Sotogrande: Where world-class golf goes hand-in-hand with the Mediterranean lifestyle

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With three of Spain’s top-six ranked courses forming part of an ever-evolving golf offering, five-star accommodation, and a way of life that extends far beyond the fairways, Sotogrande offers a different kind of golf escape on Spain’s southern coast

The Alto Course at Sotogrande | Source: Sotogrande/GMS

Set on the southern coast of Andalucía, with the Mediterranean on one side and rolling countryside on the other, Sotogrande has long held a special place in European golf.

Some of Spain’s most celebrated courses are found here and, while golf remains at the heart of it all, what keeps golfers returning is everything that surrounds them.

The destination combines serious golf credentials with the kind of understated lifestyle that makes it as appealing away from the course as it is on it.

And at the heart of Sotogrande’s latest chapter is The Alto Club – a new offering that further adds to the destination’s appeal.

At The Alto Club, the game is being opened up to a broader generation of players. Its established 18-hole course is complemented by a dedicated Golf Academy and a new par-3 course, creating more ways to play, practise and simply enjoy being on a golf course.

The club also has strong links to the professional game. Two-time major champion and former Solheim Cup captain Suzann Pettersen is Global Ambassador for The Alto Club, while Mimi Rhodes’ – who grew up playing and practising in the area – has returned as Sotogrande’s official touring professional ambassador, basing her training and preparation at The Alto Club and Alto Academy. LPGA Tour rookie Carla Tejedo has also joined Sotogrande as a Global Ambassador.

A stunning golf course scene at La Reserva Club Sotogrande | Source: Sotogrande/GMS
A stunning golf course scene at La Reserva Club Sotogrande | Source: Sotogrande/GMS

Sotogrande is home to some of the most recognisable courses in Europe

A short drive away, La Reserva Club offers a different challenge. A former host to the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour, its 18-hole championship course unfolds across rolling terrain, with wide fairways and expansive greens creating a layout that rewards good golf without losing sight of enjoyment.

Yet here, too, the appeal stretches beyond the scorecard. La Reserva brings golf together with tennis, padel and dining, as well as The Beach – its inland beach club built around a freshwater lagoon.

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And there is plenty more golf to discover. Sotogrande is also home to some of the most recognisable courses in the European game, including Real Club Valderrama and Real Club de Golf Sotogrande – the number one and two ranked courses in Spain.

Meanwhile, SO/ Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort provides a natural base from which to explore. The five-star hotel takes its cues from contemporary Andalusian design, with views across the surrounding landscape and easy access to The Alto Club.

After a morning on the course, attention can turn to recovery and relaxation. The hotel’s 3,500sqm spa and wellness facilities offer space to slow down, while its restaurants provide a chance to enjoy the flavours of southern Spain.

Beyond the hotel, there are beaches and the marina, racquet sports and polo, restaurants and the wider Andalusian countryside to explore. Or there is the simple pleasure of doing very little, preferably somewhere warm with a view.

It is this combination that gives Sotogrande its enduring appeal. Golf is not separated from the rest of the holiday. It becomes part of a wider way of spending time: outdoors, among friends and family, with enough space to slow down and appreciate where you are.

With The Alto Club adding another layer to the destination’s golf offering, La Reserva Club firmly established among Spain’s leading courses, and SO/ Sotogrande providing a five-star base at the heart of the resort, there has never been a better time to discover one of southern Europe’s most complete golf destinations.

Discover more and plan your stay at Sotogrande.com.

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About the author

Steve Carroll
Steve Carroll

A journalist for more than 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long.

A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A’s prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.

Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men’s Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.

A part of NCG’s Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He’d like to tell you he floats around 10. The reality is more like 13.

Steve plays at Sandburn Hall, in York, and is a country member at Close House in Newcastle. He has served on various club committees during his time in the game, and is the current Rules Secretary at Sandburn.

Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NCTJ exams at Darlington College of Technology. He began his career working on weekly papers in Newcastle, before joining the York Press in 2001. After five years as a news reporter, he joined the sports desk – specialising in horse racing and snooker – and was Digital Sports Editor when he joined National Club Golfer in 2016.

What’s in Steve’s bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; Caley 01T irons 4-PW; TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedges, Odyssey 2Ball Microhinge putter.

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