Decision on the ninth extra hole
More excitement is not possible. After 18 holes on the final day of the DP World Tour tournament, it goes into extra time at the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande. After accompanying John Rahm for several holes on the round at the final of the tournament, I place myself directly behind the 18th green. Less than five metres apart from it, I experience unique and unforgettable golfing moments with a permanent view of the winner’s trophy.
Neither of the two players takes a risk, but hopes for a mistake by his opponent. The two switch back and forth between the 18th and 17th hole and offer us spectators a finale that is unrivaled in its crackling tension.
In the end, the 39-year-old Frenchman is the luckier one, finally celebrating his first DP World Tour tournament victory after many years and taking home the coveted trophy. Nine pars in a row are enough for his victory in extra time.
Tour Scramble as the format of the invitational tournament
I was particularly impressed by the pros’ shots into the lightning-fast greens and their putts. The following day, I have the pleasure of getting to know them myself as part of an invitational tournament. We start early in the morning and enjoy the special atmosphere that prevails on the course at this time of day. The dew on the tee boxes and fairways lends it a mystical atmosphere against the rising sun.
In the chosen format, only birdies are scored, taking into account the individual HCP. So scoring is not easy.
But for me, it’s not primarily the score that counts, but the unique experience of being able to play on this extremely well-kept world-class course under competitive conditions. It is ranked number two in Spain and number nine in continental Europe. That has its price. If you get the opportunity to tee off at the private club, you have to pay € 400,- for the green fee.
The course, designed by Robert Trent Jones more than 50 years ago, completely captivates me. The routing through the partly extremely hilly, partly flat terrain fascinates me just as much as the old trees and the huge palm trees.
The fairways are like walking on carpet. The state of maintenance cannot be surpassed. The greens are extremely fast and the putts seem never-ending, but they stay on track. This experience alone makes the round unique. The shots over the water and into the partly elevated greens also have their own special charm.
Sunshine galore and fantastic golf courses
The sun shines more than 300 days a year in the southern Spanish province of Andalusia. This makes it Spain’s leader among the regions with the most hours of sunshine, ahead of the Canary Islands and the Balearics. Due to its more than 70 golf courses, this stretch of coast is also known as the Costa del Golf.
Unobtrusive luxury
Sotogrande is the largest privately owned residence in Andalusia. It is located in the municipality of San Roque in Cádiz and extends over an area of 20 square kilometres from the Mediterranean 25 km east of Gibraltar to the foothills of the Sierra Almenara.
The community was founded 62 years ago by the Philippine-born visionary Joseph McMicking. As one of the most prestigious residential residences in Europe, today it offers exclusivity and privacy at its finest. Maintaining the rich Andalusian culture, it embodies a charm of elegance and luxury. Security is also a top priority.
Sotogrande is divided into four areas: Alto, Marina, Costa and La Reserva. A total of around 7,000 people currently live here. New properties are being built in La Reserva alone. Some of the properties currently available for purchase are located in the exclusive Village Verde apartment complex, some of which are still under construction. It interprets itself as a unique lifestyle location with perfect integration into the natural surroundings.
Trendy lifestyle oasis
The top hotel in the region is the SO/Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort, which opened in 2021. Sotogrande’s only five-star hotel is located at the westernmost point of the Costa del Sol. It is part of the French Accor SO/Hotels & Resorts Group, the largest hotel group in the world. From here, we can reach the region’s top golf courses in a short time.
The hotel is located on a hillside, secluded and in complete tranquillity. It is surrounded by the southern Spanish landscape, characterized by cork oak forests and pine groves. It offers views to the sea in the distance, the gardens and the Almenara golf course.
Avant-garde in a refreshing design
Natural colours and extravagant, bold shapes characterize the style of Spanish designer Dolores Cortes, who is responsible for the interior. It runs through the entire hotel, whose lightness and playfulness catch the eye as soon as you enter the lobby.
These attributes continue throughout the hotel complex and apply to every area of the former cortijo, a Spanish farmhouse. Conviviality, joie de vivre, wellness and indulgence are the top priorities and are met with a high-quality offering.
The management places particular emphasis on a sustainable and contemporary Andalusian lifestyle. With a simple white exterior, the shady arcades, manicured gardens and harmonious color palette in the interior areas and rooms contribute to a good mood from the very first moment. Everything is spacious and generously laid out.
152 stylishly designed rooms and studios as well as 36 spacious suites are arranged in terraces around the pool and restaurant areas. My 34 square meter modern SO Comfy King double room, has, like most of the rooms, its own balcony. Others have a terrace. I sleep heavenly in the comfortable bed.
In the 2,800 sqm Spa & Wellness Club Sotogrande, guests can relax in the sauna or in the indoor pool, work out 24/7 in the gym on state-of-the-art equipment or be pampered in the health and wellness centre.
Families with children are just as welcome at the resort as golfers. The SO/KIDS Club is the perfect place for the little ones. They can splash around happily in the family pool without disturbing any adults. The separate adults-only pool is available to them.
The hotel also knows how to impress with its delicious food. This starts with the superb breakfast in the SoCiety Club House or on its terrace. The Cortijo Santa Maria 1962, located on the upper floor of the main building, and the IXO tapas bar below it impress with tasty snacks, light lunch menus and modern interpretations of traditional Andalusian dishes.
The service throughout the hotel is extremely professional, attentive and friendly.
An evening at the Trocadero Sotogrande, a beach club and restaurant located directly on the beach with a fantastic view of the Rock of Gibraltar, are a feast for the palate. The Patatas Bravas are the best I have ever had. We share the huge snapper with four people and savor every bite of the fresh catch. Alternatively, you can spend the end of the day at KE Sotogrande, one of the trendiest restaurants in Sotogrande Marina. We love the typical Andalusian dishes and can’t get enough of the famous Jamôn Ibérico.
From the hotel directly onto the golf course
The Almenara golf course is located directly on the SO/Sotogande Hotel grounds. It was designed by the British golf course architect Dave Thomas and redesigned by the legendary Spanish player Manuel Piñero. It is one of the most extensive on the Costa del Sol and borders Los Alcornocales NaturalPark. Its clubhouse towers over the tee of the first hole.
Its paths run through the very hilly terrain in complete tranquillity. They are surrounded by mature trees. Two large lakes provide the golfing and visual highlights. It is fair, fun to play and allows for a good score. The green fee for hotel guests for 18 holes in the low season is € 100 including buggy.
The club’s latest project is the Almenara Golf Academy, which is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in April 2025. It will include a 9-hole par 3 course, a driving range with grass tees, a trop tracer, a putting green and chipping area as well as a pro zone with practice holes. A halfway bar, a fitting centre and a floodlight facility will round off the golf offer perfectly and set a new benchmark for training opportunities in the region.
Elite courses in the immediate neighborhood
The resort offers various attractive stay and play packages, which also include playing, besides Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, other top Spanish golf courses in the neighborhood. These include Spain’s golf flagship, Real Golf Club Valderrama and La Reserva Club. This the youngest but longest of the Championship courses in Sotogrande.
The very hilly course was founded in 2003. Our round there leads uphill and downhill through two idyllic valleys, surrounded by dense, old trees. It has been the venue for European Tour Tournaments since 2014.
The layout is impressive. The fairways are wide, its greens are large, extremely fast and well protected by large bunkers. Their white sand shines in the sun. Water also comes into play.
The clubhouse in the style of a hacienda sits enthroned at the highest point of the course behind the 18th green. The green fee including buggy costs from € 250 in the low season, depending on the season and course utilization.
After a round of golf, you can relax in the avant-garde The Beach, which is located directly below the clubhouse. An artificial lagoon with a beach for families, a separate garden with an adults-only pool and a lake for water sports are just as much a part of it as a restaurant.
Here, too, we encounter the finest lifestyle: Sotogrande leaves nothing to be desired.
