Real Club de Golf Guadalmina

Real Club de Golf Guadalmina South occupies a coastal setting in Marbella along Spain's Costa del Sol, designed by Javier Arana and opened in 1959. Arana, one of Spain's most influential golf architects of the mid-twentieth century, routed the course across relatively flat terrain bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the south and the Sierra Blanca mountains to the north. The layout features mature stands of pine, eucalyptus, and palm trees that define playing corridors and frame views of the surrounding landscape. The course presents a traditional parkland character with tree-lined fairways and strategically placed bunkers that reward accuracy over distance. Water comes into play on several holes, including lakes and streams that require careful club selection and course management. The proximity to the sea influences playing conditions, with coastal breezes often affecting shot-making, particularly on the more exposed holes. The greens are typically well-contoured and demand precise approach play. Guadalmina South serves as the original course at the club, which later added a second eighteen-hole layout to the north. The club has been part of Marbella's golf landscape for more than six decades and reflects the development of golf tourism along the Costa del Sol during the latter half of the twentieth century. The course remains a fixture in the region's golf offerings, providing a blend of Arana's design principles and the natural Mediterranean setting that characterizes southern Spanish golf.