Andalucía, Spain
Club de Golf El Candado is a nine-hole, par-33 course located in the El Palo district, approximately five kilometres east of Málaga city centre, close to the Mediterranean coast. Designed by Carlos Fernández Caleya and opened in 1968, it is one of the earliest golf courses established on the Costa del Sol and holds a significant place in the region's golfing history.
The course measures 2,241 metres and is set within a compact valley, with fairways framed by trees, palms, and dense vegetation. Terrain is noticeably uneven throughout, with pronounced slopes and elevation changes that add to the course's character. The greens are small and undulating, and their strategic placement across sloping ground makes them consistently demanding regardless of a player's ability. Played twice over, the layout yields a par of 64 for an 18-hole round.
The course rewards precision and course management over power — it is a layout where accurate ball placement is more important than distance. The par-5 4th hole, which features a pronounced left-hand curve, is considered the most complex on the card. Several holes run in close proximity to a main road, which is a distinctive and unusual feature of the layout. Occasional sea views are available from higher points on the course. El Candado operates as part of a broader sports club offering tennis, paddle, sailing, horse riding, and swimming.
