San Roque Club New Course

The verdict

The New Course at San Roque is the modern, muscular counterpart to the celebrated Dave Thomas Old Course on the same estate near Sotogrande. Perry Dye built it with input from Severiano Ballesteros, it opened in 2003, and it earned its stripes quickly by hosting the 2006 Spanish Open. It is a par 72 of about 6,497 yards, a wider, more American style layout of generous fairways, large greens and the deep, dramatic bunkering that is a Dye family signature.

One thing to know before you book: since 2024 the New Course has operated independently of the San Roque Club, under the name San Roque Golf & Resort. The layout itself is unchanged, but the ownership and branding have separated from the Old Course, so confirm the operator and any package details when you arrange a tee time. As a round it remains one of the more enjoyable championship tests in the Sotogrande cluster, a strong pairing with Alcaidesa or Valderrama on a serious golf trip.

The holes worth the trip

The New Course plays bigger and bolder than its older neighbour. Perry Dye gave it width off the tee, so the round starts comfortably, but the defense lies in the green complexes and the bunkering: large, contoured putting surfaces guarded by deep, steep faced traps that punish the lazy approach and demand a confident sand game. The Ballesteros influence shows in the strategic options around the greens, where imagination and a deft short game are rewarded.

It is a tournament course at heart, which is why it could stage a Spanish Open, and the longer hitter who can also control the ball into firm greens will enjoy it most. The fairways give you room to open the shoulders, but the second shots are where scores are made or lost, particularly when the greens are running quick and the pins are tucked behind the deeper bunkers.

For the traveling golfer, the appeal is the contrast within a short drive: the New Course for its wide, modern championship feel and the classic Old Course nearby for a more traditional, tree lined test, with the seaside golf of Alcaidesa and the championship pedigree of Valderrama all within the same Sotogrande corner of the coast.

Where to stay nearby

San Roque sits at the southern end of the Costa del Sol, beside Sotogrande and a short drive from La Linea and the Gibraltar frontier. Most visiting golfers base themselves around Sotogrande for its marina, dining and easy access to the cluster of championship courses here, including the Old Course, Alcaidesa and Valderrama.

It is an excellent anchor for a championship golf trip, pairing the New Course with the best of the Sotogrande coast. We can arrange the lodging, the tee times and the order of play to suit your group.

Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near San Roque.