Guadalmina Norte

The verdict

The North Course is the lesser known half of Real Club de Golf Guadalmina, and the half that often catches visitors out. Folco Nardi laid it out to complete the club's 36 holes in 1973, and where Arana's South rolls gently through open parkland near the sea, the North climbs and falls across hillier ground inland, with more trees crowding the lines and more water than its sister. It is a par 72 of about 6,060 metres, shorter on the card but not necessarily easier on the scorecard.

For the traveling golfer this is the appeal of Guadalmina: two genuinely different courses on one historic estate, a short drive west of Marbella. Play the South for its classical, sea bound charm and the North for its tighter, more strategic challenge. Lakes guard several greens and the Guadalmina river runs into play late in the round, so the North rewards the golfer who plots a way around rather than simply attacking. Pair the two for a full day, or build either into a wider Costa del Sol trip alongside Los Naranjos or Rio Real.

The holes worth the trip

The North trades the South's serenity for movement and water. The ground tilts and rolls, so level lies are at a premium and the player who reads the slopes off the tee is repaid with the better angle in. Trees press the fairways harder than on the South, and a stray drive is more often blocked than simply punished, which makes a controlled tee shot the foundation of any good score here.

Water is the other defining feature. Lakes come into play around several greens and the Guadalmina river crosses the closing stretch, so the approach shots demand commitment, especially when the wind shifts off the coast. The greens are fair but the surrounds gather a loose shot toward trouble, and a tidy short game saves the round when the long game wanders.

None of it is unfair, and that is the pleasure of the North: a thinking golfer's layout where placement, club selection and nerve over water decide the day rather than brute distance. Played back to back with Arana's South, it gives you two distinct rounds on one of the Costa del Sol's most storied estates, a short drive from Puerto Banus and San Pedro.

Where to stay nearby

Guadalmina sits in one of the most golf rich corners of the Costa del Sol, with San Pedro de Alcantara, Puerto Banus and central Marbella all within a short drive and full of hotels, dining and the wider attractions of the coast. Most visiting golfers base themselves around Marbella or Puerto Banus for the easiest access to the cluster of courses here.

It is an ideal region to build a multi course trip around, pairing the North and South at Guadalmina with the other classics of the Marbella golf coast. We can arrange the lodging, the tee times and the order of play to suit your group.

Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Guadalmina.