Article Summary:

Article Content:

One of Andalucia´s most exclusive resorts, Sotogrande has been attracting holiday makers and ex-pats for over 40 years.  Founded in 1962 by American, Joseph McMicking, this fabulous area has grown in popularity over the years, and enjoys a wonderful reputation. Sotogrande can be reached by car from Marbella and Puerto Banus in just 20 minutes.

Stylish and exclusive developments, similar to those in Marbella and Puerto Banus, have popped up around the Marina area, and although there has been a marked increase in tourism, this is not one of the more hectic resorts, and Sotogrande manages to maintain much of its original charm.

Sotogrande Beaches
Many of Sotogrande´s beaches are totally unspoilt, and sun seekers from all over Andalucia come here to top up their tans and make the most of the surrounding countryside. Although just half an hour from the Costa del Sol, Sotogrande is situated in Cadiz province, and the natural surroundings and easy road access make this an exceptional resort. Playa del Puerto is probably the most popular beach, but there are plenty more hidden gems to be found to the west of here.
Every imaginable facility and amenity can be found in and around Sotogrande and the Marina area, and the town is a mecca for sports enthusiasts.  Visitors who want to explore the Costa del Sol can hop in their car, and visit nearby Marbella and Puerto Banus. Built on over 2000 hectares of land, Sotogrande boasts wide, tree lined avenues, two beach clubs, the best hotels in Andalucia, superb restaurants, an international college and one of the world´s finest golf courses –Valderrama.

Sotogrande Golf
The Par 71 Championship Course hosts the Volvo Masters every year, and the fairways have been described by top pros and leading golf writers as the best in Europe, if not the world.  It is not an easy course - nor was it intended to be. It is designed to invoke thought and precision for every shot.

The course was designed in 1974 by Robert Trent Jones, Sr, one of the great golf course architects, and was originally known as Sotogrande New.  In 1981 its name was changed to Las Aves. Its incarnation in its present form began in 1984, when Jaime Ortiz-Patiño was able to acquire it from the developers who a few years earlier had laid out the very extensive Sotogrande area so imaginatively and tastefully. Ortiz-Patiño had been one of the first to build a house, and for some years he had nursed the secret ambition to bring Las Aves to a greater potential.
In 1984 he was able to acquire, along with the golf course, certain additional parcels of land that would allow this. Robert Trent Jones willingly agreed to come back and redesign his original layout of ten years earlier.  Together the two men spent many hours walking around the course and discussing where and how improvements should be made.

Ortiz-Patiño renamed the course Valderrama, after the ancient estate on which the land is situated.The pair shared a common aim: to create a course that would present a test of golf to the everyday golfer and the first-class player alike, and would bring out the best golf that is in him. Valderrama has since risen in the Golf World rankings to become the No.1 golf course in mainland Europe, a position proudly held since 1989.

No championship course in modern times has so swiftly achieved such recognition. As early as 1988, Valderrama began to host the newly-launched Volvo Masters, the flagship tournament of the PGA European Tour, and continued to do so until 1996.In 1997 the Club hosted the 32nd Ryder Cup, won by Europe in a most thrilling finish. Valderrama remains today the only club ever to have hosted golf’s pinnacle event outside its traditional homelands, USA and Britain.

Sailing and water sports Sotogrande
Away from the golf course, there are a host of water sports and sailing clubs within the Marina at Sotogrande, plus the famous Santa Maria Polo Club. Polo was first introduced to Sotogrande in 1965 by the late Enrique Zobel who constructed the first fields near the beach which is now known as the Beach Club.

Since these very humble beginnings, polo in Sotogrande has continued to expand and grow in popularity each year. Today there are five fields, an internationally acclaimed club, a school for beginners and old hands, and the sale of ponies and equipment.

Nature and wildlife Sotogrande
The River Guadiaro and Estuary in Sotogrande is a natural area of 27 hectares and is the only marshland on this part of the coast.  Designated as an Andalucian National Park, wildlife and nature can be observed in its natural habitat.  A series of pathways has been constructed, with information boards explaining the natural area, enabling nature lovers unobstructed views of the estuary, its wildlife and in particular the migratory birds, on route to and from Africa.
Close to Gibraltar, many visitors to take day trips along the coast for a change of scenery, or to stroll around the famous rock and see the Barbary apes. Gib can be seen clearly from the beaches in Sotogrande, aswell as the north African coast on a clear day. Estepona and Duquesa Port are also close by and easily accessible by road.

Sotogrande Marina
The Marina boasts many fabulous restaurants and pavement cafés where visitors can while away their days watching the boats come and go, while enjoying some superb food.  Hotels were traditionally on the expensive side in Sotogrande, but nowadays there are many more deals and offers to be had, and it is well worth looking around before booking.

Sotogrande Polo Club
There is nowhere better to see a free game of polo than Sotogrande´s famous Santa Maria Polo Club, which boasts the ´Wimbledon of polo pitches.´
Players and international jetsetters from around Europe descend on Andalucia throughout the year to take advantage of the polo facilities and the temperate climate, and the peak season is August, when up to ten games are played daily around Sotogrande.

Such is the intensity of the competition, and the summer heat, each rider needs to stable between 7 and 10 horses to allow for a change of up to 4 horses per game, while the others take time to recover from previous play and possible injuries.

Many of the mounts are pedigree ponies from Argentina, Uruguay and England, and Sotogrande is the perfect place to enjoy polo at its best.

Contact details: Santa Maria Polo Club, Sotogrande. Tel: 95 661 0012. Fax: 95 661 0023. E-mail: info@santamariapoloclub.com
When: All year but peak season is August.
Entrance:.Free.
Opening hours: Daytime.
Getting there:  From Marbella take the A7 or E-15 toll road West and follow signs for Sotogrande.

The Sailing School, Sotogrande
Established in 1989 in the Sotogrande´s impressive Marina, The Sailing School (Escuela de Vela), is one of the best in the area.

Having grown and improved every year, this prestigious school belongs to the Royal Yacht Club, Sotogrande and The Spanish Sailing Federation.

All of the teachers at the sailing school are fully federation qualified, and hold certificates of safety and competence.  Lessons are available to children and adults, and there are boats to suit all ages and abilities including catamarans, monohulls, laser dinghies, open keel sailing boats and sea-going canoes.

The marina area has lots of cafés, bars and restaurants close to the sailing school, and there are plenty of other activities within the port area for all the family.
Contact details: The Sailing School (Escuela de Vela), Sotogrande. Tel: 0034 95 679 0393. Website:www.puertosotogrande.com
When: Daily. (Weather permitting).
Entrance:.Various fees depending on the course and vessel.
Opening hours: Daytime.
Getting there:  From Marbella, Sotogrande is approx. 50km West along the coastal motorway (approx. 40 minutes drive).