Where Sport resides
For those who are looking for more than just sun and sand, and physical activity is part of their lives, San Roque is undoubtedly the place to be. It is one of the places where sport at the highest level is more accessible than ever, with world-renowned golf courses, a great polo tradition and a real mecca when it comes to sailing, as well as many other activities to enjoy during your stay. If active tourism is your thing, you’ve come to the right place.
Golf
San Roque is the most southerly golf destination in Europe, considered the European Capital of Golf, with no less than seven clubs and nine courses within a radius of eight kilometres. Among them all, the Real Club Valderrama, current home of the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters, the PGA European Tour and at the time, the Ryder Cup ’97 and considered one of the best courses in the world by golfers, professionals and specialized magazines.
The golf offer is unbeatable and you can enjoy prestigious courses where different professional tournaments are played or simply spend a sunny day playing with no other pretensions than to enjoy the magnificent facilities.
We must also highlight the possibility of practising adapted golf, making this sport accessible to people with disabilities. La Cañada, a pioneer in this field, has an Adapted Golf School, in which its students, mainly children, benefit from all the advantages of practising sport in the open air. In addition, San Roque Club also has facilities prepared for this type of inclusive golf.
In addition, since 2021 the Sotogrande Golf Challenge has been held, a six-round tournament played in pairs, the final of which is held at Real Club Valderrama. The unique opportunity to play on all the courses in the municipality together with the attractive prizes have made this tournament a great success in terms of participation and quality.
La Hacienda Alcaidesa Links Golf Course
It is the only links golf course in Southern Europe, with 72 positions that allow for different types of play. Its spectacular views of the Rock of Gibraltar and the mountains of Africa make the difference.
La Hacienda Alcaidesa Heathland Golf Course
Located between the Mediterranean and the Los Alcornocales Natural Park, this course designed by Dave Thomas stands out for its undulating relief and its different obstacles in which water plays the leading role, such as streams and lakes.
The San Roque Club Old Course
Opened in 1990 and recently remodelled, this is one of the best courses in Europe.
It presents great challenges, which makes it very popular, with an undulating type of course and tight, sloping fairways. Its home is the former summer residence of the Domecq family.
Almenara Golf Club
This 27-hole course, designed by Dave Thomas, is located just five minutes from the beach and is surrounded by a spectacular natural landscape typical of the area. Three different courses, lakes, pines and cork oaks, suitable for all types of players.
La Cañada Golf Club
This is an 18-hole course that houses the municipal golf school, one of the pioneers in Spain, from which numerous important figures have emerged to make this course a challenge for players.
Sotogrande Royal Golf Club
It was inaugurated in 1964 and is located on the Golden Mile of golf, between the Sotogrande Marina and the Guadiaro River. The wind, frequent in the area, makes playing this course a challenge for players.
Polo
If there is any place in Spain that has a special connection with polo, it is San Roque. Due to the British influence thanks to the proximity of Gibraltar, this sport has been especially linked to the area. As early as the 19th century, the Gibraltar Garrison Polo Club played on a field located in Campamento, which was in use until 1934. Finally, in 1965, the La Playa Polo field was inaugurated in Sotogrande.
Today, San Roque has two polo clubs, Santa María Polo Club (seven fields) and Ayala Polo Club (two fields), with a total of nine fields. Different national, international and private tournaments are played there, the latter club having its own polo team, the Ayala Polo Team. The highlight of the calendar is the International Polo Tournament with the Gold, Silver and Bronze Cups, declared of Tourist Interest in Andalusia.
Sailing
The unique location of San Roque makes it, once again, the ideal place to practice all kinds of water sports. Its many days of sunshine a year and its own weather conditions, with the wind as the protagonist, make it the perfect tourist destination for those who want to enjoy the different sports related to the sea.
Puerto Sotogrande is the largest marina in Andalusia, with 1382 berths, and offers great opportunities to try out the Real Club Marítimo Sotogrande Sailing School (RCMS) and the pleasure boats (sailing boats, catamarans and motor boats) to enjoy the sea or fishing. Or, why not, the kayak excursions along the coast, the opportunities for scuba diving courses or simply an unforgettable trip along our coastline.
Tennis & Padel
It is no secret that tennis and paddle tennis are very popular. They are fun sports, easily accessible and there is always a space in our agenda, no matter how small, to hit the racket. Visitors to San Roque will not be disappointed in this respect, as the municipality has three clubs in the Sotogrande area:
Sotogrande Racquet Centre
El Octógono
La Reserva Club Sotogrande
In addition to a good number of courts belonging to the municipal facilities of the Municipal Sports Delegation, so that enjoying these sports is easier and more accessible than ever.
Equestrian
San Roque forms part, together with the neighbouring towns of San Martín del Tesorillo, Jimena de la Frontera and Castellar, of the so-called Equine District, with a total of six equestrian clubs where you can approach this exciting world for the first time, with dressage and jumping classes; or enjoy their facilities, as well as different social events in which the horse and rider are the protagonists.
Santa María Equestrian Club has put the icing on the cake with an ambitious project at the world-class facilities of Santa María Polo Club in Puente de Hierro, with jumping and dressage competitions, organising since 1971 the famous Sotogrande Gold Cup, one of the biggest polo tournaments in the world.
In addition, the Pinar del Rey is the ideal place to go horse riding and those who are new to this exciting world will not be disappointed.