Mijas Golf: Los Lagos and Los Olivos

Mijas Golf Internacional is one of the best-known golf complexes on the Costa del Sol. It sits in the valley of the Fuengirola river, on the edge of Las Lagunas de Mijas, with the Sierra de Mijas as a backdrop. The complex consists of two 18-hole courses, both carrying the signature of Robert Trent Jones senior, one of the most influential golf course architects of the twentieth century.

Los Lagos opened in 1976 and Los Olivos followed in the eighties. Together they have been drawing golfers from all over Europe for decades, and with good reason: the courses are well maintained, fairly priced for what you get and completely different in character. More on that below.

The name gives it away: Los Lagos is all about the lakes. The course is relatively flat and the fairways are wide, so it is a pleasant walk and you do not need pinpoint accuracy off the tee. But the water is everywhere. Ponds and lakes come into play on a large share of the holes, and that is exactly what makes Los Lagos so addictive: the course forgives a mediocre drive, but punishes a careless approach.

We think Los Lagos is the better pick of the two for golfers who like to score and want a classic parkland experience. Big greens, lovely sightlines to the Sierra de Mijas and enough risk-reward moments to keep it exciting.

Los Olivos is the little brother on paper, but many golfers quietly find it harder. The course is shorter and tighter, winds between olive trees (hence the name) and has smaller, often elevated greens that can run fast. Length alone wins you nothing here: position and a good short game make the difference.

If you only play one round and enjoy a tactical puzzle, choose Los Olivos. If you like to swing freely and want a relaxed round with friends, Los Lagos is the safer choice. The honest answer, of course: play them both.

Green fees move with the season. They are friendliest in the summer months and in the depths of winter, and highest in spring and autumn, the real golf season on the Costa del Sol. Expect a mid-range rate for the region: cheaper than the top courses around Marbella, but not a budget track. Twilight rates in the late afternoon are often a smart deal.

Booking is easiest online via the Mijas Golf website or a tee time platform. In March, April, May and October we recommend reserving well ahead, especially for weekends. Buggies, trolleys and rental sets are widely available, and there is a large driving range to warm up on.

The clubhouse has a restaurant with a terrace where you will happily linger after the round, plus a pro shop and changing rooms. Next to the course sits La Zambra, the former Byblos hotel, reopened as a five-star resort after a major renovation. Good to know if you want to combine a golf weekend with a bit of luxury.

Want to try more courses nearby? Read our guide to golf on the Costa del Sol and our page on La Cala Resort, with three championship courses in the hills behind La Cala de Mijas.

From our penthouse in Riviera del Sol you drive to Mijas Golf in about fifteen minutes: the coastal road towards Fuengirola and then into the valley. That makes it an easy morning round, with the afternoon left for the pool or the beach.

Our routine for a golf day: book an early tee time, café con leche at the clubhouse after nine holes, lunch after the round and then back to the coast. If you combine the round with a visit to Mijas Pueblo, you are up in the mountains within twenty minutes.