From Beach Paradise to Golfing Haven

The 2018 Spanish Women’s Open will be held at La Quinta Golf & Country Club.

This summer the Costa del Sol has once again consolidated its status as one of the world’s most popular holiday beach resorts. For many other tourists, however, the “high season” is only now beginning…

Devoted golfers will head to the course at any opportunity – even during the searing summer months – but many opt to have a “sabbatical” in July and August and wait for more pleasant climatic conditions. On the “Costa del Golf” that means around mid-September, when the main golfing season starts, extending through winter (with many courses in northern countries closed because of rain, snow – or both) and continuing to mid-June.

With more than 70 excellent courses from east of Málaga city to Sotogrande (home of the famous Royal Valderrama Club), the Costa del Sol is considered to be the leading golf destination in continental Europe. Not only for quantity but equally due to the quality of its courses, which over the past half-century have hosted such premier international tournaments as the Ryder Cup (1997), World Cup (1973 and 1989), World Golf Championships (1999, won by Tiger Woods, and 2000), and numerous European Tour events.

The Coast is now solidly back on the global tour schedule, highlighted by the Andalucía Valderrama Masters (hosted by the Sergio García Foundation) in October and the Spanish Women’s Open in November.

Last year the latter was held at Royal Guadalmina, in the heart of one of Marbella’s most elite residential estates and the magnificent setting for Oasis de Guadalmina Baja. This VIVA exclusive private gated development comprises just eight luxuriously appointed homes – ideal for families, investors and, unquestionably, golfers.

For 2018, the Spanish Women’s Open (officially, the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España) remains in Marbella for a third season (it was held at Aloha in Nueva Andalucía’s Golf Valley in 2016), moving to La Quinta Golf & Country Club from 22 to 25 November.

Azahara Muñoz

Marbella-born global star Azahara Muñoz was a popular local winner in the last two editions, while Dame Laura Davies and Melissa Reid were victorious on the other two occasions when the event was held on the Coast: 2010 at Flamingos (Villa Padierna) and 2011 (La Quinta).

Georgia Hall, who won the fourth grand slam event of 2018, the Women’s British Open, in August and who was fourth at last year’s Spanish Open at Guadalmina, is expected to return for the La Quinta tournament.

One month earlier (18-21 October), top stars from the European Tour – including García, who has been named as a wildcard pick for his ninth Ryder Cup match later this month – will be on the Costa del Sol for the Andalucía Valderrama Masters.