Situated just on the Gibraltar side of San Pedro, Los Flamingos has good access and is easy to find. The course has been for a number of years on the seniors circuit and is very popular with our locals. The Club has hosted tournaments such as the European Senior Final, The Daily Telegraph European Seniors Match Play Championships. The club also houses a 5 star hotel Villa Padierna.

The Gran Flamingos Golf Resort is now home to three courses, Los Flamingos, < a href="golf.alferini.html"> Alferini , and the newest course Tramores . The later used to be the executive Par 3 course. Now though another 9 have has been added and although it is only 3.268 Meters of the red tees, it is well worth playing.

The course is relatively new, opened in 2001, though the conservation of existing trees and the re-plantation of shrubs and trees gives it a mature feel. Greens and tees have been sown with Pencross and Bermuda has been used on the fairways.

At around 5.800 meters in length, it is not one of the longest courses but some tight fairways, especially on the front 9 and water hazards can cause quite a few problems. The first couple of holes are not the easiest of starters with the first tee over a ravine and the lake on the right.

A couple of the holes seem to have been forced into limited spaces, especially the par 3 4th and the crescent shaped par 5 6th .

The course opens up a little on the back nine , though the Par 4 10th is tough requiring an accurate tee short and a second shot across the lake if you are to reach the green in regulation.

For nearest to the pin try the Par 3 12th which allows little room for error. There is not a great deal of open driving holes, the 6th may be the best for space.

The views from some of the holes over the sea on a clear day are quite impressive if you lose interest in your game.

The latter end of the back 9 are quite steep in places so we advice a buggy if you are not use to a good walk.

The Club house has a nice bar and good if somewhat small changing rooms.

The club also houses the luxurious 5 star Hotel Villa Padierna . It now has such a repuation that Amercias first lady , Michelle Obama, plans to stay at this sumptuous hotel in August 2010.

The Academy has a practice range of 100 tees distributed in bays, putting green areas, ball dispensing machines. Opening in the spring of 2006 is the Gran Flamingo golf course which would be the third for this club. A fourth, the Flamingo Norte is slated for opening in 2007-08.

Hotel Villa Padierna Owned by the Ritz-Carlton Group you can experience the best of the Costa del Sol – golfing, relaxation, sun and delicious cuisine – at this exclusive, palace-style hotel. Styled as a Tuscan palace, the Villa Padierna lies in the hills just outside the upmarket resort of Marbella. It is surrounded by the prestigious Flamingos Golf Club and its own exquisite gardens. Relax with a stroll through these grounds or with a session in the hotel’s state-of-the-art spa centre.The property is set just 1 km from the beaches of the Costa del Sol. From its mountainside setting you get a magical view across the water to Africa, and a spectacular sunset most evenings.