SAN ROQUE OLD COURSE REVIEW: NUMBER 4 IN SPAIN FOR €350. WE PLAYED IT.

We have played 82 golf courses across five countries. San Roque Old Course sits number 4 on our list of the best courses we have played in Spain. It costs €350 including buggy. Valderrama is five minutes up the road and costs €670 minimum.

That is the comparison. That is the article. But the full story is better than the numbers.

What you need before you book

San Roque Old Course. San Roque, Cádiz. Sotogrande. Part of what the golf world calls the Golden Triangle, San Roque, Valderrama and Real Club de Golf Sotogrande.
The greatest concentration of championship golf in continental Europe.

Par 72. White tees 6,311 metres, slope 133, course rating 74.1. Yellow tees 6,026 metres, slope 131. Blue tees 5,562 metres, slope 126. Red tees 4,874 metres.

Green fee: €224 to €300 depending on season. High season is March through May and September through November. Buggy: €50 extra per round. GPS touchscreen, cooler box, daily pin positions on every cart. Electric trolley: €20. Manual trolley: €9. Practice facilities included, Toptracer technology on the driving range bays. Club rental: €50 to €60.

Handicap certificate required at check-in. Maximum 28 for men, 36 for women. Strict dress code. No metal spikes. Book in advance. This fills up fast.

One critical note before you search online. In March 2024 the Old Course and New Course completely separated. The Old Course is now The San Roque Club at sanroqueclub.com. The New Course runs independently as San Roque Golf and Resort at green fees of €65 to €85. Different websites, different ownership, different standards. Make sure you are booking the right course.

Contact: info@sanroqueclub.com. Phone: +34 956 613 030. Book your round at sanroqueclub.com.

We almost walked past the Ryder Cup

The night before our round, heading back to our room, there was a small plaque on the door right next to ours. A name. A Ryder Cup player. 1997. We stood in that corridor and let it land. Seve Ballesteros was captain that week. Valderrama was five minutes up the road. Tiger Woods was making his Ryder Cup debut. The entire European team and the entire American team had slept behind these doors. Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Phil Mickelson, José María Olazábal. All of them. Right here.

We did not take a photo. We have thought about this every day since.

The rest of the hotel was occupied by a French reality TV crew filming Love is Blind. The French version. People dramatically falling in love in the corridors and on the terrace while two Icelanders squeezed past them with golf bags at seven in the morning. Tiger Woods slept here in 1997. French television is here now. We are here with our Srixon balls and a 7am tee time. San Roque does not give you an ordinary stay. We can confirm this.

The story behind the course

Amazing day at San Roque the old course

The 340-acre estate was the summer residence of the Domecq family — one of the most powerful sherry dynasties in Spanish history. Their home for generations. The mansion is now the clubhouse. You check in for your round in a building where one of the great aristocratic families of Andalusia spent their summers for over a century.

The Old Course was designed by Dave Thomas and Tony Jacklin and opened in 1991 at an alleged cost of one million dollars per hole. Eighteen holes. One million each. That number tells you exactly what this place was built to be.

Then Seve Ballesteros became club chairman and personally redesigned every single bunker. The sand you play out of on this course was shaped by the hands of the greatest golfer Spain ever produced. Not a marketing claim. A confirmed fact across multiple primary sources.

Sir Sean Connery was a regular visitor for years. The late James Bond actor lived in southern Spain and returned repeatedly to the putting greens and the Domecq mansion courtyard. James Bond played here regularly. We are choosing to see this as a connection.

In 2019 a new ownership group acquired the club and appointed Stephen Dundas as director. Stephen won the 1992 British Amateur Championship at Carnoustie and played the 1993 Masters at Augusta National. He closed the course for eleven months. Complete rebuild. Better Billy Bunkers. Bermuda fairways. Bentgrass greens. Wood chip mulch borders around the cork oaks — inspired directly by Augusta National. The mulch is a local rule on the scorecard: play the ball as it lies. No free relief. We found the mulch on hole 2. It found us right back.

The renovation moved San Roque from number 25 in Spain to number 4 in six years.

One more thing about the renovation that nobody writes about. It started in late 2019. In March 2020 the Spanish government imposed COVID lockdowns while the course was stripped completely to bare earth. Management secured emergency exemptions to continue drainage work. When restrictions eased, club members volunteered to plant the grass across the fairways and tee complexes by hand. Every member who showed up and got on their knees to plant grass is commemorated on an engraved wooden plaque in the clubhouse entrance. We walked past it on the way to the putting green. We stopped and read every name. That plaque changes how you feel about every fairway you play on.

Before the first hole, the best putting green in Europe

The practice putting green at San Roque stopped us completely before we reached the first tee.

We have played 82 golf courses around the world. This is the best practice putting green we have seen anywhere. Enormous. Immaculate. Completely identical in speed, pace and surface to the greens on the course itself. What you practice on is exactly what you play on. It sits right next to the restaurant terrace. Putter in hand, glass of water, zero rush, the Domecq mansion behind you and eighteen holes ahead.

Then the small details started arriving one by one. A quality water bottle at check-in. Fresh water refill stations every three holes. Ice in the buggy cooler. A frozen slush at the halfway point. After the round Steini left two clubs at the pro shop to be regripped. By the time we finished lunch they were on the counter waiting.

San Roque does not announce these things. They just happen. This course has the calm confidence of a person who does not need to tell you how good they are.

The round

The front nine winds through mature cork oak forest. Tight fairways, trees closing in on both sides, dogleg after dogleg. Classical parkland golf that gives you nothing for free off the tee. The driver is not always the answer. On several holes the driver is genuinely the worst idea you will have all day.

We tried being aggressive. We found the mulch. We became patient golfers somewhere around hole 4.

The back nine opens up. Higher ground, wider views, longer carries. The 17th tee gives you a panoramic sweep of the Mediterranean and the Sierra Bermeja before asking you to hit one of the more precise drives on the course. The 18th plays into a green sitting directly below the Domecq mansion terrace, a water hazard cutting across the approach, lunch guests watching from above. You finish your round under the eyes of everyone eating. No pressure at all.

The condition throughout was ten out of ten. Fairways in tournament shape from hole 1 to hole 18. Greens fast and true. Not one moment where the maintenance let us down.

One honest note on the restaurant. It is not cheap. The quality is genuinely there and the setting earns it. Budget accordingly before you go.

The history that gives this course its weight

From 1993 to 2007 — fifteen consecutive years — San Roque Old Course hosted the European Tour Qualifying School Finals. Every November the players who wanted a professional tour card had to survive these fairways first. One bad week and your career was over for another year.

Padraig Harrington earned his European Tour card here. Three Major championships. Lee Westwood, world number one. Ian Poulter, Ryder Cup legend with a 12 and 6 career record. Justin Rose, Olympic gold medallist and US Open champion. Four future Major champions stood on these tees fighting for their professional lives.

"See you in November in San Roque" became the phrase repeated throughout the golf industry at the end of every European Tour season for fifteen years. You feel that history when you play here. It sits in the cork oaks and the bentgrass and the Better Billy Bunkers that Seve shaped. You cannot manufacture it and you cannot buy it.

The Old Course also hosted the Spanish Open in 2005, won by Peter Hanson in a playoff with fellow Swede Peter Gustafsson. Two Swedes. A playoff. In Andalusia. Golf is a strange and wonderful sport.

Watch our full review of San Roque Old Course here: youtube.com/@Beyond50discoveringthelife

We played La Hacienda Links the same trip — our number 1 course in Spain. Full review here: beyond50.golf/blog/la-hacienda-links

We also reviewed the Valderrama question in full: beyond50.golf/blog/is-valderrama-worth-it

The verdict

San Roque Old Course. Number 4 in Spain. Number 95 in Europe. Designed by Dave Thomas and Tony Jacklin. Every bunker shaped by Seve Ballesteros. Fifteen consecutive Q School Finals. The 1997 Ryder Cup teams behind the suite doors. Sean Connery on the putting green. Club members planting the grass by hand during COVID. A plaque in the clubhouse with every name.

And it costs €350 including buggy.

Valderrama is €670 minimum. An extraordinary golf course. Not the right call for most golfers and most bank accounts.

San Roque Old Course is the right call. Not flashy, not trendy, just classy. This is the kind of course where you automatically behave a little better. At least for the first twenty minutes until the golf starts. Then you are completely back to normal.

Go play it. Stay the night if you can. Walk the corridors. Read the plaques on the suite doors. Find the one with a Ryder Cup player's name on it.

Take the photo. We did not. Learn from us.

Par 72. White tees 6,311 metres, slope 133. Green fee €224 to €300. Buggy €50 extra. Handicap 28 men, 36 women. Book at sanroqueclub.com.

You don't stop having fun because you get old. You get old because you stopped having fun.

Steini and Hildur
Beyond 50

FAQ

Is San Roque Old Course the same as San Roque New Course?
No. Since March 2024 they are completely separate businesses. The Old Course is The San Roque Club at sanroqueclub.com, green fee €224 to €300. The New Course operates independently as San Roque Golf and Resort, green fee €65 to €85. Different ownership, different website, different standard. Make sure you are booking the right one.

Is San Roque Old Course worth the green fee?
Yes. At €224 to €300 plus €50 buggy you get a course ranked number 4 in Spain with Seve Ballesteros redesigned bunkers, fifteen years of Q School history and the 1997 Ryder Cup connection. Valderrama is €670 minimum. The choice is clear for most golfers.

Who designed San Roque Old Course?
Dave Thomas and Tony Jacklin designed the original layout which opened in 1991 at an alleged cost of one million dollars per hole. Seve Ballesteros personally redesigned every bunker as club chairman. A complete renovation was completed June 2021 under director Stephen Dundas, 1992 British Amateur champion.

What is the slope rating of San Roque Old Course?
133 from the white tees at 6,311 metres. Yellow tees slope 131 at 6,026 metres. Blue tees slope 126 at 5,562 metres. Red tees slope 120 at 4,874 metres.

What tees should a golfer over 50 play at San Roque Old Course?
Yellow tees at 6,026 metres for men. The white tees carry forced carries over mulch and ravines that punish mid-handicappers on holes 2, 4, 9 and 18. Red tees at 4,874 metres for women. Both provide a fair and enjoyable round without the punishment the white tees deliver to average swing speeds.

Is the buggy included at San Roque Old Course?
No. The buggy costs €50 extra per round. GPS touchscreen, cooler box, daily pin positions. Take it. The terrain is rolling and the Andalusian summer heat is not a small detail.

What is the Q School connection at San Roque Old Course?
From 1993 to 2007 San Roque Old Course hosted fifteen consecutive European Tour Qualifying School Finals. Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose all earned their European Tour cards here. No other course on the Costa del Sol carries this record.

What is the Ryder Cup connection at San Roque Old Course?
In 1997 Valderrama hosted the Ryder Cup under Seve Ballesteros. San Roque was the official accommodation for both the European and American teams. Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie slept here. The original brass nameplates remain on the suite doors. You can sleep next door to a Ryder Cup legend. We can confirm this is a real and slightly surreal experience.

How far is San Roque Old Course from Gibraltar Airport?
Approximately 25 minutes by car. La Hacienda Links is 35 minutes from Gibraltar. Valderrama is five minutes from San Roque. Three of the best courses in Spain within a five to thirty five minute drive. Plan accordingly.

What is the Golden Triangle of Sotogrande golf?
San Roque Old Course, Real Club Valderrama and Real Club de Golf Sotogrande — three world-class championship layouts within a few minutes of each other in the Sotogrande area of Cádiz. They form what the golf world calls the Golden Triangle, one of the greatest concentrations of elite golf anywhere in Europe.

LA HACIENDA LINKS: IS THIS THE BEST GOLF COURSE IN SPAIN? WE PLAYED 82 TO FIND OUT.

We have played 82 golf courses together across five countries. This one is the best we have played in 2025.

Not the best in Spain. The best. Full stop. La Hacienda Links. If we could only play one course in Spain for the rest of our lives, it would be this one.

That is not a line for a headline. That is what we said on camera at the end of the round and we meant every word of it.

What you need before you book

La Hacienda Links Golf Resort. San Roque, Cádiz. Between Gibraltar and Sotogrande on the Costa del Sol. Par 72. White tees 5,895 metres, slope 133. Yellow tees 5,540 metres, slope 128. Play the yellow tees. The white championship tees carry intimidating forced carries over coastal ravines that will punish mid-handicappers, particularly into the Levante wind.

Green fee: €199 to €299 depending on season. Buggy included in every round. GPS navigation, cooler box, digital pin locations on every cart. Handicap certificate required. Maximum 28 for men, 36 for women. Open daily 07:30 to 19:00.

Practice facilities included with the green fee. 72 bay driving range, 36 covered, Bentgrass putting greens that match the speed of the course exactly.

We arrived early. That was intentional. When a course has a practice facility this good, you use it. We warmed up properly, hit balls, putted. Then we went to the pro shop. The pro shop is excellent. Well stocked, well organised. The kind of place where you go in for one glove and come out having made decisions. Good decisions.

Closest airport: Gibraltar, approximately 35 minutes. Málaga Airport approximately 90 minutes. The Fairmont La Hacienda hotel is on site. Five-star, ocean views, serious kitchen. Stay there if you can.

Book your round: lahaciendagolf.com

The two designers

The Links Course was originally designed in 1992 by Clive Clark and Peter Alliss. Peter Alliss played eight Ryder Cups, won more than 20 tournaments and spent over 50 years as the voice of golf on BBC television. Golf Digest called him the greatest golf commentator who ever lived. He designed this course in 1992. He died in December 2020. He never heard it called the best golf course in Spain.

The architect who redesigned it is an American named Kurtis Bowman. He started his career at Augusta National, home of The Masters. He was so persistent about getting a job there that they eventually gave in the first Ohio State student in history to work at Augusta. La Hacienda Links was his first project in Europe.

His first words when he visited the old course: this should be the Pebble Beach of Spain.

He spent more than 150 days on site. The course reopened in July 2022. You feel his thinking on every single hole.

La Hacienda Links. Best Golf Course in Spain at the World Golf Awards 2023. World's Best Halfway House 2024. Number 94 in the world. The only links-style course in southern Spain. And the best course we played in 2025.

The round, from the first tee to the 18th green

Our playing partners that day were two lovely gentlemen from Korea. Really nice. Very enthusiastic. Slightly more interested in filming themselves than playing golf. Slightly. We enjoyed them very much. Different approach to the game. Same love of it.

Kurtis Bowman starts easy. Wide fairway on number one, generous par five, room to breathe. He lets people feel good before the course starts asking serious questions.

Then hole three arrives. Handicap one. The hardest hole on the course. 440 metres. Par 4. It does not apologise and it does not negotiate. We negotiated anyway. We lost.

But here is what this course does brilliantly. It tests you and teases you at the same time. From holes three and four, something starts building. The layout opens up. A glimpse of the sea. Something is coming.

And then hole five.

We have played 82 golf courses across five countries. We have had moments on golf courses. But the fifth tee at La Hacienda Links — elevated par five — and suddenly the whole world is in front of you. The Mediterranean. The Rock of Gibraltar. The coastline stretching out below. The hole drops all the way down to a green that sits almost on the beach.

This is not marketing. This is just what it is.

We both took photos before we looked at the yardage. Kurtis Bowman said this would be the most photographed hole in Spain before the course even reopened. He was absolutely right.

A ditch cuts across the fairway and forces a decision before you swing. The green at the bottom is enormous — shared with the 13th, almost on the beach, with big contours and positions you did not expect. Hildur two-putted. Steini did not putt at all. We are moving on.

Holes 6, 7, 8 and 9 keep delivering. Every one of them. No filler. No walking from one decent hole to the next.

Hole 6 — before the redesign this played across a pond. Completely forgettable. Bowman removed the pond entirely. Pushed the green to the edge of a ridge with Gibraltar sitting directly behind it. One decision turned the hole nobody remembered into the one nobody forgets.

Hole 7. Par five. Green reachable in two over water. We both went for it. The water is very wet. We know this now.

Hole 8. 140 metres. Looks simple on the card. Then the Levante wind hits you — the wind that funnels through the Strait of Gibraltar and has been making people miserable for over 3,000 years. On this hole it continues that tradition. Do not read the yardage. Read the flag. Then add a club. Maybe two.

The Calma halfway house

Between holes 9 and 10 sits Calma. World's Best Halfway House at the 2024 World Golf Awards. Clifftop position. Gibraltar right in front of you, the course spread out below, the Mediterranean beyond it.

We sat there and we genuinely did not want to leave.

The design of it, the position of it, the view from it, it is possibly the only halfway house where the toilet has a better view than most restaurants. That is completely true and we are not ashamed to say it.

We almost did not go back out for the back nine. Then we remembered we had nine holes left at La Hacienda Links. That made the decision easy.

The back nine, Gibraltar watching every shot

Hole 10. You tee off and Gibraltar is just there, right in front of you. Watching every shot. The whole back nine carries this presence that is hard to describe. You feel it the whole way home. The sea beside you, the rock in front of you, the course asking questions all the way to 18.

Hole 11. Dogleg right. The green drops off a cliff straight toward the beach. One of the most dramatic green positions we have seen on any course in Spain.

Hole 14 is the surprise of the back nine. Short uphill par 4 with water cascading through boulders into a lake. Four bunkers around the green. Trees closing everything off. Not a breathing hole. Not a moment to relax.

And then 18. Par five. Gibraltar watching the whole time. A grand way to end a round this good.

What makes La Hacienda different from every other great course we have played

It is not too long. It is not too short. Hildur played the ladies tees. Steini played the gents. We both found it equally fun, equally challenging, equally rewarding. That does not always happen.

The fairways are wide enough that you feel free off the tee. The rough is real — we found it. The bunkers look fierce but they are strategic, not cruel. You can make par from them. They are there to make you think, not ruin your round.

The greens are the best we played in 2025. Fast, contoured, full of character. The condition of the whole course is immaculate. Greenkeepers on every stretch. Bunkers raked perfectly.

From hole one to hole 18. Not one boring moment. Not one hole where you are just getting through it to reach the next one.

Most courses do one or two things really well. La Hacienda Links does nearly all of it. From the moment we arrived to the moment we walked off the 18th — the clubhouse, the pro shop, the restaurant, the practice facilities, the layout, the condition, the greens, the halfway house, the views, the atmosphere — it just kept delivering.

Hildur's hole in one

Hole 17. Par 3. Heavy wind directly at us from the Strait. Hildur stepped onto the tee and said it before she even took a practice swing.

"Okay, heavy wind. Probably I won't hit the green because it's heavy wind."

The contact was pure. Her Srixon ball cut through the Gibraltar wind tracking straight at the pin. From the tee we were both convinced it had gone too far.

"Too long, too long. I thought I wouldn't hit the green. Okay, it's gone."

We drove to the green. Walked to the cup. And there it was. Sitting at the bottom of the hole.

"Oh my god. Oh my god. I made it. I'm going to put it in my wallet. I'm shaking. Do you believe it? Against the wind and everything. A hole in one. Steini, I'm so happy."

The Srixon ball went straight into her wallet. It is still there.

Against the wind. On her favourite course in Spain. With Gibraltar behind her and Africa in the distance. We have played 82 golf courses around the world. That is the moment we will still be talking about when we are 80.

The verdict

We played 82 golf courses across five countries. In 2025 we played in Spain, Iceland and beyond. La Hacienda Links is the best we played all year. Not the best in Spain. The best. Period.

If we could only play one course in Spain for the rest of our lives, this is the one.

That is the only thing you need to know.

Par 72. Green fee €199 to €299. Buggy included. Handicap 28 men, 36 women. Open daily 07:30 to 19:00. The Fairmont hotel on site. Five-star, ocean views, serious kitchen. Stay there if you can.

Watch our full review: youtube.com/watch?v=_Wli0uuIINc

Watch Hildur's hole in one: youtube.com/watch?v=xT9SjjWfiBg

You don't stop having fun because you get old. You get old because you stopped having fun.

Steini and Hildur
Beyond 50

FAQ

Is La Hacienda Links worth the green fee?
Yes. At €199 to €299 depending on season with a GPS buggy included, this is exceptional value for the best course on the Costa del Sol. Valderrama costs €674 minimum for a couple. La Hacienda gives you Africa visible from every green, the World's Best Halfway House and a Kurtis Bowman design that earned number 94 in the world. The choice is clear.

Who designed La Hacienda Links Golf Course?
Originally designed by Peter Alliss and Clive Clark in 1992. Completely rebuilt by American architect Kurtis Bowman — who started his career at Augusta National — and relaunched in July 2022. Named Best Golf Course in Spain at the 2023 World Golf Awards.

What tees should a golfer over 50 play at La Hacienda Links?
The yellow tees at 5,540 metres with slope 128. They provide the ideal combination of challenge and accessibility. Avoid the white championship tees at 5,895 metres slope 133 unless you have a handicap below 10. The Levante wind makes the white tees genuinely punishing for mid-handicappers.

What is the Calma halfway house?
Calma sits between holes 9 and 10 and was named World's Best Halfway House at the 2024 World Golf Awards. Views of Gibraltar, Africa and the Mediterranean simultaneously. Possibly the only halfway house where the toilet has a better view than most restaurants. We are not ashamed to say this.

Is La Hacienda Links walkable?
The course drops over 150 vertical metres from the clubhouse ridge to the coastline. The buggy is included in the green fee. Take it.

How far is La Hacienda Links from Gibraltar Airport?
Approximately 35 minutes by car. Málaga Airport is approximately 90 minutes away.

Is there a hotel at La Hacienda Links?
Yes. The Fairmont La Hacienda Costa del Sol opened in 2025. Five-star. 311 rooms, suites and villas. Ocean views. Serious kitchen. Stay there if you can.

Is Golf Torrequebrada Worth Playing? The 50 Year Old Beast of Spain

Finding a championship golf course on the Costa del Sol that does not cost 500 euros requires looking past the famous modern resorts. Golf Torrequebrada turns 50 years old this year, sitting quietly inside a residential valley just 17 minutes from the Malaga airport. We booked a tee time to see if this historic layout could compete with the modern Spanish giants. The locals call this course the "Beast of Spain" for a very good reason. It lures you in with a romantic history and beautiful gardens, only to test you with a brutal 139 slope rating. Here is the absolute truth about the velvet grass, the severe elevation, and the 18th hole that embarrassed us.

The Picasso of Golf and Green Fee Logistics

We loved this course, so beautiful, so challenging, so much fun!

A visitor green fee at Golf Torrequebrada ranges from 91 to 155 euros depending on the season. A shared buggy costs an additional 45 euros. José "Pepe" Gancedo, known as the "Picasso of Golf," designed the par 72 layout in 1976.

Gancedo was an elite amateur golfer who built this course without any real estate restrictions. He famously walked the land with a sack of golf balls, throwing them down the hills to see how they rolled, and that dictated where the fairways went. He openly admitted the final routing was meant to represent his wife, Lupe, lying in bed with the sheets draped around her.

That romance quickly fades when the starter hands you cold bottles of water on the first tee. You need that water. The first tee box sits 102 meters above sea level, and a buggy is an absolute physical necessity for golfers playing here on holiday. The club provides premium carts equipped with Tag Marshal GPS screens, plush seats, and built in ice boxes. The strict 12 minute interval between tee times meant we never waited on a single shot.

Reserve your tee time at Torrequebrada here:
https://golftorrequebrada.com

The Game Plan: Buy Extra Balls and Hide Your Driver

Golf Torrequebrada features tight landing areas and severe doglegs that penalize inaccurate tee shots. The water hazards and deep olive groves claim several golf balls from average players during a standard round. You will score significantly better if you hit long irons or hybrids off some of the tee instead of a driver all the time.

This layout is a brilliant trap for the male ego. You stand on an elevated tee box, look down at a sweeping Spanish valley, and instantly want to smash your driver. Do not do it. The Beast of Spain demands a sacrifice, and it usually takes the form of your brand new Pro V1 golf balls.

Do yourself a favor. Walk into that beautiful pro shop before your round, buy a dozen extra balls, and keep the big stick under its headcover on some of the holes. The patient golfer who hits a 5 wood to the corner of the dogleg goes home happy. The aggressive golfer spends the afternoon hiking through olive trees looking for lost balls.

The 139 Slope Rating and Velvet Fairways

The course carries a severe slope rating of 139 across 5,842 meters of constant elevation changes. The property features over 30,000 trees spanning 115 different species. The club enforces a maximum handicap of 28 for men and 35 for women.

The course condition easily rivals the most expensive properties in Southern Spain. The fairways are lined with ancient cork oaks and Caribbean palms. However, the grass itself presents a completely unexpected problem for average players. It is immaculately maintained but feels like thick velvet.

"I have troubles in that grass," Hildur laughed after a heavy iron shot. "I can't hit the ball from it. It will still be here tomorrow, so we will have to figure it out."

If you plan on tackling these highly manicured, hilly Spanish layouts, you need to pack the right equipment in your travel bag.

The 1979 Spanish Open and Hole 3

Golf Torrequebrada hosted the 53rd Spanish Open in 1979. South African Dale Hayes won the tournament after setting an early course record of 66. Severiano Ballesteros missed the cut during this event after carding an eight on a single hole.

Golfers fiercely debate the exact hole Seve ruined his scorecard on, but you feel the danger instantly on the 3rd hole. It is a tiny, 80 meter par three. Gancedo rebuilt this green eight times before he was satisfied. Today, it looks like an upturned saucer. If you miss the absolute center of the putting surface, your ball gets rejected instantly down the slope. We aimed dead middle and happily walked away with a par.

See exactly what these heavily contoured greens and elevated tee boxes look like from the fairways.

Water Hazards and the 16th Hole Tortoises

Water hazards come into play on nine of the 18 holes. The club imported a population of Galapagos tortoises into these lakes during construction in 1975. The 16th green sits exactly 16 meters above the Mediterranean Sea.

The 16th hole provides an undeniable visual shock. You must carry the water twice to reach the putting surface. If you stand by the lake as the sun drops, hundreds of bubbles rise to the surface from the 40 year old tortoises living in the hazard.

Hildur faced a terrifying approach shot over the water to a tight pin position and dropped her ball perfectly onto the green.

"Lucky bastard," she said deadpan. "I'm really happy that it went in."

The 18th Hole Trap and the Clubhouse Reward

The 18th hole requires a blind tee shot over a deep valley of olive trees. The approach shot plays into a green protected by a severe false front. The Torrequebrada clubhouse originally opened in 1979 and shares an entertainment legacy with the famous Casino next door.

The 18th hole is not your friend. The pin position fools you completely, and anything landing short rolls directly back down the hill. We learned the hard way that you must aim for the middle or right side of the green and take your medicine.

Once you survive the 18th, you walk into a property steeped in 1970s glamour. During its golden era, the Torrequebrada complex famously hosted legendary performances by Julio Iglesias and Gloria Gaynor. The history lives in the walls. The locker rooms feels good, the toilets are spotless, and the pro shop is heavily stocked. We sat on the terrace, ordered lunch, and ate what we confidently consider the best beef burger in Spain. Golf Torrequebrada completely surprised us, and it is a mandatory stop for anyone visiting Malaga.

If you want a quiet place to recover after playing the Beast of Spain, we found the perfect adult only basecamp down the coast.

FAQ BLOCK

How much does a round of golf cost at Golf Torrequebrada? A visitor green fee ranges from 91 to 155 euros depending on the season and time of day. A shared buggy costs an additional 45 euros for two players. The club requires a maximum handicap of 28 for men and 35 for women.

Is Golf Torrequebrada a difficult golf course? Yes. The layout carries a severe 139 slope rating. The tight fairways, extreme elevation changes, and blind doglegs make it highly punishing for aggressive golfers. We highly recommend leaving your driver in the bag and buying extra golf balls before you tee off.

Who designed Golf Torrequebrada? José "Pepe" Gancedo designed the golf course in 1976. Known as the Picasso of Golf, he used two million cubic meters of earth to shape the fairways naturally into the hillsides. The property features 30,000 trees across 115 different species.

Did Seve Ballesteros play at Golf Torrequebrada? Yes. Severiano Ballesteros won the under-25 Spanish Championship on the course in 1978. He returned for the 1979 Spanish Open but missed the cut after recording an eight on a single hole.

Is Valderrama Worth It? The 2026 Sotogrande Budget Test

Golf over fifty is a battle between your ego and your holiday budget. Real Club Valderrama demands 674 euros for a single round of golf in 2026. You sit with your credit card and wonder if playing one famous course is worth the price of a short European vacation. Steinn and Hildur here from Beyond 50. We paid the green fees across the Sotogrande corridor to answer the ultimate question. Do you spend your money chasing tour history, or do you spend it having fun? For 1,328 euros, a couple can either play 18 holes at Valderrama, or they can play 36 holes across two neighboring championship layouts. Here is the exact math, the ego traps, and the definitive ruling on where to spend your money.

The Financial Reality of Real Club Valderrama

Real Club Valderrama charges a 2026 visitor green fee of 600 euros. The online booking portal adds a 4 euro transaction fee. The club mandates a 70 euro cash payment for a forecaddie upon arrival.

The financial shock hits you before you even buy a coffee. A couple pays 1,348 euros just to reach the first tee. You pay this money for your ego. You want to tell your friends you walked the exact fairways where Seve Ballesteros captained the 1997 Ryder Cup. The maintenance crews cut the greens to a frictionless glass finish. You walk on eggshells, terrified of taking a bad divot under the watch of your forecaddie. The cork oaks crowd the fairways so tightly that pulling your driver out feels like a guaranteed penalty stroke. By the time we reached the 17th hole, the water hazard swallowed three of my golf balls, and Hildur politely declined to share any of hers.

We filmed a head to head course comparison showing exactly how narrow the Valderrama tee boxes look from the grass.

The San Roque Old Course Value

San Roque Old Course charges a peak 2026 green fee of 375 euros. This rate includes a shared buggy for your round. The pricing saves a couple 598 euros compared to Valderrama.

San Roque Old delivers a severe European Tour test without the crushing caddie fees. The club hands you the buggy keys immediately upon check in. You need that buggy to survive the steep climbs on the back nine. Miss the green at San Roque Old and you spend ten minutes digging your way out of bunkers deep enough to strike oil. You still get the premium Sotogrande country club experience, but the atmosphere feels relaxed. We actually laughed when a missed putt rolled twenty feet off a false front.

"I prefer putting when the green does not slope into a lake," Hildur said.

La Hacienda Links and Coastal Golf

La Hacienda Links offers a 2026 peak season green fee of 289 euros. The club includes a shared buggy in the daily rate. The course provides direct views of the Mediterranean Sea.

This layout breaks from the tight woodland designs of its neighbors. Wide rolling fairways run straight toward the sea. The coastal wind off the Rock of Gibraltar pushes approach shots left into the heavy rough. This is where the ego dies and the fun begins. You can swing a driver freely. You enjoy the sea breeze with your partner instead of calculating yardages with a forecaddie. We booked a morning tee time here and spent the entire round grinning at the views.

Watch the exact moment Hildur dropped her tee shot into the cup on the cliffside par 3 at La Hacienda Links.

The Adult Only Hotel Basecamp

Booking multiple championship courses requires a quiet place to recover. The Sotogrande coastline offers hotels catering specifically to older golfers. A proper basecamp prevents travel exhaustion.

If you throw your back out hauling luggage into a crowded family resort, your holiday ends early. We prefer booking adult-only hotels to escape screaming kids by the pool. You need a quiet terrace and a cold glass of Rioja wine to recover from a difficult round. We found a hotel surrounded by 14 golf courses that caters perfectly to couples our age.

See inside the exact adult recommended resort we use as a basecamp for playing these Spanish courses.

The Final Verdict on the Sotogrande Budget

Playing one round at Valderrama for two players costs 1,348 euros after mandatory caddie and booking fees. A couple can play both San Roque Old and La Hacienda Links for a combined 1,328 euros.

The math heavily favors splitting your budget across two distinct layouts. You secure 36 holes of golf and preserve your knees with included buggies. Valderrama caters to single digit handicaps possessing unlimited vacation funds. San Roque Old and La Hacienda Links deliver superior value for couples seeking an entertaining golf holiday. Choose the 36 hole option, keep your ego in check, and enjoy the tapas.

Press play on the San Roque video above to see the exact tee shots that justify these price tags. You don't stop having fun because you get old. You get old because you stopped having fun.

And here is the La Hacienda, the best golf course we played in 2025.

FAQ BLOCK

What is the 2026 green fee for Real Club Valderrama? The 2026 visitor green fee is 600 euros. The online booking portal adds a 4 euro transaction fee. The club requires a mandatory 70 euro cash payment for a forecaddie on the day of play.

Does San Roque Old Course include a buggy? Yes. The 2026 peak season green fee of 375 euros includes a shared buggy. The severe elevation changes on the back nine make the buggy a physical necessity for most older golfers.

Can visitors play Real Club Valderrama? The private members club offers a highly restricted number of visitor tee times. You must book these slots months in advance. The club strictly forbids jeans, cargo shorts, and flip flops on the property.

Who designed La Hacienda Links? Peter Alliss and Clive Clark originally designed the course in 1992. Kurtis Bowman recently completed a comprehensive redesign that modernized the greens and widened the fairways to improve playability in coastal winds.

The Brutal Financial Truth About Golfing from Malaga to Gibraltar (And The Great Spanish Pricing Paradox!).

Hello friends! Steinn and Hildur here.

If you are planning a golf getaway to Southern Spain, specifically the coastline stretching from Malaga down to Gibraltar you are heading straight into the undisputed Golf Mecca of Europe.

Before booking flights and pulling out your credit card, you need the financial reality. Travel agents won't tell you this, but the Spanish golf economy operates on an upside down calendar.

Coming from Iceland, we had to figure out these logistics through trial and error. Here is our unfiltered breakdown of real costs, driving strategies, and budget hacks gathered from playing dozens of championship courses across this exact region.

The "Beyond 50" Quick Guide to Spanish Golf Pricing

• The Hotel & Car High Season (July & August): European beachgoers flood the coast. Accommodations and car rentals hit peak pricing.

• The Golf Low Season (July & August): Because mid day temperatures reach 35°C (95°F), premium courses slash green fees by 40% to 50%.

• The Hotel & Car Low Season (Late September & October): Beach crowds disappear, dropping room rates and rental car prices into shoulder season territory.

• The Golf Peak Season (Late September & October): Temperatures settle into a comfortable 24°C (75°F). Golfers arrive en masse, and green fees hit their highest rates of the year.

The Great Spanish Pricing Paradox: Summer vs. Autumn

To build an accurate budget, you have to calculate your entire travel basket: Green Fees + Hotel + Rental Car + Buggies.

================================================================================
REAL WORLD COST COMPARISON: MALAGA TO GIBRALTAR (PER COUPLE, 7 DAYS)
================================================================================
Expense Item                           July / August (Summer)       Oct / Nov (Autumn)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-Star Resort (7 Nights)        €2,400 - €3,200 (PEAK)         €1,500 - €2,100 (SHOULDER)
Rental Car (Wiber SUV)         €450 - €650 (PEAK)               €200 - €320 (LOW)
5 Rounds of Championship Golf €900 - €1,200 (DISCOUNTED)   €1,800 - €2,600 (PEAK)
Buggy Fees (5 Rounds)         €225 - €300                             €250 - €300
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESTIMATED TOTAL EXPENSE      €3,975 - €5,350              €3,750 - €5,320
================================================================================

The total spend often comes out nearly identical. The difference lies in where your money goes:

• In July, you are paying for luxury accommodations and saving significantly on the golf course.

• In October, you save on your hotel room, but hand those savings right over to the pro shop.

The 5:00 PM "Twilight Hack" (How We Beat the July Heat)

Playing golf in 35°C midday sun is not fun. Fortunately, July in Southern Spain offers daylight until nearly 9:45 PM.

Instead of booking an 11:00 AM tee time, book a 5:00 PM Twilight rate.

1. The scorching midday heat drops as the coastal sea breeze kicks in.

2. You catch golden hour light over the Mediterranean.

3. Twilight green fees are often heavily discounted on top of standard summer rates.

The Ultimate Sotogrande Value Hack: €300 Old vs. €72 New

Nowhere is the pricing paradox clearer than at The San Roque Club. We have played both the Old and New layouts.

The San Roque Old Course is historic. It has hosted the Spanish Open and European Tour Qualifying School. It offers a classic, oak lined, demanding test, but commands high season rates around €300 per round.

If you want world class golf without paying that premium, book the San Roque New Course.

Designed by Perry Dye and Seve Ballesteros, the New Course has undergone a massive €100 million renovation under Berwik Real Estate. Because clubhouse renovations have been ongoing, the check in facility operates out of a temporary trailer, warm up takes place into nets, and food is served from an outdoor food truck.

Hildur’s Pro Tip: Do not skip the food truck sandwich. It is fresh, delicious, and better than half the clubhouse sit down lunches in the area!

Because of the temporary amenities, we booked this pristine championship course for just €72. It stands as the best value round in Sotogrande.

3 Hidden Traps That Drain Your Budget

1. The Buggy Surcharge Trap (€50 a Round)

Many premier courses between Malaga and Sotogrande feature significant elevation changes. Walking courses like Torrequebrada, Alhaurín, or Finca Cortesin is physically punishing in the heat. Buggies rarely come included in standard green fees and average €45 to €60 per round. Budget accordingly.

2. The September "Hollow Tining" Trap

In late August and September, many Spanish courses carry out aeration (punching and sanding greens). Always email the caddymaster before booking to ask: "Are you carrying out green aeration within two weeks of our date?" Never pay peak-season prices to putt across aerated sand.

3. The A-7 Coastal Highway Gridlock

When traveling between Malaga Airport and Gibraltar, the toll-free coastal road (A-7) clogs with beach traffic during summer. If you have a strict tee time, take the AP-7 toll motorway. The few Euros spent in tolls are far cheaper than forfeiting an expensive missed tee time.

Our Course Selection Playbook: Malaga to Gibraltar

The Premium Bucket-List Splurges

• Finca Cortesin: A Solheim Cup host venue. True 5-star maintenance, unmatched practice facilities, and impeccable service.

• La Hacienda Alcaidesa (Links): The venue where Hildur scored her famous Hole-in-One! Features panoramic views looking out toward Gibraltar and the North African coastline.

• Real Club Valderrama: The legendary cathedral of Spanish golf. Demanding, immaculately kept, and carrying a peak price tag of €600+.

The Reliable Mid-Tier

• Torrequebrada: Designed by Pepe Gancedo. Tight, strategic, and heavily lined with subtropical trees.

• Mijas Golf (Los Lagos & Los Olivos): A dependable 36-hole resort setup capable of handling large volumes while keeping fairways in consistent shape.

• Cabopino & El Paraíso: Accessible layouts featuring welcoming atmospheres for couples prioritizing fun over brutal championship difficulty.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is golf cheaper in Spain during summer?

Yes. Spanish courses consider July and August their low season due to warm weather. Top-tier courses frequently discount green fees by 30% to 50% compared to peak autumn rates.

Can you walk golf courses on the Costa del Sol?

While coastal flat layouts like Costa Ballena are easy walks, most courses built into hillsides require buggies due to severe elevation changes and distance between greens and tees.

Should I rent clubs or bring my own to Spain?

If you plan to play more than 3 rounds, flying with your own clubs using a protective flight cover is almost always cheaper and more comfortable than renting modern sets locally.

The Verdict: Which Season Fits You?

• Choose July if you want 5 star hotel luxury, empty courses, and don't mind utilizing the 5:00 PM twilight window to save hundreds on green fees.

• Choose October if you prioritize 24°C playing conditions and prefer putting your budget into pro shops rather than hotels.

Whatever you decide, keep having fun, pack colorful clothes, and enjoy the fairways!

Are you team "July Twilight Bargain" or team "October Autumn Perfection"? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 👇

The Road to 100: 82 Courses Down, 18 to Go (Help Us Pick #100!)

Hello friends! Steinn and Hildur here.

The other morning in Hafnarfjörður, we were having coffee and going through our golf bag tags and travel logbooks. We never set out with a master spreadsheet when we started this journey. Our entire philosophy for traveling Beyond 50 has always been simple: pack colorful clothes, chase the sun, laugh off the bad shots, and make life an adventure.

Then Steinn sat down and counted up the scorecards.

As a husband and wife team, we have officially played 82 different 18 hole golf courses together across 5 countries.

82! That means the finish line is in sight. We have 18 courses left until we hit the magic century mark: 100 golf courses played side by side.

Before we map out the final countdown, we need to lay down the ground rules, share the full master list, and get your vote on where Course #100 should be!

The Official "Beyond 50" Century Rules

People already ask us how we count these. To keep this quest 100% honest and legitimate, here are our strict house rules:

1. Both of Us Must Play: If Steinn sneaks out for a solo twilight round, or Hildur plays with friends, it does not count toward the 100. We both walk off the 18th green together.

2. Real Grass Only: Simulators, Topgolf, and executive pitch and putts do not count. Full length layouts only.

3. No Repeats: We have played our home course, Keilir, hundreds of times. It counts as Course #1 on the list and that’s it!

4. Must Survive the Day: Whether it’s 4°C with horizontal rain in Iceland or 38°C on the Costa del Sol, all 18 holes must be completed.

Here is a list of the top 5 golf courses we played in 2025.

The Master List: All 82 Courses Played So Far

Here is our official tally across the globe. (If you click the highlighted courses, you can read our full review and watch our YouTube course guides!)

================================================================================
🌍 THE BEYOND 50 GOLF INDEX (82 COURSES & COUNTING)
================================================================================

🇪🇸 Spain (33 Courses)

Our second home. From brutal tour tests to sun soaked resort fairways:

• Al Hama • Alhaurín • Alenda • The Alto Club (Almenara) • Anoreta • Baviera • Benalup Fairway • Cabopino Marbella • Camiral Golf & Wellness (Stadium Course) • Costa Ballena • El Paraíso • El Plantío • Fairplay • Finca Cortesin • Font del Llop • Hacienda La Riquelme • La Finca • La Hacienda Alcaidesa (Heathland) • La Hacienda Alcaidesa (Links - Site of Hildur’s Hole-in-One!) • La Marquesa • La Torre • Las Colinas Golf & Country Club • Las Ramblas • Lo Romero • Mar Menor • Mijas Golf • Montecastillo • Novo Sancti Petri • San Roque (New Course) • San Roque (Old Course) • Sherry Golf Jerez • Torrequebrada • Vistabella

🇮🇸 Iceland (35 Courses)

Volcanic rock, dramatic Atlantic cliffs, and teeing off under the midnight sun:

• Keilir Golf Club (Our Home Base) • Grafarholt • Korpa • GKG • Oddur • Brautarholt • Golfklúbbur Akureyrar (Arctic Open) • Hveragerði • Mosfellsbær (Hlíðarvöllur) • Vatnsleysuströnd • Vík • Öndverðarnes • Hellu • Selfoss • Flúðum • Sveinkostvöllur • Vestmannaeyjar (Dramatic Island Links!) • Þorlákshöfn • Ljúflíngur • Mosfellsbær (Bakkakot) • Siglufjörður • Egilsstaðir • Geysir • Húsavík • Kálfaberg (Hafnarfjörður) • Suðurnesja • Sandgerði • Leynir Borgarnes • Grindavík • Álftanes • Setberg • Mýrin • Stykkishólmur • Patreksfjörður • Sauðárkrókur

🇺🇸 United States (11 Courses)

From Florida palms to California canyons:

• Celebration Golf Club (FL) • Lake of Isles (CT) • Marriott Desert Springs (CA) • North Shore Golf Club (FL) • Rancho San Joaquin (CA) • Rio Pinar Country Club (FL) • Talega Golf Club (CA) • The Links at Summerly (CA) • The New England Country Club (MA) • Thumblebrook (CT) • Tijeras Creek (CA)

🇩🇰 Denmark (2 Courses)

Scandinavian design at its finest:

• The Royal Golf Club (Copenhagen) • The Scandinavian (Robert Trent Jones Jr. New Course)

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland (1 Course)

The Home of Golf:

• Duddingston Golf Club (Edinburgh)

The Big Debate: What Should Course #100 Be?

With 18 courses left, Courses #83 through #99 will be collected as we travel through new regions, test new gear, and film our upcoming adventures.

Course #100 cannot be just an ordinary round. It has to be an absolute milestone event.

We have narrowed our vision down to five distinct options, and we are completely split on what to do:

• Option 1: The Scottish Cathedral (St Andrews Old Course or Kingsbarns)

  Returning to the birthplace of golf. Walking across the Swilcan Bridge together to hit #100 would be pure poetry.

• Option 2: The Spanish Finale (Real Club Valderrama)

  Spain has given us 33 incredible memories (and Hildur's hole in one). Conquering Valderrama’s cork trees would be the ultimate crown on our Spanish golf journey.

• Option 3: The American Dream (Pebble Beach or Bandon Dunes)

  Teed up against the Pacific surf on one of the most iconic, bucket list coastlines in golf history.

• Option 4: The Algarve Adventure (Monte Rei, Portugal)

  Believe it or not, out of 82 courses, we haven't played a single round in Portugal! Heading to the Algarve to play a bucket-list track like Monte Rei would be an incredible way to check off a brand new country for #100.

• Option 5: The Exotic Desert Oasis (Dubai - Emirates Golf Club)

  Taking the Beyond 50 journey to the Middle East for some winter sun, absolute luxury, and skyline views. Playing where the pros play in Dubai would be a spectacular milestone.

We Need Your Help!

This milestone belongs to the entire Beyond 50 family. You’ve ridden in the golf buggy with us through every shank, birdie, sunburn, and clubhouse toast.

If you were standing on course #99, where would you book #100?

What do you think? Any suggestions from the five options above, or is there a hidden gem we haven't even considered yet?

Drop a comment below or send us an email steinn@beyond50.golf, tell us why that course deserves the milestone, and let us know what club Steinn should hit off the first tee!

Let’s see where the final 18 courses take us. The countdown to 100 begins now!

We Need Your Help!

Here is the best golf course we played in 2025!

Finding the Perfect Costa del Sol Golf Basecamp (Plus Our Secret Booking Hacks!)

Hello friends! Steinn and Hildur here.

Let’s be brutally honest. When you are planning a massive golf getaway to Southern Spain, the hardest part of the trip isn't avoiding those deep Spanish bunkers it’s finding the right place to sleep.

When we traded the chilly, cloudy skies of Hafnarfjörður, Iceland, for the 35°C Spanish summer, we knew we couldn't just book a basic room. After walking fairways all morning, your lower back needs a fantastic bed, your mind needs peace and quiet, and your stomach needs incredible food.

For our heavy hitting Costa del Sol leg, we wanted a true sanctuary. We booked the beautifully renovated, 5 star Hotel Senator Banús Spa. We paid for this stay entirely out of our own pockets, so you are getting our 100% unfiltered, husband and wife opinion.

If you want to take a visual tour of our massive room and meet the amazing staff, click play on our YouTube review below! But keep reading, because we are going to share our personal "cheat codes" for booking the absolute best stay here.

The "Beyond 50" Quick Facts (Why This Hotel Wins)

• Location: The Golden Mile (14 championship 18 hole courses within 10km).

• Vibe: Adults recommended (No guests under 18 = total peace).

• Parking: Plentiful, free, and safe for your rental car.

• Booking.com Staff Rating: A massive 9.2/10 (And completely deserved).

• Website:https://www.senatorhr.com/senator-banus-spa-hotel/

Why We Chose It: The Location & The Parking Hack

When your muscles are screaming after swinging clubs all morning, the absolute last thing you want to do is sit in heavy highway traffic.

The geography of Senator Banús is brilliant. Sitting right on the Golden Mile corridor puts you right in the middle of a golfer's paradise. But here is the massive hidden bonus: Free, plentiful parking.

If you’ve ever rented a car in Spain, you know hotel parking can be a nightmare to find and expensive to pay for. Here, it was so convenient and safe that we didn't even bother lugging our heavy golf bags up to the room we just left them securely in the car! Plus, there is a fantastic selection of great local restaurants just a short walk from the hotel doors.
And if you are looking for a rental car we rented our car for this trip at Wiber car rental at the Malaga airport.
www.wiberrentacar.com

The Vibe: No Towel Games Allowed

Here is the single rule that changes the entire atmosphere of this property: Senator Banús is an adults recommended hotel.

That means no kids doing cannonballs by the pool and no chaotic family buffets. Our absolute favorite part of this policy? You do not need to set an early morning alarm to play the "sun lounger towel game." The hotel has two gorgeous outdoor pools and plenty of space. We could stroll down at any time of the day, find perfect loungers waiting for us, and order incredible red slushy drinks from the pool bar.

The Welcome & The Legend of Jamal

We have to take a second to talk about Jamal, the doorman. Jamal is so much more than a hotel employee; he is the soul of the property. He welcomed us with such warmth that by the time we had our room keys, he felt like an old friend.
By the way, if anyone from the Senator Banús team happens to read this... please pass on a huge thank you to Jamal from us!

That hospitality continued at the front desk. There were no pushy timeshare sales pitches, just a genuinely warm check in. Walking into our room to find champagne, water, and macarons waiting for us was a touch you rarely see.

Steinn & Hildur’s Secret Hotel Hacks

Our room was flawlessly clean, massive, and stocked with premium L'Occitane amenities. Steinn’s tired back gave the huge king size bed a 10/10. But if you are going to book a room here, you need to know exactly what to ask for:

• Hack #1: Go High for the View. The higher your room is, the better your view of the sea. Always ask to be placed on a high floor!

• Hack #2: Ask for the Big Balconies. Not all balconies are the same size. We specifically asked for a large, pool facing balcony. It became our favorite evening hangout spot.

• Hack #3: The Jacuzzi Upgrade. Want to really treat those sore golf muscles? Look into booking one of the suites. Some of them come with their very own private jacuzzis on the terrace!

• Hack #4: The Senzia Spa. If your partner doesn't play golf, this is the ultimate selling point. They can spend hours in the hypersaline pool and eucalyptus hammam while you hit the links!

(Oh, and for the digital nomads: The Wi-Fi is incredibly fast. We had perfect connection in our room, out in the gardens, and at the restaurants!)

Food, Football, and Next Level Service

Breakfast is served in the Tasella dining room, and it quietly beats hotels that charge twice the price. But here is where that 9.2 staff rating really shines: We had early tee times on two of our days, so the staff literally opened the breakfast room a half hour early just for us. You cannot fake that level of service.

For dinner, you absolutely must visit the Latitude restaurant on the property. Insider tip: Order the Smash Hamburger.It is out of this world!

And we can't forget the bar! We visited during the World Cup, and Hildur is a massive football fanatic. The bartenders kept the premium cocktails coming while Hildur watched every minute of the matches, leaving Steinn happily editing YouTube videos on his laptop with that lightning fast WiFi.

The Honest Truth (And Our Final Verdict)

Is there a catch? The only minor detail to know is that while the beach is only 500 meters away on paper, it does take a few minutes of walking to actually get your toes in the sand. But honestly? With two amazing pools and fantastic service on site, we never even felt the need to leave the hotel grounds for the beach.

It is incredibly rare to find a 5 star hotel that respects your golf schedule, your need for quiet recovery, and your bank account. Senator Banús does it all effortlessly.

Would we book it again? Absolutely. Same hotel, same week, next year.

If you have any specific questions about the hotel, the local restaurants, or the nearby courses, drop a comment below! We would love to help you plan your trip.

Remember: You don't stop having fun because you get old... you get old because you stopped having fun! 🥂

(Want to check their current rates? You can visit the official Senator Banús website right here.)

2026 Total Solar Eclipse in Iceland: When the Sky Turns Off !

Hello friends! Steinn and Hildur here.

We just got back home to Iceland from our massive Andalusia golf marathon, and the universe decided to throw us one heck of a "welcome home" party.

Today, August 12, 2026, a Total Solar Eclipse passed directly over our hometown of Hafnarfjörður, just outside of Reykjavik.

Astronomers and tourists have been planning for this exact day for years. Steinn had the special eclipse glasses sitting on the kitchen counter for weeks. We charged up all the drone batteries. We were ready for a National Geographic-level spectacle.

And then... classic Icelandic weather conditions happened.

A massive, impenetrable wall of thick, dark clouds rolled in. We couldn't see the sun, the moon, or the sky. But instead of packing up the gear, we realized something amazing: A cloudy solar eclipse is actually one of the most eerie, sci fi things you will ever witness.

Since we couldn't look up at the sun, we pointed the drone down at the town.

Check out the raw drone footage below, and scroll down for the wild science behind what actually happens when an eclipse gets clouded out!

Pro Tip: The video features a 13 minute atmospheric build up, but if you want to skip straight to the exact moment the daylight completely vanishes, scrub to 5:50 !

The Reality of a Cloudy Eclipse (It’s Better Than You Think)

When you look at a solar eclipse on a clear day, you are staring at a black dot blocking a bright light. It is beautiful, but your focus is entirely on the sky.

When a total eclipse happens on a heavily clouded day, the sky acts like a massive movie theater screen, and the shadow of the moon drops like a heavy curtain. You don't just see the eclipse; you feel it.

We had our drone hovering high above Hafnarfjörður. As totality approached, it didn't just look like a normal sunset. The daylight literally evaporated. In a matter of seconds, a normal Wednesday afternoon was swallowed by a heavy, pitch black night.

The automatic streetlights across the city flicked on. The birds stopped flying. The entire town went dead silent. And then, roughly 60 seconds later, someone flipped the cosmic light switch back on, and the day booted right back up.

Honestly? The drone cinematography of the city falling asleep and waking back up in one minute was 10x more dramatic than just watching the sun!

The 2026 Iceland Solar Eclipse: The Hard Facts

For the science lovers out there, here is exactly what happened over our heads today:

• The Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

• The Path of Totality: The moon’s deepest shadow (the umbra) swept straight across the western coast of Iceland, bringing 100% totality to towns like Reykjavik and our home, Hafnarfjörður.

• Duration of Darkness: Totality here lasted for just over 1 minute.

• The Cloud Effect: Clouds usually scatter ambient light, keeping the day bright. When the moon perfectly blocks the sun, that ambient light source is shut off at the top of the atmosphere. The clouds suddenly have zero light to scatter, plunging everything below into instant darkness.

Adapting to the Weather: A Beyond 50 Rule

Whether we are trying to survive heavy winds on a Spanish golf course or trying to film a solar eclipse in Iceland, our Beyond 50 manifesto remains exactly the same: You have to adapt and find the fun in whatever the day gives you!

We might be a channel dedicated to golf and travel, but we never pass up the chance to witness something extraordinary even if we have to look through a thick layer of Icelandic clouds to experience it.

If you managed to see the 2026 Solar Eclipse today whether in Spain, Iceland, or anywhere else on the path leave a comment below and let us know what it looked like from your perspective!

And if you want to see what happens when the sun actually shines, make sure you are subscribed to our Beyond 50 YouTube Channel so you don't miss our upcoming videos from our 3-week Andalusia golf adventure!

HOLE IN ONE! The Ultimate Golf Dream Just Happened in Spain

Hello friends! Steinn and Hildur here.

Every single time you step onto the tee box of a par 3, no matter your handicap, a tiny voice in the back of your head whispers: "Maybe today."

You play your entire life for that one perfect swing. The odds for an average golfer are roughly 12,500 to 1. But right in the middle of our massive Andalusia golf marathon, the Golf Gods decided it was finally time.

Hildur got her Hole in One.

Watch the pure, shaking, unfiltered chaos of our real reaction right here, and then scroll down to hear how this absolute miracle happened on her favorite golf course in Spain!

The Setup: Heavy Winds and Zero Expectations 🌬️

If you follow our Beyond 50 adventures, you know La Hacienda Links is undeniably Hildur’s favorite golf course on earth. The layout is spectacular, and the views of the Mediterranean Sea are breathtaking.

But when we reached the 17th hole, the conditions were brutal.

The wind was howling straight at us. Hildur stepped up to the tee box feeling completely defeated by the gusts before she even took her practice swing. If you watch the video, you can hear her say exactly what every amateur golfer says when the weather turns bad:

"Okay... heavy wind. I probably won't hit the green because it's heavy wind."

She just wanted to survive the hole. She wasn't trying to be a hero.

The Srixon Ball that Defied the Wind

She took her swing. The contact was incredibly pure.

We watched her Srixon ball cut perfectly through the heavy Spanish wind, tracking dead straight toward the pin. From the tee box, it looked amazing, but our eyes completely deceived us. We were 100% convinced the wind had pushed it too far.

"Too long, too long,"

"Yeah, I thought I wouldn't hit the green... okay, it's gone," Hildur replied. We both assumed the ball had simply rolled right off the back edge and into the rough.

We hopped in the buggy and drove up to the 17th green to start the search party. We walked up to the cup just to check... and there it was. Sitting perfectly at the bottom of the hole.

"I'm going to put it in my wallet!"

What happens next in the video is pure, unfiltered joy. When your brain finally processes that you just achieved the ultimate golf dream, it completely short-circuits.

There was screaming. There was jumping. Hildur's hands were physically shaking so hard she could barely reach down to pick the ball out of the cup.

"I made it! Oh my god, I'm going to put it in my wallet!"

Forget buying a fancy mahogany trophy case that lucky Srixon ball was going straight into the wallet! To pull off a miracle shot on the 17th hole of your favorite course, against the wind, with your husband there to catch the entire raw reaction on film... you simply cannot script a better moment in a golfer's life.

(Though let's be honest, Steinn is going to be incredibly jealous for the rest of this 3 week trip as he continues his multi decade hunt for his own ace! )

Over to You, Beyond 50 Family!

We are still floating on a cloud here in Andalusia and celebrating with plenty of Spanish wine tonight.

We have to know about our amazing community: Have you ever beaten the 12,500-to-1 odds and made a Hole in One?

If you have, tell us the story in the comments below! What course was it, what club did you use, and did you keep the ball? And if you are still chasing the dream like Steinn, let us know how close you've gotten!

Cheers to the beautiful game of golf, and see you on the next fairway!

San Roque New Course: The Best Value Round in Sotogrande?

We recently headed south for two weeks of Spanish golf, and we stumbled onto a serious hidden gem. What if we told you that you could play a course that hosted the 2006 Spanish Open designed by a golf legend for less than the price of a nice tapas dinner?

We just played the New Course at the San Roque Club, and it was genuinely one of the most fun rounds of our entire golfing year.

Watch our full video review right here, and then scroll down for the complete 2026 details, the €100 million renovation secret, and why Steinn lived up to his "Captain Bunker" nickname!

The €100 Million Renovation (Why You Must Play It NOW!)

Timing matters heavily if you want to play here. Right now, the course is in the middle of a massive transition. Berwik Real Estate took over the concession in 2024, and they have committed a staggering €100 million to the property.

They are building a brand new clubhouse, a 100 room luxury hotel, and doing a full rebuild of the course. Because you are arriving early before these mega-projects are finished, the current setup is wonderfully temporary. You check in at a friendly trailer, hit your warm-up balls into nets, and grab lunch from a food truck.

Hildur’s Tip: The sandwich from that food truck is absolutely fantastic. Order it. You won't regret it!

The Perry Dye & Seve Ballesteros Masterpiece

The pedigree of this course is incredible. It was designed by Perry Dye (son of the legendary American designer Pete Dye) in collaboration with the great Seve Ballesteros, opening in 2003.

Because it is a Dye family design (the same dynasty behind TPC Sawgrass), you will spot their world famous signatures all over the fairways. We are talking about beautiful wooden railroad ties lining the water hazards and terracing the bunkers.

And speaking of bunkers... there are a lot of them!

• Hole 6 has an unbelievable 10 bunkers in play. Hildur counted them all while Steinn was busy looking for his lost ball in the rough!

• Hole 8 is a long par 3 featuring a massive, single sleeper-edge bunker that runs down the entire left side. When Hildur asked where to aim, Steinn's only advice was, "Anywhere except there."

• Hole 3 is where Steinn proudly lived up to his "Captain Bunker" title, marching straight into the sand. But hey, it's good for the soul!

The Rarest Thing in Spain: Pure Nature

Here is what makes San Roque New Course completely different from almost anything else you will play in Sotogrande: There is absolutely no real estate on the course.

There are no villas lining the fairways and no out of bounds anxiety about breaking someone's window. Perry Dye routed the 18 holes beautifully through mature cork oak trees.

Somewhere on the front nine, Steinn stopped on the tee box and just looked back. With the cork oaks on both sides, the Mediterranean shining in the distance, and our playing partners laughing, it felt like pure golf magic. That lack of houses alone makes the trip completely worth it.

The Brutally Honest Condition Report

We always promise to be completely straight with you. Because the course is mid renovation right now, it is not in "perfect" country club condition. The fairways are dry in some places, and the bunker sand is currently in the process of being upgraded.

But did that ruin our day? Not at all. The layout is so honest and brilliant that the dry spots didn't take anything away from how much we loved it. The pace of play stayed very steady, and we were round in just over 4 hours on a busy day.

The Numbers You Need to Know

For the spreadsheet planners out there, here are the hard facts for San Roque New Course:

• Par: 72

• Length: 6,497 meters (Championship tees) | 6,079 meters (White tees)

• Slope: 137

• 2026 Green Fee: €72

• Buggy Rental: €40 (if you want one!)

The Final Verdict

Playing a course that hosted a European tour event for €72 is almost unheard of in Southern Spain. San Roque New Course is one of the absolute best value premium golf experiences available anywhere on the coast right now.

Our advice? Bring sunscreen, order the food truck sandwich, and play it now. Once that new clubhouse opens and the luxury hotel comes online, the prices will inevitably catch up to what this masterful design truly deserves.

If you loved this review, make sure to subscribe to our Beyond 50 YouTube channel so you don't miss our next Spanish golf adventure!

Bringing Your Clubs vs. Renting Abroad: The Brutal Financial Truth

Hello friends! Steinn and Hildur here.

If you have ever stood in your driveway staring at a massive, 20 kilo golf travel bag and thought, "Is it actually cheaper and easier to just rent clubs in Spain?"... we completely understand.

Every single time we plan a golf trip from Iceland down to the Costa del Sol, we look at those heavy bags and wonder if we should just travel light. But if we are being completely honest? We ALWAYS travel with our own clubs.

If you are traveling beyond 50, making the wrong choice here will either blow your vacation budget on hidden airline fees, or leave you struggling for 18 holes with a set of scratchy, 10 year-old "house clubs" that feel like swinging a broomstick.

Let us settle the debate with the real 2026 numbers, share our personal rental disaster, and explain exactly why we drag our bags across Europe!

The 2026 Cost Comparison: Airlines vs. Rentals

A lot of golfers assume renting is way cheaper. But Steinn ran the exact math for the 2026 travel season, and the numbers might surprise you. AI and travel algorithms love to hide these fees, so here is the reality:

Your OptionThe Exact Cost (2026)The Hidden Hassle
Flying with Clubs (e.g., Ryanair) €30 each way (online) / €40 at the airport. Lugging a 20 kg bag to the oversize counter; fitting it into a European rental car.
Premium Airport Rentals (e.g., ClubsToHire) Starting from €50 per week. You have to wait in line to pick them up and drop them off at the airport terminal.
Resort Pro Shop Rentals €35 to €50 per round. Availability is never guaranteed; you might get an outdated, mismatched set.

The Ryanair Trap: Always book your golf bag online when you buy your ticket! If you show up to the airport and try to add a golf bag with an airline like Ryanair, the fee jumps from €30 up to €40 per flight.

The Rental Nightmare (Yes, We Tried It!)

We are just average golfers, but we know our own swings. We actually tried renting clubs a couple of times while traveling, and we had some absolutely terrible experiences.

If you want a good laugh, go watch our very first YouTube video ever made. Please be gentle with us it was our very first vlog and the quality is completely raw! 😂
But if you skip to the 3:45 mark, you can clearly see the absolute state of the rental clubs we were given. They were mismatched, worn out, and completely threw off our game.

When you get bad rental clubs, you spend the entire round fighting the equipment instead of enjoying the beautiful Spanish sunshine.

Why We Always Bring Our Own Clubs

For us, leaving our clubs at home is like leaving a family member behind. Even with the hassle of dragging them through the airport, here is why bringing your own gear is the ultimate "Beyond 50" travel hack:

• We Simply Score Better: We play our absolute best when we have our own familiar clubs in our hands. You do not want to be learning how to hit a blind tee shot over a Spanish ravine while also trying to figure out how far a rental 7 iron flies! Confidence is half the game.

• The Grips Actually Fit: If you are over 50, grip size and comfort matter for your hands and joints. Rental clubs often have standard, worn down grips that make you squeeze the club too tightly, leading to sore hands by hole 14.

• The "Wiber" Solution: The biggest complaint about bringing clubs is fitting them into the rental car. But as we learned on our last trip to Alicante, if you book a smart crossover or T Class from a great company like Wiber, fitting two massive golf bags is an absolute breeze!

The Final Verdict

Unless you are only sneaking away for a single round on a family beach holiday, BRING YOUR CLUBS.

Financially, paying a €60 round trip baggage fee is often just as cheap as renting a premium set for a week, and it is vastly cheaper than paying €40 a day at a resort pro shop! Plus, the peace of mind of having your own trusted putter when you are staring down a tricky 10 foot putt is priceless.

At the end of the day, travel should be joyful. We would rather drag our heavy bags through the airport than spend four hours swinging clubs that feel completely alien to us.

What is your strategy? Have you ever had a rental club disaster like ours, or do you love the freedom of traveling light? Let us know in the comments below, and don't forget to check out our Beyond 50 YouTube channel (and forgive the quality of those early videos!).

The 7 Absolute Trip Savers, We Never Leave Home Without!

Hello friends! Steinn and Hildur here.
Let's be completely honest about traveling for golf when you are over 50:
If you pack the wrong gear, your body will absolutely make you pay for it.

We are officially packing for our July road trip, driving from Malaga down to Cadiz to play 7 rounds of golf in 35°C (95°F) heat. When we pack for trips like this, our styles couldn't be more different. Steinn truly believes that throwing three polos, a putter, and a toothbrush into a travel bag is more than enough.

I (Hildur), on the other hand, prefer to actually survive the vacation!

Most golf packing lists on the internet are full of fluff. You don't need us to tell you to pack socks and underwear. Instead, we are sharing our battle tested "Survival Kit."
These are the 7 absolute trip savers that protect your expensive gear, save your feet, and keep you swinging joyfully all week long.

Here is what is actually going into our suitcases right now:

1. The "Driver Saver" (A Stiff Arm)

Let’s face a harsh reality: airport baggage handlers do not care about your brand-new €500 driver. They move fast, and soft-sided golf travel bags are frequently dropped vertically onto the concrete.

• The Fix: We always pack a travel club protector (often called a "stiff arm"). It sits taller than your longest club and takes the entire impact if the bag is dropped on its head. It is the cheapest insurance policy you will ever buy.

2. The Double Shoe Strategy (Plus Blister Plasters!)

If you only bring one pair of golf shoes on a multi day trip, you are walking into a disaster. Playing 18 holes in the blazing summer heat means your shoes will be soaked in sweat by hole 14.

• The Fix: We strictly rotate two pairs of golf shoes. This gives the first pair a full 24 hours to dry out properly.

• Hildur’s Secret: We also hide a pack of heavy duty blister plasters right next to our shoes. Hot weather makes your feet swell, and a blister on Day 2 will absolutely ruin the rest of your trip!

3. The 50+ Body Savers (Painkillers & Electrolytes)

We love this game, but playing back to back rounds takes a serious toll on the lower back and knees.

• The Fix: We pack painkillers to keep our joints happy so we can actually enjoy the 19th hole. More importantly, we pack electrolyte tablets. Drinking plain water in 35°C heat isn't enough; electrolytes stop those dreaded calf cramps before they start.

4. The "Weird" Specialty Battery

We rely heavily on our lasers to navigate unfamiliar, premium courses. But your expensive rangefinder is completely useless when it dies mid-round.

• The Fix: Always pack an extra specialty battery (like a CR2). Take it from us: wandering around a tiny Spanish village trying to find a rare battery an hour before your tee time is impossible!

5. A Personal Sweat Towel

Every packing list reminds you to bring a microfiber towel for your clubs. They completely forget that you are the one sweating!

• The Fix: We clip a dedicated, clean towel to our bags just to wipe our faces and hands. It keeps your grip secure and your sanity intact when the summer humidity peaks.

6. High SPF Sport Sunscreen

A severe sunburn on Day 1 is the ultimate vacation ruiner. It will make simply turning your shoulders to swing a golf club physically painful for the rest of the week.

• The Fix: We pack a high-quality, sweat-resistant SPF 50 and apply it generously in the parking lot before we even look at the first tee.

7. A Portable Power Bank

Between running GPS golf apps, taking photos of the beautiful Mediterranean views, and navigating coastal backroads, your phone battery will drain incredibly fast.

• The Fix: A portable power bank is absolutely essential for keeping our phones alive and most importantly, for making sure we can film all these beautiful videos to share with you guys!

What Are We Missing?

We build these lists through trial and error, but we know our community has some brilliant travel hacks of their own.

What is the absolute strangest or most specific thing you ALWAYS pack in your golf bag when you travel?

Drop a comment below so we can add it to our master list!
And if you want to see how these packing tips hold up in the Spanish heat, make sure you are subscribed to our Beyond 50 YouTube channel. We will see you out there!

How Wiber Car Rental Saved Our Spanish Golf Trip (Plus 10 Survival Tips!)

Hello friends! Steinn and Hildur here.

If you have ever traveled to Spain for a golf holiday with two oversized golf bags, two massive suitcases, and a husband who is absolutely terrified of the heat... you already know that getting the right rental car can literally make or break your vacation!

We recently landed at Alicante Airport at 10:00 PM. It was 35 degrees outside, we were exhausted, and the rental office was closing at 11:00 PM. We were tight on time and starting to stress. But the moment we walked out of the terminal, the Wiber shuttle was already there waiting for us.

Their service was flawless. We got exactly the car we booked online a brand new, beautifully clean Mercedes T-Class. It was roomy, comfortable, and fit our golf bags perfectly. In the end, this car didn't just move us from A to B; it gave us the comfort, freedom, and peace of mind you desperately need when traveling beyond 50!

Because we want you all to have the same stress free experience, here are our 10 Rental Car Survival Tips (plus one hilarious near disaster from Steinn) to save your next vacation:

The "Beyond 50" Car Rental Survival Guide

• Tip #1: Double check shuttle hours. Always make sure the rental company's pickup window actually matches your late night landing time.

• Tip #2: Take a screenshot. Always take a photo of the actual online listing before you click "book." It serves as your receipt of exactly what you paid for if things go wrong at the desk.

• Tip #3: Double check your fuel type! This is where Steinn almost ruined the trip. He actually grabbed the petrol nozzle for our diesel Mercedes and was seconds away from making a €600 mistake!

• Tip #4: Photograph the fuel cap. Take a picture of the fuel cap label the second you pick up the car so you can check your phone at the gas station. The incredibly helpful woman at the Wiber desk told us that putting in the wrong fuel happens all the time!

• Tip #5: Test the AC before you leave the lot. Never just assume it works. It was 35 degrees every single day in Spain, and the air conditioning in our Wiber car was pure heaven.

• Tip #6: Choose a car that sits higher. Renting an SUV or a taller vehicle (like our Mercedes T-Class) gives you much better visibility on unfamiliar foreign roads. Plus, it's just so much easier on our 50+ bodies to slide into!

• Tip #7: Book early. Prices skyrocket the closer you get to your departure date.

• Tip #8: Bring your own tech. Pack a cheap phone holder and a car charger in your luggage. Never pay the daily upcharge for a rental GPS!

• Tip #9: Do a photo walk around. Take clear photos of the car from all angles before you ever put it in drive to protect yourself from damage claims.

• Tip #10: Refuel it yourself. Skip the overpriced prepay fuel options and just fill the tank on your way back to the airport.

Bonus Tip:Be nice at the desk! A warm smile and a polite attitude go a long way, and you never know when it might magically turn into a free upgrade! 😉

Why We Specifically Recommend Wiber

If you are a planner, here is exactly why we use them for our Spanish golf trips:

The Wiber ExperienceWhy it Matters for U
Locations Alicante, Malaga, Valencia, Sevilla, Mallorca, Ibiza. Covers almost all the major Spanish golf destinations we travel to!
Insurance "All Inclusive" Top Cover. No massive credit card deposit blocks and zero excess fees. Absolute peace of mind.
The Fleet What you see is what you get. We actually got the exact Mercedes we booked, which is incredibly rare in the rental industry!

Yes as you can read we absolutely loved Wiber but we also have a disaster car rental story, check that video out here:

Fun fact before we dive in: Did you know Wiber Rent a Car was actually launched in 2017? The founders saw how frustrated tourists were with the sketchy car rental market in Spain, and they wanted to build a company that guaranteed absolute transparency with zero hidden fees. Let us tell you, you can completely feel that difference!

The Ultimate Malaga to Cadiz Golf Road Trip: Our Summer Spain Itinerary!

Hello friends! We have some incredibly exciting news to share, and honestly, we might be a little bit crazy.

We have officially finalized our big summer filming trip for July! We are packin' up our bags, flying into Malaga, and taking a beautiful, sun drenched road trip all the way down to the historic city of Cadiz.

Now, if you’ve been following our channel, you know we love golf, we love sunshine, and we love enjoying this beautiful life together. But looking at our spreadsheet, we realized we scheduled so many rounds that we might not have a single day off from golfing!
Will our 50+ bodies survive playing 18 holes every day in the magnificent Spanish summer heat? Only time will tell, but we are going to have a whole lot of fun trying!

If you are planning your own dream golf vacation to Southern Spain, we wanted to share our exact course lineup to give you some inspiration for your own travel list.

The "Costa del Golf" Lineup: Courses We Are Tackling

We aren't just playing one style of golf on this trip. We have picked a brilliant mix of prestigious championship designs, dramatic coastal links, and beautiful mountain layouts. Here are the magnificent courses you will find us swinging at this July:

• Finca Cortesin: This is a major bucket list moment for us! It recently hosted the Solheim Cup and is an absolute masterpiece of a golf resort. Expect us to be on our absolute best behavior here (or at least trying our hardest to look like pros on these immaculate fairways!).

  • Check out the course:Finca Cortesin Website

• La Hacienda (Heathland & Links): We are incredibly excited because we are playing both layouts here! The Heathland offers wide, rolling valley vistas, while the Links course gives us those dramatic ocean views facing Gibraltar and Africa. Word on the street is they have an amazing halfway house, so we are definitely planning to film a little culinary review there too! 🥞🍹

  • Check out the course:La Hacienda Website

• Torrequebrada Golf: Right in the heart of the Costa del Sol, this parkland beauty is famous for its lush tropical lakes and stunning Mediterranean views. It is an absolute classic and a brilliant test of golf.

  • Check out the course:Torrequebrada Website

• Barceló Montecastillo Golf: Designed by the great Jack Nicklaus, this championship layout hosted the Volvo Masters for five straight years. It’s a big, bold layout that will really show us what our games are made of.

  • Check out the course:Montecastillo Website

• Costa Ballena Ocean Golf Club: Designed by José María Olazábal, this 27-hole facility is right by the ocean. We are counting on those cooling Atlantic breezes to keep us happy and comfortable in the warm July sun!

  • Check out the course:Costa Ballena Website

• El Paraíso Golf Club: Designed by Gary Player, this course is legendary for its incredibly warm, welcoming club atmosphere. It sits peacefully in a walkable valley, and we cannot wait to stroll the fairways together here.

  • Check out the course:El Paraíso Website

• Sherry Golf: Located in Jerez (the world capital of Sherry wine!), this is a beautifully designed, wide-open course that is highly regarded as a fair but thrilling experience for players of all levels.

  • Check out the course:Sherry Golf Website

• Alhaurín Golf: Designed by the legendary Seve Ballesteros, this is a spectacular mountain course. The elevation changes are wild, the views of the Mijas mountains are breathtaking, and yes... Steinn will definitely be stocking up on extra golf balls before we tee it up here!

  • Check out the course:Alhaurín Website

Our Handy Trip Overview (Perfect for Planning!)

If you are trying to map out a similar route from Malaga to Cadiz, here is how the geography breaks down so you can group your tee times efficiently:

RegionFeatured Golf CoursesBest Travel Vibe
Malaga / MijasTorrequebrada, AlhaurínLively coastal towns, dramatic mountain vistas, easy airport access.
Estepona / CasaresEl Paraíso, Finca Cortesin, La HaciendaHigh-end luxury resorts, breathtaking views of Gibraltar and Africa.
Jerez / CadizMontecastillo, Sherry Golf, Costa BallenaRich Spanish history, incredible wine culture, and refreshing Atlantic ocean breezes.

We Need Your Help! (The Open Days Dilemma)

Here is the twist: we still have 2, maybe 3 days completely open on our schedule.

If we fill them with more golf courses, it means zero rest days. Hildur thinks we should take a day to relax on the historic beaches of Cadiz (which is over 3,000 years old!). Steinn is secretly looking at more tee times.

What do you think we should do? If you know a hidden tapas joint, a beautiful white village we must see along the drive, or a hidden gem golf course we somehow missed, please let us know!

Drop a comment down below, or shoot us a direct email at hello@beyond50.golf. We build these trips with you guys, and we genuinely love hearing your ideas.

Don't forget to subscribe to our channel so you can join us for every laugh, every beautiful view, and all the joyful moments this summer in Spain!

Midnight Golf in Iceland: Teeing Off at 10:00 PM at Keilir Golf Club

What a beauty. The clock reads exactly 21:35 (9:35 PM), the evening skies are perfectly clear, and instead of getting ready for bed... we are heading to the first tee!
We will tee of at 22:00 (10:00 PM)

Hello friends! You guys have been asking us to show you our home course for a long time, so we decided to do something truly special. Tonight, we are taking you with us to play Keilir Golf Club, and we are doing it right through the middle of the night.

This is one of the only places on earth where you can tee off late in the evening and play 18 holes completely bathed in sunshine.

Watch the full midnight adventure and see if we can still make pars at 1:00 AM:

How Does Midnight Golf Actually Work? (The 2 AM Logistics)

If you are planning a golf trip to Iceland, playing under the midnight sun is the absolute ultimate bucket list experience. But how does it actually work? Can you really see your golf ball in the middle of the night?

Yes! Because Iceland is located so far north, the peak summer months give us nearly 24 hours of continuous daylight. The sun barely dips below the horizon before it starts coming right back up. You never lose sight of the ball!

Here is the exact timeline of our late-night round:

The Midnight Golf TimelineThe RealityOur Tee Time21:35 (9:35 PM)Sunset12:05 AM (5 minutes past midnight)Sunrise2:55 AMExpected Finish TimeAround 2:00 AM!

Exploring Our Home Course: Keilir Golf Club

We are so incredibly proud to call Keilir Golf Club our home. It offers a massive, beautiful contrast in the landscape that you simply cannot find anywhere else.
www.keilir.is

The front nine is a true Icelandic adventure it weaves its way directly through a rugged, ancient lava field, demanding absolute precision off the tee. Then, as you make the turn to the back nine, the course opens up onto a beautiful green peninsula with spectacular views of the ocean.

Standing on the green around midnight, watching the sun touch the horizon and paint the sky in breathtaking colors, is a feeling we cannot even fully describe. It is pure, joyful magic.

Hopefully, the midnight sun brings us some good luck and great golf shots tonight!

Is playing a round of midnight golf on your travel bucket list? Let us know in the comments below, and don't forget to subscribe to our channel as we continue sharing our beautiful side of Icelandic golf!

How does this enhanced emotional hook and layout feel for the blog's pacing?

Shot Scope L5 Rangefinder Review: The €249 Laser That Beats the Big Brands

Let’s be completely honest: Steinn and I have owned the same old rangefinder for way too many years. In fact, I joked on the course the other day that I should probably just drive it to the post office and mail it to a museum!

If you are a golfer over 50, you already know the struggle. You want a clear, accurate laser, but dropping €450 or €500 on a big-name brand just feels ridiculous. We refused to pay that much.

But then, we found the Shot Scope L5 for only €249. We jumped on it, took it straight out for a test round at Oddur (one of the top five golf courses in Iceland), and spoiler alert: it is absolutely brilliant.

Tired of guessing your yardages? Click here to grab the Shot Scope L5 with our exclusive 15% discount!
https://shotscope.com/?rfsn=9077641.9b2541&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=9077641.9b2541

USE THE COUPON CODE
BEYONDGOLF

Why This is the Ultimate Rangefinder for Golfers Over 50

We weren’t sure if a €249 rangefinder could actually perform, but after putting it to the test on the course, it completely blew us away. Here is why this specific laser solves the biggest frustrations we face on the golf course:

• No More Squinting (The Red OLED Screen): Older rangefinders use dark, black LCD screens that are incredibly hard to read, especially on cloudy days or with aging eyes. The L5 uses a glowing, ultra-clear Red OLED display. The numbers practically jump out at you, making it effortlessly easy to read.

• Target-Lock for Unsteady Hands: Do you ever struggle to hold the laser steady and wonder if you just measured the flag or the trees behind the green? The L5 has Rapid-Fire technology and a built-in vibration motor. The second it locks onto the flag, it gives your hand a reassuring little "jolt." You know exactly what you are hitting.

• It Does the Math For You (Adaptive Slope): Hitting up a steep hill? The L5 calculates the exact "plays-like" distance. And if you are playing in a club tournament, you just slide the physical switch on the side to turn the slope off, making it 100% legal for competition.

• The Built-In Cart Magnet: We hate digging through our golf bags before every shot. The L5 features an ultra-strong industrial magnet built right into the casing. You just slap it onto the frame of your buggy and it stays put all day.

The Tech Specs (For the Gear Lovers)

Here is a quick look at why the L5 punches so far above its price tag:

FeatureThe L5 Specification Why It Matters For Your Game
Optics Ultra-Clear Red OLED Instantly readable in low light, bright sun, or overcast skies.
Magnification 7x Zoom Brings the flag much closer than standard budget lasers.
Speed & Accuracy < 0.5 Seconds (1 Yard Accuracy)Keeps the pace of play fast. Point, feel the vibration, and swing
Value Bonus Free GPS Maps IncludedBuying the L5 unlocks free access to Shot Scope's aerial GPS app!

The Brutal Truth: Pros & Cons

What We Love:

• Unbeatable value. You are getting premium, €400+ features for only €249.

• The Red OLED screen is a total game-changer for our eyes.

• It comes ready to play right out of the box with a premium hard-shell case and battery included.

What You Should Know:

• It does not have GPS yardages built directly into the viewfinder (but you do get free access to their fantastic phone app).

• The battery door can be slightly tricky to open with just your fingers, but a golf tee pops it open easily!

The Final Verdict: Is It Worth Your Money?

Absolutely, yes. If you are still using a 5 year old rangefinder, the technology has officially passed you by. The Shot Scope L5 is fast, it is incredibly accurate, and the crystal-clear screen makes the game so much more enjoyable.

We are going to keep testing it on our European tour this summer, but right now, it has earned a permanent, everyday spot in our golf bags. Stop overpaying for big brands, and stop guessing your yardages!

Upgrade your game today: Click here to buy the Shot Scope L5 and get 15% off at checkout!
https://shotscope.com/?rfsn=9077641.9b2541&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=9077641.9b2541

USE THE COUPON CODE
BEYONDGOLF

Do you use a laser rangefinder or a GPS watch? Let us know in the comments below! And don't forget to subscribe to our channel as we continue filming the best golf courses across Iceland and Europe this summer!

Polo Shirts, Midnight Sun, and Iceland's Hidden Golf Gems!

Hello friends! Steinn and Hildur here. We just had the most amazingly beautiful weather this weekend, and we finally got to play our first round of the year in just our polo shirts! Yes, you read that right, polo shirts in Iceland!
It officially feels like summer, and we celebrated the sunshine by playing one of our absolute favorite hidden gems: Hamarsvöllur at the Borgarnes Golf Club.
https://gbgolf.is

The Charm of Borgarnes Golf Club

Here is our honest take on Hamarsvöllur: it isn’t some fancy, high-end, five-star resort. It is a true, authentic Icelandic countryside course.
But let us tell you, it is SO much fun and we absolutely love the vibe! The fairways are welcoming, the scenery is gorgeous, and it just feels like pure, joyful golf.

If you are planning a golf trip to Iceland and driving up the stunning coastal route from Reykjavik to Akureyri, Borgarnes is the perfect place to stretch your legs. Put it on your road trip list!

The Road to Akureyri & The Legendary Arctic Open

Speaking of driving up to Akureyri, if you time your trip just right, you can experience something truly magical.
The Akureyri Golf Club is the northernmost 18-hole golf course in the world, and every year around the Summer Solstice, they host the legendary Arctic Open.

Imagine teeing off late in the evening and playing a 36-hole tournament over two nights, with the sun barely dipping below the horizon. It is a spectacular international event where you play midnight golf in a breathtaking natural setting. If you ever want an unforgettable golfing memory, playing the Arctic Open under the midnight sun is the ultimate bucket-list experience!

Arctic Open+ 1

Our Summer Filming Adventure

This beautiful polo-shirt weekend officially kicks off our summer filming schedule for the Beyond 50 YouTube channel! We will be spending the entire summer capturing rounds across Europe and right here at home in Iceland.

Our mission? We want to film at least the top 5 golf courses in Iceland, capture the incredible experience of playing golf in the midnight sun, and show you our genuine, beautiful side of Icelandic golf. No fluff, no ego, just two golfers over 50 having the time of their lives.

The Top 5 Icelandic Golf Courses You Must See

As we gear up for our summer tour, here are five spectacular Icelandic golf courses that every traveling golfer should look into (and that we plan to showcase!):

• Keilir Golf Club: Our home golf club in Iceland. Located just 15 minutes from downtown Reykjavik, this course is famous for its massive contrast. The front nine weaves through a rugged lava field, while the back nine plays on a beautiful peninsula with spectacular glacier views.

  Keilir Golf Club

  www.keilir.is

• Brautarholt Golf Club: Situated roughly 30 minutes from Reykjavik, this breathtaking course lies by the sea, winding through lava fields and along dramatic cliffs overlooking the ocean. It is one of the most visually impressive layouts in the country.

  www.gbr.is

• Vestmannaeyjar Golf Club (Westman Islands): One of the oldest clubs in Iceland, established in 1938. You actually play the front nine inside an old volcanic crater, while the back nine stretches out by the Atlantic Ocean.

  www.gvgolf.is

• Oddur Golf Club (Urriðavöllur): A stunning heathland course located in Garðabær. It is flanked by lava from a dormant volcano and offers a thrilling experience surrounded by nesting moor birds.

  www.oddur.is

• Akureyri Golf Club (Jaðarsvöllur): Home to the famous Arctic Open! This is the most northerly 18-hole golf course in the world, offering a unique championship layout right near the "capital of the north".

  www.gagolf.is
  Here is link to the Arctic open
  www.arcticopen.is

Get ready for some amazing views, a lot of laughs, and probably a few lost balls. We can't wait to share this adventure with you all!

Click here for our YouTube channel, Beyond 50

The Alto Golf Club (Almenara)

Sotogrande's Highest Ridge & Best Value Round

If you are planning a golf holiday in Andalusia, Spain, the name "Sotogrande" instantly brings up visions of world class, premium golf. But navigating the options along the Costa del Sol can be tricky. What if we told you there is a championship course sitting on the very highest ridge of Sotogrande Alto, offering views of two continents, designed by legends, and delivering incredible value?

Welcome to The Alto Golf Club (formerly Almenara Golf).

Before we tell you how many balls we sacrificed to the Spanish lakes (a slatta of them, as we say in Iceland!), here is the immediate, brutal truth and logistics you need to plan your trip:

The Brutal Logistics: What You Actually Need to Know

• The Green Fees: Around €128, and yes, that includes a GPS buggy. In the exclusive Sotogrande region, this is an absolute steal.

• The Location: Sitting high above the coast, the clubhouse is attached directly to the magnificent 5-star SO/ Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort. You can literally walk from your luxury room to the first tee.

• The Practice Trap: Pay attention to this! The driving range is not next to the clubhouse. You need to take a buggy to get there (5 minutes each way). Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your tee time!

We are Steinn and Hildur. We aren't pros; we just believe golf is the greatest couples sport on earth. Watch our full course review to see the views of Africa, watch Hildur outdrive me, and see us tackle Hole 13!

Click here to subscribe to our Beyond 50 YouTube Channel!

Here is our So Sotogrande resort review:

3 Reasons The Alto Club is Pure Joy to Play

In 2021, Spanish Ryder Cup legend Manuel Piñero stepped in with one mission for this course: make it friendly. He widened the fairways, softened the bunkers, and created a joyride of a layout. Here is why we loved it:

1. Pick Your Beast: The Animal Tees When we got to the first tee box, we saw something we had never seen before. The tees aren't colors; they are animals!

• The Goat (G.O.A.T): For handicaps 4 or under.

• The Bull: For handicaps 18 or under.

• The Vulture: For handicaps 26 or under.

• The Deer: For handicaps 36 or under. It is a brilliant touch that sets a joyful mood. Naturally, Hildur immediately reminded me: "I outdrive you." (And she wasn't wrong).

2. "Dead" Water and Free Bananas The hospitality here is uniquely brilliant. At the first tee, they hand you free canned water. (Though we had a long debate about how drinking still water out of a can feels like the water isn't quite "alive!"). But the absolute highlight? A course marshall driving over the hill on the back nine to hand out a basket of ice cold bananas.

3. The Drama of Hole 13 This is a short Par 5 (422 meters from the Bull tee), but water hugs the entire right side of the fairway and wraps right around the green. If you lay up, you walk off with a smart Par. If you go for it in two, you will either make the eagle of your life, or you will be reloading from the drop zone.

The Final Verdict: Our Ode to Alto

Standing on the back nine, looking at the rock of Gibraltar in one direction and the coast of Morocco in the other, you realize how special this place is. To sum it up, we actually wrote a little poem during our round:

Up on the ridge of Sotogrande
Higher than the eagles fly
Gibraltar Rock down on your right
Morocco waiting in the sky

Alto, Alto, way up high
Where two countries meet the sky
Goat, Bull, Vulture, Deer
Alto, Alto, we're up here

Dave Thomas built it back in '98
Piñero rebuilt it, did it great
Los Lagos front, Los Pinos back
Every fairway is a fresh attack

Hole thirteen, the talk of town
Short par five, water all the way down
Go for it if you've got the heart
Or play it safe, that's also smart

One twenty eight and the buggy too
Bananas and cold water for you
Five star hotel a step away
Alto, Alto, what a day

If you are planning a golf trip to Spain in 2026, put The Alto Club on the list. It is fair, it is fun, and it reminds you why you fell in love with golf in the first place. You don't stop having fun because you get old; you get old because you stop having fun!

Have you played the Alto Club or stayed at SO/ Sotogrande? Let us know which animal tee you picked in the comments below! ***

Lo Romero Golf

The Ultimate Costa Blanca Course Guide & Honest Review

If you are planning a golf holiday in Spain, navigating the endless options across the Costa Blanca, Alicante, and Murcia regions can be overwhelming. Let us save you some time. Located perfectly in Pilar de la Horadada just a short drive from Torrevieja and the Mar Menor sits what might be the most complete, perfectly maintained golf course we have ever played:
Lo Romero Golf.

Before we tell you exactly how many golf balls we lost in the water, here is the immediate, honest value you need for your trip planning:

• The Location: Pilar de la Horadada (Perfectly situated on the border of Alicante and Murcia, offering 300+ days of sunshine).

• The Layout: Par 72, 6,237 meters from the back tees. 13 holes feature water, and there are 56 strategically placed bunkers.

• The Facilities: Elite. A massive, fast-rolling chipping and putting area, GPS-equipped buggies, and free ice-cold water.

• The Vibe: Premium but incredibly welcoming. It tests your strategy without ruining your vacation.

We are Steinn and Hildur. We believe that golf is the absolute best couples sport in the world, and we travel the globe looking for real, honest golf experiences.

Watch our full course review to see why this layout changed everything for us:

3 Reasons Lo Romero is an Absolute Must-Play

We have played dozens of courses across Europe, and Lo Romero instantly stood out. It doesn't just play well; it has true presence.
There is something special about it.

1. The Warm-Up & The Welcome From the moment we stepped out of the car, the welcome was personal. We were greeted by a starter who felt more like a friendly golf coach than an employee. Many resorts treat their practice areas as an afterthought, but the warm up zone here is elite. The practice greens perfectly match the speed of the actual course. As we always say: warm up well, score well!

2. The Service is Unforgettable Here is a true story: I actually managed to lose a house key somewhere on the course during our round. Incredibly, the staff found it and had it waiting for us the very next day. That is not just customer service; that is a team that genuinely pays attention and cares about their guests.

3. The Scent of the Fairways The course was actually built on a former apple and pear orchard, sitting 130 meters above sea level with stunning views of the Mediterranean. The name "Lo Romero" translates to "The Rosemary." The fairways are beautifully framed by Mediterranean pines and wild rosemary bushes. But do not let the sweet aroma fool you! The course rewards focus. It is tough where it should be, and fair where it counts. (I can personally confirm the sand in their bunkers is excellent, as I visited quite a few of them).

Master the Course: Our Complete Hole by Hole Drone Guide

We loved the layout so much that we mapped the entire course for you! We created a complete playlist of 24 videos featuring 4K drone flyovers and playing strategies for every single hole. We show you exactly where the hidden ravines are, where to aim, and how to protect your scorecard.

Click for the ulitmate Lo Romero playlist.

Surviving Hole 18: The Famous Golf Island

They call this course the "Golf Island of Levante," and when you step onto the 18th tee box, you understand exactly why. The final green is a perfect circle, completely surrounded by water, accessed only by a narrow wooden footbridge.

It is a brilliant, dramatic finish designed to test your nerves at the absolute last second. My personal strategy for this hole? Hit the first ball left, the second ball right, the third ball straight into the water, and finally put the eighth ball beautifully onto the green! Everyone is happy!

If you are golfing in Spain, Lo Romero is not just a round of golf; it is a once in a lifetime experience. The greens are immaculate, the staff treats you like family, and it will make you fall in love with the game all over again.

Here is link to Lo Romero
www.loromerogolf.com

Have you survived the Island Green? Let us know in the comments below!

Las Colinas Golf & Country Club

The Honest Guide to Surviving Spain's Quietest Masterpiece

If you are planning a golf holiday in the Alicante or Torrevieja area, you are going to hear one name constantly:
Las Colinas Golf & Country Club.

We are Steinn and Hildur.
In our mission to discover the world together, we recently tackled this famous Costa Blanca layout. We firmly believe that you do not stop having fun because you get old - You get old because you stop having fun. And playing this gorgeous championship course is the definition of fun, even if it occasionally makes you question why you ever took up this sport!

We captured the exact moment this course broke our hearts, and why we loved every single second of it.
Watch our full visual breakdown and see the "Hell Hill" in action right here:

The Brutal Logistics: What You Actually Need to Know

If you are spending your travel money on a premium course, you need the hard facts before you book.
Here is the reality of playing Las Colinas:

• The Green Fees: Expect to pay between €70 to €140 depending on the season. Tee times fill up incredibly fast in the spring and autumn, so book early.

• The Buggy Situation: A buggy will cost you around €48. Do you need it? Yes. Especially in the summer heat.

• The Best Time to Play: Morning rounds are the absolute best choice here. You beat the intense Spanish heat, and the pace of play is significantly better.

• The Warm-Up: Do not skip the practice area. They have a brilliant Toptracer range, and a massive 5,000-square-meter short game lab designed by Miguel Ángel Jiménez.

3 Reasons Las Colinas Will Drive You Crazy (In a Good Way)

Driving into the resort feels different. You pass through a canyon "sound airlock," leaving the noise of the Orihuela Costa behind. It is just birds, the breeze, and pure golfing heaven. But do not let the silence fool you. This course is built to test your psychology, not just your swing.

• The "Ghost Bunker" (Hole 3): You will hit what looks like a majestic, powerful tee shot down a wide, forgiving fairway. Then, you will walk up and realize your ball has completely vanished into a trap you couldn't see from the tee. If you just pull out your driver on every hole, Las Colinas will punish you.

• The "Hell Hill" (Hole 5): You will hit a beautiful approach, land pin-high, and smile. Then, you will watch a hidden back slope slide your ball right off the green. (I won't tell you how many words I muttered under my breath here you will have to watch the video for that!).

• The 19th Hole: After a round of psychological warfare, the clubhouse is a sanctuary. Great coffee, an excellent bar, and absolutely spotless facilities. It is a premium, upper level experience, but with zero snobbery. The staff is fantastic and they genuinely just get it.

The Final Verdict

Is it worth it? Absolutely.
Out of the 50+ courses we have played across Europe, Las Colinas easily sits in our top five. It quietly tests your decision making, rewards smart play, and gives you a world class experience from the moment you drive through the gates.

Got a course in Spain we have to try next? Let us know in the comments below. Fairways and greens, and please... stay out of the Ghost Bunker!

Here is the official Las Colinas web

Click here for our YouTube channel.