In 1704, following the British invasion of Gibraltar, locals seeking refuge settled near a chapel dedicated to Saint Roque, eventually forming what is now the vibrant Andalusian town of San Roque. Nestled near the Sierra Bermeja Mountains and bordered by Valderrama and Sotogrande, lies the esteemed San Roque Club. The 340-acre estate, once home to a luxury hotel and spa of the Domecq sherry dynasty, now hosts the renowned Old course, designed by Dave Thomas and Tony Jacklin in 1990 at a reported million dollars per hole. It remained largely unchanged until Seve Ballesteros enhanced the bunkering, later complemented by Perry Dye’s New Course in 2003.
At 6,494 metres, the par 72 Old course has long been esteemed as a challenging venue, frequently hosting professional tournaments and serving as the winter base for the European PGA Tour School. The layout’s undulating terrain demands precise club selection amidst mature cork oak forests on the front nine, while strategic bunkering and water hazards on the back nine test golfers’ accuracy and strategy. The greens, true and contoured, present an additional challenge with their speed and size.
In a significant 2020 renovation by Atlantic Golf and Southwest Greens, the Old course underwent comprehensive rejuvenation, including the installation of the Better Billy Bunker system in all sand hazards, reconstruction of tees and greens with bent grass, and fairways revitalised with Bermuda grass. This revitalization also introduced new clubhouse facilities, a driving range, and an academy practice area, marking a substantial investment in enhancing San Roque’s golfing experience.
