Alboran Golf

Alborán Golf sits in El Retamar, a coastal area within the municipality of Almería in southeastern Andalusia. This region of Spain features a notably arid Mediterranean climate, with the course positioned near the coastline where the landscape transitions between beach terrain and the semi-desert conditions characteristic of Almería province. The design is the work of Ramón Espinosa, a Spanish golf course architect active in the Iberian Peninsula during the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. The routing takes advantage of the relatively flat to gently undulating topography typical of this coastal plain, with the Mediterranean Sea providing both a scenic backdrop and a source of prevailing winds that influence play. Courses in this part of Andalusia often incorporate native vegetation adapted to dry conditions, and the design likely reflects the need for water-conscious landscaping given the region's limited rainfall. The layout serves both local membership and visiting golfers drawn to the Costa de Almería. El Retamar and the surrounding Almería coast represent a less densely developed golf destination compared to the Costa del Sol to the west, offering a quieter alternative for those exploring Andalusian golf. The area's unique climate—among the driest in Europe—creates playing conditions distinct from the lusher courses found elsewhere in Spain, with firm fairways and an emphasis on ground game strategy common to links-influenced or desert-style designs.