Sotogrande Estate: The best place to play golf in Europe.
The upmarket Sotogrande estate on the Costa del Sol has always been associated with luxury and glamor. But now it looks better than ever. It's evening and I'm standing on the terrace of Villa La Escondida, glass of Spanish wine in hand, watching the sun slowly disappear over the horizon. The villa's name, which means "hidden" in Spanish, fits its charm. The last rays of the day reflect in the infinity pool, surrounding everything with a warm glow. It's a glorious evening when the world seems to spin slower, and nothing is more important than good company, a delicious meal on the veranda and the promise of a game of championship golf the next day. But on the other hand, Sotogrande can give that impression. Here, in the most famous residential estate on theCosta del Sol, you feel as if suspended in a magical environment in which your body recuperates. It's enough to make you want to stay here forever. But what if it's feasible?
History of Sotogrande EstateThe history of Sotogrande Estate began with Joseph McMicking, a Filipino-American businessman who, in 1962, purchased five farms in the province of Cadiz and began transforming the land into a luxury residential resort with an emphasis on healthy living. More than fifty years ago, long before anyone had heard of the Danish concept of "hügge," McMeeking saw an opportunity to celebrate all the good things in life in a warmer place than the Costa del Sol itself. Influenced by McMeeking's work, the enclosed village of Forbes Park in thehis native Manila, Sotogrande soon became the Beverly Hills of Europe, a neighborhood synonymous with luxury and glamor. But even its ambitious founder was struck by how much the estate had changed over the past 60 years.
The Sotogrande Estate
The estate stretches over 4,500 acres along the Spanish coast and on the slopes of the Sierra Almenar, and offers so many activities that it would be impossible to name them all. Andalucía is known for its unique combination of mountains and sea, creating mesmerizing views from every vantage point, and Sotogrande has given this a luxurious touch.
The area currently offers five world-class golf courses, six polo courses, two tennis clubs, a marina, a beach, a fantastic man-made lagoon and a newly openedSO/Sotogrande hotel and spa complex, and probably a couple of Christmas doves on a pear tree. There are few places in Europe that can match such a rich offering without making any compromises - be it location, amenities or transportation links. There is no room for compromise here.
Villas on Sotogrande
This brings me back to La Escondida and my sense of success in life. Before I continue, I have an honest confession to make: it's already sold out. I can sell you this lifestyle, but not the villa, which is already occupied. Nevertheless, it is the perfect embodiment of Sotogrande in the modern era.
Not content with its position as a premium European destination, a place where some of the most influential families residecontinent (and, er, Tony Blair), the estate has become a platform for world-class architects to showcase their talent. Gone are the traditional, stylish Andalusian farmhouses of yesteryear, charming as they were, and in their place are modern, elegant homes that blend perfectly with their owner's lifestyle and landscape.
La Escondida, in particular, is part of a private community of six villas called El Mirador. These homes, designed and built by ARK Architects, are multi-level masterpieces where indoor and outdoor living blend seamlessly into a series of exquisitely designed spaces - such as the grand floor-to-ceiling window at the entrance to La Escondida. The two-story villa offers stunning views of the golf courseand the Mediterranean Sea is true love at first sight. Or, for example, the stylish outdoor kitchen with barbecue area. Or the Turkish bath and indoor pool in the basement, custom built by the owner. Every room here surprises and delights at the same time.
The appeal of Sotogrande
The Sotogrande Necklace is a collection of seven unique and distinctive villas designed by seven outstanding architects. These architects include Marcio Cogan, considered one of Brazil's most important contemporary architects, Ben Van Berkel, a world-renowned Dutch architect, and Andreas Martin-Löf, Sweden's most exciting young architect. Each of them created their own unique concept on a one-hectare site. From.From Tony Stark-worthy concrete monoliths to warm wooden buildings that fuse with the landscape, The Seven embraces the diversity of 21st century architecture. How you furnish your space is up to you, but if you want to include a movie room, golf simulator or office in your plans, you can rest assured you're in good hands. The same is true for the outside area, where prominent French gardener Jean Muys gives each garden a distinctive Provençal charm.
Other opportunities at Sotogrande
The villas are so exclusive that when I tried to visit the sites, I was flatly refused. Turns out, seven is not a lucky number for me. But with a starting price of €7.6 million, you can see whySotogrande cherishes its most treasured secret.
The Seven is located in a gated corner of the La Reserva Club Sotogrande community. While I can't tell you more about the villas themselves, I can tell you about the residents' access to the highly respected championship golf course, tennis and sports club, as well as the beach and artificial pond for water sports that seem to have come out of nowhere. If you want to see what a modern country club looks like, here it is.
The best golf course and hotel
One of my favorite places on Sotogrande is La Reserva Golf Club, designed by Cabell Robinson. The club stretches across two intersecting valleys and offers fun twists and turns and dramatic elevation changes,Creates a challenge with several difficult drive shot locations and approaches that require controlling the tilt of the ball to one side or the other. Similar to Valderrama's famous big brother, this course presents a real challenge, but it's fair - unless you had a glass of red wine for breakfast last night, then it will happily punish you for carelessness.
Probably the best place to clear a slightly tarred head is The Beach.
The history of Sotogrande Estate began with Joseph McMicking, a Filipino-American businessman who, in 1962, purchased five farms in the province of Cadiz and began transforming the land into a luxury residential resort with an emphasis on healthy living. More than fifty years ago, long before anyone had heard of the Danish concept of "hügge," McMeeking saw an opportunity to celebrate all the good things in life in a warmer place than the Costa del Sol itself. Influenced by McMeeking's work, the enclosed village of Forbes Park in thehis native Manila, Sotogrande soon became the Beverly Hills of Europe, a neighborhood synonymous with luxury and glamor. But even its ambitious founder was struck by how much the estate had changed over the past 60 years.
The Sotogrande Estate
The estate stretches over 4,500 acres along the Spanish coast and on the slopes of the Sierra Almenar, and offers so many activities that it would be impossible to name them all. Andalucía is known for its unique combination of mountains and sea, creating mesmerizing views from every vantage point, and Sotogrande has given this a luxurious touch.
The area currently offers five world-class golf courses, six polo courses, two tennis clubs, a marina, a beach, a fantastic man-made lagoon and a newly openedSO/Sotogrande hotel and spa complex, and probably a couple of Christmas doves on a pear tree. There are few places in Europe that can match such a rich offering without making any compromises - be it location, amenities or transportation links. There is no room for compromise here.
Villas on Sotogrande
This brings me back to La Escondida and my sense of success in life. Before I continue, I have an honest confession to make: it's already sold out. I can sell you this lifestyle, but not the villa, which is already occupied. Nevertheless, it is the perfect embodiment of Sotogrande in the modern era.
Not content with its position as a premium European destination, a place where some of the most influential families residecontinent (and, er, Tony Blair), the estate has become a platform for world-class architects to showcase their talent. Gone are the traditional, stylish Andalusian farmhouses of yesteryear, charming as they were, and in their place are modern, elegant homes that blend perfectly with their owner's lifestyle and landscape.
La Escondida, in particular, is part of a private community of six villas called El Mirador. These homes, designed and built by ARK Architects, are multi-level masterpieces where indoor and outdoor living blend seamlessly into a series of exquisitely designed spaces - such as the grand floor-to-ceiling window at the entrance to La Escondida. The two-story villa offers stunning views of the golf courseand the Mediterranean Sea is true love at first sight. Or, for example, the stylish outdoor kitchen with barbecue area. Or the Turkish bath and indoor pool in the basement, custom built by the owner. Every room here surprises and delights at the same time.
The appeal of Sotogrande
The Sotogrande Necklace is a collection of seven unique and distinctive villas designed by seven outstanding architects. These architects include Marcio Cogan, considered one of Brazil's most important contemporary architects, Ben Van Berkel, a world-renowned Dutch architect, and Andreas Martin-Löf, Sweden's most exciting young architect. Each of them created their own unique concept on a one-hectare site. From.From Tony Stark-worthy concrete monoliths to warm wooden buildings that fuse with the landscape, The Seven embraces the diversity of 21st century architecture. How you furnish your space is up to you, but if you want to include a movie room, golf simulator or office in your plans, you can rest assured you're in good hands. The same is true for the outside area, where prominent French gardener Jean Muys gives each garden a distinctive Provençal charm.
Other opportunities at Sotogrande
The villas are so exclusive that when I tried to visit the sites, I was flatly refused. Turns out, seven is not a lucky number for me. But with a starting price of €7.6 million, you can see whySotogrande cherishes its most treasured secret.
The Seven is located in a gated corner of the La Reserva Club Sotogrande community. While I can't tell you more about the villas themselves, I can tell you about the residents' access to the highly respected championship golf course, tennis and sports club, as well as the beach and artificial pond for water sports that seem to have come out of nowhere. If you want to see what a modern country club looks like, here it is.
The best golf course and hotel
One of my favorite places on Sotogrande is La Reserva Golf Club, designed by Cabell Robinson. The club stretches across two intersecting valleys and offers fun twists and turns and dramatic elevation changes,Creates a challenge with several difficult drive shot locations and approaches that require controlling the tilt of the ball to one side or the other. Similar to Valderrama's famous big brother, this course presents a real challenge, but it's fair - unless you had a glass of red wine for breakfast last night, then it will happily punish you for carelessness.
Probably the best place to clear a slightly tarred head is The Beach.
Other places to relaxThe benefits of La Reserva Club aren't just available to residents of The Seven. Not far away is Village Verde, another apartment complex that offers residents access to club amenities. Village Verde is a community of 220 apartments and townhomes set on 18 acres of park-like grounds. The high-end two, three and four-bedroom apartments are designed to offer the ultimate in open-plan living - bright and airy spaces that harmonize with double-sided or revolving terraces. Each apartment boasts a balcony of at least 65 square meters, while penthouses andthe townhouses have spacious roofs. This is an important detail, given that Andalusia has over 300 days of sunshine a year. You could say that Village Verde reincarnates modern life in a 21st century village style. You can imagine spending your entire day there, from breakfast in the resident's café and on the garden terrace to swimming in the indoor pool, shopping in the mini market and watching a movie outdoors. Work? Oh, forget about it. Let it wait until tomorrow.
It must be admitted, however, that the pandemic has changed the way we think about our work. While the City isn't going anywhere, the hybrid mode of working will forever remain - and that makes the 25-minute commute from Sotogrande to Gibraltar Airport (and the three-hour flight from London City) attractive to thenew customers. There are worse places to commute.
Closure
Besides La Reserva, Sotogrande is also home to the Real Club de Sotogrande (the oldest course in the area, dating back to 1964), the 27-hole Almenara Golf Club course, La Cañada and, of course, Valderrama. Each caters to certain golfers' preferences, but Valderrama is still surrounded by mystery.
Hosting the 1997 Ryder Cup, Valderrama justifies every word of praise that has ever been said about him. I won't add much commentary, but these are the fundamental points: 1) This field is beyond awesome, even you've never experienced an experience like this before. The greens are very fast, they look like carpet. 2) It's also as difficult as everyone says it is. Scorejust slips off your hands at every turn - find space to hit or lose a shot, miss the green and take another shot, miscalculate your underhand shot and it will cost you. In the end, the result becomes an afterthought. This is golf for fun. 3) For an exclusive course with a price of €400 per game and the need for a caddie (€60 before tips), the club is surprisingly relaxed. From the shady restaurant terrace to the quiet library where you can find a golf book for every taste, come for the game and stay for the club itself. It really is a special place.
Besides the sports facilities, Sotogrande opened its only five-star hotel in July, the SO/Sotogrande, known for its modern style andwhich is part of the Sofitel hotel group. It replaced the dreary Hotel Almenara which, to be honest, had been in need of refurbishment for ten years and honestly what a change. SO/ has transformed the place into a luxury modern hotel fit for Sotogrande.
The hotel was designed in collaboration with Spanish swimwear designer Delores Cortes. The hotel takes iconic elements of Andalusian culture - the fan, the carnation, the arch of a traditional roundhouse - and brings in bright accents of color, making an unexpected change from the look of more traditionally inspired Spanish resorts such as those near Finca Cortesin. At the same time, it remains typically Andalusian and impeccably modern.
The spa center at the hotel is not your average spa that you canseen in hotels. It offers a swimming pool and cryotherapy, as well as a state-of-the-art gym and indoor pool. Clearly, such an investment makes sense when you consider that residents of neighboring apartment complexes can pay an annual fee to enjoy these amenities. Plus, the hotel has several restaurants and bars, including SoCiety, a restaurant with a rotation of guest chefs every few weeks. The hotel adds another attraction to Sotogrande.
You're not convinced by all these suggestions? Perhaps a night at Villa La Escondida will change your mind. If you're serious about buying a property, Sotogrande offers a customized stay tailored to the needs of potential residents. The Discovery Package includes.lodging, golf and other activities, a week's worth of meals and a tour of affordable villas. Trust me, it will leave you thrilled.
For more information, visit sotogrande.com and lareservaclubsotogrande.com.
The benefits of La Reserva Club aren't just available to residents of The Seven. Not far away is Village Verde, another apartment complex that offers residents access to club amenities. Village Verde is a community of 220 apartments and townhomes set on 18 acres of park-like grounds. The high-end two, three and four-bedroom apartments are designed to offer the ultimate in open-plan living - bright and airy spaces that harmonize with double-sided or revolving terraces. Each apartment boasts a balcony of at least 65 square meters, while penthouses andthe townhouses have spacious roofs. This is an important detail, given that Andalusia has over 300 days of sunshine a year. You could say that Village Verde reincarnates modern life in a 21st century village style. You can imagine spending your entire day there, from breakfast in the resident's café and on the garden terrace to swimming in the indoor pool, shopping in the mini market and watching a movie outdoors. Work? Oh, forget about it. Let it wait until tomorrow.
It must be admitted, however, that the pandemic has changed the way we think about our work. While the City isn't going anywhere, the hybrid mode of working will forever remain - and that makes the 25-minute commute from Sotogrande to Gibraltar Airport (and the three-hour flight from London City) attractive to thenew customers. There are worse places to commute.
Closure
Besides La Reserva, Sotogrande is also home to the Real Club de Sotogrande (the oldest course in the area, dating back to 1964), the 27-hole Almenara Golf Club course, La Cañada and, of course, Valderrama. Each caters to certain golfers' preferences, but Valderrama is still surrounded by mystery.
Hosting the 1997 Ryder Cup, Valderrama justifies every word of praise that has ever been said about him. I won't add much commentary, but these are the fundamental points: 1) This field is beyond awesome, even you've never experienced an experience like this before. The greens are very fast, they look like carpet. 2) It's also as difficult as everyone says it is. Scorejust slips off your hands at every turn - find space to hit or lose a shot, miss the green and take another shot, miscalculate your underhand shot and it will cost you. In the end, the result becomes an afterthought. This is golf for fun. 3) For an exclusive course with a price of €400 per game and the need for a caddie (€60 before tips), the club is surprisingly relaxed. From the shady restaurant terrace to the quiet library where you can find a golf book for every taste, come for the game and stay for the club itself. It really is a special place.
Besides the sports facilities, Sotogrande opened its only five-star hotel in July, the SO/Sotogrande, known for its modern style andwhich is part of the Sofitel hotel group. It replaced the dreary Hotel Almenara which, to be honest, had been in need of refurbishment for ten years and honestly what a change. SO/ has transformed the place into a luxury modern hotel fit for Sotogrande.
The hotel was designed in collaboration with Spanish swimwear designer Delores Cortes. The hotel takes iconic elements of Andalusian culture - the fan, the carnation, the arch of a traditional roundhouse - and brings in bright accents of color, making an unexpected change from the look of more traditionally inspired Spanish resorts such as those near Finca Cortesin. At the same time, it remains typically Andalusian and impeccably modern.
The spa center at the hotel is not your average spa that you canseen in hotels. It offers a swimming pool and cryotherapy, as well as a state-of-the-art gym and indoor pool. Clearly, such an investment makes sense when you consider that residents of neighboring apartment complexes can pay an annual fee to enjoy these amenities. Plus, the hotel has several restaurants and bars, including SoCiety, a restaurant with a rotation of guest chefs every few weeks. The hotel adds another attraction to Sotogrande.
You're not convinced by all these suggestions? Perhaps a night at Villa La Escondida will change your mind. If you're serious about buying a property, Sotogrande offers a customized stay tailored to the needs of potential residents. The Discovery Package includes.lodging, golf and other activities, a week's worth of meals and a tour of affordable villas. Trust me, it will leave you thrilled.
For more information, visit sotogrande.com and lareservaclubsotogrande.com.
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