The Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Resort is a luxuriously appointed 5-star golf and hotel facility in the heart of the Costa del Sol. From rooms at the stunning old-fashioned Palace hotel are wonderful views across the Mediterranean Sea of the African continent, as well as the Antonio Garcia Garrido–designed Flamingos Course.

Garrido also designed the Alferini Course at Villa Padierna, which opened five years after the original Flamingos Course and is situated a short walk inland of the Palace Hotel.

By contrast to the more garden-like setting of Flamingos, the Alferini is a far more rugged layout and as about as untouched a test as any on the Costa del Sol. This must have been one of the hardest courses in Spain to build, given some extreme elevation change and a routing that weaves through a series of abrupt hills and plays through narrow passes or along ridge edges.

The opening stretch gives some idea of the challenge ahead, with fairways wedged tightly between forested slopes and both creeks and dangerous rocky outcrops integrated into the design. The long par three 3rd is a particular favourite, for its strong, downhill tee shot and attractive green setting beneath converging hills. Though penal on the miss-hit, the hole is much more effective than the super-skinny par four openers.

Other memorable moments include the downhill par four 6th, with its staggered landing platforms, the broadly proportioned par five 12th and the peninsula par three 14th hole whose green is cut into a lake.

Less effective are the Alferini’s main talking points, which come toward the close of the round. The par five 16th would boast the narrowest fairway in Spain if not for the 18th hole, which tumbles steeply downhill from an elevated tee that enjoys a spectacular view of the Sea and local region, but from where the thin strip of fairway turf to hit is almost indistinguishable. The tee shot itself is thrilling given the hang time it enjoys and, for those able to miraculously find the short grass, the approach shot is fun as well.

Despite some difficult areas, the setting here is very pleasant and the understated nature of most green sites makes for a fun round of golf. The Alferini is much longer and harder than the Flamingos, but certainly worth pairing together for those golfers visiting this unique golf resort. 

---

Villa Padierna has three courses in total, as well as a Michael Campbell Golf Academy. The Flamingos course hosted the 2002, 2003 and 2004 European Seniors as well as the Women’s Spanish Open in 2010.

--

Perfectly located for golfers visiting the Costa del Sol, the Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Resort is a luxurious 5-star facility recommended as a base for golf trips to the region for its picturesque Andalusia setting, stunning palace style hotel, three courses, Michael Campbell golf academy, fine dining, thermal spa and wellness centre, sandy beach club and tranquil gardens and lakes.