Southern Spain and golf go hand-in-hand, particularly as the searing heat of summer gives way to long, comfortably warm autumn days that are ideal for spending on the fairways. Many golfers return to Spain year-after-year, enjoying the country’s wealth of magnificent and challenging courses. And, according to Turismo Costa del Sol, 98.7 per cent of those who play in the Costa del Sol would recommend it as a golfing destination.
The report from Turismo Costa del Sol provides detailed insights into golf along the ‘Costa del Golf’, an area spanning Malaga and Sotogrande and so-named due to its plethora of high-quality golf courses and resorts. It asserts that golf tourism is responsible for nearly 17,700 direct and indirect jobs in the area, while generating €775 million in direct and indirect income. The cost of the average golf trip is over €1,800, with an average stay of 12.31 days.
The leading source of international golf tourists in the Costa del Sol is the UK, followed by Scandinavia, France and Germany. Interestingly, it is not retirees who are packing the fairways — though many certainly enjoying regular golfing in Spain — but those who class themselves as employed or self-employed. The group makes up 79.8 per cent of those playing in the Costa del Golf. Nearly 40 per cent do so while travelling with friends and over 33 per cent as a couple.
