Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, a long-established and exclusive beach-side sporting club in Andalusia

Southern Spain’s guaranteed year-round sunshine has made the Andalusian coastline a favourite golf destination, with well over 50 courses now existing within the 50 miles or so of coastline known as the “Costa del Sol” covering parts of both the Malaga and Cadiz provinces. Inaugurated in 1964, The Real Club de Golf Sotogrande is one of the most famous among these, as well as one of the oldest.

“The Old Course”, as The Robert Trent Jones-designed course is known among aficionados (by contrast to the newer Valderrama) is situated on ideal golfing ground next to the Guadiaro river and the beach, and a short distance from the Sotogrande. A generous cover of pines, cork oaks, eucalyptus, and giant palms provide shade and natural beauty in the midst of particularly large greens and long tees. This was the first course in Europe to use Bermuda grass and ground marble in bunkers.

Competitions held here over the years are too numerous to list but started with the Spanish Open in 1966, which was won by Roberto Vicenzo in 279 strokes, the same score with which Severiano Ballesteros won the Spanish Professionals’ Championship in 1987. The record on the course is held by Pepe Rivero, who finished in 65 strokes.

The regular green fee is €160 for the main 18-hole course and €65 for the 9-hole practice course. Additional sporting facilities include tennis and paddle courts as well as a swimming pool and gymnasium. The clubhouse features the bar, pro shop, and restaurant.

In 1994, King Juan Carlos I authorised the addition of the qualifier “Royal” to the name of the venue. Indeed, a great deal of history, a long-established and well-respected social club, an ideal location, and very complete facilities have all contributed to the general esteem in which the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande is held today.

By Eloise Horsfield | Property News | December 5th, 2012

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