The Costa Blanca vs Murcia
Two neighboring corners of southeast Spain that together form one of Europe's best value winter golf coasts. The Costa Blanca brings variety, a lively coastline and the region's single best course in Las Colinas. Murcia answers with the historic La Manga Club and a dense run of modern Jack Nicklaus resort courses at keen prices. Here is the honest head to head, with our verdict up front.
Photograph: Las Colinas Golf and Country Club, Costa Blanca, via Google
The verdict
It is close, and the honest answer is that most golfers should combine the two, because they border each other and the main golf zones are barely half an hour apart. If forced to choose for variety and a single standout, the Costa Blanca shades it. It has the best course in either region in Las Colinas, a Cabell Robinson layout that has won best in Spain awards, plus a deep supporting cast around Alicante and the Orihuela Costa in Villamartin, Font del Llop and La Finca, and a livelier, more developed coast for evenings off the course.
Murcia is the value and convenience pick. La Manga Club, the grand old resort of Spanish golf, offers three championship courses and a full base under one roof, and the region is packed with modern Jack Nicklaus designed resort courses, Alhama Signature, El Valle and the rest, plus the huge Hacienda del Alamo, usually at the lowest green fees and on the quietest tee sheets on this coast. Pick the Costa Blanca for variety and the best single course, Murcia for La Manga, value and an easy resort base, and on a week's trip play across the border and enjoy both.
Head to head
| The Costa Blanca | Murcia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signature courses | Las Colinas, Villamartin, Font del Llop, La Finca, Alicante Golf, La Sella | La Manga Club (three courses), Alhama Signature, El Valle, Hacienda del Alamo, Mar Menor |
| The best single course | Las Colinas Golf and Country Club, a Cabell Robinson design and a best in Spain award winner | La Manga Club's courses, the historic heart of Spanish resort golf |
| Depth and style | Wide variety from classic 1970s layouts to modern designs, near a developed coast | Dense cluster of modern Jack Nicklaus resort courses plus the La Manga complex |
| Value | Good value, a little higher than Murcia at the top end | Often the best value on the coast, with quiet tee sheets |
| Getting there | Alicante airport, with the golf around Alicante and Orihuela Costa | Region of Murcia airport at Corvera, with the golf around the Mar Menor and inland |
| Off the course | Busier coastal resorts, more dining and nightlife, beaches and towns | Quieter, more self contained resorts; La Manga is a destination in itself |
| Who it suits | Groups wanting variety, a standout course and a livelier base | Groups wanting value, La Manga and an easy all in one resort week |
Course facts verified June 2026; green fees move with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick the Costa Blanca if
You want the best single course on the coast and more to do off it. Las Colinas is a genuine highlight, routed through a quiet valley and rated among the best in Spain, and around it sit a varied set of courses from the mature Villamartin to modern designs like Font del Llop and La Finca. The Alicante and Orihuela Costa coast is busier and better served for dining and evenings out, which suits groups and couples who want variety and a lively base.
Pick Murcia if
You want La Manga, value and a simple all in one resort week. La Manga Club's three championship courses and full resort make a complete base, and the surrounding region is dense with modern Jack Nicklaus designed courses such as Alhama Signature and El Valle, plus the large Hacienda del Alamo, usually at the keenest green fees and on the quietest fairways on this coast. It suits buddies groups and societies chasing the most golf for the money in a calm, self contained setting.
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The Costa Blanca, Murcia or a week across both. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge books the tee times, transfers and stay, and costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Costa Blanca vs Murcia questions
Is the Costa Blanca or Murcia better for golf?
Both are excellent value winter golf coasts in southeast Spain, and they sit side by side, so many trips combine them. The Costa Blanca has the single best course in Las Colinas, more variety and a livelier coast around Alicante and Torrevieja. Murcia counters with La Manga Club, the historic Spanish golf resort, and a dense cluster of modern Jack Nicklaus designed resort courses, often at the lowest prices and on the quietest tee sheets. Costa Blanca edges variety, Murcia edges value and convenience.
How far apart are the Costa Blanca and Murcia golf areas?
They border each other on the southeast coast, and the main golf zones around Orihuela Costa and the Mar Menor are barely 30 to 60 minutes apart, so a single base can reach courses in both. The Costa Blanca is served by Alicante airport, Murcia by the Region of Murcia airport at Corvera, and many golfers fly into one and play both regions in a week.
What are the best courses on the Costa Blanca and in Murcia?
On the Costa Blanca, Las Colinas Golf and Country Club, a Cabell Robinson design, is the standout and a multiple winner of best course in Spain awards, with Villamartin, Font del Llop and La Finca among the supporting cast. In Murcia, La Manga Club's three courses lead the way, alongside Jack Nicklaus designed resort courses such as Alhama Signature and El Valle and the large Hacienda del Alamo.
When is the best time to play golf on the Costa Blanca and in Murcia?
This is classic winter golf country. Both regions play well from autumn through spring, roughly October to May, when northern Europe is cold but the southeast Spanish coast is mild and dry, which is exactly why it fills with golfers in those months. High summer is very hot, so early tee times are essential. Always confirm seasonal conditions and book ahead in peak winter weeks.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.