3 Nights, 2 Rounds
Tucked into Murcia's sun-drenched south-east coast, ONA Mar Menor is built around a championship layout co-designed by Jack Nicklaus and Dave Thomas, and it's one of the region's standout golf resorts for good reason. The course alone would justify the trip, but guests also have access to Saurines de La Torre and Hacienda del Alamo nearby, giving you variety across three very different tests. That mix of quality golf, a five-star hotel with proper spa facilities, and a location just an hour from Alicante makes Mar Menor a very complete resort set-up by Spanish standards, especially for golfers.
The hotel sits close to the village of Torre Pacheco, with many rooms looking straight out over the fairways. It's the kind of place where you can finish your round, walk back to a hydrotherapy bath in your room, and still make dinner without rushing. The spa is a serious operation, not just a token wellness area, and the restaurant leans into Murcian and Mediterranean cooking with enough ambition to keep you on-site most evenings. If you want a base that covers the essentials for most golf breaks without needing to drive around every night, Mar Menor does a lot of the heavy lifting. For more on the wider area, see our guide to the best golf resorts in Murcia and the best golf resorts in Spain.
Who is this for?
Golfers or groups looking for a quality Spanish resort break that combines championship golf with five-star facilities, a full spa, and easy access from Alicante. Ideal for couples, small groups or societies who want variety in their golf and a hotel that feels like a proper retreat rather than just somewhere to sleep.
Who is it best for?
Mid-to-low handicappers who want to test themselves on a Nicklaus/Thomas design, plus anyone travelling with a non-golfing partner who'll appreciate the spa, pool and restaurant while you're out on the course. Also suits golfers who value convenience, with everything you need, including multiple courses, within a short drive of a single base.
3 Nights, 2 Rounds
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Originally a Dave Thomas nine hole course, Mar Menor was transformed into an 18 hole championship test by none other than the great Jack Nicklaus and now it offers golfers travelling to Spain for their golf breaks a challenging and enjoyable test of golf not matter their ability. The lush Mediterranean landscape on which the course is built features endless numbers of palm trees, native grasses and flowering shrubs which, when combined with the ever present water and well places waste and greenside bunkers, offer a good challenge for all.
| Par | 72 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Dave Thomas / Jack Nicklaus |
| Opened in | 2009 |
| White | 6,719 yards |
|---|---|
| Yellow | 6,344 yards |
| Red | 5,578 yards |
La Torre, designed by the great Jack Nicklaus, is similar in style to the famous resort courses of Florida and as such players must safely negotiate vast swathes of sand and the ever present threat of water hazards lurking at the edge of the fairways and around the slick and true putting surfaces. Measuring a meagre 5,945 yards from the back tees, La Torre is playable for golfers of all abilities and while talented players and the big hitters may find it to be comparatively short, the strategy and precision required from the back tees still poses questions of any golfers skill.
| Par | 68 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Jack Nicklaus |
| Opened for play | 2004 |
| White | 5,403 metres | SSS 68.8 |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | 4,981 metres | SSS 66.3 |
| Blue | 4,507 metres | SSS 63.6 |
| Red | 3,884 metres | SSS 65.7 |
Measuring a manageable 6,416 yards from the back tees; Hacienda Riquelme offers a different challenge to that of the other courses found on the Nicklaus Golf Trail. Generous fairways weave their way in and around olive trees, wild flower meadows and a number of imposing and intimidating lakes. Undulating greens and outstanding bunkering add to the challenge that, thanks to a number of different tee positions, can be enjoyed by golfers of all shapes and sizes.
| Par | 72 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Jack Nicklaus |
| Opened for play | 2007 |
| White | 6,356 metres | SSS 73.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | 5,854 metres | SSS 70.8 |
| Blue | 5,552 metres | SSS 69.3 |
| Red | 5,084 metres | SSS 72.7 |
Close to Torre Pacheco, the Caleia Mar Menor Golf & Spa Resort opened in 2006 and has built a strong reputation for delivering five-star quality without the stuffiness that sometimes comes with it. The hotel offers 64 rooms and suites, many with views straight over the fairways, which is a nice way to start the day if you've got an early tee time.
Rooms are comfortably on the luxury end, with hydrotherapy baths, flat-screen TVs and reliable high-speed internet. The overall feel is bright and spacious, with plenty of light and a layout that works well for golfers coming and going with kit.
The spa is a standout. It's ESPA-endorsed and properly set up for more than a quick dip, with heat experiences, hydrotherapy pools, a vitality pool, relaxation areas, a zen studio and a full fitness suite. If you're splitting the trip with a partner who isn't playing, or you simply want to balance 36 holes with some downtime, it's the sort of facility that genuinely earns its place on the itinerary. Hot stone massage and intensive facials are among the signature treatments, and there's enough variety to keep you occupied across a week-long stay.
Food-wise, the main restaurant focuses on Murcian and Mediterranean cooking, and it's good enough that most groups will happily stay in rather than trekking out every night. The cooking is confident, the setting is stylish, and the menu changes often enough to keep things interesting across a longer stay. For something simpler, the Pool Bar and Grill does the job for a cold beer, a quick lunch or a snack between rounds, and it's open throughout the day.
You're roughly an hour from Alicante Airport, which keeps travel days painless. The resort sits in a quiet corner, so you're not surrounded by nightlife or tourist crowds, but you're also well-placed if you want to explore further afield. For most guests, though, the appeal is staying put. Once you're checked in, everything you need is on hand, plus a couple of strong course options nearby if you want to change it up.
Mark
✓12 Mar 2020
Two bed apartment was basic but comfortable. The TV was not really watchable and the heating controls didn’t seem to function correctly. I was surprised that only one bath towel per room was supplied and apartment not serviced during five night stay
Ronnie
✓1 Dec 2019
Very comfortable
John Paul
✓7 Oct 2019
grat hotel with a fantastic pool just what you neen after a hot days golfing, theres 3 or 4 resturants on site with a couple of good bars everything you need is there.
Marco
✓28 Aug 2019
poor hotel not adequate to our requests we arrive at 4:30 pm for check in and we couldn't get anything to eat until 7:00 the hotel bars had nothing the room is really poor we will definitely not be back
David
✓8 Apr 2019
Not a 5 star but comfortable 4 star needs a bit of TLC staff fantastic food good
Stuart
✓15 Oct 2018
4th time staying here, great location for the golf courses in region. Food good and apartments perfect for golfing holidays
Mark
✓12 Mar 2020
Good quality course in good condition. Only exception was some bunkers not in use and were GUR
Ronnie
✓1 Dec 2019
Distance and fairways needed
Allan
✓3 Nov 2019
Course played a bit easier because at of gur but overall very enjoyable
John Paul
✓7 Oct 2019
the course is on the grounds of the hotel so perfect location but the greens werent great and fairwars were to long needed a good cut but hey when you played the other 2 courses first maybe spoilt by them. had a great 4 days away in great hotel and great golf overall thanks simon and yourgolf travel.
David
✓30 Sep 2019
We played here last year and there has been a massive improvement in the greens. Ball ran well and true
Marco
✓28 Aug 2019
good course
Bill
✓9 Jul 2019
Seem to be not spending the money on upkeep of the course over played and tired looking torn nets hanging down around the villas just looked a poor third best.
Ian
✓26 Jun 2019
I've played the course a few times and the layout is great and a good test, unfortunately the greens had just been hollow tined so were pretty poor but nevertheless the rest of the course was in good condition.
Kelly
✓18 Jun 2019
We teed off at 3.15 and had no one in front of us. Nice quick round. Course was nice but have played better in the area
Stephen
✓14 Jun 2019
