Costa del Sol

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We like the variety that Costa del Sol golf offers - it can be bright and breezy or sophisticated and restrained, and whatever your taste the region has a great deal to offer, both on and off the fairways.

The first choice for golf groups are the high rise resorts of Benalmadena and Fuengirola, which are very close to the airport. However, we like to take the short drive from these packed beaches and crowded streets and explore the mountain retreats where we can find spectacular views and a taste of the real Spain.

Marbella's famous Valle del Golf or Golf Valley climbs up through the neat suburbs of Nueva Andalucia that stretch out from the twin resorts of Marbella and Puerto Banus to the foothills of the Sierra Real and the Sierra Blanca mountains. We found one superb golf course after another along this winding road. Some of the Costa del Sol's finest layouts can be found here, often virtually touching each other. Our favourites include Aloha Golf, Las Brisas and Los Naranjos.

If you really want to see how the other half lives, do as we did and visit San Roque. Take a look at the exclusive development of Sotogrande too and imagine living there amongst broad avenues and stately homes, the Royal Sotogrande golf course, a marina and polo fields. Then come back down to earth and just enjoy the golf. There are other excellent golf courses at La Canada, Alcaidesa and Almenara.

Costa Brava

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We've known the Costa Brava as a great place to holiday for many years, but it's now emerging as one of the best destinations for golf in Spain. We love its unique character - it's at the meeting point of the Pyrenees Mountains and the Mediterranean on Spain's northeast dramatic coastline.

We've spent many a happy hour relaxing on its white sandy beaches and enjoying the seclusion of sheltered coves backed by mountainsides wooded with fragrant pine trees. The mountains are a major feature of the area, and the fertile valleys in between them have fast flowing rivers that have been designed into many of the golf courses. This must be one of the most beautiful areas in which to enjoy golf in Spain.

There's a wonderful mixture of old and new here, with typical Mediterranean villages and towns side by side with modern tourist resorts. There are many historic places of interest - some of our favourites are Girona and its old quarter, Vila Vella, and the medieval villages of Pals and Peratallada. The area is rich in art and culture too - if you have a taste for this sort of thing, we recommend you explore the Dali triangle, which includes the Dali Theatre Museum in Figueras.

The number of golf courses in the area has now grown to 10, and thanks to the climate they're open all year round. We've seen for ourselves that the fairways and greens are always in great condition. What's more, the very reasonable Costa Brava green fees and the ready availability of tee times make this a real rising star in the world of golf.

Accommodation in the area is affordable, and the standard of hospitality is very high. Get in now before the crowds arrive! Book your Costa Brava tee times and check Costa Brava green fees with monarch.co.uk, your one stop source for online golf tee times and green fees anywhere.

Costa Blanca

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The Costa Blanca lies along the South East coast of Spain and literally means the 'White Coast'. Its miles of beaches, pleasant climate and plentiful tourist towns have made it one of Spain's most popular holiday destinations. Towns such as Benidorm are greatly favoured by the tourists and provide many excellent facilities as well great beaches. But there is more to the Costa Blanca then one may think. Yes it is an excellent tourist haven, but it is also one of the most beautiful and culturally rich regions of Spain.

The outstanding natural landscape is strewn with white washed villages full of history and well-kept traditions. So here we have a tailor-made tourist hot spot along with the traditions and beauty of rural Spain. It is this factor that makes the Costa Blanca so desirable as a golfing destination.

Almeria

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The province of Almeria is situated in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, on the shores of the Mediterranean. It covers an area of 8,774km and comprises of a great many geographic contrasts, including long beaches with small coves, desert areas and others with a varied vegetation, and high mountains with extensive plains.

The passing of time has also had a great influence on the landscape. In Almeria it is therefore possible to find modern and bustling tourist centres as well as those natural areas where man has scarcely left his mark. Almeria enjoys a warm and dry Mediterranean climate, with little rain and a large number of hours of sun per year (more than 3,000 hours).

The temperatures throughout the year are mild, reaching no lower than an average of 13ºC in winter, and no more than an average of 25ºC in summer. This mild climate allows the visitor to enjoy all the possibilities available within the province at any time of the year.

Cadiz

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From north to south this is an interesting section of the coastline and can be reached by flying into Gibraltar. Sanlucar de Barrameda with its golden sands overlooking the River Guadalquivir and Donana National Park. Further south, around the small villages of Chipiona and Rota we find fine beaches.

The town El Puerto de Santa Maria is famous for its restaurants serving succulent king prawns washed down with chilled Manzanilla wine. The historic walled city of Cadiz is built on a Peninsular that juts into the bay of Cadiz. South of the golf at Sancti Petri is the ragged coastline dominated by coves and cliffs, often backed by pine forests.

Costa de la Luz

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Like a lot of savvy golfers, we occasionally like to travel to Spain via Portugal these days. It's only a forty-minute drive from Faro airport to the bridge at Ayamonte and when we cross it we're in Spain.

We can hear your incredulity now. Why on earth would anyone ignore the popular Algarve golf resorts when they are so close? Well, for starters you can make your money go a lot further on the Costa de la Luz. There are some top quality hotels at very reasonable rates and in our opinion the golf courses are as good as the Algarve champions. What's more, the Costa de la Luz green fees tend to be about 20% lower.

Besides who said that because you are in Spain you have to ignore the Algarve course? Why not make the best of what Spain has to offer and, because they are so close, take advantage of the Algarve courses as well!

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