La Hacienda Links

The Links Course heads for the Mediterranean from the opening stretch, its fairways tracing almost 1.2 miles of shoreline before reaching the beach. This is an 18 hole, par 72 round where the wind and natural movement of the ground have a real say in club selection, particularly when the coastal breeze is up. Kurtis Bowman’s remodelling brought broader landing areas and bunkers placed to make golfers think about the best line rather than simply reaching for the driver. One of Spain’s largest double greens adds another unusual feature to a course originally created by Peter Alliss and Clive Clark. Between the ninth and tenth, Calma provides a useful pause, with its terrace looking across the Mediterranean towards Gibraltar and Africa.

There is a second full round on site at the par 72 Heathland Course, where the character changes between raised holes with sea views and tighter inland holes shaped by lakes and narrowing fairways. It has previously staged the Santander Spanish Women’s Professional Championship. Before a round, the practice set up covers a driving range, golf studio, short game area and two putting greens prepared with different grass types. An attended bag drop, GPS buggies, performance trolleys and an on course Buggy Bar keep the day straightforward. The clubhouse sits above the Links Course in Alcaidesa, with a fountain plaza and infinity pool set between the fairways and sea. Its restaurant is open daily from 08:00 to 19:00.

Fairmont La Hacienda Costa del Sol gives the resort a proper stay and play feel, with 213 rooms, 161 suites and 47 private villas looking towards the sea, the golf or Gibraltar. Five dining venues, pools and a seafront spa make for an easy afternoon after 36 holes. Vista Real offers a quieter apartment option, with 44 Andalusian style apartments only 0.4 miles from the beach and alongside the Links Course’s tenth hole. Gibraltar Airport is around 20 minutes away, while Málaga Airport is about 60 minutes by road.