Valderrama
Sotogrande Alto, Costa de la Luz, Spain
Valderrama is a 6400 metres (7000 yards) par 72 with no hole of less than championship quality but it can be fully enjoyed by players of all handicaps thanks to Robert Trent Jones Sr, who designed the course in 1974. At Jaime Ortiz-Patiño’s urging he came back to redesign it with additional land when the new Club was formed in 1985. Thereafter, it took only a few years to win recognition in the ”Golf World’ rankings as the number 1 golf course in mainland Europe, a position held since 1989. Valderrama is now in the Top 50 World Rankings.
Valderrama hosted the first nine editions of the Volvo Masters (1988-1996.) It hosted the Ryder Cup in 1997 and has hosted the first World Golf Championships - American Express Championship in 1999 and the second in 2000.
The amenability of the golf course to the handicap golfer and its deliberate severity to the championship player owe much to the extensive range of tees. The tees are differentiated not just by distance but by careful siting. The fairways are widely considered the best in Europe, while the greens have been compared by Davis Love III and many others with Augusta.
Valderrama has 2 prevailing winds: the Poniente from the land, which in summer can be very hot, and the Levante from the Mediterranean, which brings a cooler sea breeze. The changed conditions when one is blowing add variety to a golf course that is already rich in shot values.
18 holes, Par 72
g Professional 6400 metres
g Club Championship 5864 metres
g Executive 5481 metres
g Ladies Professional 5284 metres
g Seniors 5038 metres
g Ladies Club 4863 metres
Handicap: Men 24, Ladies 32
Pro Shop, Club Restaurant, Masters Bar; Rental Clubs, Electric Power Caddy, Trolleys, Buggies, change to Soft Spikes, Caddies, Fore-Caddies available. Visitors can only use the driving range before they play and no earlier than one hour before their starting time. Range open 11.00-14.00h for visitors.
Restrictions: Handicap Men 24, Ladies 32. Players will play from executive tees or forward. Other tees may be used if previously agreed. Soft spikes only (tennis shoes, trainers and rubber dimpled shoes are not permitted). Players must be at least 16 years of age. Dress code in force. Visitors may only play twice in any one month and never more than seven times in a calendar year. Group reservations for groups of 20 or less only. The course is reserved for members only in August.
Special Valderrama Golf Day available for Course Master Clients. (Groups of 24+ only.)
Restaurant: open for members and visitors Thursday and Friday night from 20.00h to 22.00h and on Sunday for buffet 13.00h-15.00h. Dress code: 1 November - 31 May: jacket and tie; 1 June - 31 October: long sleeved shirt as an alternative to jacket and tie. Ladies should be smartly dressed.
Reduced rates for Course Master clients.
