Fuengirola is a hugely popular destination for golfers visiting the Costa del Sol. Sun, sea, sand and perfect fairways abound. In this guide we will share with you our insight and give you a guide to the best golf courses near Fuengirola.
Why Choose Fuengirola
Fuengirola is only a 25 minute car or train journey from Malaga airport, which means that you can be checked in to your hotel or accommodation and have a cold beer in your hands within 45 minutes of the plane landing – easy!
Fuengirola has a bit of everything, Bars, Beach bars, Irish Pubs, Brit Pubs, Beer Kellers, Karaoke Bars, Traditional restaurants, Spanish restaurants, Fine dining, Beautiful terraces. Fuengirola has it all right on your doorstep. This is why Fuengirola is so popular with visiting golfers, especially groups.
There is a wide range of Hotels, 3,4 and 5 star, apartments and villas that will provide first class accommodation to suit all budgets.
And the best bit, there are 135 holes of golf within a few minutes drive or taxi from Fuengirola centre. Life could not be easier!
Golf courses within a few minutes drive of Fuengirola
One of the stressful things about a golf holiday can be driving to and from the golf courses. It is much easier if you can find the golf courses as close as possible to where you are staying. Even easier still if you can arrange a pick up and drop off service so that you do not have to drive at all!
Mijas Golf
Mijas Golf Los Lagos
Opened in 1976 and refurbished: 2012
Designed: Robert Trent Jones Snr.
18 Holes Par 72 White Tees 6536m
Mijas Golf Los Olivos
Opened: 1984
Designed:Robert Trent Jones Snr.
18 Holes Par 70 White Tees 5875m
Facilities
Clubhouse
Changing Rooms
Restaurant
Pro Shop
Buggies
Club Hire
Driving Range
Practice Area
On Course Refreshments
Overview
Mijas Golf is probably the best known golf facility on the Costa del Sol. With two 18 hole golf courses both impeccable in design and condition they offer a wonderful golfing experience.
Since their beginnings in 1976 Mijas Golf has specialised in catering for visiting golfers. Every part of the Mijas Golf experience is well managed and runs smoothly. The whole team takes pride in making sure that you have a great time.
Los Lagos is a beast, designed by Robert Trent Jones Snr this is the oldest of the two courses. At 7100 yards from the back tees it provides a tournament golf experience. Los Lagos is my personal favourite. Please read our playing review here to get a sense of what it is like to play.
Los Olivos is totally different in character. Gone are the rolling fairways. Here the landing areas are narrower and lined with the Olive trees that give the course its name. Shorter with elevated greens this course is an easier prospect for club golfers. The elevated greens require precise shots and will test your short game skills. Our playing guide has some great photos and will give you a feel for the place.
As an all round package it is hard to beat Mijas Golf. I thoroughly recommend it.
Price range – Low season from 50 euros
Santana Golf
Opened: 2003
Designed: Cabell B. Robinson
18 Holes Par 72 White Tees 5986m
Facilites
Clubhouse
Changing Rooms
Restaurant
Pro Shop
Buggies
Club hire
Putting Green
On Course Refreshments
Overview
Santana Golf is a close neighbour to Mijas Golf and is very popular with the golfing public. Noted for its charming design (Cabell Robinson) and its year round condition Santana is a very satisfying golf course.
Long enough to be a challenge for highly skilled players and from the amateur tees it is sufficiently playable to make the visiting golfer feel good!
JW wrote a review here a little while ago. We had a terrific day, the golf course was a delight. You can read our thoughts here.
If you enjoyed Mijas Golf then you will love this course too. It is a gem! Add this course to your itinerary.
Price range – Low season form 45 euros
El Chaparral Golf
The Course
Opened: 1991
Designer: Jose Gancedo Gomez
18 Holes Par 72
White Tees 5649m Yellow Tees 5402m Blue Tees 5049m Red Tees 4594m
12 minutes from Fuengirola. Set in a pine forest less than 1km from the beach.
Facilities
Pro Shop
Buggy Hire
Club Hire
Driving Range
Academy
Short Game Area
Putting Green
Clubhouse
Restaurant
Large Terraces
Overview
The first thing that you will notice when you arrive in the car park is the clubhouse. Fabulous. The terrace is set amongst the treetops and makes an unbeatable place for the pre round coffee and post round beer!
El Chaparral Golf has an unusual layout of six par threes, six par 4’s and six par fives. Most of the holes have been set into the tall pine forests and make for a visually spectacular golf course. As you can imagine a mountain golf course set in a pine forest is a place of serene tranquility . It also has its challenges! A good strategy and a few balls in the bag are required!
The practice facilities are excellent and are also the base for Lee Eldridge, the Titleist Performance Coach attached to El Chaparral Golf.
Price range – Low season from 45 euros
La Cala Golf Resort
La Cala Golf Resort América
Opened: 1992
Designed: Cabell B. Robinson
18 Holes Par 72 White Tees 6009m
La Cala Golf Resort Asia
Opened: 1991
Designed: Cabell B. Robinson
18 Holes Par 72 White Tees 5925m
La Cala Golf Resort Europa
Opened:2005
Designed: Cabell B. Robinson
18 Holes Par 71 White Tees 6014m
Facilities
Hotel and Spa
Clubhouse
Changing Rooms
Restaurant
Pro Shop
Buggies
Club Hire
Driving Range
Practice Area
Overview
The owners of the La Cala Resort the FBD Group presented to Cabell Robinson a blank canvas with which he has created a marvellous golf resort in the midst of the Mijas and La Cala hinterland.
54 Holes of challenging golf await. Many thousands of visiting golfers have already enjoyed this remarkable experience since its inception in 1990.
Asia is the oldest of the three courses and is in my opinion the most technical. It is not a long course but cannot be subdued by brute force from the tee. Each hole is clearly set out and if you read the terrain it tells what strategy to take with your tee shot. The tee shot is one that you have to get right on this course if you are going to prosper. If you can find the fairway then you will have a fair chance of finding the green and building a score.
The America course was the second to open and whilst set in the same set of hills it offers a very different experience. This course is longer and the fairways are easier to find. Here the emphasis is getting your shot into the green to find the correct part of the green. Being longer and more open, America suits my game more than Asia.
My favorite of the three courses is the Europa course. This is 18 holes of attacking golf. On each hole you are presented with a safe option and an aggressive option. If you have a good day and you can hit the shots you want then you could build a big score. To give you an indication on my last visit I recorded 6 pars, 6 birdies and 6 holes that I simply could not finish!
The back nine hole has a run of 5 of the most fearsome holes you will find anywhere!
The La Cala Resort is fantastic. If you are here for a week I urge you to try 1 or even all of them!
Prices range – From 55 euros low season
Cerrado Del Aguila
Opened: 2007
Designed: Francisco Navarro
Facilities
Clubhouse
Restaurant
Changing Rooms
Pro Shop
Buggies
Club Hire
Practice Area
Driving Range
Gymnasium
Paddle Tennis
Overview
This nine hole golf course is tucked into the hillside directly behind Fuengirola very close to both Mijas Golf and El Chaparral.
The golf course has an excellent layout. Two of the par 5s are absolute monsters, close to 600 yards from the back tees! The par threes are both pretty and dangerous and the par 4s offer opportunities to score birdies and equally to destroy scorecards!
This is a family friendly location, with paddle tennis, walking football, a gym,beauty salon, a rather stunning clubhouse there is plenty here for the non golfer to do whilst you enjoy nine holes of high quality golf.
Cerrado del Aguila is a cracking golf course. Ideal for recreational golfers it is sure to bring a smile. This is a link to our playing review which speaks very highly of this outstanding golf course.
Price range – Low season form 25 euros
Where to stay in Fuengirola
Occidental Fuengirola
This is a landmark hotel in Fuengirola identifiable by a series of pyramids on its roofline. The hotel has been recently revamped and is tremendous. In the heart of Fuengirola, just a few minutes walk to the beach and a short ride to the golf courses this offers a great standard of accommodation.
Las Palmeras
Las Palmeras Hotel is a perennial favorite with groups of visiting golfers. Sixty meters from the beach and directly opposite the famous London Pub in downtown Fuengirola Las Palmeras has the perfect location for those seeking a busy nightlife.
The rooms, restaurants and facilities have been updated and offer great value for money.
Check out the latest rates on Booking.com by clicking here.
Apres Golf in Fuengirola
There are, unbelievably, more than 800 restaurants in Fuengirola! Informal Spanish “Ventas”, chiringuitos (beach bars), Asain food of all descriptions. I have selected 3 restaurants that I use regularly and can recommend with confidence.
Casa Roberto
A family restaurant opened in 1968 by the original Roberto, this outstanding bistro is now in the safe hands of his son, Roberto Jr. A great golfer and regular player at Mijas Golf.
Casa Roberto provides, in my opinion, the best night out in Fuengirola. The service is friendly, professional and sincere, the food fabulous. My favourite is the mussels as a starter with grilled entrecote for my main dish.
Once you are seated take a moment to look above you. You will see suspended from the ceiling a Guinness World Record collection of golf clubs!
As a golfer this is a perfect end to a great day of golf!
Restaurante La Caracola
Chiringuito Caracola has the best location in Fuengirola, set right on the beach. For 9 months of the year it is perfect for dining on the outside terraces with the sunset, moon and starlight illuminating the Mediterranean Sea in incomparable fashion.
Restaurante La Caracola unsurprisingly is famed for its seafood, both fish and shellfish. This is what I come here for. The menu is extensive, however I always ask the team for their recommendation.
My favorites are the Langostinos Pil Pil, these are prawns the size of your middle finger flash cooked in hot chilli and garlic oil, outstanding, don’t be shy, use the bread to mop up the liquor! Grilled Sardines Espeto are fabulous and can trigger a feeding frenzy!
Service, facilities, and hospitality are all first class. You will enjoy your time at La Caracola!
Bing Asian Fusion Food
Offering Thai and Chinese food Bing makes a change from the normal routine. I usually come here for the sushi a couple of times a month for a working lunch. The food is light on the palate, full of flavor and served just across the road from the seafront.
This is a bar as well as a restaurant and with its large terrace is a good vantage point to enjoy something cold whilst watching the onset of evening!
Great people, great food, something different. Highly recommended.
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