Why Spain is a brilliant destination for a golfing holiday

Wednesday, 28 December 2011 3:11 PM

Spain would be the perfect choice of destination for anyone keen to be as active as possible while on holiday - and if golf is a particular passion of yours, you should look no further than this part of Europe.

Golfing holidays to Spain allow you to spend time in a part of Europe that really does have a lot to offer in the way of this sport - not least because of the temperate weather in which you can play.

There are lots of different places in Spain you can visit to indulge in your passion, but you might first want to head to Marbella, which is widely acknowledged as being the golfing capital in this part of the world.

This city - the name of which means beautiful sea - is the perfect place to go to for a few rounds on the fairway, thanks to its warm climate, gentle terrain and lack of rain.

Here, you will find lots of natural spaces facing both the sea and the mountains and plenty of greens to choose from, since at least one new course is built in this metropolis each year.

You can tee off at the Aloha Club de Golf - a natural course that has a lot of vegetation - or Los Arqueros Golf & Country Club, which is quite challenging and would be a good choice for anyone keen to test their skills.

Alternatively, you might want to try out the 18 holes of the Cabopino Golf Resort, or head to the middle of the Marbella valley where the Quinta Golf & Country Club can be found. This has some of the best views of the ocean and mountains, so it would be perfect for lovers of the countryside.

Of course, Marbella isn't the only place to find holiday apartments to rent for a golfing break in Spain. If you want to combine your sporting interests with a bit of rest and relaxation, you might find Cantabria is the destination for you.

This region is situated in northern Spain and is not only home to lots of fantastic golf clubs, but some amazing beaches and lots of beautiful countryside as well. Here, you can head to the Matalenas Golf Club, the Junquera Course and the Pedrena Royal Golf Club, as well as Abra del Pas - which is located around 15 minutes from Santander.

You can't spend your entire time on the golf course and this would be a good place to visit to explore some of Spain's other attractions. For example, you will be able to discover the renowned Altamira Caves in Santillana del Mar and spend a day or two out in the fresh air at the Liencres Dunes and Oyambre nature reserves.

If you're eager to sample some of the finest food in all of Spain as well as playing some golf, you should perhaps consider heading to Navarre, where you can hit a few balls on some first-rate courses and then go to dinner at a local restaurant.

Three of the clubs to be found here have their own restaurants, with dishes such as lamb with tomato and peppers, fresh asparagus, trout in the Navarre style and lettuce hearts from Tudela all served up. You will also be in a good place to try out some of the local wines and traditional desserts, including cheese with quince jelly and cuajada, which is a type of curd cheese.