With stunning mountain views, beautiful coastlines, ample forest areas and, most importantly, world-class golf courses, Catalonia is the ideal location for golfing breaks.
Here’s our pick of the best courses to play and places to stay in this breathtaking part of the world.
Barcelona
The province of Barcelona hosts much more than just one of the world’s most renowned cities. The surrounding areas are full of rural charm, with some fantastic places to play golf.
Real Club de Golf El Prat
Around 30km north of the city of Barcelona is this gem of a golf course designed by the legendary Greg Norman. Great for scratch players and weekend golfers alike, the genius of this course lies in its flexibility – 45 holes can be split between five distinct 9-hole courses, to give you a completely different experience each time you play. Wooded areas, sloping hills and large rolling greens give great variety to each hole.
Where to stay: this is an all-in-one golf resort with on-site accommodation, a spa, an indoor swimming pool and more.
What to do: whatever you want! … one of the world’s most exciting cities is just a 20 minute drive away.
DoubleTree
With spectacular views of nearby mountain Montserrat, this is one of the most beautiful courses in Catalonia. DoubleTree hosts two separate courses – the Masia and the Sant Esteve Executive, both designed by Jose Maria Olazabal and both capable of keeping even the most experienced golfer on their toes.
Where to stay: DoubleTree is part of the Hilton Barcelona Golf complex, so top-quality accommodation comes as standard.
What to do: in the foothills of Montserrat you’ll find some of the best vineyards in Spain. Check out the nearby Can Bonastre and, if you’re partial to a class of cava, Ramon Canals.
Costa Daurada
To the southeast of Barcelona is the Costa Daurada (the golden coast), known for its history, beautiful beaches and tranquil waters. Luckily for us, it’s also home to some quite spectacular golf courses.
Golf Costa Daurada
Located just outside of the historical city of Tarragona, Golf Costa Daurada is a visual feast. The vivid greens of its fairways combine beautifully with views of the deep blue sea, making for a round of golf that’s relaxing as it gets. That’s not to say it isn’t challenging though – the design is clever enough to engage even the most skillful golfer.
Where to stay: Nearby is the H10 Imperial Tarraco – a plush 4-star hotel with views of the Balearic Sea.
What to do: this is a fully-fledged sporting venue, with bike trails, hiking routes, paddle/tennis courts and a full fitness suite. If hiking is your thing, take a trek to Sant Simplici – the highest point in Tarragona, for an incredible panoramic view.
Lumine
Regarded as one of the best golfing resorts in the whole of Europe, Lumine features three spectacular courses of varying difficulty. The most difficult is the Lakes, a Greg Norman designed course that plays host to the later stages of the European Tour Qualifying School. The Hills is set among wooded areas and olive plantations, with impressive sea views. Finally, the Ruins is a 9-hole course set among Roman ruins, as well as carab and olive plantations.
Where to stay: check into the nearby Hotel Gran Palas for some 5-star extravagance or the still elegant Ciutat de Tarragona for a 4-star stay.
What to do: the Lumine resort hosts a luxury Beach Club with 8 swimming pools. It’s also a 20-minute drive to the historical city of Tarragona and just a stone’s throw from the world famous PortAventura theme park.
Costa Brava
PGA Catalunya
The number one golf resort in Spain and one of the world’s very best, PGA Catalunya is golf on another level. The design of PGA Catalunya’s two world class courses makes the most of the superb natural setting, with each hole more memorable than the last. The Tour course is a great all-rounder set amid pine trees and lakes, while the Stadium course – Spain’s number one ranked golf course – is simply magnificent.
Where to stay: the PGA Catalunya resort is home to two hotels – the five-star Hotel Camiral with its sleek sophistication and the more affordable, highly modern Lavida Hotel. It’s also host to a range of luxury rental properties.
What to do: with an incredible clubhouse and practice facilities that are second-to-none, you’d certainly be forgiven for enjoying every minute on-site at this incredible resort. An exhaustive resort activities list makes spending an extended break at PGA Catalunya even more enticing.
Montseny
Between the Pyrenees mountain range and Barcelona is Montseny National Park, an area of stunning natural beauty with all the characteristics to play host to some amazing golf courses.
Club de Golf Montanyà
This hidden gem has a certain rustic character that sits nicely with the simple course design and incredible surroundings. These surroundings are Montseny Natural Park – an area of outstanding natural beauty and home to 58 species of fauna, as well as spectacular lakes. The course itself was designed by David Thomas and is full of variety, with a back nine that substantially differs from the front nine.
Where to stay: check into the nearby Hotel Seva for some rustic charm.
What to do: a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Montseny Natural Park is a hiker’s paradise.
Pyrenees
This mountain range on the Spanish-French border might seem an unlikely location for top quality golf courses. Visit the Pyrenees, however, and you’ll find a variety of great courses with some challenging designs and heart-stopping scenery for a memorable golfing break.
Real Club de golf Cerdanya
One of the oldest golf clubs in Catalonia, Real Club de golf Cerdanya is located right on the French border – one sliced drive and your ball could end up in France. The surrounding scenery is so impressive that keeping your eye on your ball and your mind on your game is challenging enough, yet the small, fast greens just add to the test. If you’re looking for a course with stunning views, play here in spring – you won’t be disappointed.
Where to stay: nearby five-star hotel Torre del Remei is utterly spectacular.
What to do: for those who like to ski, there are some quality resorts nearby, including Masella.
