Lauro Golf Top 100 Review

Lauro Golf is a 27-hole parkland complex located in Alhaurín de la Torre, in the Guadalhorce Valley approximately 20 minutes from Málaga Airport and around 1,000 feet above sea level. The original 18 holes were designed by Italian architect Folco Nardi and opened in 1992, with a further nine holes added later, designed by Mariano Benítez. The three nine-hole loops can be combined in any of three 18-hole configurations, each playing to a par of 72. The course from holes 1 to 18 stretches to around 6,151 metres from the back tees, and the other two combinations are of similar length. The setting is in the Sierra de Mijas foothills, with the Guadalhorce Valley and, on clear days, the Mediterranean visible from elevated sections of the course.

The design philosophy from the outset prioritised the preservation of the natural environment. Existing centuries-old holm oaks were retained and thousands of additional indigenous Andalusian trees were planted, including pine, cork, olive, and citrus. The result is a course with densely tree-lined fairways that reward accurate positioning over raw distance. Fourteen lakes are distributed across the 27 holes, introducing water hazards on multiple holes in each loop. The terrain is largely flat and walkable, though two holes on the mountainside present a more dramatic change in elevation and offer particularly expansive views. The greens are regarded as among the better maintained on the Costa del Sol. Each hole carries the name of a bullfighter, a nod to the cultural traditions of Andalusia. The par-5 27th hole, measuring 513 metres and played from an elevated position overlooking the valley and the sea, is frequently cited as the standout hole on the course.

The clubhouse occupies a restored traditional Andalusian cortijo, Cortijo el Paredón, set around a large central patio shaded by a mature rubber fig tree. The complex includes a golf academy with a driving range and putting greens, as well as paddle tennis courts, a lawn bowls club, an equestrian centre, and a swimming pool.