With the choice of playing ten different golf courses, a warm climate and easy communication with the rest of Europe, the Costa Brava is ideal for golfers looking for a change from home. As well as the world class PGA Catalunya the area offers some spectacular courses overlooking the Mediterranean sea and anyone looking to combine a beach holiday with a round or two of golf is catered for here.
If you live in the UK or elsewhere in Europe it is fairly easy to jump on a flight and be in Girona in a couple of hours and the airport is just 20 minutes from the nearest course, the PGA Catalunya near Caldes de Malavella.
Of course, Ryanair make it prohibitive to travel with clubs with a £50 charge for carrying them in the hold each way (max 20 kg), but that may suit you depending on the price you paid for the flight. Some smart travellers these days send their oversized or overweight baggage separately in order to avoid extortionate costs and there are companies that specialise in transporting baggage for travellers wishing to avoid the high baggage costs of the low budget airlines. As always, compare airlines before booking as you can often find the major airlines work out just as cheaply these days once you factor in everything.
Playing golf in Spain is expensive compared with the UK and is viewed as something of an elitist sport by many as the prices are beyond many. This is largely due the cost of maintaining Costa Brava golf courses because of the high water requirements.
Weather
While the Costa Brava is often warmer than northern Europe, in summer it can get much too hot at times, while anyone looking to escape from the cold at home during the winter months should know that it can be bitterly cold in the winter, particularly when the northerly tramuntana blows freezing air off the Pyrenees.
Luckily winter isn’t all about tramuntana, although don’t expect night-time temperatures to be particularly warm. But if the sun comes out during daylight hours then the warmth on your face gives the feeling of all being right in the world, nothing like the intense, scorching sun of summer, when it is all too easy to burn.
But there are certainly a number of courses on or near the Costa Brava. Watering is a problem for many, and there are developments on some of the courses that just won’t sell.
List of Costa Brava Golf Clubs
- Club de Golf d’Aro – Mas Nou
- Club de Golf Costa Brava
- Empordà Golf (2 courses)
- Golf Girona
- Golf Club Peralada
- PGA Catalunya (2 courses) in Gold World’s top 10 European courses.
- Golf Platja Pals
- Torremirona Golf Club
Golf passes
You can get a pass to allow you 3 or 5 rounds of golf in a 14 day period on the golf courses listed above. Passes can be purchased from the courses direct and currently cost €185 for three rounds or €295 for five rounds. Note also the €15 supplement for Saturdays, Sunday mornings, bank holidays, August and the Stadium Course at PGA Catalunya.
