If golf is part of the reason you are thinking about buying a property in Estepona, you are certainly not short of options. There are seven golf courses within the municipality, with 126 holes between them, so wherever you decide to live, there is a good chance you will have more than one course within easy reach.
And the choice does not stop at Estepona. Málaga province has more than 70 golf courses and enjoys around 325 days of sunshine a year. It is easy to see why this stretch of southern Spain has become known as the Costa del Golf.
For anyone looking at property, though, choosing where to live is about more than finding the nearest fairway. Estepona’s golf courses are spread across very different parts of the municipality. Some sit close to established residential areas, while others are surrounded by newer developments or more open countryside.
The right area will depend just as much on what you want to do away from the golf course as where you want to play.
As Jenny, Sales Manager at Top Properties Estepona explains, “When someone tells me they want to buy near a golf course, I always ask what else matters to them. Do they want to be close to Estepona town, the beach, schools or Marbella? Golf might start the conversation, but the area still has to work for the rest of their life here.”
Here is a look at Estepona’s seven golf courses and the areas around them.
Golf in Estepona: east or west?
One of the easiest ways to narrow down your search is to look at the eastern and western sides of Estepona separately.
To the west of Estepona town are Valle Romano Golf, Azata Golf and Estepona Golf. This side of town tends to feel more open, and it works particularly well if you want to be close to central Estepona, the marina and the western beaches.
Head east towards the New Golden Mile and you will find Atalaya Golf & Country Club, El Paraíso Golf Club, La Resina Golf & Country Club and El Campanario Golf & Country House.
Living on this side also puts you closer to San Pedro de Alcántara and Marbella, while still keeping Estepona within easy reach. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, beaches and international schools in this part of the coast too.
So before getting too caught up in individual properties, it is worth thinking about which direction you are likely to travel most often.
Atalaya Golf & Country Club
Atalaya stands out because it has two full 18-hole courses: the Old Course and the New Course.
The Old Course was designed by Bernard von Limburger, while Paul Krings designed the New Course. Together they give golfers 36 holes to choose from, making Atalaya the largest of Estepona’s golf clubs in terms of holes.
The surrounding area has been established for many years and sits in a useful position between Estepona and Marbella.
Property here is varied. You will find apartments and townhouses as well as detached villas, so buyers looking for golf apartments for sale are not limited to one particular style of home. It is also a practical choice if you play regularly but do not necessarily want to live within a self-contained golf resort. The coast, shops and restaurants are nearby, and both Estepona and Marbella are easy to reach by car.
El Paraíso Golf
Designed by Gary Player, this 18-hole course opened in 1973 and runs through the Paraíso Valley, with palms, pines and olive trees around the fairways and views towards the mountains and Mediterranean.
It is one of the area’s best-established courses, and the neighbourhood around it has grown up alongside the golf course, so it feels like a residential area in its own right rather than somewhere built solely around golf.
There is a broad choice of apartments, townhouses and villas, as well as everyday amenities nearby. For anyone comparing Estepona property for sale with homes closer to Marbella, El Paraíso is particularly interesting because it sits roughly between the two. You can head into Estepona for one evening and towards San Pedro or Marbella the next without feeling that either is especially far away.
El Campanario Golf & Country House
El Campanario golf course offers a different experience, as it has a 9-hole pitch and putt course designed by Spanish professional Manuel Piñero, a driving range and golf school. Ideal for a quick round, practising your game or for players who are relatively new to the game.
The residential area surrounding El Campanario sits close to Atalaya and El Paraíso on Estepona’s New Golden Mile.
Apartments and townhouses make up a good part of the local property market, alongside newer villas and developments.
It is an area that makes sense if you want golf nearby but also expect to spend plenty of time at the beach, in San Pedro or heading towards Marbella.
Azata Golf
Azata Golf sits on the western side of Estepona, offering an 18-hole, par-71 course designed by Sterling & Martin. Measuring 5,703 metres, its layout includes six lakes, multiple elevations and views across Sierra Bermeja and the Mediterranean.
This part of Estepona is worth looking at if you prefer the western side of town or are interested in newer homes. There has been considerable residential development across western Estepona, so buyers considering new developments on the Costa del Sol will find several options in this direction alongside more established properties.
You are also well positioned for Estepona town, which is useful if you expect to spend more of your time there than in Marbella.
Valle Romano Golf
Valle Romano is probably one of the first places to look if the idea of actually living within a golf environment appeals to you.
It has a stunning 18-hole course was designed by Cabell B. Robinson that covers around 60 hectares. It was built to USGA standards and has large greens, several tee positions and views towards the Mediterranean.
The golf course and residential resort sit together, so there is a good choice of golf apartments, penthouses, townhouses and villas in the surrounding development. Despite having the feel of a golf resort, Valle Romano is not particularly isolated. Estepona town, the marina and the beach are all a relatively short drive away.
For second-home owners in particular, the apartments here can be appealing because they offer the golf setting without the upkeep that comes with a large private villa and garden.
Golf Estepona
Under new management, Estepona Golf is also on the western side of town, surrounded by open Andalusian countryside and views towards the mountains and sea.
This 18-hole course is quite different from Valle Romano, rather than being dominated by one large golf resort, homes and developments are more spread out across the surrounding area.
That can be a plus if you want golf on the doorstep without necessarily wanting your home to feel as though it is part of a resort.
There are villas and residential developments nearby, and the location still gives you straightforward access to Estepona town and the coast.
La Resina Golf & Country Club
La Resina is another nine-hole course and is particularly useful for golfers who do not always want to dedicate half a day to playing.
A round generally takes around 90 minutes, making it a good option for beginners, short-game practice or simply fitting in some golf when you have other plans.
The surrounding La Resina and Selwo areas have also become important residential locations on Estepona’s New Golden Mile.
Due to the areas elevated position, many of the apartments, penthouses and villas in the vicinity have open views towards the Mediterranean. There is a good choice of modern Estepona apartments for sale around La Resina and Selwo, so it is worth considering if a newer property is high on your wish list.
Where is the best place to buy golf property in Estepona?
There is no single area that appeals to everyone, it depends how you expect to spend your time.
If you enjoy being closer to the town centre, Valle Romano, Azata and Estepona Golf could be a good place to start looking.
Whereas, if your preference is to be closer to Marbella or San Pedro, or need easy access to international schools and the New Golden Mile, Atalaya, El Paraíso, El Campanario and La Resina may be more convenient.
Then there is the property itself, the range of golf properties for sale in Estepona, covers everything from lock-up and leave golf apartments to townhouses, large luxury frontline golf villas and homes with private gardens and swimming pools.
If you are buying a second home, an apartment with communal gardens might make life easier. If you are moving permanently, space, storage, schools and year-round amenities may matter much more.
It sounds obvious, but it is easy to get distracted by a great terrace overlooking the fairway and forget about your every day needs.
Buying near a golf course: what should you check?
A golf view is a lovely feature, but there are other more practical details worth looking at before making a decision.
For example, you may want to check the route and distance from the clubhouse, as a property close to the green may be surprising far from the clubhouse entrance. Orientation is also important, especially if making the most of the winter sunshine is important to you.
Privacy is another concern, maybe you don’t want to be adjacent to the green or on a busy golf buggy route.
Also, if the property is part of a community, it is essential to find out the community fees and exactly what this cost covers; does it include the gardens, swimming pools, security and other amenities that may incur expensive running costs.
And if you are basing your decision on potential short-term rental income, it’s important that your lawyer checks the currently rules and regulations regarding the community and the regional government.
Information can be found in our blog “Spain’s rental registry ruling: What it means for buyers and holiday owners in Estepona.”
Golf and property in Estepona
With seven courses and 126 holes within the municipality, Estepona gives golfers plenty of choice without needing to travel far. What makes the area particularly interesting from a property point of view is that there is no single version of the “golf lifestyle”.
You can live directly on a course, choose a villa a few minutes away, buy close to Estepona town or base yourself on the New Golden Mile and still have several courses within easy reach.
If you are looking for property for sale in Estepona, Costa del Sol, Top Properties Estepona can help you compare the different areas as well as the properties themselves. Whether you are searching for an apartment, townhouse or villas for sale in Estepona, tell us what matters to you both on and off the golf course. We can help you narrow down the right areas and find a home that fits the way you actually want to live here.
