REVIEW: SO/ Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort Hotel – great option for winter golf

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As temperatures drop in northern Europe it’s time for the winter golf migration.

Going south is what golfers love to do and there are few better places to land than the south of Spain.

The SO/ Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort Hotel is a great option located 45 minutes from Malaga Airport which is a destination for many airports in the UK and Northern Europe.

Golf365 got the chance to check it out and see for ourselves why it’s so popular.

Hotel

The drive down the coast from Malaga is straightforward and takes us past many golf courses, setting us up well for the journey ahead.

Located in the Med, with views of the Rock of Gibraltar and Morocco across the sea, Sotogrande celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. It is one of Europe’s most beautiful residential areas and SO/Sotogrande caters for those looking to make a short visit.

Going up to the tourist area takes us past Valderrama. It was the site of the 1997 Ryder Cup and, alongside Real Club Sotogrande, forms two of the best courses in the region (and in all of Continental Europe).

The arrival is very good, the car sweeps to the reception and, moreover, we get the first impression of the home in the next few days.

The hotel is set at mid-levels with restaurants and bars beyond, swimming pools around it, and a spa downstairs.

The rooms are nice, just a short walk outside from the main area and the highlights are two absolutes for any good holiday covered. Number one – the bed is great.

Number two? One of the great mysteries of swanky hotels is that many times the showers still leak all over the bathroom. The same thing happens here but it is arranged like that to be a wet room. So simple and luxurious.

Food

After check-in we will have lunch at the Society Clubhouse. The views are great – except for the Med – and the food is excellent. The chicken Caesar salad is elevated from the best to the best thanks to the Parmesan crisps. Later in our stay we will have amazing tapas on our last afternoon (with the best Patatas Bravas of the trip – crisp, spicy and garlicky). Meanwhile the Society’s breakfast is excellent with a paper bag of pastries, a large glass of orange juice and coffee delivered on arrival, and an a la carte menu of delicious options (the granola was top notch). We weren’t the only ones who liked it – Jon Rahm was sitting and nodding his way up to the staff at breakfast.

Cortijo Santa Maria 1862 offers a true Andalusian gastronomic experience – and experience is also the right name for it. This is not about serving. It’s about being led on a tour around the food and drink of the region. It’s about choosing old favorites and introducing many new and unexpected delicacies.

Beyond golf

There are two swimming pools for catching the sun and a lovely spa with a lovely Bohemian feel. There are eight meditation treatment rooms, cryotherapy, flotation, beauty boutique, gym, sauna, Turkish bath, indoor pool and jacuzzis. After a round of golf the powerful waterfall in the jacuzzi was possibly the best post-18 hole experience.

Furthermore Sotogrande has water sports, hiking, cycling, horse riding and The Beach (green inland port) to offer.

Golf

Almenara Golf is so close to the hotel that you can book a tee time in the morning, eat breakfast, and be on the tee in less than two minutes after saying “Buena Dias” to the Club’s friendly wait staff.

Originally designed by Dave Thomas (in charge of The Belfry), the course was designed by Manuel Pinero (Spanish Ryder Cup star). Originally there were three nines but the third is being converted into a par-3 course and a school that will make Almenara a training center for the arts.

One nine turns into a beautiful thick forest. We play early in the morning and it’s great. A light mist clears to reveal the Mediterranean, the dew disappears as the sun and temperature rise, the golf course draws us in. It’s a fun fun experiment but you can’t afford to get out of control. I’m not a big fan of the world of recreational golf and this is right up my alley – fairways, hard turf, fast greens, tricky tests.

We play the second nine on the last day and it’s a little wider off the tee – but not by much. First we cut through the trees before the course opens up into holes along the edge of a large, deep lake. These holes require an aggressive approach – a par five with water down the right, a sharp dog leg that can’t be cut by long hitters, a short par-4 that’s attractive, a sweet par-3 across the other pond.

The conclusion

This is a great winter golf course. The hotel and spa are excellent with great food options and a lovely, intimate bar. Almenara has those two loops to keep you busy and offers great value with everything to play for including three nights at the hotel, unlimited golf at Almenara and 20% off partner golf courses starting at €617.

And if you want to treat yourself to a good SO/ Sotogrande golf course that is the gateway to getting tee times at Valderrama and Real Club. Both are difficult to play so this is a good option for those who want to taste the best golf in Europe.

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