In collaboration with Thomas and a group of friends, here is a postcard from the Mijas disc golf course near Malaga on the Spanish Costa del Sol. We hope it can inspire you for a trip with family or friends, and that you will find useful information about a trip south. From here the word is Thomas'.
“We are a handful of middle-aged friends who have only recently discovered this wonderful activity/elite sport. And although a frosty and sunny winter day is still one of our favorite weather, whether it's disc golf, sea trout fishing or other outdoor games, we looked into whether you could do something different in this slightly colder season. Yes, you have the course all to yourself, there are skips to the baskets on the frozen green, the hand warmer is great and the thermos coffee is also good. If you can find shelter from the wind and sit in the sun, it doesn't get much better even though it's cold.
Thomas and the group at Mijas Disc Golf Park, January 2024
Still, we looked into whether there were any warmer alternatives "nearby" that could be reached within a reasonable budget. And the answer was Mijas - near Malaga on the Spanish sun coast . Here, an enthusiastic Finn who, after careful and thorough consideration, has selected the area, bought/rented a piece of land and made a delicious Disc Golf course - or actually two 18-hole courses.
Scott Stokely has said (I haven't seen it with my own eyes, but I assume he's telling the truth) that in "Elgiganten" in Finland, Disc golf is played on all the screens in the stores to show what they can do - the screens. And with only a few warm months a year, it's not surprising that it's these people who make sure to extend the Disc Golf season for all of us.
At least we didn't meet many local "natives" from Spain along the way. The course is made for us cold northerners who have come to the realization that Disc Golf has to happen always and all the time, regardless of the season.
The area is of course very different from what we are used to in Denmark. Trees and bushes are fewer, lower and stick out much more. Stones and rocks have sharp edges, and our familiar hills and valleys have been replaced by mountains and deep canyons. Of course, we had to try.
The view from hole 4 at Mijas Disc Golf Park
Off to Mijas – Practical information and prices (2024)
We left on a Thursday evening in January and returned home the following Monday evening. The cheapest flight CPH-Malaga cost 844 DKK for a return ticket. We found a good Airbnb in Fuengirola not far from the course for 626 DKK per person for 4 nights, and with a rental car for 400 DKK in total, we booked the trip for 1500 DKK per person. Including flights, Airbnb and rental car!
One tip to keep the price down is to book a flight without luggage, which means you can only bring one bag that can be pushed under the seat in front of you. And a Disc Golf bag can do that, so we filled it with clothes and toothbrushes, and then we ordered a single shared suitcase for check-in where all our discs could be collected.
General food and restaurants etc. are both good and cheap by Danish standards, Uber works well if you don't rent a car yourself, the course costs €10 per day, and you can play both layouts as much as you want. There are local tournaments every now and then, and you are always very welcome to join. Check their Facebook for larger tournaments, which usually gives quick answers if you have questions for them on messenger/Facebook.
There are two roads to the course, and it is important to take the one coming from the south. Google directed us in from the north the first day, and it was a "bumpy ride" among rocks and large garbage trucks, in a small rental car without the big insurance package.
With the 2 layouts/courses - red and blue - there is plenty of opportunity to play alone and have fun if you prefer to be by yourself, even on the days when there are events on the course. We mostly played the "easier" red layout, as it was quite challenging for both our physique and level, but we also tried a round on the blue one.
The view from the course to the Mediterranean Sea at Mijas DiscGolfPark
And it must be said that there are both great challenges and great prospects in store for you in the warmer weather. When, after a long, hard and eventful day, with lots of altitude in your legs, you throw your favorite disc towards the sunset over the Mediterranean - then you just know that this is a place you must return to.
So that's why we will of course take another trip at the end of January 2025!
This time we are going with 8 people and we have rented a house with a pool and a discgolfbasket right next to the course. There are many nice harbor towns within driving/Uber distance of the course, but of course it is also generally quite touristy along the entire Costa del Sol. We know what we are coming for and what we would like to do from sunrise to sunset, so the other attractions will have to wait for a trip with my girlfriend another time. ”
You can find more information about the Mijas disc golf course on their Facebook page or Instagram . On UDisc you will find an overview of the course, read reviews and much more.