The Aloha Golf Club on Spain’s Costa del Sol should be no stranger to serious golf fans as it played host in 2007, 2008 and more recently 2012 to the Andalucian Open.

England’s Lee Westwood lifted the trophy in 2007, Frenchman Thomas Levet dedicated his 2008 success to an then ailing Seve Ballesteros while his compatriot, Julian Quesne posted a new course record of 64 to win last year.

Bernie relaxing at the Aloha Golf Club – a venue for three European Tour Andalucian Opens.

Reporting on Quesne’s victory was the first time I had visited the club and this has always been the beauty in reporting golf in this golf mad region of Spain – the variety of courses on offer.

Aloha Golf Club is located just a short five-minute drive up from Puerto Banus and with the 4,000 foot La Concha mountain standing like a sentinel overlooking the course.

While Puerto Banus very much is a magnet for a newer generation of ‘fast lane’ tourists, Aloha Golf Club is very much old school ways and manners.

That’s not to say Aloha Golf Club is anyway backward because the golf club is very up-to-date with everything involved in playing the ancient game.

There is a stunning new-look clubhouse, a state-of-the-art pro shop and a super course awaiting.

This course was designed by Javier Arana who also designed El Saler in Valencia and El Prat in Barcelona.  Aloha was his last project as Arana died in 1975, just as the course was about completed.

On 25th October 1975 the club was inaugurated by Mr. Angel de la Riva, President of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, who drove the first official ball at Aloha.

Throughout its history, the Club has been honored by the presence of personalities such as HM Mr. Juan de Borbón, Prince Klaus of Holland, Prince Edward from England and the King of Malaysia. The Scottish actor Sean Connery made his home of Aloha and shared this special atmosphere with our members until not so long ago.

Given the nature of the course around half of the tees you will find yourself hitting to a fairway below such as the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th as well as the 11th and the final fairway.

Overall, the course is very enjoyable and with the scenery superb and wildlife in abundance.

For those making the way to Aloha you will be greeted with a warm welcome but never a goodbye.

* Click on photographs to enlarge.