San Roque
Since it first opened, The San Roque Club has been one of southern Spain's most exclusive resorts
The centrepiece is a magnificent mansion, formerly the home of the Domecq sherry dynasty.
Members enjoy preferred access to these unique facilities.
Here there are all the outstanding facilities and services you would expect from a top class international Golf & Country Club. Dining options include Bolero, the flagship restaurant, serving food that fuses the traditional tastes of Andalucia with the finest regional Spanish influences.
For something more exotic, there's Kamakura, probably Spain's best and most authentic Japanese restaurant offering the freshest sushi and sashimi, tempura and teppanyaki dishes. This part of Spain enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine each year.
Alcaidesa Links Golf Course
Designed by Peter Alliss and Clive Clark. 18 holes, par 68 4924 metres.
The most authentic and exciting way of playing golf. Alcaidesa Links Golf Course is the first competition standard golf course in Spain which falls into the Links category.
Its spectacular layout borders the beach amidst hills and natural vegetation. Whilst playing it, there is no way to escape the silent presence of the majestic rock of Gibraltar and the Atlas mountains of Africa which mark the distant horizon.
The work carried out in 1999 has apparently worked wonders for the maintenance of this fast developing golf club. It is great fun playing here when there is a little sea breeze in the air. The course is very much in keeping with the spectacular vista over the Mediterranean sea and the massive rock of Gibraltar which dominates a large part of the course
Alcaidesa has been called a links because it is situated along the coastline and because you need to know how to handle the wind. However the type of soil, layout and breadth of the landing areas are well suited to players of all ages and abilities who are looking for a good day's golfing without having to bend the ball one way or the other. The greens are not oversized or too complicated, but to card a good score or win your bet, you will need to hit it straight and have a good short game.
Real Club de Golf Sotogrande Spain
18 holes 6298 metres Par 72.
Sotogrande Golf Course was inaugurated in 1964, and like the course at Valderrama, it too was designed by Robert Trent Jones.
Situated in Sotogrande, Its most outstanding feature is its natural beauty with views out over the sea.
The variety of vegetation gives this course a very special feeling, as it is covered by cork trees, pines and eucalyptus which apart from adding beauty to the course can make for quite a tricky round of golf.
The main hazards on the course, apart from the trees, are the big lakes, where the water will significantly complicate the game, and makes this an extremely entertaining round.
Because of the virtual absence of rough, the course enables long-hitters to open their shoulders with no worries other than avoiding the pre mentioned water hazards, concentrated over the last few holes.
The greens are huge, very undulating and often murderous for the scorecard.
One of the best in Europe this course is always a pleasure to play. Imported Bermuda grass ensures lush fairways, and the lack of rough add to the enjoyment of this wonderful golf course.
Estepona Golf Course
18 holes Par 72. 6001 metres
Situated on the Costa del Sol, this course was inaugurated in 1989 and makes the most of the beautiful natural surroundings, at the foot of the Sierra Bermeja mountains, to offer a round of wide fairways and very long greens.
It is a very beautiful course with an abundance of vegetation and water, with large lakes skirting the greens. The design of the course follows the natural layout of the terrain, including the hazards, and the wide fairways are the pride of Estepona.
It's a fast round and the greens have been described on numerous occasions as the best on the Costa del Sol.
Estepona Golf once boasted the longest hole in Spain. Known as the 'Ski-run', the par-5 3rd measuring exactly 568 metres, which has now been shortened to a par 4. If you get a good bounce with the drive the green is reachable in two. Beware thick rough on the left and shepherds pastures on the right.
Many water hazards, dangerous rough, long par 3's and lots of sloping fairways make for a challenging day. This relatively short course offers a good test, mainly narrow fairways with many ups and downs.
Estepona's splendid clubhouse has terraces which offer spectacular views of the sea and the mountains.
Buggies Recommended!
La Duquesa Golf
l6,142m, Par 72
Duquesa's excellent course was designed by Sir Robert Trent Jones, and is settled in a spectacular landscape. With 18 very entertaining holes that will give you the opportunity to enjoy a round of golf under the sun with breezes from the Mediterranean, and views out to North Africa and Gibraltar.
The course offers large, wide fairways and is a reasonable challenge to golfers of all standards.
The second nine is a little more complex but the Mediterranean, Puerto de la Duquesa, Gibraltar and the mountains are always in sight, and from the par 3 15th the view stretches as far as Marbella.
Duquesa is fast becoming a favourite with golfers due to the proximity of some of Europe's finest golf courses, combine this with the beautiful and peaceful setting of Duquesa itself, and it is no surprise so many golfers are coming back.
La Cañada
5841 Metres Par 70
La Cañada was the first public golf course on the Costa del Sol. It is located in a raised part of Guadiaro, a place with proportionally the highest number of amateur golfers in Spain.
The extension to the course, which currently forms the first nine holes, was designed by the architect Dave Thomas. The designer of the second nine holes (previously the first nine) was Robert Trent Jones, who also designed the neighbouring courses of Valderrama, and Real Club de Golf Sotogrande.
It is a pleasant and varied round, with excellent views. The terrain is not flat but the slopes are gentle. The main features are the excellently maintained greens, a large number of trees, mainly made up of indigenous species, and the gully (Canada) on the 18th which gives the course its name.
The golf course can be played without difficulty and buggies are not necessary. The greens have subtle borrows and are very well looked after. An ideal round for strategic play, and you will have to use all of your clubs. Any good amateur is guaranteed a fun game.
Valderrama
18 holes Par 72. 6402 metres is the competition length
Valderrama is ranked among the top 100 courses in the world, one of the top 10 in Europe and 1st in Spain.
Lush tree lined fairways and immaculate elevated greens give this course the recognition it so deserves. The best players in the world have played it, and it has also been host to the 1997 Ryder cup.
Valderrama has gained international fame through the strength of the proprietor Jaime Ortiz - Patino, who not only insisted on making changes to the original layout (notably the 17th hole), but also insisted on exceptional standards of course maintenance.
The 17th hole on Valderrama is named 'Las Gabiones'. It is also the most talked about hole on the course. Remodelled by Seve Ballesteros and measuring 455 metres from the Championship tees, it has been the scene of many dramatic moments during the Ryder Cup, and in the World Championship events.
All shots need accuracy and good distance judgment, especially the second one, as the third shot over the water to the green is probably the most exciting shot of the day for any visiting golfer.
The strategic difficulty, omnipresent trees, the size of the bunkers and a few water hazards keep the player constantly on his wits for every stroke. The pressure is made worse when it comes to reading the greens. Don't bother about playing to your handicap, as even the top champions find making par a tough enough challenge at Valderrama.
You need to book very early in advance to get a game at Valderrama Golf Club. Soft spikes only.
Almenara
18 holes par 72 6168 metres is the competition length
Set around lakes and Cork Oak trees. Greens already accepted as being of tournament quality. A future classic course
Almenara Golf Club extends its activities to golf tourism. Almenara is the first complex which has provided for golf courses and Hotels, located between the Valderrama and San Roque courses. The Almenara course, opened in the Spring of 1999, has been built over very hilly terrain and the Dave Thomas layout adds even more difficulties with narrow fairways and typical high lipped fairway bunkers, which catch anything hit off target. This is riot a wide course and what with the danger lurking alongside or across the fairways you are often better off leaving the driver in the bag. A well built course where maintenance is good.
Valderrama has gained international fame through the strength of the proprietor Jaime Ortiz - Patino, who not only insisted on making changes to the original layout (notably the 17th hole), but also insisted on exceptional standards of course maintenance.
This is now a 27 hole golf course set in the upper part of Sotogrande 500 metres from Club de Golf Valderrama and five minutes from the beach, surrounded by cork oak trees and wild pines and several streams as well as a natural lake, all of which serve to make this a very beautiful course
Located close to Valderrama this course has spectacular views and is maintained to a high standard. Set around two lakes the undulating terrain offers a true test of golf. Large greens are protected by fine sanded bunkers.
Soft spikes only. Buggy recommended.
Dona Julia
18 Holes 5976 Metres Par 71
Dona Julia Golf Club is located on the coast near to Estepona in the Malaga municipality of Casares. It was designed by renowned Malaga architect, Antonio Garcia Garrido, who has designed some of Spains top golf courses.
It comprises two very distinctive layouts. The first nine holes are fairly flat, with lakes and abundant trees offering the main challenge. The second nine are more difficult. The existing vegetation has been preserved, the holes are longer, surrounded by lakes and streams.
With 11 of the holes elevated, and featuring the sea as a backdrop looking out over the straights of Gibralter, and on a clear day Ceuta. The course is both picturesque and at least to the senses expansive.
The course at the present time is par 71 and 5976 metres long. When the construction works of the Hyatt hotel, and the club house are completed the course will be an 18 hole, par 72 and 6100 metres.
The most notable features of the Dona Julia Golf Course is the size of the greens. The course offers a challenge for professional as well as low handicappers.
La Reserva Sotogrande
The 18-hole golf course of La Reserva was designed by Cabell Robinson. The links cover 72 hectares and are 6,700 metres long, but with 5 teeing grounds at each hole they can be enjoyed by golfers of all abilities. Outstanding features are its wide-open greens and generously proportioned fairways.
Santiago Luna, four times Spanish Champion and member of the European Tour for more than twenty years, makes the following suggestions of La Reserva:
"This golf course requires players to use all the clubs in their bag. It's very entertaining and can be made either easy or difficult. The course is very large featuring wide fairways and greens, in addition to being very well contoured".