Spain's golf paradise also wins every non-players heart

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This is the time of year when those who may live in the sunbelt of these United States, should begin to count their blessings. This is when the rest of us who live in the Midwest and Northeast of the country, can no longer deny the approach of winter. Those occasional Indian Summer days of the last month or so, have all but vanished; next weekend we move the clocks back, as we change to daylight savings time, the chill in the air seems to have settled in for a long stay and the farmers almanac is shamelessly predicting a longer and harsher winter than normal. This is when, even before his arrival, we begin to plan our annual escape from Old Man Winter.

Granada and the amazing Alhambra is easily accessed from Marbella.

La Cala's wonderful trio of championship layouts is located at Marbella's doorstep.

Historic Ronda defies gravity floating hundreds of feet above the River Guadalevin.

Santana Golf Country Club is another Costa del Sol gem to be added to every must play list.

Exotic Morocco is another world but so close to Marbella and Southern Spain's very best golf courses.

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Conventional wisdom tells us to follow the birds and head south, flying toward the sun and warmer climes, but conventional wisdom can be an oxymoron. The hurricane season is becoming less predictable and trading in the chill and snow for wind and rain seems not the wisest trade-off to make.

Many of the Caribbean islands are faced with varying degrees of social unrest and increasing crime levels, which sounds no better than everyday life in New York or Chicago. Our friends just south of the border have it even worse, with their running battle going on with the drug cartels, now going on for at least a couple of years and no real signs of it letting up, at least in the immediate future. Heading south may no longer be the best direction for any winter escape, so it's time to consider an alternative.

Rather than traveling south, think about heading east and taking a short, six- or seven- hour flight to the sunny south of Spain and the Costa del Sol where the coldest days of winter never slip below the low 70's and the sun shines brightly, practically every day. Making a good thing even better, there is so much to see and do, even the most restless vacationer will be confronted with a dizzying array of choices and the difficulty will be in choosing what not to do.

For any golfer, the Costa del Sol is a paradise found, with over 50 courses contained along a Mediterranean coastline reaching barely more than 100 miles long. As impressive as the quantity of courses may be, it's the amazing quality of these layouts that really wins the hearts of every golfer. Many are ranked among Spain's best and more than a fair share are also listed as a part of Europe's official, Top 50 Courses ranking.

Courses such as 1997 Ryder Cup host, Valderrama, 2009 World Match Play Championship venue, Finca Cortesin, San Roque, La Reserva and Sotogrande, have all earned enviable, international reputations and there are others, well on their way to establishing similar stardom. The clever Cabell Robinson design at Santana, and the same designer's triplex of courses at La Cala, together with Robert Trent Jones' Los Lagos Course at Mijas, are still only the tip of the iceberg that is the Costa del Sol's collection of golf course excellence.

As unique as the golf inventory very definitely is, it's matched perfectly by the abundance of non-golfing activities, making the Costa del Sol the perfect escape for everyone, whether a golfer or not.

Base yourself in or near the lively resort town of Marbella and most of those top ranked courses will be within less than a half hour drive of your hotel and non-golfers will have the delights of the town and its beaches, at the door-step.

Marbella alone could occupy a week's-worth of off-course activities, which must include the wonderful Old Town, with its maize of winding cobblestone streets and whitewashed old buildings, draped in flowers. Filled with restaurants, boutiques and galleries, this is a shopaholics delight, where there will be as much fun hunting the bargains down, as there will be buying them.

Travel even a short distance from Marbella and there is a wealth of centuries old history and culture to be discovered, by taking any of a myriad of daylong sightseeing excursions to such fascinating ancient cities as Seville, Granada, Cordoba and Jerez de a Frontera.

It takes only an hour's drive from Marbella to reach the charming historic mountain town of Ronda, one of the most attractive Pueblos Blancos (white towns) that are scattered throughout the hillsides of Andalucia. These fortressed communities, built centuries ago to protect the inhabitants from bandits and perhaps from invading Moors, are a living testament to Spain's rich history.

Ronda is spectacularly built across the plunging gorge of the River Guadalevin, which separates the original, medieval town from the more recent, 18th century part. Among the many historic buildings, be sure to include a visit to the Bullring, Spain's oldest and most beautiful, which also serves as a museum of bull fighting. This was a favorite haunt of Ernest Hemingway while researching his novel, "The Sun Also Rises".

Make a full day out of your excursion and you will have time enough to visit one or two of the other Pueblos Blancos in the area, including nearby Arcos de la Frontera. Be prepared for a white knuckle drive along impossibly narrow roads to reach the town, perched on the top of its own mountain. Once at the top, the views and the old town with its amazing Gothic church and ruined castle, make it all well-worth while. Take the time for a coffee at the Parador, located in the main square, it will be good preparation for the drive back down the mountain.

Looking for a shorter half day excursion? Gibraltar is only a half hour drive from Marbella and an hour or two spent exploring this tiny British outpost, with its duty free shopping and quaint, if out of place, very British way of life, is an amusing oddity. Standing on the Rock of Gibraltar, North Africa and the Atlas Mountains of Morocco are clearly visible, just 18 miles away. For the more adventurous, it's another sightseeing opportunity, somewhat more exotic than Gibraltar, but it's so close, why not?

There is much to savor and enjoy on the Costa del Sol, whether it's the fantastic food and excellent wines, or the bustling night life, with casinos, bars and nightclubs aplenty. And as this is the land that gave birth to flamenco, it's almost obligatory to take in a flamenco show or two. There is the fantastic shopping and the endless array of intriguing sightseeing to be discovered, or just spend time relaxing on the beach under the Mediterranean sunshine. But don't forget the golf - it may be a while before you have such a banquet of golfing opportunities to choose from again.

For more ideas and suggestions on experiencing the very best of all the Costa del Sol offers, both on and off the golf courses, click here.

©2009 David Brice / Golf International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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