Doña Julia Golf, one of the best golf courses on the Costa del Sol. It is strategically located, 46 kilometres from Marbella, 18 from Sotogrande and 35 from Gibraltar. The cities of Malaga, Jerez and Seville are 96, 134 and 221 kilometres away respectively, all with airports and excellent rail links, especially Malaga and Seville with AVE trains, as well as a very extensive network of motorways and dual carriageways.

Doña Julia is a new 18-hole, par 71 layout designed by the famous designer Antonio García Garrido. It is located in a huge new residential area at Casares in the new western part of the Costa del Sol.

The first seven holes go up into the mountains with great views of the sea (especially from the highest part of the course on the 8th tee). Then the back 11 continue to come down the hill, providing a completely different perspective to the front 7 holes.

What you notice about Doña Julia is the overall quality of the course, everything is just as it should be and the fairways are immaculate. The greens likewise and they are huge. All in all an excellent course for the price, and certainly a favourite as although it’s tough it’s also fair so it suits all levels of golfers. After the game, you can relax in the clubhouse bar and enjoy drinks and food on the sunny terrace.

The toughest hole is hole 10, par 4, 405 metres. Handicap index 1 hole and rightly so. Tee off over a valley to a small fairway that runs from left to right in front of you. If you manage to find the fairway you have a long second to the large green with water on the right, watch out for slicers!