Golf is probably the most elitist sport practiced today, with the exception of polo, sailing or skiing. Originating in Scotland, the first matches date back to the 15th century, although it was in 1744 when the first golfers' association was created in Scotland, and a year later in England.
One of the reasons why it is considered a sport for the upper classes is due to how common it is to hear that it is one of the favorite pastimes of people who run companies or hold relevant positions. Similarly, it generates a certain prestige, as it sounds very good to go out to the green with the CEO of such a multinational company and, at some point, be able to refer to exciting business deals and transactions with lots of zeros.
It is worth noting that a study carried out in 2016 by Santander Bank (through its Spendlytics app, dedicated to monitoring spending generated by bank cards) positioned golf as the most expensive sport.
Regardless of whether or not its practice is related to high-income executives, golf is in itself a pleasant exercise that does not require optimal physical condition and is played surrounded by beautiful landscapes dominated by the green of the grass, an artificial lake and a mountain in the background in most cases.
Golf also rewards skill, control of various technical aspects, and the possibility of relaxing during the game, with a more leisurely and relaxed pace of play. And there are courses in virtually all latitudes of the planet.
In this regard, the Costa Blanca stands out as an excellent location for playing golf in Spain. In fact, it is one of the main destinations for practicing this sport, with golfers from all over the world choosing the province of Alicante to enjoy its wide range of courses, which should be added to its gastronomy, climate, and natural and cultural heritage.
List of golf courses in Costa Blanca
Popularity of Golf in the Province of Alicante
According to figures released by the Alicante Provincial Tourism Board on its website, more than half a million visitors annually come to the Costa Blanca looking to play this sport
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In total, there are 20 golf courses spread across multiple towns, which has positioned the Costa Blanca as an international benchmark to emulate the best golfers on the scene.
Surrounded by valleys and mountains, with views of the Mediterranean Sea and excellent communications, one of its greatest differential values is that it can be played at any time, thanks to the magnificent climate enjoyed in Alicante, with more than 300 days of sun per year.
Among other courses, this article highlights the following for their attractive location near the coast and excellent connections to the road and Alicante-Elche Airport.
Golf Courses Near Denia
La Sella Golf
- Official website
- Address: C/ José María Olazábal, s/n - 03749 Jesús Pobre (Alicante)
- Phone: 966 729 055
- Designer: José María Olazábal
- 27 holes
- Properties for sale in La Sella
La Sella Golf Resort is an exclusive golf complex located on the Costa Blanca, just a 10-minute drive from the charming coastal towns of Dénia and Jávea. Surrounded by the impressive Montgó Natural Park and the Mediterranean Sea, this resort offers a unique experience to its visitors. It is located one hour away from the international airports of Alicante and Valencia, making it easily accessible to travelers from all over the world.
The La Sella golf course, designed by the renowned golfer José María Olazábal, consists of 27 holes divided into three 9-hole courses: Llebeig, Gregal, and Mestral. The Llebeig course stands out for its scenic beauty and demanding technical level, which will test players with its varied holes. Gregal, on the other hand, presents a flatter terrain with more water in play and an exciting finish. Mestral, located in an elevated area, offers spectacular views of the sea, the Segaria mountain, and the Montgó Natural Park, and has wider fairways and spacious greens designed to enjoy golf in a natural setting.
The complex also has various practice areas surrounded by native vegetation, including a practice course with 2 approach greens and 2 putting greens, allowing golfers to perfect their skills in a peaceful environment.
The Hoyo 19 Restaurant is located in an emblematic setting next to the La Sella golf course. Specializing in local rice dishes, their menu also includes traditional and contemporary dishes. Its sunny terrace, with views of the 9th green and the 1st tee, is a spectacular place to enjoy a meal or a drink.
The resort also features the luxurious 5-star Denia Marriott La Sella Golf Hotel, which offers a wide variety of high-quality rooms and suites for its guests. In addition, the hotel has a spa that offers a wide range of wellness treatments and services.
Golf Courses Near Jávea
Jávea Golf Club
- Official website
- Address: Ctra. Jávea-Benitachell, Nº 285 km. 4,5 03730 Jávea (Alicante)
- Phone: 965 792 584
- Designer: Francisco Moreno
- 9 or 18 holes
Located about 100 kilometers from the cities of Alicante and Valencia, Jávea Golf Club was opened in 1981. The course is located in a stunning natural environment, surrounded by pine trees, and thanks to its privileged location, protected by Cabo de San Antonio, enjoys a perfect microclimate throughout the year.
Jávea Golf Club has a 9-hole course with a gentle slope, where the fairways and greens are carefully maintained and framed by palm trees, pines, and orange trees. Despite having only 9 holes, the design allows many of the holes to be played from different tees on the second round, making the experience almost like playing on an 18-hole course. The greens of the 3rd/12th and 4th/13th holes are wide enough to accommodate two different flag positions on each hole.
The course presents various challenges, such as hole 6, a par 4 with spectacular views and a green that demands a secure and precise tee shot on a dogleg-shaped fairway. The shortest hole is the 16th, at 120 meters, while the longest is the 5th, at 475 meters.
Despite not being a particularly long course, the Jávea Golf Club offers a considerable challenge due to the presence of numerous bunkers throughout the course, with a total of 27/54. In addition, all the greens have subtle slopes that can be difficult to read, adding an additional element of challenge to the playing experience.
Golf courses near Calpe
Ifach Golf Club
- Official website
- Address: Urbanización San Jaime Calle Micheta 5, 03720 Benissa (Alicante)
- Phone: 966 49 71 14
- Designer: Javier Arana
- 9 or 18 holes
Club de Golf Ifach is one of the pioneers of golf in the Valencian Community (it is the 4th oldest club in the Valencian Community and the 3rd oldest in the province of Alicante) and features the original 1974 design by Javier Arana. The 9-hole course offers a short route, with six par threes and three par fours, and takes approximately an hour and a half for 9 holes and three hours for 18 holes. With predominance of bermuda grass, the course features large greens protected by strategically placed bunkers and several holes surrounded by trees, which together with the sea breeze makes golfing in the summer very enjoyable.
The design and layout of Club de Golf Ifach allows for family and friends to enjoy golf, providing a challenge for low handicaps while also being permissive for high handicap players. Its proximity to Benissa, Teulada-Moraira and Calpe and its urbanizations facilitates local and visiting players to enjoy golf with just a ten-minute drive, allowing visitors on the Costa Blanca to combine golf with their vacations.
Golf Courses near Altea
Altea Golf Club
- Official Website
- Address: Urbanización Sierra Altea s/n, 03599 Altea la Vella (Alicante)
- Phone: 965 848 046
- Designers: Pedro Barber, Gregorio Sanz
- 9 or 18 holes
The Altea Golf Club, formerly known as Don Cayo, was founded in 1974 by Don Luis Campomanes Asumendi in the El Aramo Development project, located at the foot of the Sierra de Altea, between the Bernia Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. This beautiful 9-hole golf course offers 18 tees, allowing players to experience a second round with a completely different course, even changing the par of the hole. Located in the foothills of the Bernia Mountains, near Altea la Vella, and just 15 minutes from Benidorm and Calpe, the Altea Golf Club is the oldest golf course on the Costa Blanca, boasting impressive views of the mountains and the sea, as well as palm and jacaranda trees that adorn its course.
The Altea Golf Club is a par 72 course suitable for players of all levels and can be played on 9 or 18 holes. Although it is one of the few clubs in the area that is owned by its members, it also welcomes visitors subject to availability. The newly opened Jacaranda Restaurant features an expanded terrace, outdoor bar, and unbeatable views. Upstairs, the new Bernia Fitness Center and gym are open to both members and non-members. Additionally, the Golf Academy will soon be upgraded with a golf simulator available to members and new golfers.
Golf courses near Benidorm
Villaitana Golf Club
- Official website
- Address: Avda. Alcalde Eduardo Zaplana, 7 - 03502- Benidorm (Alicante)
- Phone: 966 813 013
- Designer: Nicklaus Design
- 18 holes
Villaitana Golf, located in a privileged tourist location on the Benidorm coast, offers two courses designed by Nicklaus Design and an environment with a special microclimate that combines nature and golf. Both courses have Bermuda grass on tees, fairways, and roughs, while their greens are made up of creeping bentgrass (providence variety) for a high-quality game.
The Club has two courses: Poniente and Levante. The Poniente Golf Course is a par 62 with a length of 3,858 meters, located in a valley surrounded by Mediterranean pine trees and with views of the sea and mountains. Designed with a combination of par 3 and par 4 holes, this shorter course is very demanding for low handicap players, although it offers alternatives for medium and high handicap players.
On the other hand, the Levante Golf Course is a par 72 American-style course with a length of 6,576 meters, wide fairways, and exquisitely shaped greens. This course offers views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Puig Campana, and has 106 bunkers and 3 large lakes that complete and decorate the course.
In addition to these two courses, Villaitana Golf offers a large driving range and short game and putting green practice areas, providing players with a complete and unlimited experience in this wonderful setting.
Puig Campana Golf
- Official website
- Address: C/ Morella, 14 H Club Social Urbanización Alfarella - 03509 Finestrat (Alicante)
- Phone: 965 407 965
- Designer: Sterling & Martin
- 9 holes
Puig Campana Golf is a modern 9-hole golf course designed by Sterling & Martin, located in the area of Finestrat. Although it currently only has 9 holes, it will be complemented in the future with another 9-hole course located in Villajoyosa. The greens, although young, are large and consistent, allowing for several flag positions. The fairways are usually narrow, and the rough is not overly severe. The terrain is natural and the vegetation is mostly native, mainly composed of pine and olive trees, along with some carob trees, offering some of the best views in the Costa Blanca region.
The Puig Campana golf course extends across two different municipalities. The first nine holes, already built and open to the public, are located near Finestrat. The next nine holes, in the planning and pre-construction phase, will be located in the municipality of Villajoyosa. The course has been designed as a tourist golf course, with a simple design, large greens, few bunkers, and a game that takes advantage of the deep streams and natural ravines of the estate.
The course layout offers extraordinary views of the Mediterranean Sea and the imposing Aitana and Puig Campana mountains. The newly built clubhouse provides catering, changing rooms, and entertainment services. Temporary facilities for the caddy master are available for confirming green fees at Puig Campana Golf. There is also a small fleet of buggies and hand carts available for rent.
Golf courses near Alicante
Bonalba Golf Club
- Official website
- Address: Carrer del Vespre, 6 bis - 03110 Mutxamel, Alicante
- Phone: 965 95 59 55
- Designer: Ramón Espinosa
- 9 or 18 holes
The Bonalba Golf Course is located in Mutxamel, Alicante, just 2 km from the San Juan beach. This privileged location allows for year-round golfing. The resort features a spa hotel, townhouses, a restaurant, and a pool. The course, designed by Ramón Espinosa, features a variety of trees, lakes, fountains, numerous bunkers, and wide greens, making it an interesting challenge for both amateur and professional players.
The first half of the course (holes 1 to 9) is more technical in approach shots to the green, while in the second half (holes 12 to 18), the driver will be crucial to place the ball on the fairway. The wide and generous fairways are covered with Bermuda grass, with winter Rye-Grass overseeding, and the greens are PenCross grass, with SeaSide Antegreens that adapt perfectly to the climate of the area.
The Bonalba golf course offers a balanced design, with five large lakes that affect seven holes and a large number of strategically placed bunkers, requiring decisions from the tee. The tranquility and surroundings make a day at Bonalba a dream experience.
Alicante Golf
- Official website
- Address: Av. Locutor Vicente Hipólito 37 - 03540 Alicante
- Phone: 965 152 043
- Designer: Severiano Ballesteros
- 18 holes
Alicante Golf, considered one of the best courses in Spain, is located on the San Juan Beach in Alicante, less than 10 minutes' drive from the city center. Designed by legendary golfer Severiano Ballesteros, this golf course offers wide fairways and fast greens, perfect for both practicing and competing. Ballesteros designed the course by integrating the resources of the land and respecting its natural surroundings, resulting in a unique and attractive layout.
In 2001, Alicante Golf hosted a championship that brought together professionals from the Valencian Community, which produced figures such as Sergio García and José Manuel Lara. The course is a natural ecosystem with lakes distributed throughout the course and a large number of trees and shrubs that allow the development of communities of great environmental value.
Severiano Ballesteros designed Alicante Golf as a par 72, with 18 holes arranged so that no two consecutive holes are played with the same par. During the construction of the course, ruins of a 1st-century Roman villa were found on what would be the 14th hole. Ballesteros decided to preserve them and they are integrated into the layout of the hole, adding a historic touch to the course.
El Plantio Golf Resort
- Official website
- Address: Antigua Carretera Alicante-Elche, km 3 - 03114 Alicante
- Phone: 965 11 50 49
- 18 holes
El Plantío Golf course is located just 5 minutes by car from Alicante airport, close to Elche, Alicante beaches, and places of interest such as Ciudad de La Luz. It features a 350-meter long and over 100-meter wide driving range, perfect for practicing the drive on natural grass. It has 50 bays, additional support services such as Personal Fitting, and a restaurant in the Clubhouse with a wide variety of gastronomic options. Additionally, the El Plantío resort has an apartment complex where you can stay to fully enjoy the experience.
The facilities include two 18-hole areas and over 700 square meters for putting practice, as well as an area for chipping practice. The 9-hole golf course is one of the best practice centers for short golf game in the Costa Blanca, with an extraordinary design, high-quality grass, and challenging terrain.
The diversity of the holes in terms of distance and shape makes the course perfect and fun for all players, both for the most experienced who want to improve their short game and for beginners who have not yet mastered the long game.
Alenda Golf
- Official Website
- Address: Avda. del Mediterráneo, 52 - Monforte del Cid (Alicante)
- Phone: 965 620 521
- Designer: Roland Favlat
- 18 holes, par 72
Alenda Golf, designed and built by Roland Favrat, is a course that respects the original topography and vegetation of the estate, avoiding aggressive land movements during its construction. Inaugurated in October 1999, the course covers 49 hectares, features 18 holes with a par 72 and a 6,257-meter route, as well as an excellent practice area.
The practice area includes a long drive with 25 mats, a bunker, 2 greens, a pitch&putt called Hole 19, and is illuminated to allow for extended practice hours. The Golf School, supervised by the Valencian Community Golf Federation, has quality facilities for practicing short and medium game at all levels.
Alenda Golf residential complex is a haven of tranquility, with low-density housing and services such as San Alberto Magno school, gym, golf school, restaurant, cafeteria, supermarket, and social and leisure center. The Los Altos development offers buildable plots in a privileged location near the Club House, with enviable views and minimum areas of 600m², where you can build the home of your dreams near the golf course.
Golf Courses near Orihuela
Las Colinas Golf & Country Club
- Official Website
- Address: Av. de Las Colinas, 2 - 03189 Orihuela, (Alicante)
- Phone: 965 324 004
- Designer: Cabell B. Robinson
- 18 holes, par 71
Located between the hills of Dehesa de Campoamor, south of Alicante, on the Mediterranean coast, Las Colinas Golf & Country Club is a unique and carefully preserved natural enclave, with exclusive homes integrated into the environment and 200,000 m2 of natural area to enjoy the landscape. This resort offers a healthy Mediterranean lifestyle, exceptional climate, excellent communications, and first-class services, having been recognized as "Spain and Europe's Leading Villa Resort" by the World Travel Awards in recent years.
At the heart of the valley lies its award-winning championship golf course, which has been named "Spain's Best Golf Course" five times at the World Golf Awards and considered one of Golf World magazine's top 100 golf courses in Europe. Las Colinas Golf & Country Club offers exclusive accommodation, a wide range of sports and leisure activities, including Las Colinas Sports & Health Club, a racquet club, three restaurants with varied gastronomic proposals, and a Beach Club, WOW Beach.
The international prestige of the resort is due to the design of its homes, the high quality of its services and facilities, the preservation of the natural environment, and the excellence of its golf course. Designed by American landscape architect Cabell B. Robinson, the 18-hole par 71 course features additional facilities, such as a short game area designed by Miguel Ángel Jiménez, a natural grass practice area, a large putting green, and unlimited balls of the highest quality.
Villamartín Golf - La Finca Resort Golf
- Official website
- Address: C/Dolores, 1 03169 Algorfa (Alicante)
- Phone: 966 454 252
- Designer: Robert Dean Putman
- 18 holes, par 72
Villamartín Golf Course, located in the La Finca resort, has been a reference point since 1972, thanks to the design of renowned architect John Puttman, who also worked at La Manga Club in the late 1960s. This iconic golf course has hosted numerous international players, such as Severiano Ballesteros, José María Olazábal, Ian Woosnan, and Sam Torrance, who have honored the course with their presence.
Villamartín Golf Course offers everything needed to enjoy an unforgettable day of golf, including Caddy Master, luggage storage, buggies, electric and manual trolleys, club rental, Buggy Bar, changing rooms, and a Pro-Shop. The course is known for its lush vegetation of over 50 years of history, beautiful views of the Mediterranean, and generous greens, which in 1997 were the venue for a European circuit test.
Villamartín's greens are world-renowned, highlighting holes like 17, a par 3 that requires crossing a leafy tree-lined rambla to reach a huge and generous two-tiered green. The course has a large community of players from all over Europe who have chosen Villamartín Golf as their place of residence, making golf and this course an integral part of their lifestyle.
The recently restored Villamartín Clubhouse houses a great restaurant with a high terrace that offers magnificent views of hole 18. This space is perfect for relaxing and enjoying a meal or drink after an exciting round of golf.
Real Club de Golf Campoamor
- Official Website
- Address: Av. Conde de Barcelona, 12, 03189 Dehesa de Campoamor (Alicante)
- Phone: 965 321 366
- Designer: Carmelo Gracia Caselles
- 18 holes, par 72
Real Club de Golf Campoamor, designed by Carmelo Gracia Caselles, is set in a unique landscape between two interconnected valleys surrounded by small hills that protect it from the wind, giving it its exceptional microclimate. This 6,277-meter long, par 72 golf course was inaugurated in 1989 and offers a versatile and enjoyable game for all levels of players.
Its wide, manicured fairways, its naturally sculptured greens and the perfect blend of landscape and nature make playing golf at Campoamor a unique experience. The excellent maintenance and conditioning of the course, coupled with great attention to detail and customer service, make Real Club de Golf Campoamor a must-play course for all those who enjoy golf, from beginners to professionals.
It offers all the necessary facilities for practicing golf, such as a driving range, putting greens, chipping areas, golf school, rental services, pro-shop, and a spectacular clubhouse with a restaurant and locker rooms. Moreover, its impressive hotel complex allows visitors to enjoy their stay just steps away from the course.
Association of Golf Courses in the Costa Blanca and Valencia Community
In 1992, the Association of Golf Courses in the Costa Blanca and Valencia Community (ACGCBCV) was created to promote and facilitate all the possibilities offered by this sport. Its greatest achievement was in 2017 when it won the prestigious award for best European golf destination, awarded by the World Golf Tourism Organization, a prize that was presented in Cannes, France.
The ACGCBCV was created in 1992. Initially, it consisted of the first clubs located in the province of Alicante, but gradually new golf courses, hotels, and tourism companies from all over the Valencia Community joined, now counting with 23 golf courses, 46 hotels and accommodation companies, various sponsors and collaborating companies. The ACGCBCV is currently a reference in Spain and Europe, working with the most important international tour operators for golf tourism.
All in all, golf can be considered more than just a sport in the context of the Costa Blanca: the quality of the facilities is a differential element that is combined with an excellent complementary offer of restaurants, leisure, and accommodations, including houses just a few meters away from the course.
In short, golf is a way of life in the Costa Blanca, which in turn contributes to achieving a healthy balance between the mental, physical, and emotional levels of those who practice it.
