Elba Costa Ballena Beach & Thalasso Resort

Golf sits at the centre of a stay at Elba Costa Ballena Beach & Thalasso Resort, a four-star resort on Avenida Carla de Orleans in Rota, Cádiz. The 27 holes of Costa Ballena Ocean Golf Club lie alongside the hotel, so the first tee and practice ground are close enough to shape an easy, unhurried golf break. Designed by José María Olazábal, the neighbouring club is matched by a beachfront setting, with Playa la Ballena a short walk from the resort. Many rooms and public areas look across the fairways, while gardens, a pool area and sun terrace give the days between rounds a relaxed rhythm.

Costa Ballena Ocean Golf Club has plenty to keep a group occupied beyond the main 27 holes. Its practice range is the largest in Andalucía, useful for a proper warm up before a round or a session with the longer clubs, and there is also a separate nine-hole par-three course for a shorter game.

Accommodation includes 24 square metre double rooms with furnished balconies or terraces facing the course, sleeping up to three guests. Swim-Up rooms open straight onto a semi-Olympic river-style pool and its solarium. The 2,000 square metre Thalasso Spa uses newly drawn Atlantic seawater, purified while keeping its natural qualities, and rooms with spa access include a daily 90 minute circuit per person when reserved in advance. Several restaurants provide choice after golf, while the gym, mini-club and free Wi-Fi make the resort practical for mixed groups and families.