A visit to the Costa del Sol is the perfect opportunity to discover the splendid Finca Cortesin golf course, located in Casares, between Marbella and Sotogrande. Ranked as one of Spain’s best golf courses by the Golf Digest Magazine, the course has been beautifully designed to slot seamlessly into the natural Mediterranean landscapes of the area. At nearly 7,000 meters, the Finca Cortesin course is thought to be one of the longest in Europe. But fear not, the fairway offers 5 different tees making the course appealing to all levels. Condition and maintenance of the course are a priority here, guaranteeing high quality and speed of play. But that isn’t the only reason why Finca Cortesin is a must-play of the Costa del Sol; every player benefits from a wide range of exclusive services such as bag drop, fully-equipped buggies, complimentary practice balls before playing and complimentary fruit and cold-water service on the course. There is even a chilled-towel service during the hot, summer season.
Located a few miles north of Gibraltar, one and a half hours from Malaga, the Par 71 Championship Course of the Real Club Valderrama measures over 6,000 meters from the professional tees. The fabulous Mediterranean climate is ideal for year-round golf and the fairways have been described by top professionals and golf writers as the best in Europe – the jewel in the crown. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr in 1974, it was originally known as “The birds”, probably because it is situated on the flight path of migratory birds close to the Strait of Gibraltar. It was renamed Valderrama in 1985 by Jaime Ortiz-Patino, after the ancient estate on which it lies. A demanding course where thought and careful attention are necessary for every shot due to the presence of a major natural obstacle in the shape of over 2,000 cork oaks. They are everywhere, and Jones referred to the overhanging trees, in particular, as “bunkers in the sky”. This is a very private course, but careful prior booking will ensure you a very unique experience.
It would be a real shame to leave the deep blue skies and startling white buildings of Andalucia without exploring the ancient region of Jerez, home to sherry wine.
There is only one place where Sherry can be made and that is the Jerez region, situated between Jerez de la Frontera, Puerto de Santa Maria and San Lucar de Barrameda in the province of Cadiz, Andalucia. These three cities mark the angles of what is often referred to as the “Sherry Triangle”. Here you will discover the ancient origins of sherry wines, their unique elaboration method and the age-old maturing process – the solera system - the secrets of which have been passed down over generations. The white grape varieties grown in the region, primarily the Palomino grape, are used to produce a surprisingly wide range of types of Sherry with a distinctive palette of colours. Perk up your taste-buds with a tasting of the different sherry wines the region has to offer.
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