Golf at La Cala Resort

La Cala Golf Resort, nestled in the scenic Mijas Valley, offers an immersive golfing experience with a variety of amenities that go beyond the sport itself. Designed as a self-contained holiday resort, it provides visitors with much more than just golf. The resort includes tennis courts, a luxurious spa, running trails, and even horseback riding, making it a well-rounded destination for anyone looking for both relaxation and activity. The clubhouse, which spans three open-plan levels, is modern and spacious, giving it an inviting feel. Whether you’re there for a day trip or a longer stay, the resort’s well-kept grounds and organized structure are clear from the moment you arrive. You’ll find the staff, mostly British and Spanish, to be welcoming and helpful, adding to the overall experience.

While the golf courses are the centerpiece, the resort also has a residential aspect, with plenty of properties available for sale. Despite the residential development around the courses, the golfing experience hasn’t been compromised. In fact, the courses remain well-maintained and the resort atmosphere is thriving, with frequent guests taking advantage of various package deals. These packages, such as the "5 nights, 4 rounds of golf" options, are priced reasonably, especially outside of peak season, and are worth inquiring about before booking. While the resort may feel a bit secluded, especially for those coming from Marbella, it offers an excellent golf experience, particularly for players staying within the Mijas area.

The Courses at La Cala

La Cala boasts three 18-hole golf courses: America, Europa, and Asia, each offering a unique challenge. Spread across a wide area, the courses are built into the natural landscape, making for a scenic and enjoyable round of golf. The terrain is diverse, with hilly sections, ravines, and streams, so the club recommends using a buggy to maintain a good pace of play. Walking the courses is not advisable due to the elevation changes and distance between holes.

One thing that stands out about the courses is how they blend into the surrounding environment. Rough shots can lead to tricky situations, with balls ending up in ravines, streams, or dense vegetation. However, the fairways are moderately wide, so the average golfer shouldn’t find them too intimidating. The greens are large, and while they aren’t overly sloped, they can be challenging to read, requiring some patience. The fairways are well-kept, fast, and provide good roll, making the courses feel enjoyable yet challenging.

None of the courses at La Cala are aiming for championship-level difficulty, which is actually a positive for the typical mid-level golfer who frequents the resort. The focus is more on providing a memorable and scenic round of golf rather than overwhelming players with extreme difficulty.

Europa Course

Europa is the most recently constructed course at La Cala, and it’s still in fantastic condition. This course is known for its elevation changes, with several holes that see a rise or drop of more than 10 meters from tee to green. It’s a varied and interesting course with plenty of visual appeal. The five par-3s, in particular, are all distinct, offering different challenges at each one. Each tee is well-marked with cast aluminium maps mounted on sandstone, providing a clear understanding of the hole ahead.

As a 15-handicap player, I found most of the long holes accommodating enough to comfortably use a driver off the tee. Only two holes made me opt for a safer club. The fairways, while sloping, are fair, though there are bunkers strategically placed to catch those who don’t aim high enough off the tee. That said, the bunkers themselves are not too punishing, with shallow lips and quality sand that makes recovery manageable.

The greens on Europa are fast, which might catch high-handicap players off guard. Downhill putts require only a light tap, while longer uphill putts demand a firm stroke. Reading the greens can be difficult, and it’s common to see putts either sail past the hole or stop short. My advice: take your time on the greens here. They’re tough but rewarding when approached carefully.

America Course

America, one of the older courses at La Cala, is a bit more forgiving than Europa but still offers plenty of challenges. The course winds up and down the hills, with some fun dogleg holes that add variety. America is more like other mid-level courses you’d find on the Costa del Sol, such as La Cañada or Marbella Club, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. The fairways are relatively wide, so even average players will feel comfortable pulling out the driver on most par-4 and par-5 holes.

One quirk of the America course is the lack of hole maps on many of the tee boxes, which can be a little frustrating if you’re playing it for the first time. However, the course’s layout is intuitive enough that you won’t feel too lost. The greens are medium-paced, and many of the approach shots require good distance control to ensure an easy up-and-down. It’s a course that offers a good balance of difficulty and enjoyment, with enough variety in the holes to keep things interesting throughout the round.

Asia Course

Asia was the first course built at La Cala, and while it shows a bit more wear than the others, it’s still in good shape. The front 9 is tighter, with some severe slopes across the fairways that can funnel your ball into safer areas rather than deep rough. The back 9 opens up more, offering a wider variety of holes that are simply more fun to play. The bowl-shaped design of some holes means that even slightly offline shots can roll back towards the center of the fairway, which is always a relief.

Though the course isn’t particularly long, it’s not an easy one either. The par-4s and par-5s on the front 9 average around 340 meters, with the back 9 stretching slightly longer at 360 meters. You won’t need to hit a driver off the tee for every hole, which makes this course more about accuracy than power. The bunkers are few and far between, and they’re fairly easy to avoid, making Asia a more strategic course compared to the others. It’s a good option for players looking for a mix of challenge and fun without the pressure of distance or overly difficult hazards.

Final Thoughts

La Cala Golf Resort stands out for its well-organized and varied golf experience, set against the beautiful backdrop of the Mijas Valley. Each course has its own unique flavor, offering something for different types of golfers. Whether you prefer the challenging greens of Europa, the sweeping fairways of America, or the strategic layout of Asia, there’s something here for everyone. Though the resort is a bit out of the way from Marbella, it’s worth the journey for golfers seeking a well-rounded holiday with excellent amenities and quality golf courses.