ABOUT 'COSTA DEL GOLF'

There are over sixty golf courses in Andalucía, of which thirty are on the Costa del Sol. The fine weather allows golf to be popular all year round.

David Crumpler, leading golf writer on the coast, explains...

When the Costa del Sol experienced a renaissance as a winter golf resort in the late eighties, the phrase "Costa del Golf" was coined. Between 1985 and 1991, no fewer than 17 new golf courses appeared, bringing the total along this 50 mile stretch of coast up to thirty. This concentration of quality golf courses, combined with the unique sunny and warm winter climate enjoyed by the region, led to its becoming unrivalled as a winter golf destination for northern Europeans, who while emerging as a serious force at all levels of golf, were deprived of the opportunity to play during the harsh winter months.

When Valderrama was chosen to host the Ryder Cup in 1997, the Costa del Golf received universal recognition as the finest winter golf resort in Europe, Advance reservations for the led to a flurry of new golf courses to be constructed.

For a snowbound, frustrated golfer, desperate to play in the sunshine, the Costa del Golf is proving irresistible. Golf course owners are re-investing in their courses to improve their quality still further and there are no longer any weak links, each course offering its own kind of challenge on perfect fairways and greens. The general infrastructure from Malaga to Gibraltar has improved beyond recognition.

As Andalucia marches confidently in the new millennium, preparing to welcome a record number of golf tourists this winter, the moral is, book your golf holiday early!