Santa Clara Golf Marbella

Santa Clara sits quietly on the eastern edge of Marbella, designed by Enrique Canales Busquets with a deliberate emphasis on preserving the site's natural vegetation and wildlife rather than reshaping the land to fit a template. The result is wide, open fairways with minimal rough and greens that, while generally receptive, hide a few genuinely testing slopes that reward local knowledge over a first-time visit. It's a technically interesting course that asks good questions on nearly every hole without ever feeling gimmicky, and the practice facilities and clubhouse have their own dedicated following among regulars. A solid, no-frills round for golfers who'd rather focus on their swing than the scenery — though there's plenty of that too.

Santa Clara Golf is located on the N-340 coastal road just east of Marbella. From Málaga Airport, take the AP-7 motorway westbound and exit at Marbella Este (around 40 minutes). The course is signposted from the main road, with parking at the clubhouse.