Atalaya (New)

Situated between Marbella and Estepona, the 36-hole Atalaya golf complex is also home to the headquarters of the European PGA. “In-the-know” golfers regard both Atalaya courses as two of the most understated, esteemed tracks on the Costa del Sol.

Bernhard von Limburger designed the classic Old course and it opened in 1968, fifteen years before a ball was first struck on the Paul Krings-designed New course. Both layouts originally played to a par of 72, but the 17th hole on the New was later reduced to a par three due to wayward drives clattering into houses on the hole's right side. The New is an easier test than its older sibling, even though the fairways are often tighter and more undulating than the Old.

The New is configured with five par threes, four par fives and nine par fours (five of which are under 300 yards) so it is considerably shorter than the Old. Two of the par three holes on the scorecard (4 and 12) are highly rated. The 161-yard 4th plays across a pond to a small, raised green and the testy 230-yard 12th is the first of two consecutive one-shot holes that cleverly route the course onto lower terrain.