The closest you’ll get to a links course in Andalucía, Alcaidesa has heather and gorse but offers stunning views of the Rock of Gibraltar and, beyond, the Atlas mountains of northern Morocco. Alcaidesa has been modified considerably since opening in 1990 and after the settling-in process has become one of the Costa del Sol’s most popular courses. There is water, especially at the par-3 second, and windswept heights provide a stiff test to those wishing to keep on line. Fairways are wide but somehow the closeness to the sky encourages that dreaded slice or vicious hook - or is it the sweeping nature of the land?

HOW TO GET THERE

The turnoff for the golf course is at Km 124.6 on the highway between Sotogrande and La Línea. Once you have left the highway, Alcaidesa is 2.5 kms away.