Santa Maria Golf & Country Club

Santa María Golf & Country Club occupies a hillside site in the foothills above Marbella, positioned between the coastal developments and the Sierra Blanca mountains. Designed by Antonio García Garrido and opened in the early 1990s, the course reflects the architect's approach to working with Andalusian terrain, routing holes across slopes and natural contours rather than extensive earthmoving. The layout moves through pine and cork oak woodlands, with elevation changes that create both uphill and downhill playing angles throughout the round. The course measures just over 6000 meters from the back tees and plays as a par 71, a configuration that includes five par threes. The routing takes advantage of the property's natural fall line, with several holes offering views across the Costa del Sol toward the Mediterranean. The terrain dictates strategy on many holes, where sidehill lies and elevated or sunken greens require thoughtful club selection and course management. Water comes into play on a handful of holes, typically in the form of small lakes or retention ponds integrated into the lower sections of the property. Santa María serves a residential community and attracts visitors seeking a course with traditional Spanish character away from the more heavily trafficked resort layouts closer to the coast. The setting provides a quieter, more wooded atmosphere than many neighboring courses, and the design's reliance on natural topography gives it a less manicured, more rugged feel typical of mountain-foothill golf in the region.