8 PGA of Canada Pros, 2 media from TSN, 7 nights, 3 hotels, and 5 rounds of golf in Spain. Throw in a VIP experience at the final event of 2021 season for the Ladies European Tour, multiple resort tours and hosted dinners, plus sun everyday, and you have the makings of an amazing tour of Costa del Sol
| On November 25, 2021, the group meets in Pearson and gets ready for a weeklong adventure in sunny Spain. By late afternoon the next day, we are all at the Westin La Quinta Resort in Costa del Sol in the middle of an intense putting contest (if intense involves drinking beer while listening to classic rock and trying to stymie your competition with a perfectly missed putt!) on the practice green just a short walk from the lobby bar, getting ready for a busy week. |  |
As we always recommend to clients, find something to do to keep yourself up when you land overseas and we used the putting contest, then a late dinner, to keep ourselves up past dinner to help get rid of the jet lag!!! Never take a nap when you land, force yourself to stay up so you can sleep through the night and be ready on your first full day overseas. An hour or so of putting was followed by a quick change of clothes and a well earned dinner in the hotel restaurant to end a long first day.
Day 2 was a fun day for everyone as we were hosted by the Ladies European Tour at there season ending event, the Andalucia Costa Del Sol Spanish Open. We were able to see some of the best players in Europe compete for their biggest purse of the season while enjoying VIP treatment in the 18th Hole Sponsors area – delicious food and Spanish wine, nice way to start the trip!
| We also managed to sneak in 9 holes at the Westin Resort before heading out for a tour of Old Town Marbella with a group of visiting pros from Holland the finished with a 9-course wine and food tasting menu at Maison Ardois, a new boutique hotel in Old Town that anyone looking for a 5* small hotel experience (with great dining) should consider as a hotel option in Marbela. |  |
Day 3 was an early start as we headed over to Hotel Anantara Villa Padierna to drop off our luggage on the way to the round 1 of our golfing what is known as Spain’s Finest – 5 of the best courses Spain has to offer and the “must plays” of the region. We interviewed a few of the pros who joined us on the trip and to get their reviews of all the courses we played, as well as the hotels and off course activities, just follow this link.
 | Our round that day was at San Roque and on a windy day we all hacked our way around the course as we shook off a bit of rust (and maybe a bit of food a wine overindulgence), but the course is a great track and no one seemed to mind a slightly higher score than they might normally be used to…. |
| After a quick trip back to our new hotel, that evening found us back in Old Town enjoying a steakhouse feast, maybe a few drinks, and a lot of golf trash talk before a nightcap in a local bar and a short trip back to the hotel to get ready for our second round of golf. |  |
 | Day 4, shockingly 😊 another sunny day in Spain, and La Reserva is our challenge of the day. Once again, too many strokes by everyone (these are beautiful and fair, but TOUGH courses) but after an early start, we had time to enjoy the many amenities of Hotel Anatara Villa Padierna before they hosted us for a wonderful dinner in a private room in their beautiful restaurant. More wonderful Spanish food and wine pairings to the sting off of some high scores and got us ready for our next adventure. |
Day 5 was a highlight for everyone on the trip as it included a round on the world famous Valderrama Golf Course, home of the 1997 Ryder Cup and multiple European Tour events. Playing Valderrama was a treat for everyone and when you realize where your well hit drives end up from the members tees (and remember, we have 8 PGA of Canada pros on the trip) and then compare it to where the pros land from the back tees, it reminds you what a different game they play!
 | The memories of day 5 are far from over though. Hotel So/Sotogrande is one of the most excusive hotels in Costa Del Sol and they invited us to tour their property and host another unbelievable dinner. We are sounding like a broken record at this point but honestly, we saw some of the most amazing properties and were treated to some of the best food any of us have every experienced. It truly was that good and So Sotogrande was nor exception with over the top amenities and food that even the most discerning food critic would rave about. |
| Day 6 and one might be worried that whatever course your playing would be a letdown after playing Valderrama the day before but that was not the case. We were heading to Finca Cortesin which has hosted the Volvo World Match Play Championship on three occasions and in 2023 will host the Solheim Cup. |  |
 | Another one-of-a-kind golf experience was followed by a tour of the 5* onsite resort, designed in a traditional Andalusian / Mediterranean Style, and with some of the largest rooms and patios we saw at any resort we visited. There is no doubt they will be a wonderful host both on and off the course for the 2023 Solheim Cup and a great option for anyone travelling to Costa del Sol and looking for luxurious, unique accommodations. |
We then headed to our 3rd and final hotel and checked into the Melia Grand Pepe, which is ideally located right on the water, a short walk from Old Town Marbella. This 5-star hotel features wonderful views, world class amenities, and a location that cannot be beat.
 | With its ideal location, we were able to meet up with our Spanish hosts and take the short walk to Old Town where we were treated to a traditional Spanish “Tapas Crawl”. Multiple restaurants featuring more great Spanish wine and small plates of traditional tapas made for another memorable night in Spain. |
| Day 7, our last day of golf, saw us at the Robert Trent Jones designed Real Club de Golf de Sotogrande. Trent Jones’ first ever European Design, the course had just hosted a major amateur event a couple of days before and the course was still set up to championship standards. The strong wind, combined with some of the fastest greens we have ever played, made for a tough, but fun, final round and built up everyone’s appetite for yet another amazing dinner. |  |
 | Puente Romano Resort is located about a 20 minute walk from Don Pepe and can only be described as a 6* experience (yes, it is rated 5* but there really is not such thing as 6* but this place would be it) and they delivered beyond expectations. |
| Home to 15 restaurants, including Leña, Dani García's steak house, recently voted the most beautiful restaurant in the world; the iconic Nobu Marbella; the beachside bliss of Chiringuito Puente Romano; the innovative tapas of BiBo; Puente Romana is a foodies delight and we were treated to the sophisticated cuisine of Sea Grill, their wonderful seafood restaurant directly on the water. |  |
After dinner, we were given VIP treatment and taken to the entertainment center of this action-packed resort, The Plaza. Fully open air in the summer, covered in a canopy in the winter months (to protect everyone from the frigid 12-13 degree evening weather!!!), this square is located in the middle of the many bars and restaurants of the resort, is the center of all the action at the resort and was the perfect way to celebrate our last evening in Spain. The drink flowed and the “spontaneous” entertainment made for a memorable night.
Day 8, our last day, was off to a leisurely start as we were able to enjoy the hotel and surrounding area for the morning. The pace picked up around lunch as we piled into our coach 1 last time and headed to Malaga for our flight home.
Safe to say we were all sad to be leaving (and heading back to the cold and snow of Canada) but equally safe to say the group members were so impressed with Costa Del Sol, and everything it has to offer for golf travel, that they all intend to get back soon to share it with their memberships.
Safe to say we were all sad to be leaving (and heading back to the cold and snow of Canada) but equally safe to say the group members were so impressed with Costa Del Sol, and everything it has to offer for golf travel, that they all intend to get back soon to share it with their memberships.
Once again, for more on the courses and hotels, click the link below and you'll be taken to a video to hear directly from some of the pros that joined us and get their thoughts on our trip, the course and the off course opportunities in Costa del Sol.
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