Inside Europe’s best golf destination
Sotogrande, is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year – with a special calendar of events showcasing everything that has made the destination so revered over the past six decades - including world class golf events befitting the location.
It’s rare to find genuinely world-class golf in such proximity as it is in Sotogrande. Located at the southern tip of Spain, this quiet enclave is home to the country’s top two ranked golf courses – Real Club Valderrama and Real Club Sotogrande – yet is just 40 minutes from Marbella, 50 minutes from Malaga airport, and 20 minutes from Gibraltar airport.
This peaceful corner of the Costa del Sol is therefore within easy reach of all major European cities by air, and its enviable climate for year-round golf – with more than 300 days of sunshine each year - makes it arguably Europe’s best golf and lifestyle destination.
For non-residents, the best way to sample the lifestyle is a stay at the new five-star SO/ Sotogrande hotel. A haven for relaxation, with a host of wellness options at the SO/ SPA and health centre, in addition to authentic Andalucian cuisine in restaurants and bars that offer culinary delights in stylish, modern settings. It’s also adjoined to one of Sotogrande’s golf courses; the fun oriented and undulating Almenara Golf Club. The entire 27-hole property has recently undergone an extensive remodelling by legendary local golfer, Manuel Piñero.
As an integrated resort, Sotogrande has been renowned throughout its existence for being home to an elite community who reside there largely due to the proximity to some of Europe’s finest golf courses. Between them, the four courses in Sotogrande have hosted the Ryder Cup, World Golf Championships, DP World Tour events, and Ladies European Tour events.
What’s more, the area can justifiably claim to be home to some of Europe’s most best golf events in its diamond anniversary year. Real Club Valderrama will host an event as part of the innovative LIV Golf league, where residents and visitors will see a selection of the world’s best golfers tackle Spain’s most famous course.
Moreover, neighbouring Finca Cortesin, situated just outside Sotogrande, will host one of golf’s most prestigious events, when the best female golfers from Europe and the USA travel to compete in an exciting team format for the biennial Solheim Cup.
1997 Ryder Cup host venue, Real Club Valderrama, regularly tops the golf course rankings in Spain, and is also widely regarded as one of the best courses in continental Europe; the immaculate winding fairways, charming cork trees, and tricky greens combining to deliver one of golf’s most exceptional challenges.
Set atop the highest peak of the mountainous skyline, La Reserva Club is the latest addition to the golf offering in the area and sits comfortably within Spain’s top 10 golf courses.
Home to contemporary residential communities with an emphasis on green space and access to amenities, this family-centric country club has an 18-hole championship course that was designed in 2003 by American architect, Cabell B. Robinson. The course features wide, sweeping fairways that lead onto large, undulating greens, alongside challenging water features.
Sotogrande’s original golf course, Real Club Sotogrande, officially opened in 1964, soon after the inauguration of Sotogrande by American-filipino businessman Joseph Mcmicking, the Robert Trent Jones championship course is located close to the coastline, and continues to enthral players after more than half a century, featuring picturesque holes that create a memorable golfing experience filled with charm.
Select visitor tee times are available to book and reserve at all Sotogrande’s golf courses, and visitors can enjoy a stay at the recently opened five-star SO/ Sotogrande hotel. Aptly named locally as a ‘revolutionised Cortijo’, it offers a mix of contemporary design and traditional Spanish farmhouse-inspired feel in a setting that overlooks the foothills of Sotogrande and the Mediterranean Sea.
Outside of the hotel and away from the golf course, Sotogrande benefits from an array of amenities that add to the experience. This includes horse riding schools, gastronomic experiences, wine tasting, water sports, internationally acclaimed polo, sporting facilities, and more. Visitors should also soak in the atmosphere at the Marina – it’s full of life, with numerous boutiques, bars, restaurants, and cafes.
A key element of the lifestyle in Sotogrande is the range of private communities located within the confines of La Reserva Club, and with this world-class golf offering all within a 10-minute radius, Sotogrande® may just be the ultimate destination for European golfers to make their home.
These communities are aimed at clients with varying budgets, from the most premium, The Seven (plot prices starting from €7,600,000), to Village Verde, a collection of luxury Sky Villas and apartments (prices starting from €630,000).
To enquire about golf experiences and packages in Sotogrande, and to discuss bespoke options, get in touch by emailing lareserva@sotogrande.com or visit: so-sotogrande.com/offers/stay-and-play/