The San Roque Club‘s New course, crafted by Perry Dye, represents a significant addition to the Costa del Sol’s golfing landscape, echoing the pioneering spirit of Robert Trent Jones Senior’s work at nearby Sotogrande decades earlier. Despite the limited canvas—a mere 45 hectares—the course unfolds magnificently between the ocean and a protected nature reserve, challenging Dye to meticulously transplant hundreds of trees and sculpt the terrain over two years before its debut in September 2003.
Visually stunning and technically precise, the New course charms with its strategic design and breathtaking vistas. Most holes traverse east to west or vice versa, navigating prevailing winds and offering panoramic sea views over undulating fairways bordered by cork and oak trees. The layout’s deceptive ease belies its strategic complexity, where fairways widen beyond initial appearances, and bunkers, ranging from strategic to penal, punctuate the landscape with Dye’s signature style.
Horticulturally, the course blends native and introduced flora, including lush love grass and cascading wildflowers, enhancing its aesthetic appeal and ecological balance. The greens, meticulously maintained with five varieties of Bermuda grass and Tifeagle, promise a consistent putting challenge amidst varying grain speeds.
With its natural beauty and architectural finesse, San Roque New is not just a golfing challenge but a celebration of the sport’s essence, beckoning enthusiasts to savour its unique charms and diverse playability.
