There are few places in the world like Sotogrande! Bathed by the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea and caressed by Levante breezes, this part of Spain is known for its near-perfect weather, beautiful surroundings and for being a great destination for outdoor sports all year long. Located in the municipality of San Roque, Sotogrande has nine of the world’s top golf courses within 10 kilometres of one another. Such a density of carefully-designed 9-, 18- and 27-hole golf courses and clubs make coastal Sotogrande an ideal place to combine the best of golf, relaxation and fun in the sun on Costa del Sol’s prettiest beaches.
Read below to find out more about our favourite golf courses in Sotogrande.
Almenara Golf Club
Designed by former Ryder Cup golfer Dave Thomas, the 27-hole Almenara Golf Club is truly one of a kind. Having opened its third 9-hole course in 2001—which runs around large lakes and has some of the most impressive tees on the European golf scene—this club offers something for golfers of all interests and skill levels. Don’t miss the golf restaurant, which has a terrace overlooking the club’s first nine holes, beautiful Sotogrande and the Mediterranean Sea.
La Reserva Golf Club
Opened in 2003, the 18-hole La Reserva Golf Club sits in a beautiful part of Sotogrande and is surrounded by native Mediterranean pine, wild olive and cork oak trees. Designed by Cabell B. Robinson, who studied under Robert Trent Jones, this course is nestled between two valleys, has four lakes and six water hazards, one of which is a real obstacle for even the most advanced players
La Cañada
In 1991, the La Cañada golf course opened its first nine holes, all of which were designed by Robert Trent Jones Senior. The remaining nine holes were designed by Dave Thomas, resulting in a fun, 5,841-metre course with short streets, fast greens, large groves and spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea. There is an onsite golf school for kids called the Municipal Golf School of La Cañada, which boasts 300+ students and is ranked as one of the top golf schools in Spain.
Alcaidesa Links Golf Resort
The only links golf course in Andalusia is Alcaidesa Links Golf Resort, which has 18 holes and offers spectacular views of the Rock of Gibraltar and the mountains of northern Morocco. Designed by Peter Allis and Clive Clark, this unique course has some water and wind hazards that make keeping the ball on the fairway challenging.
Source: Alcaidesa Golf
Alcaidesa Heathland
Designed by Dave Thomas, Alcaidesa's second 18-hole course, Alcaidesa Heathland, opened in 2007. At its highest point, this course offers unbelievable views of the Sotogrande landscape. The prettiest holes are down in the valley, and throughout, golfers will find idyllic streams, lakes and waterfalls.
San Roque Club (Old Course)
Another Dave Thomas-designed course, the 18-hole San Roque Club (Old Course) is regarded as one of the best golf courses in all of Europe! It hosted the Spanish Golf Open in 2005, and since then, has hosted several final qualifying rounds of the European Tour. The first nine holes of the course run in and around large cork oak tree forests, while the last nine have a handful of water hazards.
Source: San Roque Club
San Roque Club (New Course)
Also part of the San Roque Club, the 18-hole New Course stands out for its high technical quality, precise layout, impeccable finish and stunning landscaping. It hosted the Spanish Open in 2006, and like its “older brother,” is also regarded as one of the best golf courses in Europe. Unlike other fields, there aren’t any buildings or homes here to interfere with players’ golf games.
Real Club Valderrama
The 18-hole Real Club Valderrama is one of Costa del Sol’s most famous golf courses. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Senior, this course made history in 1997 by becoming the first Spanish course (and first outside the British Isles!) to host the Ryder Cup. Prior to that, Real Club Valderrama hosted nine Volvo Masters Tournaments. Since then, it has become the top course in Europe for some of the world’s best players and has hosted two American Express World Championships.
Real Club de Golf Sotogrande
Built in 1964, and the first European course designed by Robert Trent Jones Senior, the 18-hole Real Club de Golf Sotogrande is considered one of the top ten golf courses in all of Europe. At this old-school club, golf is the main focus. The clubhouse touches both the first and 18th hole, and water hazards exist in six holes throughout the course.
Plan a trip to Costa del Golf and you’ll find first-class golf courses, dreamy beaches, delicious restaurants, a stunning collection of hotels for golf lovers and enough cultural and outdoor activities to keep you entertained even when you’re not golfing. When you go, be sure to visit Sotogrande and see why golf enthusiasts everywhere have fallen in love with it! What are you waiting for?
