Hi Scubaman. La Duquesa is your local course, obviously, and worth checking out before you look elsewhere. You are right next to Valderrama, though that is a bit pricey at 275 euros a round.
In my estimation, the best affordable course on the Costa del Sol right now is, without doubt, Santana.
I played this new lay-out, about a 45-minute drive up the coast from Duquesa, a few weeks ago, and it is MAGNIFICENT.
The best 50 euro's worth I've ever experienced in golf. No need for a buggy either. It's flat and fair.
Get yourself there!
Regards, Tony.

Many thanks Tony, I am certainly intending to check out Duquesa GC but Santana GC is a new name to me, I will check it out on the web.

There do not seem to be any great savings to be made theough Agencies as there are on the Algarve, or am I not looking in the right place ?

Do I need to book before I travel or will I still be able to play at short notice between 20 September and 4 October ? Last time I played on C del S was end of June 2002 when there was no problem with Tee times due to the heat !

I should have mentioned in my original post that Duquesa is just west of Estapona and about 20 miles East of Gibraltar for those who may not know its location on the C del S.

Thanks again

Scubaman

Hi Scubaman. Am also heading out on September 14-30, staying in Arroyo. May see you at the 19th hole. These links may help regarding reduced green fees. Have a swinging holiday! Regards, Tony.
http://www.golfholidaysonline.com/green_fees_costadelsol.html
http://www.golfspain.com/index2.htm

Hi Tony

Thanks for the info, I had found the second link but the first was new to me. Another link with good offers is :

http://www.bookyourgolf.net

It seems you can get much bigger discounts through agencies in the Algarve than you can on CdS.

Have had a recommendation for Los Narranjos but have been warned off Monte Mayor unless you take several dozen balls or are expert at target golf !

Not sure where Arroyo is but enjoy your rounds.

Scubaman

For the benefit of any other golfers heading for the Costa del Sol here is our feedback about the courses we played.

We played 4 courses :

1 Alcaidesa - 9/10 - the best by some distance. It is just East of Gibralter and is the only links course on C del S. Course condition was excellent and buggies were allowed on the fairways ( which they were not at any of the other courses we played ). It was marginally more expensive than the other courses we played but lunch was included in the green fee.

2 Atalaya - 7/10 - The old course had just been tined and sanded so it was not really fair to judge it on its condition. We had played the new course before and as we wanted to play the old course we played it despite their recomendation yo play the new course. The new course looked to be in good nick but still not up to the Alcaidesa experience

3 Duquesa - 6/10 - Holes 2-8 looked as though they are more recent than the remaining holes and were not as enjoyable a layout or in such good condition as 1 and 9 - 18 which looked much more mature. Nevertheless an enjoyable course to play and good value as we got a deal including a buggy

4 Estapona - 4/10 - it was spoilt by the course condition, which was not great, and some patches which were so heavily watered that they had become boggy and if you stepped in then you could go in up to your ankles - yuk.

We had a villa in Duquesa which was ideal for us. The resort was excellent - small and friendly but with enough good restaurants and bars etc to satisfy you for 2 weeks. We would certainly stay there again on another golf break.

The Secret Garden Reasaurant in Sabinnillas is not to be missed if you stay within reach but it was only open Fri - Mon inclusive.

Scubaman

Update to my last years post :

2005 ratings :

Almenara ( next to Valderama but much cheaper ) 9.5/10
Alcaidesa 8.5/10
Rio Real 8/10
Duquesa 7/10
Atalaya ( new ) 6.5/10

Scubaman