The Grand Hyatt La Manga Club Golf & Spa Review
I count myself very lucky to live in Ireland, but as we head into winter, the dark evenings and perpetual rain can get a little gloomy. I’m also in a new stage of life, with two grown-up sons who have all but left home, leaving my husband and me – and our tween daughter – navigating life in a half-empty nest.
Unlike friends whose children have all flown the nest, our days are still a familiar, busy rhythm of school runs, homework, and routines, but the house feels too quiet, and my daughter misses the company of her brothers. Despite almost 21 years of motherhood, I have no prior experience to draw on for the moment I’m in, which is essentially parenting an only child. Pondering all this recently, I realised that some of the energy and buzz that used to make family life feel fun – and yes, also chaotic – had slipped away as my children have grown.
So, when an invitation arrived for us to spend three nights reviewing The Grand Hyatt La Manga Club Golf & Spa in Spain – including a family lesson with a golf pro – I didn’t hesitate to say yes. Thank goodness, because it turns out that making space together to learn something new, somewhere new, was exactly the reset our family needed.
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Originally, my football-mad daughter was invited to The Grand Hyatt La Manga Club Golf & Spa in Murcia to experience the resort’s summer football camp. (The Arsenal squad trained here, and my youngest son has turned us all into fans.) In the end, the timings didn’t quite work out, but we got the chance, instead, to swap boots for clubs in the form of a family lesson from the resort’s golf pro. (Awkwardly, said son also happens to love golf almost as much as he loves Arsenal, and thus still hasn’t forgiven me for leaving him behind to cat-sit – but I guess that’s proof that this new stage of life has tricky moments for us all.)
An icon restored
(Image credit: La Manga)
Set in the hills of Murcia, The Grand Hyatt La Manga Club Golf & Spa provoked gasps of delight from us as we arrived. Imagine golden sunlight spilling over palm-lined terraces, sparkling outdoor pools, and pristine golf fairways, and you’ll have the tiniest taste of its soothing charm.
La Manga Club’s long history is part of its appeal – while we were there, a close friend sent me a photo of her perched by the pool as a child almost 40 years ago, proof that this sun-soaked spot has been a favourite for generations.
Set over 6km, the facilities at La Manga Club are difficult to take in, in part because it’s so thoughtfully mapped out that you never feel overwhelmed. We’re talking three world-renowned 18-hole golf courses, dozens of tennis and padel courts, multiple football pitches, plus a racquet club, gym, and spa.
The perfect family room
(Image credit: La Manga Club)
Family rooms, to me, often feel like afterthoughts. But ours at La Manga Club was both beautiful and functional – the holy grail of hotel rooms. The three of us had ample room to relax and unpack, and more than enough space to avoid endlessly tripping over each other’s things. From beautiful decor and thoughtful lighting to proper storage space and the balcony of my dreams, we were treated to the sort of space that makes me wonder why so many other family rooms get it all so wrong. All of this – plus the welcome glass of champagne and platter of fruit served on arrival – helped us to settle in and make the most of our surroundings immediately. There was no need to negotiate wardrobe territory or debate over who got what bed – my daughter was enchanted by her luxury sofabed setup – we just exhaled and tried to decide what to do first.
Let’s talk about the food
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There are 11 restaurants, cafés, and bars dotted around the resort, offering everything from relaxed, outdoor eats to exquisite fine-dining. Almost every type of cuisine you can think of is on offer, from diner-style hot dogs and burgers at 37 Spikes & Sports Bar to authentic Italian fare at Don Luigi Trattoria. In particular, Amapola Gastronomic is heaven for true foodies – I recommend both the green curry scallops with coconut and lime cream and citrus caviar, and the grilled lamb ribs with eggplant and yogurt sauce, dramatically served under a smoke-filled glass cloche – but the Grand Marnier soufflé is easily in the top three of the most delicious things we’ve ever eaten. We’re still talking about it, a month later.
One of the greatest joys of our trip? Not having to plan a single meal. I swapped twice-weekly Tesco orders for some of the best food I’ve ever eaten – we sampled a different restaurant for lunch and dinner every day, and each wowed us more than the last. It’s funny how much more time we spent laughing and chatting together at the table once freed from the logistics that dominate family mealtimes at home.
(Image credit: Future)
Food became a shared adventure. We began each morning with a breakfast buffet that I think I must have dreamt – I had champagne every morning – sitting on the terrace in the kind of sunshine that you can feel warming your bones. My daughter, often shy in new environments, wandered the innumerable buffet stations with a newfound confidence – selecting new things to try, asking questions, and returning to us triumphantly with her plate piled high with things she can only dream of getting for breakfast at home. Watching her skip out of sight and then loop back to our table with a grin, it struck me that this new stage in our family chapter isn’t just about giving way to independence, but working out how to foster it without losing connection – and La Manga was the perfect setting.
Outdoor pool time in November
(Image credit: La Manga)
If you need some proper downtime after all that dining, the resort’s spa – a fully equipped wellness centre with treatment and couple’s rooms, steam/sauna, hydrotherapy and an indoor pool – is the perfect place to recover. I was spoiled with a facial that left my face feeling so fabulous that people I barely know on Instagram felt compelled to comment on my glowing selfie.
Best of all – and if I’m honest, most surprising to me – is the fact that there’s not a spot of pretension at The Grand Hyatt La Manga Club Golf & Spa. I confess – as a perimenopausal mum of three – that I didn’t love the thought of parading my sun-starved body in my ill-fitting swimsuit around a five-star Spanish resort, but I need not have given it a moment’s worry. I felt gloriously inconspicuous and even in the spa – where I would have welcomed a much larger robe under which to hide – I was laughing away and comparing body hangups with another similarly self-conscious guest rather than feeling like I didn’t belong.
Unexpected life learnings from a golf lesson
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But the highlight of our weekend, it must be said, was a one-hour golf lesson with Craig Donnelly, PGA Professional and Academy Director.
Craig Donnelly
PGA Professional and Academy Director
Craig Donnelly, PGA Professional and Academy Director, brings nearly four decades of experience to La Manga Club, having first discovered the game as a child at the legendary Carnoustie Golf Links.
My first attempt at a swing was unforgettable, though not for the right reasons. My daughter burst into giggles, but our instructor came to my rescue with a wry smile that made me feel less of a middle-aged fool. Instead of letting me shrink into embarrassment, he paused and said, “Let’s tap into something you already know.”
He asked me to recall the familiar rhythm of rocking my daughter to sleep when she was a baby – that gentle, instinctive sway that mums do thousands of times without having to think about it. Somehow, with that muscle memory reactivated, my second swing connected. Not perfect, but surprisingly decent.
I was struck by the way Craig worked out how to connect with each of us individually – speaking to me as a long-time mum relearning confidence, and to my daughter as a bright-eyed beginner finding her stride. With my husband, he talked physics and pointed out the tech on display, reading each moment and adjusting his approach accordingly. It turned into one of the most unexpectedly wonderful family moments we’ve ever had since we became a trio, rather than a party of five.
Everything to know before you book
(Image credit: La Manga Club)
Where: La Manga Club, Murcia, SpainBest for: All ages, especially golf players and wellness fansDon’t miss: Beginner golf lesson, padel court, spa, outdoor poolWhen to go: All year round. Early November was perfectTravel tips: 30 mins from Murcia Airport / 1 hr from AlicanteOptional: pack clothing and footwear suitable for golf/padel
