Valderrama Golf Club (Spain) is the golf capital of continental Europe. The club is located in Sotogrande, a carefully guarded village of millionaires and Arabian sheikhs.
The mountainous terrain combined with the proximity of the Mediterranean Sea makes Valderrama one of the most beautiful courses in the world. It is here where the prestigious annual tournament Volvo masters is held, and in the list of honorary members of the club you can find the names of George Bush Jr. and Britain’s Prince Andrew. And the club is quite democratic, with great traditions such as breakfast on the field and a free trial for newcomers.
Real Club Valderrama is located in Andalusia, the largest and southernmost region of Spain. A few kilometers north of Gibraltar, about two hours from Cadiz and an hour and a half from Malaga. The climate is ideal for golf all year round.
The Valderrama Golf Par 71 championship course is located 6,356 XNUMX meters from Back-Tees. The fairways have been described by leading golf professionals and leading golf journalists as the best in Europe, if not the world. It’s a long and technical, challenging course. It is designed in such a way that it requires thought and precision with every stroke.
The course was designed in 1974 by Robert Trent Jones Sr. one of golf’s great architects, and was originally called Sotogrande New. In 1981, its name was changed to Las Aves. Eventually, Ortiz-Patiño renamed the land to Valderrama, referring to the ancient estate on which the land is located.
In September 1997, Real Club Valderrama became the first place in continental Europe to host the Ryder Cup. The European team, with its captain the legendary Severiano Balesteros, beat the Americans 14 ½ to 13 ½. It was the team’s first of six consecutive wins on European soil, a streak that continues after its last success in France at Golf National in 2018. In addition, Valderrama Golf has traditionally hosted former Volvo Masters from 1988 to 2008.
