Marbella Golf Course
Marbella golf is situated on the east side of Marbella. A short course at under 6,000 mts, it is a demanding and challenging track, technically a lot more difficult than its neighbour Santa Clara.
First opened it 1989, it has was originally sketched our by the renowned Robert Trent Jones Sr. in the early 70’s, whose firm and former employees , most notably Cabell Robinson have had such a influence on the layout of some of Costa del Sol’s best loved courses, Mijas, Valderrama and Las Brisas to name but a few.
With quite a small amount of land to work with and some hilly terrain the course architects have
created some fantastic holes and managed to make a track of 18 good golf holes.
The course has excellent access off the N340, and a short drive off this takes you up to the spectacular Marbella Golf clubhouse.
The course has recently undergone a redesign on holes 8 through to 14, overseen by Trent Jones firm, who has done an excellent job it blending in the new holes to the original design.
The first 6 holes winded up into the valley behind the new Toll road and require some precise shot making. After this, the track returns to more moderate rolling terrain and some wonderful holes.
The 1st , a relatively short par 4 leaves no room for misjudgement off the first tee, a accurate iron or hybrid club followed by short iron is need to reach the small elevated well protected green.
The 2nd par 5 is an intimidating elevated tee shot to a nice landing area, followed by a relatively medium iron to put you in a good position for a wedge into the green. The 3rd is quite an easy par 3, followed by the par 4 fourth, a risk and reward tee shot to a two tiered fairway.
The 5th is also tight hole requiring a good straight drive.
The 6th is a lovely par 5, following the Trent Jones risk and reward philosophy - a good drive to the top of a two-tier fairway leaves a relatively easy second shot to the landing area between the river and lake in front of the hole. Leave it on the lower fairway on it will be a challenge to make par.
From here on the course flattens and there is more lenience from the tee. The 12 is a great par 4. An elevated tee to a wide landing area allows to you really relax the shoulders, a long second hit to a well
protected green means you will really earn a par.
The 13th par 5 is a weak hole, with a lake running up the side and a hillock to catch a drive on the right the only real option from the tee is a 3 wood, short iron and wedge into a green protected by the lake and bunkers.
After this the course runs back to the old main road with 3 pleasant if undemanding holes after what has just been played, then back to the club house via a par 5 with a nice par 4 to finish up at the 18th and the double green in front of the club house.
A good course for mixed ability groups looking for some challenging golf, but not wanting to move up to the longer championship courses and there associated price tags.
The course is walkable if you are fit though there a number of hikes between holes. We would recommend a buggy.
The driving range is top quality with grass bays as are the facilities of the clubhouse.
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