Photo of Real (Royal) Club de Golf Valderrama

Real Club de Golf Valderrama

Avda Los Cortijos,

Sotogrande, Province de Cadiz, Andalucia 11310

Office
+34 956 791 200
Pro shop
+34 956 791 200
Fax
+34 956 796 431

Email
Email the course
Website
Visit website

Golf pro
Miguel Sedeño

About the course

The Course:

18 holes. Tree-lined & open parkland. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb (more so on the back-nine)
Surroundings:

Woodland and open countryside.
Designer:

Robert Trent Jones Sr.

Back
tees

Club
tees

Front
tees

Metres

6389

5539

4893

Par

SSS or slope

76.1

71.4

73.2

At the same location:

Also at Valderrama is a 9-hole par-3 course (788 metres). The Sotogrande development is home to five 18-hole par-72 courses, all within close proximity of each other: Real (Royal) Valderrama (6389 m from back tees); Real (Royal) Sotogrande (6224 m); La Reserva (6721 m); Almenara (6252 m); La Canada (5841 m; a municipal course, 9-holes designed by Robert Trent Jones and 9 by Dave Thomas). San Roque Club with two championship layouts is also close by.

Location

Latitude:

36.282535

Longitude:

-5.327393

How to get there:

27 km NE of Algerciras

Coming from Malaga/Estepona (heading west) leave the AP-7 (E15) at exit 130/131 (Guardiaro/Valderrama). At roundabout follow the road back under the motorway, direction Estepona-Malaga-Centro Commercial. At next roundabout on south side of motorway, turn right direction Sotogrande Alto. After o.8 km at roundabout turn right direction Valderrama. After 1.3 km turn right direction Valderrama Golf. After o.1 km golf entrance is in front of you.

Europe /
Algeciras /
Royal Valderrama

Real (Royal) Club de Golf Valderrama

Est. 1985

Real (Royal) Club de Golf Valderrama: Often ranked among the top five golf courses in continental Europe, this fabulous parkland layout is reputedly one of Robert Trent Jones Sr's favourite designs. Understandably it is a world renowned and world ranked layout.

Always immaculately maintained, the course winds its way over gently undulating terrain, through a former forest of cork-oak trees. These wonderful old trees can seriously block your way to the green if tee-shots stray offline. On several occasions you'll need to flight your approach shots over the trees to land safely on the lightning fast greens. Missing the putting surfaces will not help your score; around the greens thick clinging rough may give you a feeling of chipping out of wire wool. Fronting many of the greens are slick and sloping aprons, while plenty of fairway and greenside bunkers add solidly to the course defences.

If you can safely negotiate the front-nine, and maybe birdie the famous par-5 4th (La Cascada), the back-nine will put your game through an even tougher examination, especially if the wind is blowing. The course opens out at the par-5 11th, revealing spectacular views across the surrounding open hills and down to the Mediterranean. Valderrama's challenging closing stretch includes an infamous duo: the long and testing par-4 16th and par-5 17th, with its threatening pond sitting directly in front of the green. How many rounds have foundered at one or both of these challenging holes?

You'll be hard pressed to shoot your handicap on a first or subsequent visit. But for most golfers, Valderrama is more about playing from the pristine springy turf, navigating through the cork oaks, and enjoying one of golf's most revered European courses.

List of courses: Spain - Costa del Sol

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays (12-2pm) and weekends (12-1pm); during certain periods of the year the club is a members' only club.

Must book in advance. Maximum handicap: men 24; women 32. Proof of handicap may be requested.

Green fees

Visitor fee, 18-holes: Mon-Thur €350; Fri-Sun €370.

Credit cards accepted. Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2018].

Other information

Non-metal spike facility. Players generally walk this course. Caddies available if requested in advance. Golf carts (fitted with GPS) available for hire. No photography allowed.

Practice facilities

Excellent

Did you know?

Valderrama was originally known as the Sotogrande New Course and then Las Aves (The Birds). King Juan Carlos I conferred the Royal title on Valderrama GC shortly before his abdication in 2014.

Valderrama hosted a thrilling Ryder Cup in 1997 when Europe prevailed over the USA team 14.5 pts to 13.5. It has also hosted WGC tournaments and is regular venue for European Tour events. For more details view Top Golf Tournaments at Valderrama Golf Club.

Published ranking

2019 Golf World rating: 3rd best course in continental Europe.
2020 Golf Digest rating: No.1 course in Spain.

Where2Stay

NH Hotel Sotogrande4-star

Autovia A-7 (exit 130), Sotogrande, 11310 San Roque, Cadiz.

+34 956 695 444
Visit website
The 4-star NH Sotogrande hotel is located in the heart of Sotogrande, surrounded by some of the best golf courses in Spain. The hotel features 106 guest rooms, designed in typical Andalucian style, mixed with contemporary amenities and functionality. On-site facilities include a restaurant, bar, outdoor swimming pools, poolside bar, reading room and two conference rooms.
- Golf at this hotel:
  
  No
- Golf within 10 km:
  
  Royal Valderrama; La Reserva; Royal Sotogrande; Almenara; San Roque; Alcaidesa
- Golf within 30 km:
  
  Estepona
NH Hotel Almenara4-star

Avda. Almenara s/n, Sotogrande, 11310 San Roque

+34 956 582 000
Visit website
The 148-room 4-star NH Hotel Almenera is located at the heart of the excellent Almenara golf course. From its hillside location the hotel offers wonderful views across the course, and down across Sotogrande to the Mediterranean in the distance. A short drive takes you to many other renowned golf courses, among them Valderrama, San Roque, Royal Sotogrande, as well as to the Sotogrande marina, with its array of bars and restaurants.
- Golf at this hotel:
  
  Almenara
- Golf within 10 km:
  
  Royal Valderrama; La Reserva; Royal Sotogrande; San Roque; Alcaidesa
- Golf within 30 km:
  
  Estepona

Find a course

Where2Golf Spotlight

Tournaments:
2021 Opens: whether by accident or design, four of the top five mens’ Open Championships played in the British Isles occupy consecutive weeks in July: the Irish Open (1-4), Scottish Open (8-11), The Open (15-18) and Wales Open (22-25). The recently relaunched English Open is scheduled for early-August.
Hoag Classic: Ernie Els defends his title in this prestigious PGA Tour Champions event, played since 1991 at the Newport Beach Country Club, CA (Mar 5-7).

Who's Who:
Brooks Koepka: won his second Phoenix Open title, with a chip-in eagle at TPC Scottsdale’s short par-4 17th included in his final round.
Annika Sörenstam: the legendary Swede makes a return to the LPGA Tour in the Gainbridge LPGA, to be played at Lake Nona, her home club (Feb 25-28).

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Real Club de Golf Valderrama

About the course

At the same location:

Location

Latitude:

Longitude:

How to get there:

Real (Royal) Club de Golf Valderrama

Est. 1985

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Green fees

Other information

Practice facilities

Did you know?

Published ranking

Where2Stay

NH Hotel Sotogrande4-star

Golf at this hotel:

Golf within 10 km:

Golf within 30 km:

NH Hotel Almenara4-star

Golf at this hotel:

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Real Club de Golf Valderrama

About the course

At the same location:

Location

Latitude:

Longitude:

How to get there:

Real (Royal) Club de Golf Valderrama

Est. 1985

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Green fees

Other information

Practice facilities

Did you know?

Published ranking

Where2Stay

NH Hotel Sotogrande4-star

Golf at this hotel:

Golf within 10 km:

Golf within 30 km:

NH Hotel Almenara4-star

Golf at this hotel:

Golf within 10 km:

Golf within 30 km:

Find a course

Where2Golf Spotlight

Latest Golf Course Updates

Travel

Popular videos

Top Golf Courses in the Americas

Top Golf Courses in Australia

Top Golf Courses in Ireland

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