Río Real Golf: the course and homes for sale nearby

Río Real follows the valley of the river that gives it its name, on a compact site just east of Marbella. Most holes lie on level ground in the valley, where the river comes into play more than once; a short stretch climbs a hillside with views of the sea, and some holes run close to the shore.

Mature pines, palms, casuarinas, olive trees and cypresses line the fairways. The front nine is tighter, the back nine more open, and the raised greens are quick and more sloping than they look. Over the decades the trees have grown across some of the best lines of play.

The club says it suits every level, and reviewers broadly agree it is testing but fair: placing the ball matters more than length, and most holes offer a safer side. It is easy to walk – the club calls it not very hilly – and buggies are optional, depending on the weather. Visitors' handicaps are capped at 28 for men and 36 for women.

Condition draws consistent praise. The greens are the talking point: fast, firm and harder to read than they look. A recurring criticism is noise from the main road on the holes closest to it, and several players find it expensive. Pace of play rarely draws complaint.

The driving range, about 100 metres from the course, has twelve covered bays with Toptracer; the putting green and an approach area are beside the 1st tee, and there is an academy. The clubhouse, with a large fireplace, looks over the course, El Club restaurant serves Mediterranean food, and guests at the 30-room Río Real Golf Hotel get preferred tee times. Golf is possible all year; spring and autumn are the favourites.

The course sits in the Golf Río Real urbanisation just east of Marbella's centre, which the club puts about five minutes away; Málaga airport is around 50 kilometres, or 40 minutes by car. Los Monteros is next door, and Santa Clara and Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort are a short drive further east.

We show homes close to golf here in Río Real and Los Monteros. The choice is smaller than around most courses, with apartments and detached villas in roughly equal measure and a few townhouses. We act only for buyers, and before a viewing we check how close a home really is to the course and what it actually looks out on.