Two fortunate members of our Golfbreaks team recently had the opportunity to escape the cold winter and visit Sotogrande. Embarking on a bucket-list golf tour, playing some of the most prestigious courses in continental Europe. Here is what one of them had to say about the best golf destination in Europe.
Undoubtedly home to Europe’s finest selection of golf courses, Sotogrande not only offers a beautiful escape from the cold UK winter, but breathtaking sea views alongside a vibrant nightlife. This article follows an unforgettable 3-night, 4-round long weekend chasing the winter sun along the south coast of Spain.
Golf courses
Hotels
After a short 2.5-hour flight, we jumped off the plane and made the hour-long journey straight to the 2023 Solheim Cup venue, Finca Cortesin. From the moment we arrived at the breathtaking clubhouse, we were completely blown away. We were greeted by the exceptional staff at the club, who took our clubs straight from the car and transported them straight to the driving range for a much-needed warm-up.
Playing 6,944 yards off the white tees, post Solheim Cup the course was in immaculate condition. Combined with stunning views and fantastic weather, even during late November, Finca provided the perfect setting for playing golf. The signature hole 12 par 3 was an interesting challenge.
Aiming down to the largest greens on the course, infamous for being the hardest to read, I was very pleased to escape by sticking my approach 6 feet from the pin. Having played my best round ever, this was a round I will never forget.
So/ Sotogrande The first two nights of our trip were spent at the luxurious SO/ Sotogrande, a 5-star golf resort and spa, perched in between the Andalusian mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. SO/ hasn't put a foot wrong in designing the perfect stay for a golf trip. With six bars and restaurants, there are plenty of options to meet the needs of your appetite, no matter how long your stay. Combined with the finest spa facilities and concentration of world-class golf courses within a 20-minute radius, I don't think there is a better holiday destination than SO/ Sotogrande.
After a long day of golfing and travelling, we made our way to the SO/ Spa where I was absolutely stunned by the facilities available. We made use of the thermo-hydro circuit to keep our bodies fresh for the round tomorrow before some relaxation in the sauna and steam rooms.
Sotogrande Marina After a quick spa session, we headed down to the Sotogrande Marina, just a short 10-minute drive from the hotel. Following a stroll around the marina, deciding which mega yacht was the best, we sat down for an incredible meal at KE Sotogrande with views out onto the marina. Followed by some celebratory drinks at the Hairy Lemon, a sports bar situated right on the marina, we called an end to a phenomenal first day of our Sotogrande golf tour.
Sotogrande Marina
Day 2 began with an exceptional breakfast at the SO/ restaurant SoCiety. Offering stunning views overlooking the onsite Almenara Golf Course I can’t imagine a better way to begin the day before playing the 2nd-highest-rated golf course in Spain.
A short 10-minute drive towards the ocean took us to Real Club Sotogrande, where we were again met by one of the caddy masters who took great care of our belongings, allowing us some time to enter the incredible clubhouse and have a look around the pro shop.
Unfortunately, not everything went to plan at this stop on the bucket-list tour when the hot southeast wind met the cold Alboran Sea causing a blanket of fog to cover the course. Although we had to wait on some tee boxes for the sea mist to become clearer, thankfully the course remained open. The mist did make for an interesting challenge; however, I’ll be honest, I did lose a lot of golf balls.
Cortijo Santa Maria 1962 After a whirlwind round, we made our way back to SO/ for our last evening and chilled out by the pool before a meal at one of the hotel restaurants - Cortijo Santa Maria 1962. A great spot to dine with high-quality and expertly prepared dishes. The restaurant was accompanied by the IXO Tapas & Bar next door, where we ended our evening with some beers and cocktails.
After another phenomenal breakfast at SoCiety we packed up our things and made another short 10-minute trip to La Reserva Club. We were greeted by an absolutely stunning clubhouse where the staff quickly took our clubs down to the range while we soaked in our surroundings.
Arguably the course with the most picturesque surroundings on our trip, La Reserva takes you on a captivating journey through the Sotogrande Royal Estate, providing stunning views of Spain’s natural landscape and the Mediterranean Sea.
Each hole on this exceptional course is a unique experience, ensuring that no two moments are alike. The undulating terrain adds an extra layer of challenge and beauty, creating an unforgettable golfing adventure. The signature hole for me has got to be the 18th hole, a 387 yard uphill par 4 with a water hazard on the left and the huge clubhouse looming over the green (as seen in the video above), really putting the pressure on those final puts. Although not entirely true, I do blame the staggering surroundings for playing so badly.
Anantara Villa Padierna After a memorable round at La Reserva, we had a quick lunch at the clubhouse and made the 30-minute journey along the coastline towards Marbella for our final stay of the trip, Anantara Villa Padierna Palace. Upon arrival, we were treated like VIPs and handed glasses of champagne while our luggage was taken up to our room.
This 5-star golf resort is the epitome of luxury, accompanied by three world-class golf courses – Flamingos Golf Course, Alferini Golf Course and Tramores Golf Course. The spa facilities at this resort are truly exceptional, featuring six steam rooms, two saunas, and a heated indoor pool, providing a remarkable wellness experience. All of the room types here are spacious and styled with tasteful furnishings with views over the gardens, the Andalusian mountains, or golf courses.
Puerto Banus The final night was another cause for celebration, so we decided to head down to Puerto Banus to check out the nightlife, and it did not disappoint.
Our evening began with a late-evening meal at La Sala where what seemed like a normal restaurant quickly turned into a vibrant scene with live music and plenty of drinking and dancing. After a few hours, we ventured towards the marina to see if there were any more popular spots worth checking out. We stopped for a few sing-alongs at one of the many karaoke bars dotted around the marina before stumbling across the Funky Buddha, a lively authentic Spanish nightclub.
With slightly sore heads from the night before, we made our way down for a buffet-style breakfast at La Loggia, an on-site restaurant at Villa Padierna. After a couple of loaded plates, we made our way down to the first tee.
Another world-class golf course, Alferini, was formally known as The Gran Flamingo Golf Club. This extremely tough course is a par 73 that winds its way through a tough and hilly landscape, providing dramatic views. The 18th tee box on this course was one to remember; teeing off at an elevation of over 40 yards definitely added some nerves in any attempt to maintain a decent score.
Post-round, we stopped at the onsite Eddy’s Bar, the perfect place for a beer and watched golfers play their approach shots to the 10th green on the Flamingos course. It was a shame the trip had finally come to an end, but it was time to say our goodbyes to the fantastic staff at Villa Padierna and begin our journey back home.
Stunning golf courses, incredible facilities, and a great nightlife. As an amateur golfer, I can’t stress enough how much I recommend this trip to anyone. It’s no wonder Sotogrande is regarded as one of the best golfing destinations in Europe.
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As the Official Golf Tourism Operator of the PGA TOUR and with over 25 years’ experience, Golfbreaks is one of the world’s longest established and most trusted golf travel companies. We organise golf breaks, holidays and tournament experiences for more than 200,000 golfers annually at over 2,000 resorts and golf courses in the UK, Europe, and further afield.
