La Cala Resort – A Jewel In The Crown Of European Golf
Recently hailed the best four-star resort in Spain, with three 18-hole courses set in the heart of the Costa Del Sol, not to mention a stunning 107-room hotel and luxurious spa, La Cala should be on everyone's list for their next golfing escape
Just half an hour from the well-served airport at Malaga, La Cala Resort, laid out over strikingly dramatic terrain between the Sierra de Mijas Natural Park and the azure Mediterranean, has been offering golfers something a little different for 33 years now.
Three contrasting but unendingly beautiful 18-hole courses are complemented by a stirringly appointed six-hole par-3 course – so an unrivalled 60 holes in total – a beautiful 107-room hotel, a selection of exceptional restaurants and one of Europe’s very finest spas.
These points of difference have not gone unnoticed among either the golfers who return year after year or the rankings panels who constantly seek out the very finest options for travelling golfers. Golf World has recently hailed La Cala Resort as the very best four-star resort in Spain, the third best resort overall in the country and the 13th best throughout all of Continental Europe.
If that weren’t enough to catch the eye, it also placed La Cala 73rd in its recent World Resort Rankings, where global competition for a top 100 spot is intense. The International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) has also bestowed an Outstanding Service Award on La Cala for going the extra mile to deliver the highest levels of customer service during the pandemic.
La Cala scored particularly well in the ‘courses’ category of the Golf World rankings – great news for keen golfers and no surprise to anyone who has played its America, Europa or Asia layouts, each blessed with a slightly different feel as it rises and falls through the breath-taking Andalusian countryside.
The Asia was the first to open in 1989, a delightful garden-style layout with trees, shrubs and flowers adorning the fairways. It was joined two years later by the America course, and although all three serve up spectacular mountain vistas and views down to the coast, America provides perhaps the most exhilarating ride of all, right from its memorable opening drive from the higher ground down into the valley. Few golfers could fail to marvel at the vision of those who first thought of laying out golf holes over this stunning mountainous landscape.
The third part of the jigsaw slotted into place in 2005 with the opening of the Europa layout on which the River Ojén makes its presence felt on several majestic holes along the valley floor. Despite their relative youth, all three courses have recently been impressively renovated, with a newly upgraded buggy fleet further enhancing the golfing experience. An excellent golf academy and that hugely enjoyable six-hole par-3 course complete the golfing side of the La Cala operation.
Perhaps the beauty of La Cala is that it really is an idyllic away-from-it-all retreat a mere 20 minutes from bustling Marbella. You can stay in the 107-bedroom hotel, which mixes an authentic Andalusian feel with contemporary styling, with all rooms boasting a private terrace or balcony, ideal for that first pre-dinner drink as the sun goes down.
When it comes to dining, the options are equally impressive whether you fancy Mediterranean cuisine in the renowned La Terraza or La Bodega restaurants in the main hotel, or the more casual ambience of the Clubhouse Restaurant, which offers fine views out over the Asia Course.
There are further options in the Panoramic Bar in the main hall, where splendid mountain views accompany a menu of modern cuisine highlighted by various breads, salads and appetisers, and the Pool Bar, where you can indulge in a cocktail or two by the pool around which the hotel rooms are set.
Completing the whole experience is the La Cala Spa, one of Europe’s very finest courtesy of its exceptional hydrotherapy circuit and wealth of soothing and pampering treatments, from age-defying facials to Mediterranean sea salts rituals. What’s more, there is a selection of on-site Real Estate for both sale and rental at La Cala.
If that all sounds too much to resist, keep an eye on La Cala’s busy social media channels for all the latest news and offers:
Facebook @LaCalaResort
Instagram @lacalaresort
Twitter @LaCala_Resort
YouTube La Cala Resort
The resort’s website www.lacala.com also has a dedicated offers and promotions page, whether you’re looking for a short break or longer stay.
Get the top Black Friday deals right in your inbox: Sign up now!
The hottest deals and product recommendations during deals season straight to your inbox plus all the best game-changing tips, in-depth features and the latest news and insights around the game.
Jeremy Ellwood has worked in the golf industry since 1993 and for Golf Monthly since 2002 when he started out as equipment editor. He is now a freelance journalist writing mainly for Golf Monthly. He is an expert on the Rules of Golf having qualified through an R&A course to become a golf referee. He is a senior panelist for Golf Monthly's Top 100 UK & Ireland Course Rankings and has played all of the Top 100 plus 91 of the Next 100, making him well-qualified when it comes to assessing and comparing our premier golf courses. He has now played 1,000 golf courses worldwide in 35 countries, from the humblest of nine-holers in the Scottish Highlands to the very grandest of international golf resorts. He reached the 1,000 mark on his 60th birthday in October 2023 on Vale do Lobo's Ocean course. Put him on a links course anywhere and he will be blissfully content.
Jezz can be contacted via Twitter - @JezzEllwoodGolf
Jeremy is currently playing...
Driver: Ping G425 LST 10.5˚ (draw setting), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 55 S shaft
3 wood: Srixon ZX, EvenFlow Riptide 6.0 S 50g shaft
Hybrid: Ping G425 17˚, Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange 80 S shaft
Irons 3- to 8-iron: Ping i525, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts
Irons 9-iron and PW: Honma TWorld TW747Vx, Nippon NS Pro regular shaft
Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 50˚ and 54˚, 12˚ bounce, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts
Putter: Kramski HPP 325
Ball: Any premium ball I can find in a charity shop or similar (or out on the course!)
-
Arron Oberholser Facts: 15 Things To Know About The PGA Tour-Winning Golf Channel Broadcaster
Arron Oberholser left his PGA Tour career behind to take up life as a Golf Channel broadcaster in 2013 – here are 15 things to know about him
By Mike Hall Published
-
LPGA Tour Announces 2025 Schedule
The 2025 LPGA Tour season will have two new events including a visit to Mexico, while the biennial International Crown returns
By Mike Hall Published