9 July 2026
Getting Started
If you're new to golf in Spain, one thing surprises almost everyone: you can't just turn up at a course and play. To practice golf on a course here, you need a federative license, commonly known as a Green Card. It's one of the most common questions we get from new members, so here's what it actually involves.
The license is issued through the Spanish Golf Federation and is required by law to play on approved Spanish courses. It reflects three things bundled into one fee: compulsory civil liability insurance covering accidents on the course, a fee to the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, and a fee to your regional federation. It runs on the calendar year, from January to December, at a single price that can't be split.
Most people assume getting licensed means months of lessons before you're allowed near a course. In reality, with the right course it's a focused programme you can complete in a matter of weeks.
PG Golf and Sports Academy coaching team
At Atalaya, Mijas and Magna Marbella, our Green Card course is built to take you from a standing start to a licensed, federated golfer. It's a 10 hour coaching package covering both long game and short game, followed by 9 holes of on-course play and a theory and on-course test. Once you pass, you're federated in Spain and free to play at courses around the country and, in most cases, abroad.
You can take the course alone or with friends, and pricing works per group: it's more cost-effective the more people join you, from a single participant up to a group of four or more. You set the pace too. Some players prefer an intensive week to get it done quickly before a trip; others spread the ten hours over a longer period around work or family life.
One thing worth knowing before you start: the federation license fee itself (around 80€) is separate from the coaching package, and we can help arrange the practical side of a golf trip too, from accommodation to transport, if you're combining the course with a longer stay on the Costa del Sol.
If you've been putting off getting licensed because it sounds complicated, it isn't. Come and see one of our coaches and we'll map out exactly what it takes to get you playing properly, on your own ball, on a real course.