costa del Sol. Once host to the Spanish Open, its steep terrain, well-positioned water and sand hazards, and eight doglegs mean the 6409 yards course is technically challenging, especially if your tee-off shot is not accurate.

The three sets of 9 holes at the par 72 Almenara course, spectacularly sited around lakes with dramatic views of the Mediterranean, can be played in various combinations. The course is difficult in places, because of the lakes, undulating fairways, tight turns and deep bunkers, and buggies are recommended on the 6,800 yard course. If you stay at the Almenara Golf Hotel you get preferential rates on your green fees.

Scenery and skill on Gran Canaria

Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas, Spain?s oldest golf club, is set beside the crater of an extinct volcano, in the centre of the island. Narrow fairways and small greens mean you?ll need to be accurate on this par 71 course, and bring plenty of balls, since there are some deep ravines.

A Scenic Costa Brava Course

The par 73 Serres de Pals, with its mountain backdrop and local wildlife, is a highly rated, open, 6,780-yard course featuring fairway lakes and groves of pines. The greens are considered difficult. Designed by Ramon Espinosa this course is used by the PGA European Tour for their pre-qualifying tournaments.

A fine Costa de la Luz Course

Located on the 'Marismas' salt flats, beside the Ria Formosa estuary and the Atlantic Sea, the par 72 El Rompido South is a course that is both beautiful and easy to walk. Its wide variety of holes, make it suitable for golfers of all abilities, and you?ll have a chance to use most of your clubs on this 6,850-yard course.

Two Costa Blanca Courses

The home of several Spanish Opens, par 72, 6,653-yard El Saler was voted second best golf course in Europe by Golf World. Twelve holes are set among pine groves, while the other six are laid out, links style, through dunes.

Valencia's most prestigious course, El Bosque, runs through peach and orange groves and is 6941 yards. The par 73 course has five lakes to get around or over and the dog legs can be challenging.

Two Majorca Courses

Golf Park Puntir?, a new par 71 course near Palma, is perfect for the higher handicapper. The Nicklaus designed course runs to 6,714 yards, and while some holes require accurate shotmaking, others are more suited to big hitters.

Par 72 Son Vida, although newly designed, is one of the oldest courses on the island. Its fast greens and tactically located bunkers complement the tree-lined fairways that include Mediterranean flora. Fine views over Palma Bay and Sierra Tramuntana can be had from this 5,829-yard course.

Rod Ritchie writes for many publishers including AA Publishing and Fodors. http://www.billgoff.com and http://www.longshotgolf.co.uk offer great value golfing breaks to many European and worldwide destinations.