Hotel Bonalba Alicante

Golf sits at the centre of a stay at Hotel Bonalba Alicante, a four star plus resort in Mutxamel, 23 minutes by car from Alicante Airport. Bonalba Golf is the on site 18 hole course, where Ramón Espinosa’s design uses mature trees, water, fountains, bunkers and generously proportioned greens to keep every club in the bag relevant. The hotel stands among tropical gardens, with an outdoor pool for the slower hours after a round, while green fees at Bonalba and arrangements for transfers to other Alicante courses can be organised from the resort.

Bonalba asks for sensible course management rather than simply length, particularly when the lakes and bunkers tighten the approach to those large putting surfaces. There is plenty of variety nearby for a longer tour. Alenda Golf is a par 72 measuring 6,843 yards, shaped by Roland Favrat around much of the estate’s existing ground and vegetation, with a practice area before play. Font del Llop runs through a valley and gives players five tee choices on every hole, while its greens each have their own character. Alicante Golf, close to San Juan beach, is a Seve Ballesteros par 72 with six holes of each par, arranged so that no par is repeated on consecutive holes. Five lakes affect play on 12 holes. El Plantío is particularly useful for a practice day, with a 383 yard natural grass range, 50 bays, putting greens and a chipping area.

Double rooms provide 25 square metres of space, a private terrace, bath and shower, while larger groups can use the 38 square metre Family Room or Junior Suite with two bathrooms and a sofa bed. Cervantes restaurant focuses on Costa Blanca Mediterranean cooking, pairing regional dishes with local wines. The Wellness and Beauty Centre has a heated pool, whirlpool, Turkish bath and sauna, and the garden pool has a summer bar from mid June to mid September. Alicante centre is 12 minutes away by car and the sea is around 15 minutes from the hotel.