Golf courses near Cabopino and Marbella East
Eight 18-hole courses lie within about 20 minutes of Casa Cabopino Retreat in Artola. Compare drive times, terrain and walking, and plan the rounds that suit your group.
Artola, near Cabopino · Marbella East, Málaga
- 6 minto Santa María Golf
- 8 minto Cabopino Golf
- 818-hole courses within 20 min
- 15+courses within 25 min
- 1par-3 course 9 min away
- 50 minto Valderrama
Which golf courses are near Cabopino?
The closest courses to Casa Cabopino Retreat are Santa María Golf, about 6 minutes by car, and Cabopino Golf Marbella, about 8 minutes. Higuerón Marbella, Miraflores, Río Real, Santa Clara, Calanova and Santana follow within 20 minutes, and the three courses of La Cala Resort are about 22 minutes away.
Artola sits where Marbella meets Mijas Costa, so you have two golf areas on either side of the house rather than one. Most courses here are hilly; Santa Clara and Santana are the easy walks, and Greenlife’s par-3 course is the place for a quiet warm-up or a beginner’s first round.
Golf courses near Cabopino compared
Ordered by driving time from the house.
| Course | Drive | Holes | Terrain | Walking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa María GolfElviria, Marbella | 6 min3.5 km | 18 holes · par 72 | Wooded valley, undulating | Buggy advisable |
| Cabopino Golf MarbellaArtola, Cabopino | 8 min3.1 km | 18 holes · par 70 | Hilly, sea views | Buggy advisable |
| Greenlife GolfElviria, Marbella | 9 min5.7 km | 9 holes · par 27 | Compact, around a lake | Easy walk |
| Higuerón Marbella Golf ResortMarbella East | 10 min8.1 km | 18 holes · par 72 | Rolling, lakes, raised greens | Buggy usually included |
| Miraflores GolfRiviera del Sol, Mijas Costa | 12 min7.6 km | 18 holes · par 71 | Valley, elevated greens, water | Walk or buggy |
| Río Real GolfMarbella | 13 min11.3 km | 18 holes · par 72 | Parkland by a river, a few climbs | Walk or buggy |
| Santa Clara Golf MarbellaMarbella East | 14 min11.3 km | 18 holes · par 71 | Mostly flat, a few hills | Walking encouraged |
| Calanova Golf ClubLa Cala de Mijas | 16 min9.6 km | 18 holes · par 72 | Hillside, wide fairways | Buggy included |
| Santana GolfLa Cala de Mijas | 19 min14.6 km | 18 holes · par 72 | Flat parkland, lakes | Easy walk |
| La Cala ResortMijas | 22 min15.8 km | 3 × 18 holes | Hilly (América, Asia), flatter (Europa) | Buggy |
Approximate driving times by car from the house. Course details come from each club’s own website, checked in October 2026.
Stay between the courses. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a private heated rooftop jacuzzi, six minutes from the nearest first tee.
Check dates for the houseWhat each course near Cabopino is like
The character of each course, who it suits and what to expect, in the order you reach them from the house.
Santa María Golf & Country Club
18 holes · par 72 · Elviria, Marbella
A par-72 course along a natural valley in Elviria, through pines, cork oaks and olive trees. The club calls the front nine the more demanding half and the back nine the more forgiving one; the 9th, The Lagoon, is the hardest hole.
Practical details
- Practice greens for putting, chipping and pitching; no full driving range is listed.
- Buggy drivers must be 18 or over.
- Collared shirts; tailored shorts allowed; soft spikes only.
Cabopino Golf Marbella
18 holes · par 70 · Artola, Cabopino
Juan Ligués Creus’s 2001 layout climbs the hillside above Cabopino, with elevated tees and sea views from almost every hole. At par 70 it is short rather than easy: the club aims it at low handicaps and ambitious amateurs. The 3rd drops some 80 metres from tee to fairway.
Practical details
- Driving range, a large putting green and a golf academy.
- Electric buggies with GPS, plus manual and electric trolleys.
- Strict dress code: tucked-in collared shirt, no denim, trainers or sandals.
Greenlife Golf
9 holes · par 27 · Elviria, Marbella
Nine par-3 holes of 88 to 169 metres, laid out around a central lake in Elviria, with no blind shots. Good for a relaxed warm-up, a short-game session or a first round for beginners.
Practical details
- Driving range with 28 Toptracer bays and a golf academy.
- Trolleys only, no buggies on the course.
- Club hire, including half sets.
Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort
18 holes · par 72 · Marbella East
Renamed in November 2025, this was Marbella Golf Country Club: a Robert Trent Jones Sr. layout reworked in 2009, with olive groves, lakes, raised greens and sea views. A narrow, strategic front nine gives way to a longer, more open back nine.
Practical details
- A redesign with Robert Trent Jones Jr. has been announced without dates; check for works when you book.
- A shared buggy is included in most rates.
- Driving range, putting green and lessons.
Miraflores Golf
18 holes · par 71 · Riviera del Sol, Mijas Costa
Opened in 1990 and designed by Folco Nardi, Miraflores is a compact par 71 that follows the valley contours, with many elevated greens, water on several holes and views to the sea. It rewards accuracy more than length and is open to visitors every day of the year.
Practical details
- Toptracer driving range at the neighbouring Miraflores Sports Village.
- Lessons from Spanish- and English-speaking professionals.
- Rental clubs available.
Río Real Golf
18 holes · par 72 · Marbella
Designed by Javier Arana in 1965, Río Real is mature parkland that follows the river towards the sea, through pines, palms and olives. Most of the round is gentle, with a few real climbs, and the 4th looks out over the beach.
Practical details
- You can walk or take a buggy.
- Golf academy, practice range and putting green.
- Club, buggy and trolley hire.
Santa Clara Golf Marbella
18 holes · par 71 · Marbella East
Enrique Canales Busquets’s par 71 is, in the club’s words, mostly flat with just a few hills, so walking is encouraged and a buggy is optional. On clear days the views reach the sea, Gibraltar and Morocco. The club pitches it as right for amateurs and enjoyable for pros.
Practical details
- A 250-metre grass driving range, a chipping green, bunkers and three putting greens.
- Buggies, trolleys and club hire at extra cost.
- Lessons with authorised independent instructors.
Calanova Golf Club
18 holes · par 72 · La Cala de Mijas
Opened in 2006 in the golf valley above La Cala de Mijas. The course sits on a hillside, but the fairways are relatively wide and flat, the greens are large and raised, and water comes into play on several holes, with open views from almost every tee.
Practical details
- The club states that a buggy is included in the green fee.
- Driving range, putting green and practice area.
- Open to visitors every day of the year.
Santana Golf
18 holes · par 72 · La Cala de Mijas
A Cabell B. Robinson design from 2004 on a former avocado farm, with wide, well-defined fairways on level ground, lakes and streams. One of the easiest walks on this part of the coast and comfortable for all levels.
Practical details
- Club, trolley and buggy hire.
- Practice putting green on site.
- Restaurant and pro shop at the clubhouse.
La Cala Resort
3 × 18 holes · Mijas
Three Cabell B. Robinson courses in the hills behind La Cala de Mijas. Campo América is hilly with small raised greens and big views; Campo Asia is narrow and rewards precision; Campo Europa is flatter, with generous fairways, and the resort calls it easier for the average golfer.
Practical details
- Expect to play with a buggy; check what is included when you book.
- Golf academy, driving range, short-game area and a 9-hole par-3 course.
- Good for mixed groups: players can choose different courses on the same day.
Famous golf courses further from Cabopino
For a change of scene or a once-in-a-trip round, these are realistic from the house.
- Los Naranjos Golf ClubNueva Andalucía23 min
A Robert Trent Jones Sr. course from 1977 in Marbella’s golf valley, with generous fairways, water and orange groves.
- Mijas GolfMijas Costa23 min
Two Robert Trent Jones Sr. courses: Los Lagos is flat with lakes in play, Los Olivos is tighter and tree-lined.
- Real Club de Golf GuadalminaSan Pedro de Alcántara24 min
Two 18-hole courses, including Javier Arana’s South course from 1959, one of the oldest on the Costa del Sol.
- La Quinta GolfBenahavís25 min
Twenty-seven holes in three combinable nines, in a valley between the mountains and the sea.
- Marbella Club Golf ResortBenahavís34 min
A hilly Dave Thomas design with lakes, waterfalls and views to Gibraltar and Africa from the 18th.
- Finca CortesínCasares42 min
Host of the 2023 Solheim Cup, and one of the longest courses in Europe. A full day out.
- Real Club ValderramaSotogrande50 min
Host of the 1997 Ryder Cup. Visitors play only in limited time slots, with a mandatory forecaddie.
- Las Brisas and AlohaNueva Andalucía19–22 min
Two celebrated private clubs. Visitors normally play only as the guest of a member.
Three ways to combine the courses
Starting points for a three- to five-round stay, with every first tee within about 20 minutes of the house.
Close to home
Santa María, Cabopino Golf and Miraflores: never more than about 12 minutes in the car, and three very different courses.
Mixed abilities
A warm-up at Greenlife, then Santa Clara, Santana and La Cala Campo Europa. Flatter, more forgiving courses that everyone enjoys.
A proper test
Cabopino Golf, Higuerón Marbella, La Cala Campo Asia, Campo América and Río Real. Add Finca Cortesín for one championship day.
Leave a day free in the middle: Cabopino Beach and the Artola Dunes are about six minutes from the house.
Planning golf near Cabopino
The practical questions golfers ask most before a trip to the Costa del Sol.
Handicap certificate
Bring proof of an official handicap, on a card or your federation’s app. Many clubs here set limits around 28 for men and 36 for women; check when you book and mention any higher handicaps.
Booking tee times
Book directly with the clubs or through a tee-time platform. In spring and autumn the best morning slots go early. Casa Cabopino Retreat does not sell tee times.
Buggies and walking
Most courses near Cabopino are hilly. Santa Clara, Santana and Greenlife are the easy walks; elsewhere plan on a buggy, and check whether yours is included.
Clubs: bring or hire?
Every club on this page offers rental sets, and hire companies around Málaga deliver. Compare that with your airline’s fee for a golf bag.
Dress code
Collared shirts, tailored trousers or shorts and soft-spike golf shoes. Denim, T-shirts, beachwear and trainers are generally not allowed.
Getting around
A car is the practical way to reach the courses. The house has one private parking space, and a second car can usually park free in the street nearby.
Average daytime highs
Spring and autumn are the busiest golf seasons. Winter is mild but has more rain days; in July and August, play early.
- Oct22°
- Nov18°
- Dec15°
- Jan14°
- Feb16°
- Mar17°
- Apr19°
- May23°
Long-term averages in °C for the Costa del Sol (source: weather2travel climate data).
Play in the morning. Come back to the rooftop.
Casa Cabopino Retreat is a private three-bedroom holiday home for up to six guests in Artola, near Cabopino, with two golf areas on either side of the house.
Breakfast happens in your own kitchen, two bathrooms make early starts easy, and after the round there is the private heated rooftop jacuzzi with sea views. Read more about golf holidays at Casa Cabopino Retreat.
Golf near Cabopino: frequently asked questions
For questions about the house itself, see all guest questions.
Cabopino Golf Marbella, on the hillside above Cabopino, is the course closest to Cabopino itself. From Casa Cabopino Retreat in Artola the two nearest 18-hole courses are Santa María Golf in Elviria, approximately 6 minutes by car, and Cabopino Golf Marbella, approximately 8 minutes.
Eight 18-hole courses are within about 20 minutes of Casa Cabopino Retreat: Santa María, Cabopino, Higuerón Marbella (formerly Marbella Golf Country Club), Miraflores, Río Real, Santa Clara, Calanova and Santana. Greenlife Golf, a 9-hole par-3 course, is about 9 minutes away. Within about 25 minutes there are more than fifteen courses, including La Cala Resort, Los Naranjos, Mijas Golf, Guadalmina and La Quinta.
Santa Clara Golf Marbella and Santana Golf are the most forgiving 18-hole courses nearby: both are largely flat and suitable for all levels. Campo Europa at La Cala Resort has generous fairways, and Greenlife Golf’s nine par-3 holes are ideal for beginners and short-game practice. Cabopino Golf and La Cala’s Campo Asia reward accuracy and suit lower handicaps better.
Yes, at several. Santa Clara Golf Marbella encourages walking, Santana Golf is flat and Greenlife Golf is a short par-3 course for trolleys only. At Río Real and Miraflores you can walk or take a buggy. Cabopino Golf, Santa María, Higuerón Marbella and La Cala Resort are hilly enough that most visitors use a buggy.
Usually, yes. Clubs on the Costa del Sol generally ask for proof of an official handicap, and golf guides list maximum handicaps at many clubs of 28 for men and 36 for women, with some exceptions. Each club sets its own rules, so bring your handicap card or federation app and check when you book your tee time.
Golf is played all year round. Spring and autumn are the most popular seasons, with long-term average daytime highs of about 17 to 23 °C from March to May and 18 to 22 °C in October and November. Winter is mild, with average highs around 14 to 16 °C, but brings more rain days. In July and August it is hot, so play early in the morning.
Yes, under a new name. Marbella Golf Country Club became Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort in November 2025 and was taking bookings when we checked in October 2026. The new owners have announced a redesign with Robert Trent Jones Jr.; no dates have been published, so check for course works when you book.
Real Club de Golf Las Brisas and Aloha Golf in Nueva Andalucía are private members’ clubs where visitors normally play only as the guest of a member. Real Club Valderrama, about 50 minutes from the house, accepts visitors only in limited time slots, with a mandatory forecaddie. Check directly with each club well in advance.
Yes. Greenlife Golf in Elviria, about 9 minutes from the house, has nine par-3 holes, a 28-bay Toptracer driving range and a golf academy. Cabopino Golf, Santa Clara and Río Real also have driving ranges, and La Cala Resort has a 9-hole par-3 course.
Written for guests of Casa Cabopino Retreat. Course details last checked October 2026. Not affiliated with any golf club.
Eight courses within 20 minutes. One house to come home to.
Check your dates for a private three-bedroom stay in Artola, six minutes from Santa María Golf and eight from Cabopino Golf.
- Book direct
- Up to 6 guests
- Private heated rooftop jacuzzi
- One private parking space