Santana Golf Club, Mijas – Smooth Sailing on the Costa del Sol
- Gunnar Kobin
- Jan 24
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 23
Santana Golf: A Course You Can Enjoy Playing
Some courses may leave you feeling challenged, whereas some courses may leave you feeling frustrated, but let's talk about courses like Santana Golf Club that will simply let you enjoy the game.
In Mijas, inland from the coast, Santana is always a course I enjoy playing and will regularly include it in my schedule for the area when I am visiting. While it is not overly long, the design is logical and there is space to hit your shots. There is nothing funny or artificial here.
Some courses pose questions that can make the round a struggle to get through and playing at Santana Golf Club feels like smooth sailing even when the course asks questions.
And that is how I believe golf should feel.
Set A Former Avocado Plantation
Santana gives off a calming and peaceful parklands feel right from the arrival and the mature trees framing the holes do not crowd the holes and are separated by plenty of space.
Due to the design of the course, you will not feel punished when playing from the back tee, and you'll be able to enjoy the round from the first tee and be encouraged to swing freely.
That's a good idea.
Design That Works
You can tell that the design at Santana is a breath of fresh air. There is space off the tee, defined landing areas, and visually and strategically holes that make sense.
However, there is a good mix of holes that are demanding which are never unreasonable. Good golf is required to avoid hero shots and extreme narrowing.
This course offers an opportunity to find your flow early on. Swing not feeling right? No problem. Santana is an enjoyable course no matter your skill level and provides ample breathing room.
Robinson Learned From the Best
Cabell B. Robinson is the designer of this course. Understanding that his background allows for easy path of the design influence clarity. Classical design education shows in the background. Robinson spent time in the classical design education of Robert Trent Jones Sr.
The course is not centered around visual intimidation, or gimmicks. Everything from the shot/landing area visibility to the logic in the design of the holes, to the correct rewarding shots of the design, everything is thought through.
What I appreciate the most is allowing the player to use their whole swing. Wide fairways will allow for commitment, but will also require some positional thought. Risk-reward strategies are not mandatory. You are free to adopt an aggressive strategy or
play conservatively at will.
This explains the Santana balance. Over-engineered design or punitive holes are in demand, but the design pays no regard to the most fatal errors.
Small Details Matter
The bunkering is one small but noteworthy detail that adds to the enjoyment.
The sand is nice and consistent, so when hitting out of the bunker, the club doesn't get stuck or grab at impact. It's a detail courses often overlook, but Santana gets correct.
Greens are fair, and when playing them, solid approaches are rewarded. Guessing gets you nothing.
Variety Without Repetition
The 9th and 13th are the only two holes that resemble each other, but even in that case, they provide enough variety in terms of direction, length, and shape in order to make the round interesting.
The 10th is a classic risk/reward par 5. If you are brave enough to go for the water that's just in front of the green, you could reach it in two shots.
The 14th is risk/reward as well. If you are a long enough hitter, you can easily move yourself right in front of the green, bordering some well-placed bunkers. This hole is a great risk/reward and never feels forced.
The 18th Demands Your Attention
The 18th is the hardest hole on the course, so it makes for a great finisher hole.
A slight fade on the driver, or hitting it a bit too long, could send you to the pond. If you're too short, you'll have a long second shot to the elevated green.
It doesn't rely on gimmicks and keeps you focused and committed until the very end.
It is a perfect example of Santana's philosophy of design, challenging but fair.
Consistently Good Condition
Santana is consistently good and a course you can still appreciate and enjoy when you are having a bad day. That is a big strength of Santana.
The course drains well and stays playable. Never does a round become a slog and you finish the round feeling good.
Why I Keep Coming Back
Santana Golf Club is up there with the most pleasurable courses I have played on the Costa del Sol.
The course is playable and the design of the course fits the nature of the land. You can make good quality shots with no punishment.
It is a course you can enjoy whether you are playing well or hitting a lot of bad shots. That is good to see.
It's a course I am without a doubt happy to keep going back to and Mad Santana is a course I want to keep going back to.
After playing other courses that feel like they are punishing people Santana is a course that is a breath of fresh air. Golf is supposed to be fun and Santana remembers.
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