Alferini Golf Course

At 7,271 yards, Alferini Golf is built for committed golf rather than a quick resort round. The par 73 course runs through a green Benahavís valley, where changes in height make club selection an ongoing consideration and natural hazards influence the route into greens. There are no housing developments beside the fairways, leaving the focus on Cristóbal Guerrero’s 18-hole design and the ground it occupies. It is the most exacting of Villa Padierna Golf Club’s three courses, with enough length and movement to keep strong players thinking from the first tee onwards. Allow around five hours, as recommended by the club, and a buggy is a sensible part of the day. Alferini’s test was underlined when it hosted the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España on the Ladies European Tour in 2022.

A warm up is worthwhile here. The practice range has 17 open-air bays, alongside a short-game area, and golfers may use unlimited range balls before playing. The club’s drainage is designed to get the courses back into play promptly after rain, useful when fitting several rounds into a Costa del Sol break. Tee times run at 15-minute intervals, while the on-course buggy bar operates daily from 9:30am until 4:30pm with drinks and snacks. Players wanting to work on a particular part of their game can arrange one-to-one coaching with the PGA-qualified professionals at Villa Padierna Golf Academy.

After the round, Hole 55 looks out towards the Mediterranean and remains open from 8:00am until 7:00pm each day, making it an easy place for a late lunch or a drink before heading on. Flamingos and Tramores add another 36 holes within the same club, so there are 54 holes available without changing base. The nearby Villa Padierna Racquet Club adds 15 padel courts, plus a pair each for tennis and croquet, and stands 50 metres from the beach.