La Estancia Golf Course

La Estancia sits just 2.7 kilometres from La Barrosa beach in Chiclana de la Frontera, designed by the Dutch architect Alan Rijks, his first course in Spain. Opened in 2004 as Meliá Sancti Petri, the course changed hands in 2009 and underwent a significant reinvestment in 2014, re-emerging as La Estancia and establishing itself as one of the more distinctive courses in the area.

The layout genuinely evokes traditional links golf, in the spirit of courses like St Andrews: flat, easy to walk, and set among newly planted and centuries-old olive trees, holm oaks and pines. Four brooks and three lakes come into play across the round, most notably guarding the green at the 9th, but it's the prevailing sea breeze that does the real work here, shaping club selection hole after hole in a way few other courses on this stretch of coast can match. More than 25 species of birds share the course with golfers, adding a genuinely natural feel to the round.

The clubhouse, driving range and full practice facilities are all well regarded, and the restaurant has drawn particular praise from recent visitors. For golfers who want a proper wind-driven, links-style test close to the beach, this is one worth building a round around.