Costa Ballena Ocean sits on the Atlantic coast near Rota, a José María Olazábal design built in 1995 and opened for play in 1997. It's since become an official venue for the European Tour's Qualifying School, hosting national training squads and international team events, a level of pedigree few resort courses on this coast can match.

The 27 championship holes are arranged as three separate nines, combined in pairs to make up your round, so the exact routing can vary depending on rotation. It's a flat, walkable layout studded with palm trees, with some holes running directly along the coast and well-placed bunkers and lakes throughout, built to test everyone from beginners to scratch golfers. A separate 9-hole par-3 course adds a relaxed option for working on the short game.

The practice facilities are the real standout: a 300-by-350-metre driving range with room for 120 players at once, rated among the best in Europe by the Swedish PGA. With a gym, sauna and Jacuzzi included after your round, this is a course built for a proper day of golf. For golfers who want a genuine tournament pedigree with real variety across a round, this is well worth booking.