INTEGRATED LUXURY

21 Jun 2024

Sotogrande, Andalucia encapsulates every aspect of luxurious living in a special corner of the Spanish Mediterranean. Director of Sales and Marketing at Sotogrande SA tells us what is unique about this all- encompassing development.

The elegant clubhouse at the La Reserva course.

To simply say that Sotogrande SA in Andalucia, Spain, is a high-end golf community is akin to saying Tiger Woods is a pretty good golfer. Founded in 1962, Sotogrande SA is the promoter and developer of the Sotogrande, Andalucia brand, and property that covers 20sq km of land in the province of Cadiz.

Within his area stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the foothills of the Sierra Almenara, Sotogrande has a community of 2,500 permanent homes, more than 300 companies, and one of the best international schools in Spain, Sotogrande International School. The fact that it also has four world-renowned golf courses in Real Club Valderrama, Real Club Sotogrande, Almenara Golf Club, and La Reserva Club (host of the Aramco Team Series), is the proverbial cherry on top.

Modern luxury resonates in the rooms at SO/ Sotogrande.

Set atop Sotogrande’s highest peak, La Reserva Club is the newest course in Sotogrande, designed in 2003 by American architect, Cabell B. Robinson. The championship layout features wide, sweeping fairways that lead onto large, undulating greens, alongside numerous challenging water hazards.

For visitors, SO/ Sotogrande Spa and Golf Resort Hotel is the first and only five-star hotel in Sotogrande. Hidden away in the Andalusian countryside, the resort allows guests to live life the Spanish way for a family holiday, golf weekend or spa break within a stylish five-star lifestyle and wellness retreat setting.

The elegant clubhouse at the La Reserva course.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT SO/ SOTOGRANDE SPA AND GOLF RESORT’S FACILITIES?

Rita Jordao: The opening of the SO/ Sotogrande Spa and Golf Resort Hotel has been a crucial addition to Sotogrande. It brings a new level of accommodation alongside the world-class amenities in Sotogrande and fits in perfectly with the overall quality of the destination and its golf courses, which are among the best in Spain and in Europe.

The Hotel offers a gateway to one of the most impressive golf destinations both in Europe and worldwide. With the added convenience of having Almenara Golf integrated into the SO/ Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort, the hotel provides the opportunity to blend a unique location like Sotogrande with the excitement of golf on an exceptional stage.

As part of the initial plan, we also want the hotel to be a hub for our community. The SO/ Sotogrande Spa and Golf Resort Hotel was designed to have its doors open to the community. This has been embraced by many residents and the hotel has become a central meeting point within Sotogrande.

The Cabell Robinson-designed La Reserva course opened in 2003, and is the latest in the Sotogrande development.

WHAT DOES SOTOGRANDE HAVE TO OFFER TO TRAVELLING GOLFERS?

RJ: The recent launch of the golf packages has been a great success – having SO/ Sotogrande Spa and Golf Resort as a five-star property allows us to put a unique, exclusive proposition to the international golf community. Now, we have an extraordinary hotel to match an incredible golf destination. We’re talking about the number one and two golf courses in Spain, with La Reserva Club not far behind (Valderrama).

We’ve been the European pioneer in creating a family focused destination with sport at its centre; at Sotogrande, you won’t just find golf, but also amazing beaches, the world-class marina, tennis and padel courts and polo, which is also synonymous with Sotogrande, and is an amazing addition to the sporting calendar throughout the season.

So, outside of the golf courses, our guests can have a unique and exclusive experience, from the gastronomy to all the engaging, outdoor activities available.

The Beach offers guests an ideal spot to enjoy sea activities or the ever-popular Andalucian cuisine.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THE BEACH, AND THE SPORTS AND LEISURE FACILITIES AVAILABLE WITHIN LA RESERVA CLUB AND SOTOGRANDE?

RJ: Sotogrande was founded in the 1960s, with the vision to create a destination to enjoy life’s fundamentals: family, security, privacy and world-class amenities. From the beginning, the vision was to create
a destination where outdoor living, supported by amazing facilities across so many sports and activities, was paramount, to cater not only for golfers but for the whole family.

This vision has continued throughout the last six decades and the investment in that unique lifestyle, respecting nature and wellness, has continued. The facilities at La Reserva present a great example; right next to the La Reserva Clubhouse, you will find The Beach, the first of its kind in Spain.

The Wellness Club at SO/ Sotogrande Spa Golf Resort.

This private beach opened five years ago and has been a fantastic success, allowing guests to continue enjoying themselves on the sand long into the evening, with a fantastic bar and restaurant presenting a local gastronomic and cocktail offer with a twist.

A whole host of aquatic sports activities are also available at the sports lagoon including windsurfing, sailing and padel surfing, while the kids club is available to allow parents to have some time off. To complement the offer, La Reserva has also created its own Racquet Centre, with clay-tennis courts as well as padel and tennis on the beach, and all of this within a few metres of each other.

Multi-million-dollar villas are part of the high-end fabric at Sotogrande SA.

ANDALUSIAN GASTRONOMY IS FAMOUS AROUND THE WORLD FOR ITS UNIQUE FLAVOURS AND QUALITY PRODUCE. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF THIS IN SOTOGRANDE?

RJ: Sotogrande prides itself on catering for families, promoting the outdoor lifestyle through its Mediterranean influence on architecture and activity – this influence also diffuses into the menus. We are focusing more and more on local gastronomy with so many treasures such as tuna, ox tail, fresh seafood, and dishes specific to the Andalusian region like salmorejo and gazpacho.

A good example is Cortijo Santa Maria, which represents a traditional Andalusian journey with trusted recipes reinterpreted under a contemporary vision. The entire gastronomic experience is based on local produce and fresh ingredients.

Multi-million-dollar villas are part of the high-end fabric at Sotogrande SA.

Within Sotogrande, you will also find a variety of options as our diverse clientele travel here from all over the world, so we need to offer a little bit of everything. In the summer, guests enjoy barbecue flavours at MarXa Chiringuito and experience the unique ambiance within the Society Clubhouse, specially designed for golfers.

There’s also a strong connection with the world of polo and horse riding in Argentina, so the Argentinian style steakhouse is very popular in Sotogrande. We have an increased focus on sourcing our gastronomy locally in the most sustainable way. A must-visit is Asador Cancha II. It is great to see that we continue to have a very strong, Spanish base within Sotogrande, but also represent and cater to other parts of the world.