The Costa Blanca and neighbouring Costa Calida make up one of the densest golf regions in Europe, with more than 30 courses inside a 90-minute drive of Alicante airport. Year-round sunshine, greens that stay playable in January, and resort courses designed by names like Jack Nicklaus and Severiano Ballesteros have turned this stretch of coast into a winter golf capital for Northern Europeans.

This guide covers the courses worth travelling for, grouped by area, with honest notes on difficulty, green fees, when to book and which resorts suit which kind of golfer. It is written for the visiting player who wants to fly in, pick up a car, and tee off on three or four different courses in a week.

One thing up front: golf on the Costa Blanca needs a car. The best courses sit inland or in dedicated resorts spread along the coast, tee times are often early, and you will want your clubs and your schedule under your own control. There is no realistic golf-by-bus option here.

Costa Blanca golf at a glance

The region splits into three golf clusters, plus the world-famous courses just over the border in Murcia. Knowing the clusters helps you pick a base.

The single highest concentration of courses is around Orihuela Costa in the south, where you can play a different course every day for a week without driving more than twenty minutes. If you want championship pedigree and full resort facilities, the Murcia courses to the south are unmatched.

South: the Orihuela Costa golf belt

This is the heart of Costa Blanca golf. Half a dozen quality courses sit within a few kilometres of each other, surrounded by golf-focused resorts, restaurants and rental villas. It is the easiest place in Spain to build a multi-course golf week.

Las Colinas Golf and Country Club

Consistently ranked among the top courses in Spain, Las Colinas is a 2010 Cabell Robinson design routed through a private valley, with each hole isolated by natural terrain. It is upmarket, beautifully conditioned and challenging without being unfair. The clubhouse and on-site beach club lift it above the typical resort course. Book ahead and expect premium green fees. It sits inland from the coast, easiest reached with a car rental in Orihuela Costa.

Villamartin, Las Ramblas and Campoamor

These three classic courses, all part of the same group, are the backbone of the southern golf scene. Villamartin is the historic host of several Mediterranean Opens, with a famous tough closing stretch. Las Ramblas plays through ravines and pine, demanding accuracy over power. Campoamor is the most forgiving of the three, a good choice for mixed-ability groups. All three are minutes apart near the Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa coast, an easy base with a Torrevieja car rental.

La Finca, Vistabella and La Marquesa

Slightly inland near Algorfa, La Finca is a well-regarded Pepe Gancedo design with water in play on several holes and a quality on-site hotel. Nearby Vistabella offers a more modern layout, and La Marquesa at Ciudad Quesada is a flatter, friendlier course popular with resident expats and societies. Together they extend the southern cluster inland and add easy, good-value variety to a golf week, all within the same short-drive radius from the Orihuela Costa coast.

Central: courses near Alicante and Benidorm

The central cluster is the most convenient for a short trip, with courses within half an hour of Alicante airport and the Benidorm resorts.

Villaitana (Benidorm)

The Villaitana resort above Benidorm has two Nicklaus Design courses: a demanding Levante championship layout and a gentler Poniente course good for higher handicaps. The mountain setting gives dramatic elevation changes and sea views. It pairs naturally with a Benidorm beach-and-golf trip using a Benidorm car rental.

El Plantio, Bonalba, Alenda and Font del Llop

Closest to Alicante airport, these courses make easy first-day or last-day rounds. El Plantio is a parkland course just ten minutes from the terminal. Bonalba is a mature, tree-lined layout near San Juan. Alenda, inland towards Monforte, is a links-influenced course with good winter drainage, and Font del Llop near Monforte del Cid is a modern, open layout with generous fairways. All are within easy reach of an Alicante airport car rental, ideal for jet-lag-friendly golf on arrival day before you head to your base.

North: scenic golf around Denia

The northern courses trade course density for scenery and calm. If you want to combine golf with the prettier coves and towns of the northern Costa Blanca, base yourself here.

La Sella (Denia)

Associated with Jose Maria Olazabal, La Sella is a 27-hole complex at the foot of the Montgo mountain, with a Marriott hotel and spa on site. The layout is varied and the mountain backdrop is among the best on the coast. It is the obvious choice for a golf trip based around Denia car rental and the northern beaches.

Oliva Nova (Gandia)

Just north of Denia, Oliva Nova is a Severiano Ballesteros design set beside a long sandy beach, flat and links-like with water hazards and a beachfront hotel. It is one of the few courses on this coast where you can walk from the eighteenth green almost to the sand. Reach it with a Gandia car rental.

Costa Calida: the championship courses of Murcia

Just south of the Costa Blanca, the Murcia region holds the area's most famous golf destinations, worth the slightly longer drive for serious players.

La Manga Club

La Manga is the most famous golf resort in Spain, with three full 18-hole championship courses (North, South and West), a five-star hotel, and a long history of hosting European Tour events and national team training camps. It is a destination in itself. Reaching it from the Costa Blanca is easiest with a Murcia car rental or a pickup at Alicante.

Hacienda del Alamo and Roda

Inland near Fuente Alamo, Hacienda del Alamo is a long, modern resort course with wide fairways suited to big hitters. Roda, near San Javier, is a tighter, more strategic layout. Both round out the Murcia options for players willing to base further south near Cartagena.

Best Costa Blanca course for each type of golfer

Practical golf tips for the Costa Blanca

• Best season: the region's peak golf months are October to April, when Northern Europe is cold and the Costa Blanca is mild and dry. Summer is playable but hot, so book early tee times from June to September.
• Book tee times ahead: the popular southern courses fill up in winter with visiting groups. Reserve before you fly, especially for Las Colinas and La Manga.
• Buggies: most courses offer buggy hire, useful on the hillier layouts like Villaitana and Las Ramblas. Some hilly courses make a buggy almost compulsory.
• Green fee range: expect roughly 50 to 90 euros for the mid-tier courses and 100 euros or more for premium rounds at Las Colinas or La Manga, with twilight rates often cheaper.
• Bring or hire clubs: most resort courses rent clubs, but quality varies. Flying with your own is worth it for a dedicated golf week.
• Handicap certificates: a few premium courses may ask for proof of handicap, though most resort courses on this coast are relaxed about it. Carry your federation card if you have one.
• Academies and practice: La Sella, La Manga and Villaitana all have driving ranges and teaching academies, useful if you want a lesson or a warm-up before your round, or if a beginner in the group wants to learn while others play.

Beyond the fairways: golf and the rest of the trip

One of the Costa Blanca's biggest advantages over pure golf destinations is that there is plenty to do when you are off the course, which matters if you travel with a non-golfing partner or family.

Most of the golf clusters sit minutes from the coast. After a morning round near Orihuela Costa you can be on a Blue Flag beach by lunch, or swap the back nine for one of the painted old towns near Benidorm and Altea. The same car that gets you to the first tee gives the rest of the group a full holiday, from the coves of the north to the salt lakes of Torrevieja. Our guide to the best beaches on the Costa Blanca pairs perfectly with a golf base.

The food is part of the appeal too. The southern golf resorts have a strong British and Northern European expat scene with familiar clubhouse dining, while the fishing towns along the coast serve some of the best seafood and rice dishes in Spain. A golf week here can be as social or as serious as you make it.

Why you need a car for a Costa Blanca golf trip

Golf courses here are deliberately set away from town centres, in valleys, on hillsides and inside private resorts. Tee times are frequently early morning, before any bus runs, and you will be carrying clubs. A hire car is not a convenience for a golf trip on this coast, it is a requirement.

A car also lets you spread your rounds across clusters, playing a championship course in Murcia one day and a scenic mountain layout near Denia the next, then finishing with an easy round near the airport before you fly home. With no-deposit rental you avoid a large card hold on top of your green fees and accommodation.

For the wider picture of driving the region, see our Costa Blanca car rental guide, or browse every town we serve on the Costa Blanca rental hub.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best golf course on the Costa Blanca?

Las Colinas Golf and Country Club near Orihuela Costa is consistently ranked the best course in the region and among the best in Spain. For championship pedigree and full resort facilities, La Manga Club in neighbouring Murcia is the most famous destination. The best course for you depends on whether you want premium conditioning, resort facilities or scenic value.

When is the best time to play golf on the Costa Blanca?

October to April is the prime season, with mild, dry weather while Northern Europe is cold. The courses stay green and playable all winter. Summer golf is possible but hot, so play early in the morning from June to September.

Do I need a car for a Costa Blanca golf holiday?

Yes. The courses are spread across the coast and inland, tee times are often early, and you will be carrying clubs. There is no practical way to reach the best courses by public transport, so a hire car is essential.

How much are green fees on the Costa Blanca?

Green fees range from around 50 euros at mid-tier courses to over 100 euros for premium rounds at Las Colinas or La Manga. Twilight and multi-round packages can reduce the cost, and many resorts offer stay-and-play deals.

Where should I base myself for a golf trip?

Orihuela Costa in the south gives access to the most courses within a short drive. Denia suits players who want scenery and quieter rounds, and Alicante or Benidorm work well for shorter trips with easy airport access.

Can I combine golf with a family beach holiday?

Yes, and the Costa Blanca is unusually good for it. The golf clusters sit minutes from the coast, so a non-golfing partner or children can be on a beach or in a town while you play, and you can all meet for lunch. A hire car makes this split-day plan easy, letting golfers reach early tee times while the rest of the group heads to the beach later.

Plan your Costa Blanca golf trip

With more than 30 courses, year-round sun and championship layouts within an hour of the airport, the Costa Blanca is built for a golf week. The only thing that ties it together is a car.

WeOneRent offers no deposit, no card hold car rental across the Costa Blanca and Costa Calida, with free pickup at Alicante airport, room for your clubs, and a debit card accepted. Pick your base, book before you fly, and the region's fairways are yours.

Find your car and plan your Costa Blanca golf trip

Tee off on a different course every day, and never wait for a bus to do it.