The oldest course in Andalucia, the Parador was developed just under 100 years ago and is has been the mainstay of golf in Spain in this region ever since.

The Parador has a rich history, having hosted several major championships, including the Turespaña Masters Open de Andalucia (1992 and 1999) and Open de Andalucía (2010 and 2011).

In the 1920’s, construction began on the original 9-hole course under the supervision of Harry Colt (of Wentworth fame); with the direction and design of renowned British architect Tom Simpson, creator of such famous courses as Turnberry, Muirfield and Ballybunion, it was later expanded to 18 holes (6173 m, par 72). The course record of 63 is held by Málaga native Miguel Ángel Jiménez, set during the 1999 PGA Turespaña Masters. 

Years of history have made this course both challenging for experienced players and fun for any golf enthusiast. Sand dunes, palms, mimosas, eucalyptus and pines skirt the course.  The hotel is located next to the golf course and with a view of the Mediterranean Sea, and with direct access to a magnificent beach of soft white sand. Here you can enjoy a newly renovated pool and a tennis courts. 

The main course is very traditional, as you would expect from one that has been in existence for a century and provides a real challenge for all levels of players. It is right next to the coast, with two of the holes running along by the sea and so has a lovely sandy soil, with sand dunes, palms and pine trees defining the holes. The fairways, tees and greens are immaculately kept, yet the fairways give way to rough and waste areas of sand, which can be lethal to a scorecard and give the place a slightly unkempt look. A bit like a good looking, ageing movie star with tousled hair and a 5 o’clock shadow: it is in fact a very cool golf course – Jack Nicholson perhaps?

The greens are undulating and combine with run off areas to make some of the holes very tricky. In general, the size of the greens is quite small with most of the greens being stretched from front to back, providing narrow but deep targets for the golfers. Having access to accurate, iron play is vital for anyone wishing to play well at the Parador. Under normal circumstances, the greens will be running around 11 on the Stimpmeter, but this can be increased with extra cutting and the use of an iron. The greens are consistently good throughout the year and the greenkeeping staff make a wonderful job of keeping this ‘ageing movie star’ looking glamorous and playing well.

The golf range is very compact in its dimensions, with two tiers and a range surface that occupies a long yet slender piece of land, bordering the edge of the course and the third hole. There are number of artificial targets on the outfield and the range is often busy with golfers warming up before they play along with local people who are just coming to use the golf range to keep their game in shape. The Range Servant ball dispenser is operated using tokens.   Vending balls by tokens these days is a method of operation that seems terribly old-fashioned, as it is almost impossible to keep any accounting checks on the amount of money taken and the amount of tokens in circulation.  Nevertheless, the range is a fun place to warm up and provides an excellent opportunity for the teaching staff to ply their trade, with shelter from both the occasional shower and the relentless sunshine, which is the main reason for having covered bays in this area. 

The teaching academy is headed up by the professional Iván Hurtado who offers High Performance Training Programme for professional players and amateurs, along with private classes, with and without, applied technology -Trackman, Flightscope, Samputtlab, K-vest and Focusband. The Parador is also an official Fitting Centre for brands including: Callaway, Titleist, Ping, Cobra, Srixon, Cleveland, Wilson.

There is a sweet, albeit fiddly, little par-3 course which proves very popular for those learning the game, as well as holidaymakers using the hotel, who are not yet confident enough to make it out onto the main course. It is very difficult to play if you are trying to score 3 or less on each hole, but with its undulating greens and mounds, the short holes are charming for new golfers. 

It is easy to lose count of the number of practice greens and short game areas at the Parador: I think there are at least six separate putting greens, most of which are reserved for those using the putter, but chipping is allowed to some of them. The greens are all cut to the same exacting standards of the course and provide an excellent opportunity for practice before and after around. It is wonderful to practise on such fast and beautifully manicured putting greens. 

The Parador hotel, which was built in 1928, provides quality accommodation with all the rooms having plenty of space and excellent views across the golf course, swimming pool and sea. Being next to the airport, the hotel is only two stories high but extends to over 100 rooms. There is a nudist beach – ‘Playa Nudista’ just along from the hotel, and the enthusiasm of some of the patrons to engage with the golfers can occasionally prove distracting, but highly amusing.

There is an excellent restaurant, combined with a sociable bar and a glorious patio for people to enjoy breakfast lunch and dinner. The main reception area and restaurants, together with two of the original blocks of rooms in the shape of a horseshoe, which looks out to the sea, complete with a round swimming pool in the centre. 

Prices for the hotel these days vary hugely depending on the time that you have booked for your trip, it’s popularity in the calendar, availability of rooms and where you made your booking. A mid range price of €140 per night including breakfast for two represents very good value for money. 

Being so close to Malaga airport is both a blessing and a curse. Every minute a plane flies over the course in hotel, creating some irritations for those wishing for a silent retreat. However, you somehow become used to this quite quickly and the convenience of the location is such that this golf course will always be busy with local players from Malaga and an abundance of visitors from around the world. I’m a great fan of the Parador chain as it provides high-quality service in a traditional setting without too much bowing and scraping, but just the right amount of focused customer care with charming staff who understand the clientele.

This is a great place to visit and play. Further details are available at https://paradores.es/en/parador-de-malaga-golf