Atalaya Golf & Country Club

Welcome to Atalaya Golf & Country Club, a premier 36-hole golfing destination situated in the beautiful hills of Estepona, Málaga, Spain. This expansive resort features two distinct layouts: the championship Old Course, designed in 1968 by renowned German architect Bernard von Limburger, and the strategic New Course, created by Paul Krings in 1990. What truly sets Atalaya apart is its industry-leading PG Golf & Sports Academy, featuring the only TrackMan Driving Range on the Costa del Sol with 44 equipped bays. Golfers of all levels, including touring professionals like Christian Cavaer, flock here to experience the immaculate, sustainable conditions, generous fairways, and fast greens. Surrounded by native cork oaks, olive trees, and stunning panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea and La Concha mountains, Atalaya offers a perfect blend of high-performance practice facilities, eco-friendly course management, and a welcoming community atmosphere.

Why play at Atalaya Golf & Country Club?

• Features 36 holes of championship golf across two distinct layouts: the 1968 Old Course designed by Bernard von Limburger and the 1990 New Course designed by Paul Krings.
• Home to the Costa del Sol's only TrackMan Driving Range at the PG Golf & Sports Academy, featuring 52 bases (44 with TrackMan screens), a putting green, and chipping areas.
• A proven championship venue and preferred winter training destination for elite players, including PGA French Professional and 2009 European Open Champion Christian Cavaer.
• The New Course offers panoramic views of the Mediterranean and Gibraltar, highlighting a picturesque lake on the 4th hole and a central natural wood filled with cork oaks, olive, and carob trees.
• The highly walkable Old Course boasts magnificent views of La Concha mountain, elevated greens, and beautiful lakes populated by water birds, including two resident pairs of swans.
• Premium modern facilities include a multi-storey car park with EV charging points, direct level -3 buggy rental access, SALTER and Life Fitness gym equipment, and a compressed air shoe-cleaning station.
• Recognized with an Environmental Quality Certificate for its commitment to sustainability, utilizing smart irrigation systems and protecting native habitats to ensure play is in direct harmony with nature.

Course layout and design

Atalaya Golf & Country Club features 36 holes of exceptional golf divided into two distinct 18-hole layouts: the Old Course and the New Course. The overall layout philosophy centers on integrating the sport seamlessly with the local ecosystem, surrounded by hills, green spaces, and native species. The Old Course presents a classic, highly strategic routing characterized by wide, generous fairways that undulate gently between mature trees and flowering shrubs, providing natural shade and year-round color. The terrain characteristics of the Old Course include frequently elevated greens that make club selection an interesting challenge, while their subtle contours require careful judgment to sink crucial putts. It is an easily walkable layout offering magnificent views of La Concha mountain and the Mediterranean Sea, complemented by tranquil lakes and streams populated by various species of water birds, including two resident pairs of swans. In contrast, the New Course is set in the hills above the Old Course and offers a completely different strategic test. The routing strategy here rewards precision and accuracy off the tee rather than out-and-out length. The terrain is defined by slopes and elevation changes across numerous fairways and greens, demanding careful shot selection. The New Course provides wonderful panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, the Mediterranean, and Gibraltar. Its location away from busy roads ensures a tranquil, immersive natural setting. A natural wood sits in the center of the course, featuring cork oaks, olive, and carob trees. Both courses benefit from a multi-year investment strategy designed to continually maintain and improve their presentation and playability throughout the 12-month golfing season. Furthermore, the club employs smart irrigation systems that adjust water usage based on climate, soil moisture, and the specific needs of each area, ensuring optimal conditions while preserving biodiversity.

Signature holes and challenges

Navigating the 36 holes at Atalaya Golf & Country Club presents golfers with a variety of distinct challenges and memorable design features. On the New Course, the picturesque 4th hole is a standout, featuring a prominent lake that tests both accuracy and nerve. The natural wood in the center of the course creates tight landing zones, forcing players to navigate around mature cork oaks, olive, and carob trees. While the New Course is perfectly walkable, the climbs and elevation changes provide a physical challenge, particularly in the heat of the summer when players are advised to hire a buggy. The Old Course is celebrated as a true test of golf intelligence. Its generous fairways require thoughtful positioning, while its subtle doglegs and well-protected greens demand precision and strategic decision-making. The fast, consistent greens and perfectly maintained fairways allow players to fine-tune distance control, iron accuracy, and short-game precision under championship-level conditions. To maintain these exceptional challenges, players are required to follow strict course care rules. Golfers must carry a supply of sand to fill in any divots, repair their pitch marks by pushing the soil towards the center from all four sides, and carefully rake bunkers with back-and-forth motions. Buggies are strictly prohibited on or around the greens, ensuring the delicate putting surfaces remain pristine for all players.

Technical specifications

The following table details the technical specifications for the golf courses and facilities based on available data.

Feature | Specification --- | --- Total Holes | 36 (Old Course & New Course) Par | Unknown Length | 2004m Designers | Bernard von Limburger (Old Course), Paul Krings (New Course) Year Opened | 1968 (Old Course), 1990 (New Course) Rating | 4.2 ⭐ (967 reviews)

Facilities and amenities

The facilities at Atalaya Golf & Country Club are meticulously designed to provide a comprehensive experience combining sport, wellness, and social interaction. Founded in 2020, the PG Golf & Sports Academy is the premier golf practice facility on the Costa del Sol. Headed by Swedish Tour Pro Peter Gustafsson, the academy features the region's only TrackMan Driving Range. The expansive driving range boasts 52 bases, 44 of which are equipped with TrackMan screens, allowing players to practice from both natural grass lies and covered bays with synthetic surfaces. The academy also includes an immaculate putting green maintained to course specifications, an extensive chipping area providing different lies, and two practice bunkers. Practice balls are available via a coin-operated dispenser. Beyond the practice greens, the club prioritizes physical wellness with a dedicated gym featuring advanced SALTER and Life Fitness equipment. This allows members to carry out strength, endurance, and mobility routines tailored to golf performance. The clubhouse serves as a central social hub, featuring elegant terraces, common areas with wide-open views, a well-stocked cafe, an elegant restaurant, and a bar. For convenience, the club offers spacious, modern, and well-equipped visitor changing rooms, a compressed air shoe-cleaning station, and a club-wash basin. The on-site pro-shop operates in partnership with Golfriend's, providing superior quality products and club-logo merchandise. Ample parking is available in a multi-storey car park equipped with electric vehicle charging points. Guests parking on level -3 enjoy direct access to buggy rentals located beside their vehicles, allowing them to drive straight to the Caddy Master's area. Additionally, paddle tennis courts are being built to expand the sporting options.

• PG Golf & Sports Academy with 52-bay TrackMan Driving Range
• Immaculate putting green, chipping area, and practice bunkers
• Gym equipped with SALTER and Life Fitness machinery
• Clubhouse with restaurant, bar, cafe, and elegant terraces
• Modern locker rooms and compressed air shoe-cleaning station
• Pro-shop in partnership with Golfriend's
• Multi-storey car park with EV charging and direct buggy access

Green fees and booking

The club offers a variety of flexible booking options tailored to different playing preferences. Golfers can choose annual or consecutive 6-month unlimited play memberships for both the Old and New Courses, which come with extra member benefits. For those seeking a shorter game, the club offers 9-hole afternoon rounds on the Old Course at competitive rates. Special seasonal promotions are also available, such as the 'Father & Child' round designed for Father's Day. Golf societies are highly welcome, with the club offering a variety of tailored packages on both courses that can include post-game food and drinks on the terrace. The club actively promotes the concept of 'ready golf' to ensure an enjoyable pace of play for everyone, asking all players to be ready when it is their turn and to carry a spare ball. A strict dress code is enforced by the caddy masters before play begins. Furthermore, club members enjoy a 25% discount on PG Academy memberships and individual or group lessons.

Getting there

Atalaya Golf & Country Club is conveniently situated at Avenida del Coral, 42, 29688 Estepona, Málaga, Spain. Located in a highly scenic area between the exclusive city of Marbella and Estepona, the club is easily accessible for both local residents and international visitors. The surrounding region is renowned for its twenty-eight kilometers of coastline, four sports marinas, and an exclusive range of hotels in nearby hubs like San Pedro de Alcantara and Nueva Andalucía-Puerto Banus.

Best time to visit

The Costa del Sol is famous for its exceptional climate, boasting over 300 days of sunshine annually. This makes the club a premier year-round destination and a highly preferred winter training ground for European touring professionals and elite amateurs seeking consistent, championship-level conditions. While the courses are beautifully maintained throughout the 12-month season, players visiting during the heat of the summer are advised to hire a buggy when playing the New Course due to its climbs and elevation changes. During damp ground conditions, players must follow instructions from the caddy masters and marshals to keep to cart paths only or observe a 90-degree rule.

History and heritage

The rich history of Atalaya Golf & Country Club began in 1968 with the opening of the Old Course. It was designed by Bernard von Limburger, one of Germany's foremost golf course architects, who was responsible for 74 European courses. Building on this prestigious heritage, the New Course was opened in 1990 under the design of Paul Krings, who is also known for the GC Schloss Maxlrain in southern Germany. Over the decades, the club has established itself as a premier championship venue, hosting numerous professional tournaments. Its reputation attracts elite players, such as PGA French Professional Christian Cavaer—the 2004/05 DP World Tour No. 1 Putter and winner of the 2009 European Open and 2004 Spanish Open—who recently visited the historic Old Course for a training round with his son. The academy's leadership also reflects this high-level heritage, headed by Peter Gustafsson, who has played professionally in over 80 countries, securing 11 wins on international tours and two second-place finishes on the European Tour. The club's ongoing legacy is deeply tied to its environmental responsibility, proudly holding an Environmental Quality Certificate that validates its long-term commitment to sustainability and biodiversity preservation.