Golf on the Costa del Sol: buy a holiday home for the whole family, not just for the golf

The Costa del Sol is one of Europe's most popular destinations for golfers. But did you know that you do not need to live on a golf course to have some of Europe's finest courses right on your doorstep?

With more than 70 golf courses, around 2,900 hours of sunshine a year and golf all year round, there is a reason the Costa del Sol is also called the Costa del Golf. Even in December and January, Málaga airport records 160-180 hours of sunshine a month.

Here you can combine golf with wonderful beaches, restaurants, shopping, nature and a pleasant climate. That makes the coast a perfect place both for keen golfers and for families dreaming of their own holiday home in Spain.

Buy a holiday home the whole family will enjoy

At Solkystmegleren, we believe a holiday home should first and foremost be a place where the whole family is happy.

Perhaps you love golf, while the rest of the family prefers the beach, shopping, restaurants or other activities? Then there is no reason to limit your search to properties right on a golf course. A holiday home near the course can give you the best of both worlds.

In many parts of the Costa del Sol, you can live near the beach or in a pleasant town centre and still, in our experience, have four or five good golf courses within roughly 10-15 minutes' drive. In other words, you can play a round in the morning and still have plenty of time to spend the afternoon with the family.

Our advice is simple: first find an area the whole family likes, and we will help you find the golf nearby. If you are not sure where to start, our overview of the areas on the Costa del Sol is a good place to begin.

Golf courses on the Costa del Sol, from Málaga to Sotogrande

All along the coast there are excellent courses for beginners and experienced players alike. You will find everything from friendly local courses to some of Europe's best-known championship courses.

Mijas Costa and La Cala de Mijas

This is one of the most attractive areas if you want to combine golf with a family holiday. Courses here include La Cala Golf, Calanova Golf, Santana Golf, Chaparral Golf and Miraflores Golf (see the Mijas tourist office's list of golf courses).

La Cala de Mijas also has a pleasant village centre, lovely beaches and a good choice of restaurants and shops. See homes in Mijas.

Fuengirola and Los Boliches

Fuengirola is perfect for families who want beach life, restaurants, shopping and a lively town centre. At the same time, Mijas Golf, Chaparral Golf and several other courses in Mijas Costa are only a short drive away.

Here you can own a holiday home within walking distance of the beach and still have a wide choice of golf courses nearby. See homes in Fuengirola.

Marbella and Nueva Andalucía

Marbella is known for some of Europe's most attractive golf settings. Courses here include Los Naranjos Golf, Real Club de Golf Las Brisas and Aloha Golf Club.

The area also offers exclusive restaurants, beautiful beaches, shopping and a wide choice of holiday homes. See homes in Marbella.

Estepona and Benahavís

Estepona and the area around Benahavís also offer excellent golf. Among the courses are Atalaya Golf, El Paraíso Golf, Valle Romano Golf and Estepona Golf.

These are attractive areas for families who want a mix of golf, beach life and pleasant residential areas. Read more about Estepona, the garden of the Costa del Sol, or see homes in Estepona and Benahavís.

Sotogrande: world-class golf

Sotogrande lies in the province of Cádiz, west of Estepona, and is one of Europe's most exclusive golf areas and a paradise for golfers.

It is home to some of the best-known courses in Spain and Europe, with Real Club Valderrama as the highlight. Valderrama is regarded as one of Europe's very best courses and is particularly famous for hosting the 1997 Ryder Cup, the first time the tournament was played in continental Europe.

The area also has excellent courses such as Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, La Reserva Club and San Roque Club.

Sotogrande is much more than golf, too. There is an exclusive marina, lovely beaches, good restaurants, international schools and attractive residential areas.

For families who want a holiday home in calm, beautiful surroundings, combined with truly world-class golf, Sotogrande is a very exciting option. See homes in Sotogrande.

With so many courses along the coast, you never need to play the same one every time you visit your holiday home.

A holiday home should be about more than golf

Golf is an important part of life for many visitors to the Costa del Sol, but the area has so much more to offer. The whole family can enjoy beaches, boating, cycling, padel, mountain walks, shopping, restaurants and good experiences all year round.

That is why we often advise our clients to think a little more broadly than a location on a golf course. A holiday home should be somewhere the family looks forward to visiting, whether golf is on the programme or not.

It is also important to think long term. Your family's interests and needs may change over the years, and a home in an attractive location near the beach, the town centre and local services can appeal to a wider group of buyers if you one day want to sell. That is also one of the points in the five most important criteria when buying on the Costa del Sol.

We help you find the right holiday home

We have more than 15 years' experience of the property market on the Costa del Sol. We help you find a holiday home that suits your family, whether you want to live near the beach, in a pleasant town centre, in quiet surroundings or close to some of the area's many golf courses. If you are looking for something brand new, you will also find new developments in several of the golf areas.

You do not need to live on the golf course to live the golf dream.

Find the holiday home that suits the whole family, and we will help you with the rest. Get in touch with us, and we will find the areas and homes that are right for you.