Real Club Sotogrande is one of the oldest golf courses in the Costa del Sol and the first in Europe designed by Robert Trent Jones Snr. in 1964. Every year it still consistently ranks as one of the best courses in Europe, which is testament to the timeless design and excellent condition of the course. \ Located less than 5km from Valderrama, there are noticeable similarities in the designs. Real Club Sotogrande is not the longest course, but there are lots of water hazards and well placed bunkers as protection. Fairways are surrounded by native trees and the raised greens are undulating to also provide a good challenge for any golfer. \ Flatter and shorter than nearby courses, there is an element of understated elegance to Real Club Sotogrande. The Club has a beautiful clubhouse and you find yourself surrounded by natural Spanish beauty everywhere you look. Sotogrande is a course not to be missed. \ \ Is almost where it all began, being Robert Trent Jones’ first design in Europe, opening in 1964, but it stood almost alone for another decade. \ Nearer the coast than Valderrama, its greatest asset is its location, offering superb views over the Mediterranean. \ The local flaura and fauna, including pine, cork and eucalyptus trees, are beautiful but play their part in the course’s defences, as do the many large lakes, which are especially prominent in the closing stretch. \ You also need skill to negotiate the huge, often severely undulating greens. That’s the bad news; the good news is that there is virtually no rough and lots of open spaces, so as long as you miss the hazards you can open your shoulders and give it a belt.
