Golf Hotels: a formula that works

Golf generates more than 1550 millions of Euros in all Europe, and Spain is, among all, the favourite destination of one out of every three European golfers.  This confirms that investing in golf tourism is really advantageous in Spain, reason by which golf hotels are one of the most profitable businesses. Nevertheless, the average stay of golfers in Spain has seemingly reduced a bit, the average stay is 13 days and the range of expenses goes from 90 to 200 Euros per day.

The community that benefits the most from  this type of sport tourism is by far Andalusia and, specifically, the golf hotels in Chiclana, Cádiz, Marbella... Actually, Costa del Sol is the destination that receives —according to data collected in the last Golf Travel Market celebrated the last year in Catalonia— almost the 13% of golfers coming from European countries to Spain.  As regards to the rest of them, a 3,9% go to Costa Brava, with its complete golf courses and its hotels in the coast of Barcelona and Girona, 3,2& goes to the Canary Islands, privileged with their eternal spring which is ideal for practising this sport.  The remaining 8,7% goes to the rest of golf destinations in Spain.

Just in Andalusia, golf tourism produced about 500 millions of Euros in the last year, according to figures provided by La Junta de Andalusia the last July and obtained from a series of surveys of one thousand golf lovers and almost a hundred of managers of golf courses in the autonomous community. The data could be initially surprising, but it is perfectly in keeping with the dedicated efforts and the infrastructure as well prepared as few in the world.  Andalusia has 108 golf courses. Almost half of them are situated in Malaga and 22% in Cádiz. These courses received, in 2013, 452,000 tourists and golf lovers.

Weather, good quality infrastructure, professionalism and golf hotels where we can enjoy an authentic luxury accommodation, make of Andalusia the perfect destination for a golf lover in our country.

Accommodation for golfers

The hotel trade has listened to customers and is offering modern hotels for sports lovers, providing very specialized services, focused on guests' needs.  We can find this type of accommodations in the entire coast of Andalusia, standing out several hotels in Calas de Conil (Cádiz), numerous beach resorts in Marbella, and even several All Inclusive Hotels in Torrox Costa, two of the most representative holiday areas in Malaga.

Other accommodations, nevertheless, were originally created as accommodations specially conceived for golf lovers.  Among them, stand out the golf hotels in Isla Canela (Huelva) whose model has been adopted by other important resorts such as the golf hotel in Llucmajor (Majorca), which was before managed by Marriot and now belongs to Iberostar Hotels & Resorts.

Golf courses in Spain

Although the best courses are situated in Andalusia, there are many other places in Spain where we can enjoy authentic golf paradises: on the seashore, under the shade of a volcano, beside the stunning mountains... The Mediterranean communities, from Catalonia to the Balearic and Canary Islands, are some of the most important tourist centres offering also ideal scenes for a golf getaway with a friend or all the family.

According to the data presented by Palma de Mallorca 365 Tourism Foundation, in the capital of the Balearic Islands, —where there are 5 golf courses now— the golf tourism increased 4% in 2013, producing 160 millions of Euros.  But, besides the 5 courses in Palma, Majorca has other 18 courses among which stand out those located in the coast of Calvià —close to some of the best spa hotels in Santa Ponsa— and those located in the northern coast, ideal area for a golf getaway with family, since there are situated the most complete hotels with miniclub in Playa de Muro and hotels for children in Alcudia.  

Most of these golf courses in Majorca have 18 holes, with elaborate and versatile rounds allowing both amateurs and professionals of all levels to practice this sport.  Some of them have even school and, most of them, offer equipment rental, shop, personalized courses.

Tenerife is another of the destinations in Spain that has invested in golf tourism in Spain. This island has 9 golf courses, standing out those situated in the southern coast, such as Golf Costa Adeje, very close to the All Inclusive hotels in Costa Adeje and to some of the most exclusive luxury resorts in Tenerife.

Returning to the Mediterranean, Costa Brava and La Daurada are two of the most recommended areas for those who want a golf holiday without worries. There you can find hotels in Santa Susanna, accommodations in Calella, Sitges, Salou and all types of accommodations throughout the coast of Barcelona, perfect for resting at affordable prices and investing the budget in a good golf course or in whole day intensive practices.