Atalaya Golf & Country Golf, with two 18- hole layouts, the Old Course and New Course, is without a doubt one of the Costa del Sol’s most popular and representative complexes. 67 Andalucía Golf / España Golf

Located between Marbella and Estepona, a few hundred metres from the main road turn-off to Benahavís, Atalaya is offering special rates for summer that are hard to beat. Manager Andrés Sánchez is justifiably proud to be at the helm of a golf complex that is in the vanguard in so many areas.

-Why is Atalaya considered a pioneering course?

–We are pioneers in many aspects: first, as veterans – our Old Course dates to the 1960s; and second because we were the first ones to install the most modern online marketing systems. We were also pioneers in having at our disposal a defibrillator, which we’ve trained our staff to use. The marshal has a portable one and we have another in the clubhouse and also in the maintenance area. We were also the first to install the QR system for bookings. Our objective is to always move forward, to be in the vanguard and one step ahead of other golf courses.”

-Even though Atalaya is one of the oldest clubs on the course, you have always innovated, including in maintenance…

–Yes, we were the first to introduce re-seeding, and we are constantly re-planting the fairways. This year, after summer, we’re going to introduce several important changes on both the Old and the New course.

-You are also planning building work at the clubhouse…

–New changing rooms,, new showers, a new terrace with views over the 18th, and capacity for 75 people… In effect, we have quite a few projects on the drawing board.

-How do you see summer shaping up?

-I hope it will be fairly interesting. The first three months of this year have been good, mostly due to the good weather and our marketing efforts.

OLD COURSE

First opened back in 1968, the Atalaya Old Course has featured various revamps, including the reseeding of fairways with Bermuda grass. This parkland course features wide fairways and fast elevated greens. Eucalyptus, olive and pine trees grow along all the fairways, giving pleasant shade in summer but meting out their own punishment for inaccurate shots. Because of its tee positions, the Atalaya Old Course is suitable for any kind of player. If you happen to be an early riser and manage to tee off from the 10th hole before 9am, you will be well rewarded with a tasty cooked breakfast in the Swiss chalet clubhouse when coming in from the 18th. Practice facilities are excellent and include a 60-bay driving range, chipping green, putting green and bunker practice area.

NEW COURSE

The views over the Mediterranean and the La Concha mountain are beautiful, but don’t get distracted. This is a challenging course, opened in 1992. It starts off deceptively, gently between the wide, flat fairways of the Atalaya Old Course, but things soon get more difficult as you head up into the foothills. The return leg wanders down among the fairways of the older course towards the chalet-style clubhouse. The Bermuda fairways are lined with wildflowers, gorse bushes and lakes.