Golf in the Costa Brava, a divine space

One of Catalonia’s principal tourist centres, the area enjoys average annual temperatures of 16.5Cᵒ and has everything you need for an unforgettable stay; from outstanding nature, beaches and forests to unforgettable culture, history, gastronomy and art, many of which enjoy international recognition.

The combination of sea and mountains is emblematic of Girona’s cuisine, the fusion of the region’s culinary techniques and character. Its cuisine has substance and identity and is not merely a style of eating and drinking but a way of life and an essential part of our culture.

Today, in the early twenty-first century, the region of Girona is one of the world’s major food and wine destinations. The Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees are arguably at the forefront of culinary innovation as the world’s greatest creative hub, just as it was once the epicentre of surrealism as the home of genius Salvador Dalí.

The innovative power and brilliance of the cooking at El Bulli pioneered a new era in gastronomic innovation, first influencing Catalan chefs and later spreading throughout Spain and Europe to eventually take over the entire world.

This driving force is kept very much alive by the Michelin three-starred El Celler de Can Roca, which was named the world’s best restaurant in 2013 and 2015 and continues to develop its project through its creative laboratory, La Masia, and by the 13 restaurants with a total of 18 Michelin stars that keep the Costa Brava & Girona Pyrenees firmly on the map as a leading Mediterranean food and wine tourism destination.

Combining gastronomy with golf is the ultimate way of experiencing the destination. The Costa Brava and its golf courses are easily accessible from the UK and Europe with regular flights operating from across the continent into the three main airports serving the region – Girona (in the centre), Barcelona (one hour’s drive to the south) and Perpignan (to the north).

Eight courses, eight different itineraries set around an incomparable geographical region: playing golf on the Costa Brava means being part of a unique and sharply-contrasted landscape which has inspired the greatest geniuses.

There are a fabulous variety of courses: PGA Catalunya, Club Golf d’Aro Mas Nou, Club de Golf Costa Brava, Empordà Golf, Club de Golf Perelada, Golf de Pals, Torremirona Golf Club and Par 3 Gualta. All of them are known for their amazing designs and their perfect integration with nature. Moreover, they all give special attention to sustainability in many different ways.

Those seeking tradition will find the perfect spot at Golf de Pals. Nestled within a large pine forest lies the Costa Brava’s oldest golf course. With five par 5, nine par 4 and four par 3 holes, Golf de Pals is one of the few par 73 courses in Catalonia.

Torremirona Golf Club, Ideal for mid-level players, who will find unsurpassable conditions for playing golf here. Its privileged location offers wonderful views over the Pyrenees as well as over Roses Bay.

Regularly ranked among the best golf courses in Spain, Empordà Golf Resort features 36 holes on two courses. Architect Robert von Hagge’s first project in Spain, the two courses have all the traditional characteristics associated with his designs, requiring players to use a wide variety of strokes and techniques to overcome the challenges they pose. It is the first course to obtain the European Union’s EMAS Certification. The golf facilities are complemented by the new Hotel Terraverda, overlooking both courses and just five minutes from the Costa Brava’s finest beaches and charming medieval villages.

PGA Catalunya, home of the Spanish Open on three occasions and host of the DP World Tour Catalunya Championship in 2022, is ranked number 1 golf resort in Spain and number 2 in golf courses ranking.

The course provides the best possible combination of golf thanks to the perfect balance between the Stadium Course, especially designed for the larger competitions and most demanding amateur events, and the Tour Course, with its constant challenges and spectacular holes, capable of satisfying any level of player. The resort is complemented by the luxurious five star Hotel Camiral which includes a Spa & Wellness Centre.

PGA Catalunya collected the Sustainability Award for Nature Protection 2020 at the IAGTO Awards during the IGTM in Morocco. Its work to use recycled water and assist natural habitats and wildlife to thrive, saw the 36-hole resort recognised among its peers. Oriol Dalmau, their biologist, has worked and continues to work on a series of programs and actions that aim to preserve and grow the diversity that surrounds the resort.

But this is not an isolated achievement, as it is part of an ongoing commitment from the region to improve environmental sustainability.

Club Golf D’Aro Mas Nou underlined its commitment to preserving the stunning Costa Brava landscape with a fleet of eco-friendly buggies, while it already boasts a GEO Foundation certificate. The club is also among several which are irrigated entirely with treated wastewater. The course has been designed for ambitious players who enjoy a challenge, especially those with low and medium handicaps, but also for less experienced golfers.

The 27-hole Club de Golf Costa Brava, founded in 1968 and designed by Hamilton Stutt, was recently expanded by Jorge Soler Fish and Eugenio Aguado with the addition of nine new holes. Both courses finish next to the clubhouse, a traditional Catalan farmhouse that dates to 1841 and boasts a spectacular terrace with views over the 18th hole.

The Club de Golf Peralada, with 18 holes and a total length of 6,070 m, is an ideal course for holding competitions of all levels or simply enjoying a pleasant, relaxing day. The course is part of Peralada Resort, which also includes the wine cellars, the Castle, the Casino and the Hotel Peralada Wine Spa & Golf with its own Wine Spa centre, the only one of its kind in Spain, which is based on therapy with derivatives of wine.

Other courses are also on board with the collective push. Gualta – the challenging par-three course – has installed several solar panels in recent times to help power the clubhouse facilities and is now using electric mowers for course maintenance.

But there is plenty more to discover about the region with fabulous culture, superb gastronomy, dazzling beaches, blissful nature, rejuvenating wellness and even the possibility of snow sports to enjoy with the Pyrenees in the backyard.

Normally, when thinking about travelling we tend to choose between the coast or the mountains, depending on whether we prefer the beach or the snow, whether we can go with our partners, families or friends, or even whether we want more active experiences or, on the contrary, a more relaxing break. Right from the start, we find ourselves having to make a choice between one thing or another.  

Don’t choose, enjoy a region that has it all. Visiting the Costa Brava and Girona Pyrenees is an opportunity to enjoy more, to enjoy the double and live twice.  Getting a good score on the course is all down to you. But the biggest prize is already reserved for you: The Costa Brava, a divine space.

For more information about the Costa Brava, visit costabrava.org