Branded Content
How to plan the ideal golf trip to Spain
Editor's Note: This article is written in partnership with Premier Golf.
If you’ve ever wanted to know what it feels like to be James Bond, go hang out in the clubhouse of the San Roque Club in Sotogrande, Spain.
The club, nestled in the foothills of Sierra Bermeja, is surrounded by the stunning beauty of Spain’s Andalucia region, making its elegant Old Course a true luxury experience worthy of movie stars, including the late Sean Connery. San Roque’s lively clubhouse atmosphere was a favorite of 007 before his passing in 2020.
San Roque is just one of the many luxurious spots in Spain’s Costa del Sol region, a popular summer vacation destination along the southernmost tip of Europe. Along with vibrant nightlife and narrow streets lined with shops and top-quality restaurants, the area is also popular with golf travelers thanks to its abundance of high-quality, tournament-caliber courses.
The most well-known course in the area, and perhaps all of Europe, is Valderrama Golf Club, home of the 1997 Ryder Cup matches. The Robert Trent Jones Sr. design is currently ranked No. 29 on Golf Digest’s World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses list. Located in the western part of the Costa del Sol, a few miles from the Strait of Gibraltar, Valderrama is not an easy tee time to book. Using a golf-travel company, such as Premier Golf, can help guarantee your spot at the immaculately maintained club, often called the Augusta National of Europe.
Steve Carr
The best plan of attack for a trip to this popular area of Spain is to first secure your Valderrama tee time and then schedule the rest of your visit around it.
If your group is a mix of golfers and non-golfers, consider setting up your home base in one of the many hotels in Marbella, such as El Fuerte, a contemporary five-star beachfront hotel situated near the center of the city. Staying in Marbella, a coastal town sprinkled with Michelin-starred restaurants, high-end designer boutiques and marinas filled with millionaires’ megayachts, will make you wonder if you’re in Monte Carlo and will leave the non-golfers in your group with plenty to do while you hit the links.
If all-inclusive luxury accommodations are more your style, Finca Cortesin is the spot for you. The elegant, tranquil resort is located about 35 minutes southwest of Marbella and features all the trappings you would expect from a resort routinely rated among the best in Europe. Finca Cortesin Golf Club hosted the 2023 Solheim Cup matches and the Volvo Match Play Championships three times on its challenging Cabell B. Robinson layout. The resort also features an extensive practice area and a Nicklaus Academy where you can book a lesson to sharpen your game.
Robinson, who ran Robert Trent Jones’ European office for almost 20 years, also designed La Reserva Club near Valderrama. The beautifully manicured, high-end daily-fee course is a parkland style layout cut into the hillside cliffs. Take a cart and enjoy the ride along with the sweeping views of the surrounding area.
Other resort options in the area include the Fairmont La Hacienda Costa del Sol, which features two courses, including its recently renovated Links course. With panoramic views of the Mediterranean, your biggest distraction on this seaside links could be the Rock of Gibraltar, which is visible from all 18 greens. The best views might be found at the course’s halfway hut, which often attracts wandering resort guests just looking to enjoy a drink with a view.
Steve Carr Golf
For other golf in the area, Real Club de Sotogrande was RTJ Sr.’s first-ever design in Europe in 1964 and offers stunning elevated views of the Mediterranean. The course reeks of Old Spain and was home to the 1966 Spanish Open, won by Robert de Vicenzo a year before the Argentinian became the oldest player to win the Open Championship. The course, along with San Roque GC, has also served as home to the European Tour’s Qualifying School.
In between golf, be sure to take a day off and venture to the Alhambra Palace in nearby Granada. Built in 1238, the fortress is one of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture and one of Europe’s top tourist attractions. Walking across the palace’s tile floors will take you back in time. In 1492, for example, the palace became the Royal Court of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, where Italian explorer Christopher Columbus received royal endorsement for his Spanish-based expedition across the Atlantic Ocean.
When you combine Marbella, Sotogrande and all that Andalucia’s Costa del Sol region has to offer, you’d be hard pressed to find an area of the world with a better combination of luxury accommodations, world-class golf, history, shopping and relaxation.
It’s no wonder James Bond was a frequent visitor.