The moment you step foot in Sotogrande, you understand why this corner of southern Spain has become synonymous with golf.
With more than 300 days of sunshine each year and a pedigree of courses that includes Real Club Valderrama and Real Club Sotogrande – Spain’s top two ranked courses – it’s clear to see why generations of players have gravitated here.
For golfers, this southern corner of Spain has long been held in high regard, yet Sotogrande is not content to rest on history. A bold new chapter has arrived with The Alto Club at La Reserva Sotogrande, a complete transformation of the former Almenara Course into a contemporary hub for sport and leisure.
CHECK OUT – NCG Top 100s: European Resorts list
At its centre is a new Golf Academy – the first of its kind on the Costa del Sol – built to welcome every level of golfer, from beginners to seasoned professionals.
Two-time major winner and Solheim Cup legend Suzann Pettersen has joined as the Academy’s Global Ambassador, shaping the Academy’s philosophy of openness and excellence and bringing world-class insight to coaching and player development.
Here, cutting-edge tools like Toptracer technology, swing analysis studios and floodlit ranges blend with a par-3 course designed by Manuel Piñero, and a relaxed café and bar that provide a welcoming atmosphere and a true sense of community.
That appeal has already drawn elite players, with Ladies European Tour star Mimi Rhodes – who won three times on the Tour in 2025 – choosing Sotogrande as her official training base.
Of course, golf here extends well beyond The Alto Club. Sotogrande remains one of Europe’s most revered golfing landscapes. Valderrama, host of the 1997 Ryder Cup, still demands precision from the world’s best.
Along the coastline, Real Club Sotogrande is a DP World Tour venue, while La Reserva Club combines a Cabell B. Robinson championship course with an inland beach, racquet sports and a lively social calendar – proof that this destination is as much about lifestyle as it is about world-class golf.
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Beyond the fairways, the five-star SO/ Sotogrande Spa and Golf Resort provides a base where golf and wellness naturally intersect. After a morning round, guests can unwind in the spa, explore the coastline, and enjoy long, sunlit meals. Everything sits within a few minutes’ reach, making it easy to move between golf and relaxation without ever feeling hurried.
Sotogrande today is more than a collection of courses. It is a community shaped by heritage but looking firmly ahead. For golfers, it offers a chance to play in the footprints of golfing legends, while soaking in the Mediterranean lifestyle at one of Europe’s most complete and celebrated destinations.
NCG Top 100s Rankings
La Reserva Sotogrande is one of several stunning venues in the region, and it is a resort that is worthy of a place in the top five on the NCG Top 100s: European Resorts list!
RELATED – NCG Top 100s: La Reserva Sotogrande
RELATED – NCG Top 100s: European Resorts
VISIT THEM – La Reserva’s website
Now have your say
Have you been fortunate enough to play at Sotogrande, and follow in the footsteps of some of the DP World Tour’s biggest stars? How did you enjoy your time in Spain? Let us know your thoughts with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
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