Golf at the heart of Marbella’s lifestyle

Marbella offers many attractions that have helped make it a highly desirable destination for travellers from all around the world. The guaranteed sunshine, exclusive lifestyle, fine dining facilities and superb beaches are of course of major importance, but of particular import in extending the holiday season and attracting residential tourism are the top-quality golf courses of Marbella.

Indeed, golf has historically been an important driver in the development of Marbella into a world-class resort town and it remains a vital part of the region’s appeal.

Marbella was one of the first areas in southern Europe to recognise the potential of golf to attract a high net worth clientele, with the development of quality villas and apartments bordering lush fairways helping raise the town’s brand image—and that remains the case to this day.

Marbella’s first two courses were the Real Club de Golf Guadalmina (established 1959) and Río Real (1965). Both remain as popular as ever and have fine reputations for the standard of their facilities and upkeep, but perhaps the clubs that had the biggest impact in turning the Costa del Sol into the Costa del Golf were Nueva Andalucía’s ‘big three’ of Real Club de Golf las Brisas, Aloha and Los Naranjos. These courses all opened in the 1970s, around the same time as the nearby marina of Puerto Banús, and were instrumental in the development of the zone as a high-class residential area.

Properties in Marbella’s Golf Valley

Quickly to become known as Marbella’s Golf Valley, Nueva Andalucía’s location just ten minutes from the beaches, nightlife, restaurants, shops and amenities of Marbella, yet offering tranquillity and a leafy backdrop of emerald green fairways soon made it one of the premier locations in Marbella. The villas and apartments for sale in Nueva Andalucía remain highly sought after and popular with a golf loving international community.

The success of these early courses led to the development of the country club concept that prizes privacy and exclusivity in luxurious gated communities set slightly apart from Marbella town, with golf as the centre piece of the urbanisations.

Country club inspired La Quinta was developed on the northern periphery of the Golf Valley, and was soon joined by the highly exclusive La Zagaleta in nearby Benahavís—a true private members club featuring two championship courses, palatial clubhouse and equestrian centre for the sole use of residents and their guests.

Marbella Club villas for sale

The famous Marbella Club on the Golden Mile—a name that is a byword for an opulent lifestyle—is keeping to the fore in this respect with its own Marbella Club Golf Resort, which is set in the foothills of the mountains that rise up behind the town. The villas for sale here are equipped with the latest ‘must have’ amenities and there are prime plots for sale for those wanting to build to their own specifications.

Other leading Marbella courses include the highly regarded Santa Clara and neighbouring Marbella Golf and Country Club, Santa María, and Cabopino to the east. Slightly outside Marbella in Benahavís can be found Los Flamingos within the Villa Padierna resort, which again offers facilities of the highest standard and the opportunity to acquire frontline golf villas and apartments as well as building plots.

Pure Living Properties has a selection of fine front line golf villas and apartments for sale. Please contact us and we can help you find your ideal home.