Since the early 1960s this destination has never lost its appeal — if you no longer seek the celebrities and former glamour of the “Costa del Sol / Costa del Oro,” but rather unspoilt Andalusia and its infectious enthusiasm. There, where the blue is something special. Where the greens, browns and amber tones intoxicate. Where the bizarre grey of the “Sierra de las Nieves” seems to reach all the way to the sea, you are caught up in a constant sense of enthusiasm. It is hard to pinpoint exactly what it is that captivates you so much about this corner of the earth. The Costa del Sol has the advantage of being whatever each guest personally wishes it to be. That is the secret of its appeal.

Of course the outstanding climate, the pleasant sea temperatures, the sandy beaches, the impressive residences, the magnificent yachts and what are probably the finest golf courses in southern Europe all contribute to a sense of wellbeing. But so do the unlikely contrasts. For not far from the glitter you find in, say, Puerto Banús, the part of Andalusia that appears untouched — almost from a lost era — begins. Right on the coast, where you find old, traditional villages that bear witness to a history-laden past.
Almost next door to the luxury brand boutiques of Banús lies Estepona. And right there, even directly on the coast, the striking contrast begins. In Estepona’s old town you find few tourists and only small, owner-run shops. You park in the modern multi-storey car park right in the centre for one euro a day, find wonderful, affordable restaurants like “el Palangre” and a fine, small yacht harbour.
If you drive on and have practically already passed Estepona, you will find a further gem right on the beach: the Elba Estepona Gran Hotel & Thalasso Spa. You don’t actually want a “hotel.” You don’t want intrusiveness, you don’t want to feel that the only thing disrupting the hotel’s operation is the guest. In that case, this five-star establishment is exactly right for you. Located 45 minutes by car from Málaga airport, this hotel — built and furnished in the Andalusian style — sits directly by the sea.

Even the arrival, where you are warmly welcomed with a glass of cava and handed your room key, hints at what continues seamlessly throughout the Elba: the Elba Estepona Gran Hotel & Thalasso Spa is an almost family-run hotel that unobtrusively offers all the amenities of a five-star establishment. The rooms too deliver on the promise of that first impression. All have a magnificent view over the Mediterranean. You can watch the sunrise over Estepona’s yacht harbour to the east, and to the west you can see the Rock of Gibraltar and — barely any further — North Africa.
Particularly worth mentioning is the perfect thalasso, spa and wellness area, the pool landscape and the heated seawater pool, which can become an outdoor pool with its retractable roof. There are separate areas for children and adults. It should also be noted that the price-to-value ratio clearly favours the guest, as the hotel prices are very “agreeable” compared with other hotels in the same category. For golfing guests (there are 35 courses in the immediate vicinity!), the hotel offers special rates at many golf courses in the area.

Golf:
We took a closer look at six of the more than 70 golf courses on the Costa del Sol.

Golf Club Marbella
When it opened in 1994, this club was intended to be so exclusive and private that it didn’t even want to be registered with the golf association. You can still sense a great deal of that aura in the “hallowed club halls.” Under the new, friendly, family management, however, green fee players are warmly welcome. Book a buggy if you are not in excellent physical condition. The Marbella Golf Country Club, just 5 minutes from the centre of Marbella, was designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones Senior and represents one of the finest and most challenging golf experiences on the Costa del Sol.

The par 72 course is very long at 5,551 m. It is criss-crossed by deep ravines and demands precise, courageous tee shots. The 12th hole (par 4) offers, from the tee, a beautiful view over the sea — ample compensation for many difficulties. The 13th (par 5) that follows is admittedly another tricky hole. Out of bounds left, trees right, water comes into play on the left after 210 m and the fairway narrows considerably, then a waterfall appears to the right of the green whose outflows must also be negotiated — but this hole positively brims with beauty and romance. Throughout the entire course you will encounter not only water birds; your ball may well end up beside a tortoise or a lizard.

La Quinta Golf
Right on the approach, coming up from Puerto Banús, the architecture of the clubhouse — which now merges into the Westin — is striking. You park in the club’s underground car park, naturally! This club, founded in 1989, is among the more exclusive ones and has everything to round off a day’s golf: a fitness club with sauna, Turkish steam bath, squash and tennis courts and a beautiful restaurant with a very generous terrace.
The 27-hole golf complex offers a total length of between 5,603 m and 5,152 m (par 71 or 70 depending on the combination) and was designed, among others, by the club’s Head Pro, three-time world champion and simultaneous vice-captain of the European Ryder Cup team, Manuel Piñero. The course is hilly and the fairways predominantly narrow, demanding very precise play. One of the most famous holes is probably the 9th, a par 4 on the “Recorrido B Ronda” course. After threading past many palm trees, an idyllic but heavily defended green — surrounded by water and bunkers — must be approached.

Los Arqueros Golf Club
In the mountains of Nueva Andalucía, near San Pedro de Alcántara, there is a golf course that both teaches humility and becomes addictive. Once you have played this beautifully maintained course, it becomes an inner compulsion to play it again and again. Indeed, accepting the incredible challenge of this 5,293 m course becomes a veritable obsession.
And the certainty that many pros have also come to grief here puts the amateur’s mind greatly at ease. A course you will also love for its incredible variety of bird species and views. Do make sure you bring enough balls! It can claim to be one of the first courses designed by Severiano Ballesteros. Linger after your round on the clubhouse terrace with its view of the 1st tee, the Mediterranean and the mountains. Remarkably, the green fee is among the most affordable on the coast. All of this makes Los Arqueros a unique destination for golfers.

El Paraiso Golf Club
The course designed by Gary Player, opened in 1973, is 5,839 m long and is one of the oldest golf courses on the Costa del Sol. It can be described as a southern parkland course. With few exceptions it is relatively flat. Palm trees and pines line the fast greens. Located just 14 km from Marbella in a valley surrounded by hills — whose favourable position is reflected in many new bungalow developments — the course was designed by Gary Player. The fairways, which are quite wide, invite carefree attacking play. At the latest, however, when you find yourself in the rough — which proves a dangerous trap — you become more cautious. The water hazards complete the visual appeal and playing character of this course. A good example is the 13th hole, a par 4, where a “decent tee shot” must first clear the water hazard. That may even be the most difficult challenge on the course.

La Alcaidesa Links lies dreamily almost at the foot of the Rock of Gibraltar. The Golf Resort has two courses: Alcaidesa Links and Alcaidesa Heathland. We played the 5,582 m Links Course, planned by Peter Alliss and playable since 1992 with spectacular views over the sea towards Gibraltar and Africa. The long beach that runs alongside eight holes, parallel to Alcaidesa Links, and the blue of the sea create a magnificent landscape that is unique along the entire Costa del Sol. The fact that many tee shots must be played almost “blind” is easily compensated for by the constantly moving views.

Club de Golf Almenara – Sotogrande
A wonderful course right next to Valderrama and San Roque Club. It is virtually on a par with its famous neighbours. Beautiful, magnificent panoramas, hilly holes and large, fast greens await the “pleasure golfer.” The course, designed by David Thomas, is up to 5,773 m long depending on the combination of the three sets of 9 holes: Los Alcornoques, Los Pinos and Los Lagos. You play in a wonderful setting arranged around two large lakes, accompanied by pine and cork oak trees. You will take away an unforgettable impression from Almenara.

Of course the Grand Hotel Elba also offers the famous excursions to Gibraltar, Seville, Málaga etc., but you should absolutely plan a trip to Ronda!
Ronda: Between San Pedro de Alcántara and Marbella, the country road MA-539 leads into the mountains to Ronda, 50 km away, which bears the epithet “La Magnífica” (The Magnificent). Even the approach — over the grandiose “Puerto del Almocabar” viaduct, once one of the entrance gates surrounding an Arab district of which the baths still survive — to this city built on a rock is worth the journey a hundredfold. There, countless kings and nobles sought the peace of the mountains and the magnificent views. Be sure to see the churches, monasteries and the Barrio de San Francisco district, which is full of interesting small squares. A visit to the oldest bullring in Spain should also be on the itinerary.

Web links:

Grand H-Elba https://www.hoteleselba.com/de

Restaurant El Palangre https://restauranteelpalangre.com/

Video: https://bit.ly/2zEVDp4

Texts and photos: www.presse-dagne.de