Explore Cantabria’s top golf courses

 The Golf Courses of Cantabria

“The perfect paradise for golf lovers”

Between the Cantabrian Sea and the mountains of the Picos de Europa, the golf courses of Cantabria offer a unique experience of international prestige. They are the perfect setting for both experienced golfers and those who wish to enjoy the sport and relax in an incomparable natural environment.

If you’re looking to enjoy golf in Cantabria, Hotel Boutique Palacio de Caranceja is the perfect starting point: a charming and peaceful retreat located just minutes away from the region’s finest courses.

 Santa Marina Golf Course

Let’s begin with the prestigious Santa Marina Golf Course, designed by Severiano Ballesteros and offering spectacular views of the Picos de Europa.

Just a 30-minute drive from the Palacio de Caranceja, in Las Ruesgas (San Vicente de la Barquera), lies Golf Santa Marina, also designed by the legendary Severiano Ballesteros.

Its 18 holes (par 72) stretch across rolling hills and meadows with views of both the Picos de Europa and the Cantabrian coast. It’s a technical, moderately challenging course surrounded by nature and offering full amenities: clubhouse, restaurant, and practice area.              

Inaugurated in 2001, Santa Marina Golf was designed and built under the direction of the unforgettable Severiano Ballesteros, a true golf legend of the 20th century, born in Cantabria and deeply connected to this land. With his unique vision, Seve managed to integrate an international-level course into terrain as beautiful as it is challenging, creating a layout that today stands as a source of pride for the region.

The greatest challenge of the course lies in holes 4, 5, and 6, which Seve compared to the famous “Amen Corner.” As he used to say, “If you make it through those holes, you’ve got the match in your hands.” — Seve Ballesteros

👉 Explore more about Santa Marina Golf Course

Real Golf de Pedreña

Next, let’s explore the exclusive Real Golf de Pedreña: the birthplace of Severiano Ballesteros

Located in Pedreña, on the shores of the Bay of Santander, the Real Golf de Pedreña is much more than just a golf course — it is a symbol of Cantabrian tradition and pride. Considered one of the most iconic courses in Spain, it was designed by the legendary British architect Harry S. Colt and inaugurated in 1929. Since then, it has preserved the essence of the great classic British courses, featuring a layout that blends pine forests, sea views, and a technical, demanding design where every shot requires both precision and strategy.

Here is where Severiano Ballesteros was born and raised — the golfer who carried Spain’s name to the very top of the world stage. On this very course, he took his first swings, developed his unique style, and years later, added nine new holes to the original layout, leaving his mark forever on the history of the club and international golf.

Playing at Pedreña means playing where the legend of Spanish golf began.

Let’s dive into a bit of history:

The Real Golf de Pedreña has long been the heart of an unparalleled golfing tradition. The first professional to arrive was Emilio Cayarga, who paved the way for an impressive lineage of more than thirty golf professionals from Pedreña — including the Ballesteros, Bedia, Carriles, Cayarga, Roqueñi, Rozadilla, Sierra, and Sota families.

Emilio was succeeded by Ramón Sota, a key figure in Spanish golf during the 1960s and Seve’s uncle, who helped cement the club’s prestige both nationally and internationally.

On the amateur side, Pedreña has also been a cradle of champions. Since Antonio Lavín and Agustín Mazarrasa won the Spanish Doubles Championship in 1948, many club members have lifted trophies in national competitions — among them Rosa Cuitos, Mercedes Etchart de Artiach, Asun Pascual, Olga Corpas, the Botín sisters, Enrique Durán, Carlos Pascual, José Gancedo, and Eduardo de la Riva, among many others who form part of this rich sporting legacy.

👉 Explore more about the Pedreña Golf Course

Abra del Pas – Celia Barquín Golf Course

Third on our list is the Abra del Pas – Celia Barquín Golf Course, located in Mogro (Piélagos).

Managed by Cantur, the Abra del Pas has been awarded the Q for Tourist Quality by the Spanish Institute for Tourist Quality (ICTE), making it the second golf course in Cantabria and the fifth in Spain to receive this prestigious distinction. This recognition reflects the commitment to excellence and accessibility shown by the team led by Luis Pérez San Miguel and by the Government of Cantabria.

In short, the Abra del Pas “Celia Barquín” is much more than just a golf course — it’s a place open to everyone, where nature, sport, and quality come together to offer a unique experience in the heart of Cantabria.

👉 Learn more about the Abra del Pas Golf Course

Nestares Golf Course

"Golf amid mountains and unspoiled nature"

Just 2 kilometers from Reinosa and very close to the Alto Campoo ski resort, the Nestares Golf Course offers a privileged setting where golf and nature blend in perfect harmony.

Originally designed with the Cantabrian landscape as its main feature and redesigned in 2008 by José Manuel Gutiérrez Serna, its current director, the 18-hole, par 72, 6,250-meter course invites both amateur and professional players to enjoy a round that is technical, relaxing, and challenging at the same time.

With gentle slopes and spectacular lakes that guard eight of its holes, the course demands focus and strategy, yet also allows players to fully disconnect from routine and enjoy the silence, fresh air, and mountain views of southern Cantabria.

Managed by the public company Cantur, the Nestares Golf Course offers a driving range, equipment rental, a golf school with courses for all ages, and a restaurant with a terrace and café overlooking the course.

With its peaceful atmosphere, careful landscape integration, and easy accessibility, Nestares has become a benchmark for golf in northern Spain — an ideal place to enjoy the sport surrounded by nature, at any time of the year.

👉 Discover more about Nestares Golf Course – Reinosa

Ramón Sota Golf Course

"Technique, beauty, and the legacy of Seve Ballesteros"    

In the peaceful surroundings of Agüero (Marina de Cudeyo) lies the Ramón Sota Golf Course, a true garden transformed into a golf course. Its main feature is its exclusive composition of par-3 holes, making it a fun, highly technical course that is accessible to all players, from beginners to professionals, as it is not physically demanding.

The course was selflessly designed by the genius from Pedreña, Severiano Ballesteros, as a tribute to his uncle and mentor, Ramón Sota. It features 9 holes and a private teaching hole, with a par of 54 and a total length of 2,386 meters from the yellow tees.

Affectionately known as “Mini Augusta”, Ramón Sota combines beauty, precision, and strategy. Its fast greens, the two lakes affecting four holes, and the constant coastal breeze demand focus and creativity, inviting golfers to play with the free-spirited genius of its designer.

In addition to the course, Ramón Sota Golf Course offers a 220-meter practice area, putting green, approach area, pro shop and golf workshop, a golf school for all ages, cafeteria, social lounge, and even a mini museum dedicated to golf, where the family legacy of the Sota and Ballesteros is palpable.

Surrounded by green hills, meadows, and the typical rural landscapes of Cantabria, the Ramón Sota Golf Course provides an experience that is as technical as it is relaxing — a place where every shot can be enjoyed at leisure, and every corner reflects Seve’s passion for the sport.

👉Discover the Ramón Sota Golf Course

Where to Stay?

Come and discover Palacio de Caranceja, an oasis of tranquility and style in the very heart of Cantabria.

After a day of golf among mountains and the sea, there’s nothing better than returning to the Palacio de Caranceja 4*. This little paradise combines the charm of an 18th-century manor house with the comfort and warmth of a modern hotel, designed for those who appreciate attention to detail and tranquility.

Located between Santillana del Mar, Comillas, and San Vicente de la Barquera, the Palacio de Caranceja is a true haven of peace, while also serving as the perfect starting point to explore Cantabria’s finest golf courses, all within an hour’s drive.

The rooms, spacious, bright, and carefully decorated, invite relaxation after a day on the course. Each morning, the gourmet breakfast, featuring local products and homemade pastries, becomes a true ritual to start the day full of energy.

The hotel offers personalized assistance to organize your rounds or getaways, along with gardens and terraces where you can enjoy a glass of wine at sunset, and a warm, attentive service that makes every guest feel at home.

Whether it’s a romantic escape, a golf weekend, or a vacation with friends, the Palacio de Caranceja invites you to slow down and experience Cantabria at your own pace.

 Get in touch with us - +34 722 833 136.

Cantabria: much more than golf

 Between rounds, Cantabria invites you to savor its essence: a land of endless landscapes, history, and authentic flavors.

• Beaches: golden sands and perfect waves in Suances, Comillas, or Liencres.

• Charming villages: cobbled streets in Santillana del Mar or the rustic magic of Bárcena Mayor.

• Gastronomy: Santoña anchovies, Pasiego sponge cakes, and mountain stew.

• Nature: trails through cliffs, mountains, and forests in the Oyambre or Saja-Besaya Natural Parks.

In a single day, you can play golf, enjoy a wine by the sea, and sleep among the mountains.
Cantabria truly has it all.