Río Real Golf

Río Real carries the signature of Javier Arana, widely regarded as the finest Spanish golf course architect of all time, and opened in 1965 just five minutes from Marbella town centre. Tucked into a valley between the Mediterranean and the mountains, it opens with a tight, tree-lined front nine that demands precision off the tee before easing into a more expansive back nine where you can finally let the big club out of the bag. The Spanish Golf Federation rates it among the country's finest for its layout, beauty and prestige — a reputation nearly sixty years in the making that shows no sign of fading. Río Real occasionally runs an alternate par-71 routing, so check which layout is active before you post your card; our calculator always uses the current one.

Río Real is located just off the N-340, five minutes east of Marbella town centre. From Málaga Airport, take the AP-7 motorway westbound and exit at Marbella Este (around 40 minutes). The club is signposted from the coastal road, with parking on site.