Avda de Miraflores, s/n,
Cuidad Puerta de Hierro, Madrid 28035
The Course:
36 holes. Tree-lined & open parkland. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.
Surroundings:
Woodland, residential and major roads.
Designer:
Arriba course: the product of several design inputs, most notably from: Harry Colt (1910s), Tom Simpson (1924 & 1945), John Harris (1960s), Robert Trent Jones Jr (1998) and Kyle Phillips (2000).
Abajo course: designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr (1998).
Above distances are for the newer Abajo course. Also at Puerta de Hierro is the 18-hole par-72 Arriba course (6375 m from back tees).
40.457789
-3.730041
6 km NW of Madrid city centre.
Real (Royal) Club de la Puerta de Hierro is home to what are widely regarded as two of Spain's best tree-lined and open parkland layouts. The Abajo course is often ranked slightly higher than the also impressive Arriba course. This however is a private club with both courses generally playable only by members and their guests.
Puerta de Hierro is a private club. Guests may only play if hosted by a member.
Players generally walk this course. Golf carts available.
Good
Puerta de Hierro means "Iron Gate", and refers to the former ceremonial entrance to the Royal Park of El Pardo. This impressive baroque style monument is located in the northwest of Madrid, very close to the entrance to the golf course. The gate is now the centrepiece of a landscaped traffic island between the M-30 and A-6 highways.
By royal prerogative, at least 18 Spanish golf clubs use the "Royal" title, including: Bendinat, El Prat, Guadalmina, La Herreria, Las Brisas, Las Palmas, Malaga, Neguri, New San Sebastian (Basozabal), Pedrena, Puerta de Hierro, R.A.C.E. (Jarama), San Sebastian, Seville, Sociedad Hipica Espanola, Sotogrande, Tenerife and Valderrama. At least two other clubs once carried the Royal title: Royal Menorca (now closed) and Royal Deportivo Las Lomas-El Bosque, now called GC Lomas-Bosque.
Arriba course: Spain's 7th best courses (Golf World, 2025); Continental Europe's 51st best course (Golf World, 2025).
Abajo course: Spain's 23rd best course; Continental Europe's 99th best course.
Arroyofresno 17, Fuencarral-El Pardo, 28035 Madrid.
+34 91 736 5273
Visit websiteThe Hotel Monte Real is located in the Puerta de Hierro neighbourhood of Madrid, just 10 minutes from the city centre and easily accessed via the M-30 or M-40 highways. The best golf courses in the city of Madrid are also close by. The 72-room hotel has been recently renovated and redecorated.
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Club de Campo Villa de Madrid; Centro Nacional; Royal Puerta de Hierro (private).
La Moraleja; Santander.
Plaza de las Cortes 10, Madrid 28014
+34 91 420 3767
Visit websiteThe Villa Real is a 5-star hotel in the centre of Madrid, located in the Plaza de las Cortes, in front of the Spanish Congress of Deputies and just a few minutes on foot from Puerta del Sol. It is a unique location for exploring the sites of 'Madrid de los Austrias' on foot and enjoying the museum triangle formed by the Museo del Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Queen Sofia Foundation.
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No
Club de Campo Villa de Madrid (12 km); Centro Nacional; Royal Puerta de Hierro (private).
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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