The province of Cádiz is now a Mecca for golfers, despite being a newcomer to the sport The fact that the province's golf courses have not been in existence for very long has not stopped it becoming one of Europe's best golfing destinations.

Nearly twenty Cádiz golf courses have made history despite their newness, and nowadays thousands of golfers visit the province to play on the courses favoured by the greatest. Severiano Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods, Colin Montgomerie, Olazábal, Sergio García... the biggest names in golf have left unforgettable memories on these courses in southern Andalucía. Some played in the Ryder Cup at Valderrama, others in the Volvo Masters at Montecastillo. Some, like R. Trent Jones and Jack Nicklaus, have imprinted the courses with their signatures and their designs.

Making history

The golf courses in the province of Cádiz currently host a large number of important tournaments, including the Volvo Masters, whose 18th edition took place at Valderrama (San Roque) between the 27th and 30th October. The same club also hosted the Ryder Cup in 1997 and nine consecutive editions of the Volvo Masters, and it was the venue for the American Express World Golf Championships in 1999 and 2000. The course has deservedly been selected as the best in Europe by the golfing press on several occasions. The prestigious Novo Sancti Petri course was the venue for the Tourespaña Masters Open of Andalucía in 1993. The Sotogrande Royal Golf Club, the oldest in the province, held the 35th European Nations Cup of Jerez Championship in 2004 and since 1995, together with the San Roque Club, it has been the venue of the PGA European Tour Qualifying School.

CÁDIZ GOLF COURSES

Arcos Gardens Golf Club and Country Estate

The golf course opened in 2006, has 18 holes and there is also one of the largest practice courses in Europe with tees at each end, a short iron range, two putting greens and three chipping greens.

Course Design: Landmark Spain. Professional: Ashley Northridge

Reservations: 956 704 201. Fax 956 717 932. Email: golf@arcosgardens.com

Click here for website.

ALCAIDESA LINKS GOLF COURSE

- 18 holes.

A-7 (old N340) km 124.6. San Roque Tel: 956 791040 Fax: 956 791041

Course designed by Peter Allis and Clive Clark with fine views and suitable for all types of handicap. Course measures 5,766 metres, with a par of 72. Club professional: Pedro Sarría.

http://www.alcaidesa.com golf@alcaidesa.com

ALMENARA HOTEL GOLF

- 18 holes.

Avda de los Cortijos, 11310 Sotogrande, San Roque. Tel: 956 582000. Fax: 956 582001.

This if a golf course and spa. Not far from the beach this course is par 72, is 6,168 metres in length and was designed by Dave Thomas. The resident professionals are Manuel Quiñones and Peter Millhouse.

http://www.sotogrande.com nhalmenararagolf@nh-hoteles.com

BENALUP GOLF

- 18 holes.

Calle Le Torre, 11190 Benalup-Casas Viejas. Tel: 956 424928. Fax: 956 424929.

A 73 par course designed by Paul Rolin it measures 6,000 metres with a variety of holes and lots of water. Course professional: Ralf Lehman

http://www.benalupgolf.com info@benalupgolf.com

CAMPANO

- 9 holes.

Avda Reyes Católicos 15, La Barrosa, Chiclana. Tel: 956 493081. Fax: 956 402134.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones the course opened in 1985, is 6,050 metres long with a Par of 70. Professionals: Top Golf Academy.

http://www.fga.org campano@golf-andalucia.net

COSTA BALLENA

- 18 holes.

Ctra Puerto Santa María – Chipiona km 21, Rota. Tel: 956 847070.

This 6,187 metres course is easy to walk. It was opened in 1996, designed by José María Olazábal with a par of 72. Professional: Marcos Rodríguez Edenborg.

http://www.ballena.golf.com costa@ballenagolf.com

DEHESA DE MONTENMEDIO GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

- 18 holes.

A-7 (old N-340) km 42.5, Vejer, Barbate. Tel: 956 451216. Fax: 956 451295

Club was established in 1996, course designed by Alejandro Maldonado, is 5,897 metres long with a par of 71. Club professional: Ralf Lehman.

http://www.monteenmedio.com info@monteenmedio.com

GOLF EL PUERTO

- 18 holes.

Ctra Puerto de Santa María – Sanlúcar de Barrameda, km 1. Tel: 956 876541. Fax: 956 854866.

Opened in 2002 is a par 72 course and 6,314 metres long. Course professional: José Quirós and Rubén Contreras.

http://www.golfelpuerto.com info@golfelpuerto.com

LA CAÑADA

- 18 holes.

Ctra de Guadiaro, km 1, Guadiaro, San Roque. Tel: 956 794100  Fax 956 794241

Designed by Robert Trent Jones this a well cared for course with pleasant views and many trees. Founded in 1982 is 5,841 metres with a par of 71. Resident professionals: Antonio Arjona and Rafael Heredia.

http://www.lacandagolf.com lacanada@lacanadagolf.com

LA RESERVA DE SOTOGRANDE

Avda de La Reserva, 11310 Sotogrande, San Roque. Tel: 956 695208. Fax: 956 695209.

Course of 18 holes was designed by Cabell Robinson is 6,721 metres with a par of 72.

http://www.sotogrande.com lareserva@sotogrande.es

LOMAS DE SANCTI PETRI

- 18 holes.

La Playa Barrosa adjacent to Novo Sancti Petri Golf, Chiclana de la Frontera. Tel: Casa Club: 956 498 491

Lomas de Sancti Petri golf course was designed by champion golfer Manuel Piñero, and was developed by Target Engineering (Target Ingenieros). Lomas de Sancti Petri golf course can be described as a smooth, flowing course of 18 holes with winding fairways, challenging sand and water hazards, and ample, well manicured greens, surrounded by tropical gardens all set within a forest of pines. Practeegolf is the golf academy of Lomas de Sancti Petri.  It was conceived to open the sport of golf to the public. 

http://www.golflomas.com   info@golflomas.com

BARCELÓ MONTECASTILLO

- 18 holes.

Ctra de Arcos, km 9.6, Jerez. Tel: 956 151200 (hotel) 956 151213 (course)

Designed by Jack Nicklaus was founded in 1992, is 6,424 metres with a par of 72. Club professional: Don Ross.

http://www.barcelo.com montecastillo@barcelo.com

GOLF MELÍA SANCTI PETRI

- 18 holes.

Designed by Dutch architect Alan Rijks, the golf course is located on the coast of Chiclana  ( Sancti Petri ) in an area of 80 hectares, approximately 5 minutes from hotel Meliá Sancti Petri and the beach La Barrosa. It is 6257m long , PAR 72, 5935 M for male and 4826m for female players, enclosed in the natural surrounding and the beauty of typical Andalusian villages .

Services : Buggy , Trolley ( electric & manual ) , Club rental , Driving range , putting green  & chipping area, Club House with restaurant , bar & terrace, Golf academy , pro-shop ,  modern changing rooms, free transfer to hotels in the area .

Golf Melia Sancti Petri Chiclana Costa s/n . 11130 Chiclana . Cadiz . Spain

Tf : +34 956 532096 Fax : + 34 956537183

E mail : golf.melia.sanctipetri@solmelia.com Web : www.solmelia.com

Director : Ildefonso Esquivel. Profesional : Francisco Gómez Aguilar.

NOVO SANCTI PETRI

- 36 holes.

Urb Novo Sancti Petri, Chiclana de la Frontera. Tel: 956 494005. Fax: 956 494350.

Designed by Severiano Ballesteros it was opened in 1990. It has three different nine-hole rounds of 6,466, 6,476 and 6,510 metres with a par of 72. A further nine-hole course was opened recently. Course professional: José María Andrade

http://www.golf-novosancti.es reservas@golf-novosancti.es

SAN ROQUE CLUB (Old and New Courses)

- 36 holes.

A-7 (old N-340) km 126.5, San Roque. Tel: 956 613030. Fax: 956 613012.

Founded in 1990 it was designed by Tony Jacklin and is in two parts, one dominated by water and the other by woods. Is 6,440 metres with a par of 72. Resident professional: Vicente Ballesteros.

http://www.sanroqueclub.com info@sanroqueclub.com

SANLÚCAR CLUB DE CAMPO

- 18 holes.

Urb Sanlúcar Club de Campo, Loma de Martín Miguel, 11540 Sanlúcar de Bda. Tel: 956 814834. Fax: 956 384211.

This country club course was designed by Borja Queipo de Llano and José Manuel Luca de Tena is the professional.

http://www.sanlucarclubdecampo.com golf@sanlucarclubdecampo.com

SHERRY GOLF JEREZ

18 and 9 holes.

Ctra N-IV Jerez de la Frontera - El Puerto de Santa María km 642. Tel: 956 088330 Fax: 956 088331.

One of the top golf courses in Andalucía Sherry Golf is the home of the Copa SM La Reina in 2007, Copa SM El Rey 2006, Volvo Masters Amateur 2007 and until 2009 is the base of the PGA European Tour Qualifying School.

http://www.sherrygolf.com info@sherrygolf.com

SOTOGRANDE CLUB DE GOLF

- 18 + 9 holes.

Paseo del Parque, Sotogrande. Tel: 956 785014. Fax: 956 795029.

Founded in 1964 to a design by Robert Trent Jones. Is 6,224 metres with a par of 72. Head professionals: Manuel Ocaña and Juan Antonio Marín.

http://www.golfsotogrande.com info@golfsotogrande.com

VALDERRAMA

- 18 + 9 holes.

Avda de los Cortijos, Sotogrande, San Roque. Tel: 956 791200 Fax: 956 796028

Host of the 1997 Ryder Cup and Volvo Masters this is one of the best and most difficult courses in Europe. Opened in 1985, designed by Robert Trent Jones, is 6,356 metres with a 71 par. Head Professional: Miguel Sedeño.

http://www.valderrama.com greenfees@valderrama.com

VILLA NUEVA GOLF RESORT

- 18 holes.

Urb Villa Nueva Golf Resort, c/Verbana, 11510 Puerto Real.

Club professional: José Antonio Salto.

oliver.gunther@vinccihoteles.com

VISTA HERMOSA

- 9 holes.

Urb Vista Hermosa, El Puerto de Santa María. Tel: 956 875605. Fax: 956 875604

Founded in 1975 to a design by Progolf is 5,746 metres with a par of 72. Course professionals: Francisco Giles and Manuel Velasco.

http://www.golf-andalucia.net info@vistahermosaclubdegolf.com