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Valderrama, Spain |
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Club de Golf Valderrama
11310 Sotogrande
Prov de Cadiz
Spain |  | Robert Trent Jones |  | Miguel Sedeno |
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 | +34 (0) 956 791 200 |  | 2.5 km W of Sotogrande |
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Golf Club Website
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 | Contact in advance |  | Javier Reviriego |
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Valderrama played host to the 1997 Ryder Cup matches between the USA and Europe. Team Captains were Tom Kite (US) and Seve Ballesteros (Europe). The first Ryder Cup to be hosted on mainland Europe was a tale of Europe’s five rookies who produced an impressive performance in the pairs during the first two days, giving Europe a five-point lead going into the singles. The US rallied during the final day, winning the singles 8-4, but it came down to the last match between Colin Montgomerie and Scott Hoch which ended in a halve after Monty sportingly conceded Hoch’s 15-footer on the final green. Europe 14 ½ - USA 13 ½. The Ryder Cup was played at Oak Hill in 1995 and at the Country Club, Brookline in 1999. | Everybody has heard about Valderrama “the Augusta of Europe” but its success is really down to Jaime Ortiz-Patino and a few of his golfing mates. In 1985, the industrialist billionaire bought what was then a fairly average course. He then spent an absolute fortune on it and now it’s one of the best courses in the world.
In 1975 Robert Trent Jones first laid out the course, which was originally known as Los Aves. It is located prominently on a hill above the old Andalucian village of Sotogrande. The layout remained relatively anonymous until 1985 when Jamie and his mates recalled Trent Jones to subtly reshape Valderrama and the club has not looked back since.
Most golfers will be familiar with Valderrama from TV coverage. The club has hosted a plethora of championships, including the Volvo Masters and the legendary 1997 Ryder Cup, which saw a narrow one point European victory under the captaincy of none other than Seve Ballesteros.
The closing holes are always described as tough with a capital “T” but if you choose your tee sensibly from the off, it’s an eminently playable course for golfers of most abilities (the maximum handicap allowed at Valderrama is 24 for men 32 for ladies). The 17th hole is naturally the most memorable. It’s called Los Gabiones and was once just a long par five until the water was installed just in front of the green. Now it’s a question of shall we lay up or should we go
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It was a Scandinavian one-two on 2nd November 2008 when Denmark’s Søren Kjeldsen marked the end of a golfing era by winning the last ever Volvo Masters at Valderrama, while Sweden’s Robert Karlsson won the last Order of Merit that will be awarded for topping the European Tour money list. Taking its place is the revised “Race to Dubai” schedule. | for it?
Despite the fact that Valderrama is an elite private members club, visitors can still obtain the key to the first tee. It’s certainly not the cheapest green fee in Europe but, because Valderrama is never overplayed, it’s always in tip-top condition. Valderrama is also completely in tune with nature. Apart from Loch Lomond, it’s is the only other European golf club to be awarded full Audubon status (Audubon's mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems). Play Valderrama and prepare to be impressed… very impressed.
Jaime Ortiz-Patino, the owner and honorary president at Valderrama, died in a hospital in Marbella in January 2013. The legendary figure played a key role in bringing the 1997 Ryder Cup to Spain. “Valderrama is his masterpiece, his legacy,” commented Jose-Maria Olazabal. “He wanted to make it a very special place, and he did it. He put Valderrama and that part of Andalucia on the map.” | |
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If the above course review article is not accurate, let us know by clicking here |
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 |  | | Average Reviewers Score: |   | | My first impression upon entering the gates is that Valderrama is a place of tradition and pristine condition. The enormous mosaic of the club’s emblem echo’s the importance that this club has to Spanish golfing history. Manicured gardens and old-style Spanish architecture greet you as you make your way around the property. The cork trees ensure that each hole is its own private creation and massively influence your club-selection of the tee. Some of the trees are positioned in the middle of a fairway (eg: 2nd hole), some are positioned in bunkers (eg: 5th green) and each of them will just individually haunt you. This course is not extremely long, but length is completely irrelevant when playing a golf course which demands finesse, accuracy and a good deal of bravery.
The 1st green sits below towering cork trees which will rebound any shot which is not going straight at the green. They protect the flag from all wandering golf balls and remind you from the get-go that this course will separate the men from the boys. While sitting in the “Spike Bar” before/after your round, you’ll see photographs of the players who have won at Valderrama – and then realize the correlation with being able to hit the ball straight (thank you Monty!). The 4th hole is an iconic par 5 which currently is undergoing a project to expand the green behind the rocks. The club wants to create more available pin-positions, but also to entice more players to go for the green in 2 shots. I support the project as the hole is just over 520 yards but the risk with currently going for the green is far too great – maybe compliments to RTJ for that original decision.
The par 3 6th could quite possibly be the most beautiful par 3 I’ve seen outside of Swinley Forest. It’s framed by trees with 6 bunkers running around the green. Pine Valley eat your heart out. The 8th hole is just 290 yards but it’s called “El Bunker” for a reason. Again, the smart play is an iron off the tee which will leave you with an approach shot to a tiny elevated green with enormous cork trees over-hanging the green with El Bunker wrapping it’s way around the putting surface. One of the golf’s greatest holes.
The back-nine starts with a roll-coaster 10th hole. A hugely sloped fairway secretly takes your ball diagonally towards a massive water hazard which you don’t really see from the tee, and then climbs back up to a well protected green. Valderrama continually demonstrates that you don’t need to have length to separate the shot-makers from the one-dimensional golfer. The Spanish professionals of the last few decades all have common characteristics, namely “imagination” and “touch”. Their imagination graces the halls at this club and it’s courses like this that helped them hone their skills before taking on the professionals of the world.
There are significant changes in elevation on the 11th (uphill par 5), the 12th (downhill par 3), the 14th (uphill par 4), the 15th (long downhill par 3), each of which are lined with cork trees that offer an individual experience at Valderrama and makes the holes extremely memorable. Each hole is so uniquely crafted that you can immediately recall the layout. The routing of the course is magnificent. You might only appreciate the changes in direction and the design variety when looking at an aerial view. When RTJ brought his skills to the South of Spain in 1975, he left us with a golf course which architects will visit for decades to come and will witness how to create excitement.
Like all great match-play/Ryder Cup venues, holes 15 through 17 are a tough stretch and could be where the matches end up. The 17th hole at Valderrama has a legacy which just a handful of par 5s around the world can boast. We all remember the torment that each gladiator faced as they pondered their second shot with the pond silently waiting for its prey. Hopes of a successful journey can be bashed by a murderous green which escorts Titleist products to a slow watery grave. The holes at this venue are famous and it’s an honour to have seen them with my own eyes. I consider myself lucky to have experienced this Spanish jewel and watch it sparkle in all its European glory. |
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| 17 March 2012
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| | Played this course 2 days ago and reading some of the reviews I'm almost embarrassed to write a bad review! Am I missing something here or did I just play a great golf course but not an outstanding one? All I will say is yes it was a great course but who the hell does Valderrama think it is? £60 for two electric trolleys £32 for a hat £30 for a handful of topflites (not that I play with them) not to mention the green fee! my advice to anyone considering splashing out to play at least one nice course on a trip to the costa del sol would be to go to Finca Cortesin, now that's what I call a golf course! |
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| 12 November 2011
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| | | played course last year and very true test of golf people moan about how tight and unfair some of the fairways and greens are but i see it as real oldschool golf, i think it could be shortend a bit and mabye little tighter, yes even more if gets shorter, but the course has fast greens and i can see why seve liked it, it involves true imagination to win there, winner this week will be a good good player. the service is a plus too. |
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| 28 October 2011
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| | What a great course and a fabulous experience. I have seen others comment that the service was poor but I cannot agree. There were no restrictions on use of practice facilities, and everyone was perfectly courteous. And then there’s the course! I was slightly disappointed on reaching the first green to find that they clearly have a problem with it at present, but the rest of the course could not be faulted. The tees, fairways, bunkers and rest of the greens were outstanding. And best of all, it’s a fascinating course, with plenty of variety, and memorable holes throughout. My particular favourites – 4th, 5th, 6th, 11th, 12th, 13th and the 17th. It’s a tremendous challenge as well. Many holes call for such precise placement that it doesn’t need to rely on length. And best of all I had the course more or less to myself.
Yes it’s expensive, yes it comes with a lot of hype, but well worth experiencing at least once.
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| 16 October 2011
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| | The course was in excellent shape. we played in winter and the greens were still fast.
My lasting memories are however are from unfriendly staff and rules.
For the price I would expect better service.
We were only allowed to go onto the driving range 30 mins before our tee time and given the tiniest bucket of balls to warm up with.
We asked for some more and were told "no"
Before starting the round we were then told no cameras were allowed on the course to take photos.
They should take a leaf out of "troon golf" book.
course great. service well below par!!!
makes me want to not go back.
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| 30 April 2011
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| Response: | | | glpga | 30 April 2011 | | certainly not my no1 in europe. maybe just about top 10 |
| | Not as Tough as Pine Valley or Royal County Down,not as picturesque as Turnberry or Kingsbarns, nor does it possess the traditions of Muirfield or Merion, but there is just something magical about Valderrama. For it includes a certain element of each of the above categories without being overbearing.
Similar to Crump at Pine Valley or Fownes at Oakmont Patino has devoted a huge portion of his life towards Valderrama and what exists today is a true monument of his endeavours. He has strived to make Valderrama as sought after a golf course as the hallowed grounds of the above mentioned venues and immediately as you arrive at the Clubhouse and gaze down the hill onto the pristine practice grounds,one of the best I have encountered, it becomes apparent that he has achieved all his dreams and more.
I had been told for years about the attention to detail at Valderrama and its exemplary conditioning, but having been fortunate enough to have played some of the world's best tracks I did not expect it to be anything more impressive than I had seen before, however as soon as I reached the opening fairway I realised this was a place like no other. A couple of days before I played there had been extremely heavy rain, but if you had been unaware you would even had known it had rained, no wonder it received such high praise for its drainage after the Ryder Cup.
Comparisons with Augusta National are continuously drawn and although having not played the latter yet, given what I have seen these are easy to make given the conditioning,lack of any very penal rough and extremely slick greens. But after walking off the 18th and reflecting on the round I felt a more layout related comparison could be drawn with Pine Valley. For I believe they both possess the greatest blend/mix of holes I have encountered. Both have incredible long par 4's, tremendous par fives and 4 enchanting par 3's. But that is where that comparison ends, for however penal PV is, Valderrama is emmanently playable.
Trent Jones's moniker of "Hard par,easy bogey" is best illustrated here. I played Valderrama recently with my 14 h/cap father and he commented how much he enjoyed it in comparison to other Championship venues as he felt he could score around it, whereas I played from the tips and felt that it would be an extremely tough track to make birdies around under tournament conditions. One need only look at the scoring at the Volvo Masters down through the years as evidence of this.
The routing of the course is sheer genius with exceptional use made of the Cork trees, which Trent Jones refers to as his "bunker in the sky". Bomb and gouge is certainly not the order of the day around here and plenty of the 7500 yard obsessed "so called golf architects" would do very well to take into practice what has been created here. Positional play is very much the order of the day and the golfer who mindlessly steps out and reaches for the driver, looking merely at the length of the hole will find himself on the back foot sooner rather than later.
Many people are aware of the strength and features of holes like 4,,17 and 18 from tv coverage and enough has been written about these in glossy magazines, and there is a reason for this there are all tremendous design pieces of architecture. But it was the lesser known holes which really grabbed my attention. The 12th with its devilishly sloping green and dramatic fall off is right up there with the best one of one short holes. The 8th is an outstanding short par 4, that gets tougher the closer you drive to the green and its front to back slope propels only the sweetest strike. The second shot on ten is inviting but at the same time strikes fear into the player, even with a short iron in hand, the views from the 11th green is breathtaking. 13 and 14 are two tremendous par 4's one bunkerless the other littered with Muirfield styled traps, while 16 played into the "poniente" wind might just be one of the toughest par 4's in Europe.
Valderrama is a special place, as I said above it may not possess the defining traits which give other more fabled venues their noteriety but the place has just a little bit of them all which helps to make it what it is. If this golf course was located in the North East of America, I genuinely believe it would receive even more attention (but the all too heavily weighted American world rankings is a topic for discussion on another day). The charm of Valderrama is that it makes you want to play it over and over.....Hogan once said this is the sign of a good course, and who could disagree with Mr Hogan! |
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| 02 January 2011
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| Response: | | | Ivan | 02 January 2011 | | Absolutely, it does make you to want to go back and play it yet one more time! Truly outstanding course - and I have played 10 out of the TOP 100 and more than one hundred overall. |
| | i played here on 21st July 2010, and I have to say that it is without doubt the best course I have and probably ever will play by an absolute mile. Yes, there will be those people that will say that there are better courses such as the Ailsa course or Royal County Down, but unless you have played Valderrama and experienced the sheer mystique and beauty and just plain perfect architecture, I don't think you can say it is a second-class course. It is the best in Europe without doubt. The Practice ground is an excellent place, especially so seeing as though I spent an hour warming up next to Jose Maria Canizares. I think that pretty much gave me a preview as to what the course wil be like- world class.
The course is in perfect condition, the greens are unbelievable and the aprons muct be faster than my home course's greens in the height of summer. I was blown away. It is so lush as well which is am amazing feat because of how warm and breezy the course can get. Without doubt (after the briliant 17th) my favourite hole is a tie between the 4th and the 13th which is named sin bunker. The drive is so tight it's unreal, and the second shot has to be negotiated around some tight and intimidating overhanging trees to a small green. Ball striking test at its finest.
So, to sum my day up, I want to go back and play again. Right now. I would fly out for the day to play it again. It's that good. Is it worth 300€? Im my opinion, absolutely. Is it one of the best courses in the world? Yes, without doubt. Do i envy all of the people that get to play it week in, week out? Yes, they are possibly some of the luckiest people in the world, I normally get bored of golf courses, however this course is different, you get a different challenge every time you play it, and no two shots are the same (unless you are a tour pro who can stop the ball on a 1p piece). For pure golf, perfect golf, please do yourself a favour and go and play this course. You will NOT regret it. Guaranteed. |
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| 26 October 2010
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| Response: | | | Hugh | 27 October 2010 | | Valderrama is certainly not a second-class course but it's nowhere near as good as either RCD or the Ailsa in my opinion. | | | Will | 30 December 2010 | | If you read my hole review I said that I haven't played RCD or the Ailsa, but compared to the courses I have played, this is heads and shoulders above the rest. |
| | | I first played Valderrama in June 2008 and looking back then I certainly was not blown away by the course as I hoped. I played again in November 2009 and this time the feeling was different, I took time to enjoy my day and it was a real 'stop and smell the flowers' experience. I have written many times that it is very special to play the famous courses and here at Spain's No. 1, that is true also.
As well as the wonderful course, Valderrama is an experience that visitors from all around the world always remember; ours included the relaxing coffee and air of anticipation ahead of the move to the ultra professional practice ground, the 18 holes and then the welcoming cervezas on the terrace post-round.
It would be easy to speak about most of the holes here but I'll limit my praise to my favourite four; the 2nd is a par-4 under 400 yards but with an imposing cork tree in the middle of the fairway at landing point - this is actually a perfect line with a slight draw (for the right handers!) - definitely need to be left of the tree for a chance to attack the green. The 4th hole named La Cascada (Waterfall), is one of Europe's finest par-5's - a tough drive, a demanding lay-up and then a precise approach with the obvious waterfall at the tiny green. The toughest par-3 is at the 12th and is also my choice as best one-shotter here - trees and bunkers have the green surrounded, there is out-of-bounds to the right and a huge drop-off to the left. The last hole for me to mention is the famed par-5 17th; an inviting drive favouring a slight fade, then the decision to either lay up or try for the green...both the drive and lay-up have to be accurate as there are bunkers placed at the landing points. A mention here to my playing partner in 2009, who after a poor drive on the 17th and then a chop out of the trees to exactly 204 yards from the hole, then proceeded to hole a 4-wood for the most unlikely eagle you will see!
The last couple of things to mention about Valderrama is the very secret executive 9-hole hole course; if you have a spare hour try and play it, great fun and lastly, do try and see Derek Brown the General Manager; who is one of the true good guys in the golf industry.
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| 02 August 2010
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| | Played twice in Oct. 2009 on holiday with my father. We received a nice welcome after being introduced to the club. Great playing surfaces and the holes with elevation changes were very beautiful, especially #3,4,5,6,10,11,15. I also liked 17. Wonderful greens to putt on and pitch to. Clearing some trees to open up views even further may help the scenery as well. Fun course to play and an enjoyable challenge. |
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| 21 June 2010
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| | I have played Valderrama a number of times,and on the last visit after paying a large green fee,I felt treated like a real second class citizen. We had arrived early hoping to enjoy the practise facilities but were told by some "jobsworth" Spaniard that we were not allowed onto the range until 12.30, half an hour before tee off. Thank G-D I knew Derek Brown,he told us to enjoy our day and to use the facilities at our leisure. Once out on the course,yes it's in immaculate condition apart from the greens being scuffed up by soft and metal spikes. The "PISTE DE RESISTANCE" was being told we were TWO MINUTE'S behind time as we stood on the 7th Tee.The verbal explosion that came out of my mouth will remain a secret. The round was okay but it is like a "FACTORY".Churning out groups every 8-10 mins. Give me a Les Bordes or a Queenwood anyday. Highly unlikely will be going back for a return visit. |
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| 15 March 2010
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| I played the course last November 19th, under some rain in the first 9 holes. It was during the 2009 IGTM Show invited by my friend Andy. I was scheduled not to take my clubs to Spain, but when he confirmed our visit to Valderrama, my plans changed!
 The course cannot be better: some of the best US features under RTJ Sr´s design plus a lot of charm and tradition only featured in the UK, so a really perfect combination. The course is in pristine shape, greens run a speed of 12 feet and every detail is where it has to be. Almost all tee shots are really tough, so there you have the clue to score (plus a hot putter, which I didn´t have!). Some holes are really astonishing (2,4,5,7,10,17).
We decided to walk the course and couldn´t have been a better idea. I really enjoyed the walk, the details, the history, everything. We played a fourball match and we tied! My game was not the best (scored 82 from Championship tees) but all the same I will always be grateful for being allowed to play a piece of history. Hole 4 is said to be one of his best designs by RTJ, I can assure you he is completely right!!!! |
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| 03 December 2009
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| I’ve been lucky enough to visit Valderrama more than once and when I say lucky I mean lucky because it is never less than perfect in condition. If you combine the best layout I’ve ever played with the serenity of golf course with not a hint of traffic noise with conditioning that is unparalleled and a welcome that makes you feel like the first customer that’s ever walked through the door. Add to that a history that includes Volvo Masters ,WGC events and a Ryder Cup and knowing you are treading the boards with the best golfers who ever played the game.
I have not played enough golf in the States to compare it with the best in the US but forget the best in mainland Europe - Valderrama is without question the best course In the whole Europe. When I finally pass please insure that part of me is left in that perfect spot at the top of the hill behind the 11th green – but don’t let it be yet as I still have more golf to play! |
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| 01 December 2009
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| Response: | | | Shaun | 02 December 2009 | | Obviously not played a deal of links golf either | | | marcus | 02 December 2009 | | Sorry - this is based on playing some of the best links courses in the UK and Ireland - I confess to an ignorance of best US courses but not links courses of which I've been blessed to play the very best - should Valderamma not be number 1 because it's not a links course? As a link enthusiast maybe you should say "obviously not played a royal cinque ports of links golf"! | | | Shaun | 06 December 2009 | | An interesting retort Marcus, what would be your top 5 courses you have played in GB&I? | | | marcus | 07 December 2009 | | Oh Shaun - I'm so glad you responded - As i say i've been blessed in my golfing life so far and plan to review all the courses i've played at some stage. The reason I was so keen to get my thoughts down regarding Valderrama is that a recent UK Golf magazines top 100 European courses had Valderrama at NO3 which having played their NO2 rated course I felt was unfair.I love Valderrama as you can tell from my review but only because it is such a good golfing experience. As for my top 5 GB&I they would be as follows. 1. Waterville 2. Royal St George's 3. St Andrews Old Course (although I really like the Castle as well) 4. Ballybunion(Old) 5. Bearwood Lakes (Best greens I played on all last year) Interesting debate - because there are fair amount of links courses up there!!! I'd like to hear yours when you have time. | | | Cedric | 07 December 2009 | | I believe Marcus is referring to the November issue of "golf world", where Valderrama is no 3, Morfontaine no 2 and Les Bordes no 1. Having played those 3 recently, there is little to choose between them. I love all 3 of them. If you look for challenge, I'd say that Les Bordes from the very back tees takes it. On a perfection point of view, difficult to beat Valderrama, yes the conditionning is that brilliant. Morfontaine is a gem, especially if you add the marvelous 9 hole course! I'd still rank those 3 courses below my top 5 which include 1. RCD and then 2. Royal St George's, 3. Royal Birkdale, 4. Muirfield, 5. Turnberry (Ailsa). | | | Shaun | 12 December 2009 | | Marcus, I am not as well travelled as you and Cedric within Continental Europe as I have focussed my efforts on GB&I. My top 5, in no particular order, would be RCD, Royal Portrush (Dunluce), St Andrews Old Course, Ballybunion (Old) and Turnberry (Ailsa). Choosing favourite tracks is such as personal thing, I would not have the Castle or Bearwood Lakes in my Top 50! | | | Keith Baxter | 23 December 2009 | | We’ve drawn a line under this particular debate as it has precious little to do with Valderrama and instead we’ve connected Shaun and Marcus via email. So the debate goes on. One interesting point for those who have read this far is that Shaun has played the entire Britain & Ireland Top 100 and we published an article about Shaun’s remarkable achievement in our book Top 100 Golf Courses of Britain & Ireland. |
| | This course sucks, it deserves a half ball mark. Now, seriously, - the course is the best I have ever been happy enough to play and here is WHY (in no special order): The course is beautiful: yes, it looks like a magic forest from a fairy tale in sun light. The perfect, emerald green fairways are outlined by olive and cork trees which look 100s year old, and in fact I suppose they are. The atmosphere on the course can be described by two words - peace and serenity. - the piece of land on which the course was built is a perfect example of extraordinary golfing terrain. Look at your typical golf course - it is (depending on the location) either hilly/mountainous or flat. Not so at Valderrama - the terrain is perfectly undulated and ideal for golf, the way golf should be. Most guys nowadays tend to forget that a golf course shouldn't look like a lawn tennis court, nor should it resemble the FIS ski piste (ok, I am exaggerating it here but a ski piste anyway). What should it be like then?,- will you ask. The answer is go to Valderrama and have a look. - the course layout/architecture. The masterpiece of Trent Jones Sr. - and this says it all.
Want more details - here you are. Every hole has a strategical merit to it, every hole is fair and true (more on this later), every hole is at least a VERY GOOD golf hole and some are perfect (no.4, 17 to name a couple). Risk and reward - you have it here, accuracy on every shot - check up. - conditioning of the course. Great. The tee-boxes and rough are just good but the fairways are better than greens at most resorts and the greens are flat out perfect (more on that later).
The first thing you'll notice is that there are no divots on the fairways. Every flight is accompanied by a group of staffers who are repairing all the damage after each and every shot. The surface of the fairway looks so thick that it is unbelievable, like one meter thick. The fringes are like greens, running at about 8 on the stimpmeter, well, seriously. The greens are at about good 10-10,5. - the course is FAIR and TRUE. The fairest course I have ever played - if you make an excellent shot you will be golden, that is you'll have the best position for your next shot, if you hit a good shot - you'll have a good position for your next shot, if you hit an OK shot - your position will be OK, the bad shot will provide you with a bad lie and bad position and the very bad one - figure it out yourself. And this simple rule always works on Valderrama no matter what.
The greens are also FAIR and TRUE- they look flat and have only minor slopes and breaks but they all work. While during my visit the greens were not that lightning quick and were pretty receptive in fact, they were still a big challenge in the best sense of word. Make a good putt and you'll be there, make a bad one and you're missing. All in all, Valderrama is an outstanding golf facility and every true lover of the game should come here and enjoy it.
PS.: Some guys like to speak about "other golf courses" which are almost the same as Valderrama but way cheaper. They also say that Valderrama is not all that different from a course X or Y. Do not listen to those fellows. Comparing the course like Valderrama to ANY ordinary course and talking about minor differences is like comparing a Bentley or Rolls Royce to Hyundai stating that they are pretty similar because they both have four wheels. Golf is all about those peculiarities and tiny things and if you can not understand this and appreciate the outstanding beauty of Valderrama you better choose another sport. If a course is among world's best it is there for a good reason. |
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| 29 October 2009
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| Response: | | | David Jones | 29 October 2009 | | This has to win most excited review of 2009? i have a friend who lives in Gibraltar who never seems keen to play it, i know where i'm heading next time i visit. |
| | Valderrama is glorious. The holes are interesting and they’re beautiful. It’s an inspiring place to play the game. The seventeenth is a fabulous hole. I was surprised that a previous reviewer described it as out of place. I didn’t understand that. The sixteen previous holes (and the one after) seem to have some sort of reward on offer for bravery or skill or strength. The seventeenth is precisely the same, offering risk and reward aplenty. I also loved the fifth. But hey, everyone loves the fifth. Man, I loved them all…
The greens are superb, supremely difficult. That they’re so little meant I was always missing them and pitching from around them. And those pitches, given the speed and sometimes slope of them, are about as much fun as you can ever hope to have. The putting surfaces have to be attacked from the correct angle; or at my playing level they have to be missed on the correct side.
I suspect that to play this course more is to understand it and love it more. That said, one visit is enough to leave a significant impression. I know my playing partner left a significant impression. Unused to these things, he stood up on the practise ground and tried to take the top ball off of the pyramid. The shame… For all its grandeur though, it’s a happy place to spend some time. Like lots of the best clubs it’s quite easy going. As Jeff Bezos (or similar US billionaire) might stroll around the clubhouse at Loch Lomond or Skibo in his jeans, so you can feel fairly relaxed behind the security gates here, unlike maybe Muirfield (can I say that?). ANGLOSCOT |
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| 21 August 2009
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| | Valderrama, a true test of any golfers ability, the scores from the volvo masters prove year upon year that courses do not need to be long to be difficult. Valderrama is perfect in every department. |
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| 26 June 2009
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| | I know this is all about personal opinions but the review dated 15 june 2008 leaves me a little confused. If Valderrama is a "4 ball" course, then only a handful in the world will ever get 6! Had this reviewer a bad day at the time?? Let's be serious, most of the holes a really memorable, especially the par 3s and of course the 17th. As an actual fact, I thought all were memorable in their own right (either because of water, trees, views, you name it) apart from the par 4 14th, played uphill all the way, which is not really my cup of tea. Everything at Valderrama is top notch, from the minute you enter the property. Service was very good indeed, and staff very nice. This is such a classy place! Yes, few people play the course every day, but I don't think this is a reason to take the fantastic conditioning for granted! This is a huge amount of time and money spent, for the priviledge of members and visitors alike. Indeed, conditioning is as great as it gets, the pre greens probably better looking than most of the greens people ever play on! The greens are tiny and slopy, difficult to read and provide a real challenge. I actually expected them to be faster than they actually were, but that was tough enough in places! Only minor criticism I would mention is the quality of the sand in the bunkers, with its really thick grains which didn't provide the usual sand feel. But then again that's a false excuse as you're not supposed to be in them! Cedric |
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| 10 June 2009
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| Response: | | | cc | 10 June 2009 | | Can't agree with your opening comments. I know a good few people who take their appraisal of courses seriously and who would mark this course heavily down, mainly due to holes like 2, with the centre-fairway trees, or 17, (enough discussion elsewhere), or to generalities about whether it is just too tight for most golfers. Not everyone will warm to this course. Having said that, I did and would also give it a six-ball rating. | | | Cedric | 16 June 2009 | | Which of my comments don't you agree with exactly? The tree on 2 seems a little disturbing indeed, but aim your tee shot left and you won't have to worry about it. The same could then be said about the 5th hole that had a tree on the exact right edge of the green. What do you do when the pin is back right just like when I played? Valderrama is definitely too tight (or call it too difficult?) for some golfers, and it never pretended to be otherwise. But giving it a 4-ball rating sounded a bit inappropriate, to say the least, and you seem to agree on that! As for the 17th, it will remain the highlight of my round there, getting a birdie after sending my tee shot straight into the left bunker, all that from the back tees with the wind in my face all the way. Love the 17th!! | | | cc | 21 June 2009 | The comment I disagreed with was the way you dismissed somebody else's opinion because they 'only' gave it 4 balls, which is still, after all, saying it's worth playing. My point was that while I agree it's worth 6 balls, it's the sort of course that I can imagine other people not liking. I like the quirkiness of the trees at the 2nd, and elsewhere for that matter, but let's be honest, many will not.
Furthermore, Valderrama, while pleasant, doesn't have the wow factor that some other courses, eg Loch Lomond, RCD, Kingsbarns, have, and for some, this is an important consideration. Many of the holes, while in great condition, do look like nothing special, and only by playing them a few times will the true nature of the challenge be revealed.
If I'd only been round it once I don't know if I would have rated it a 6. It's like Muirfield, Carnoustie or Troon in that respect. It's not hard to find people who find those courses disappointing yet to me they're comfortably Scotland's best tests of golf. People seek different things from golf, so no course is going to please everyone. | | | Cedric | 23 June 2009 | | At least, we seem to have the same taste as RCD is my favorite course anywhere, and Muirfield in my Top 5 too... Get your point about Valderrama. Not sure though what holes "look like nothing special"... Just 14th for my taste. |
| | | I have played some good courses in my time but this one takes your breath away. From the moment you approach the estate to entering via the gateman to your clubs being whisked away before you can stretch your legs from the hour long drive. There was a quiteness about the place, then as you approach the clubhouse the practice ground is right in front of you. All this and you haven't seen the first tee. I strongly recommend you pay a visit to the practice putting green before you step onto the first tee, the greens were at 10.5 when we played and that is on the flat. Frightning when you have a downhiller for your first putt!!. The course is magnificent in every dept. You can make it more difficult by playing of tees further back, we played of the yellow as it was our first visit and we wanted to enjoy the day without being terrified of the course. The greens were like velvet, the fairways like a carpet, even the rough was combed and to make it complete the sun shone all day. I highly recommend this course to everyone. Thank you to all the staff who made our day memorable. |
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| 30 April 2009
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| I have played round Valderrama 10 times and I always have some difficulty in describing the experience. As with Loch Lomond one has the 'experience' of being a guest who is tolerated and expected to be wowed, both have friendly staff and Derek Brown at Valde is easy-going. Of the two Valde wins hands-down on the golf front.
Everyone who has played here would agree the conditioning of the course is beyond reproach. I have not played on greens that are consistently as quick, frankly they are terrifying. The course has the smallest greens on tour and the surrounding rough is very tough. This coupled with the sloping on the greens, the tight driving lines created by the subtle dog-legs and tree-lined fairways and its length, make this the most unremittingly difficult inland course I have or I am likely to play. 20 points stableford with full allowance is a hell of a good round here. What I need is a solid week playing this course to exorcise the demons, with Dr Bob Rotella on my bag... Tim Gorman |
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| 27 February 2009
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| | Played Valderrama recently, the staff are helpful to a fault, the greens were fast and slick, the fairways were wider and more forgiving than I expected. I expect it's very different when they're lined with spectators.
There were probably more green keepers than golfers on the course the day we played, and so the place was in fantastic condition. It's a beautiful, mature setting, loads of cork oak trees under which I seemed to spend a lot of time looking for my ball, but I had a great day and it's worth the money (once) to have the experience. |
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| 03 July 2008
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| | Valderrama is a bit like the "The Emperor's New Clothes", the golfing media seem to rate this as either the best (or second best) course in Continental Europe in fear of being considered stupid and unfit for their job. For those who like, and perhaps follow the Robert Trent Jones Trail, then I am sure they will love the experience and laud it. Personally I am pleased to have played here but there are better courses on mainland Europe and better courses even on the Costa del Sol. Let’s get the positives out of the way before I mention a few of the negatives... the greens were fabulous and putted well and so they should… no more than 50 people usually play the course on any given day. The course is fair and not tricked up in any way but the majority of holes are only slightly above average and there are at least a couple of weak holes, especially some of the par threes. Sure the 17th is an interesting hole and has seen some action (as has the 18th at the Belfry) but it's out of character with the rest of the course. Frankly there are too few great holes in my humble view. By all means, cough up the €275 per round to play here but don’t expect to play a truly great golf course and perhaps you won’t come away feeling as disappointed as I did. |
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| 15 June 2008
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| Response: | | | Max | 10 June 2009 | | So which are the better courses on the Costa Del Sol...pray tell!! | | | Billy | 16 June 2009 | | Think La Reserva is a better compete package and Sotogrande is the best designed course on the Costa del Sol. With some money and a few tweaks to a few holes, Malaga could be a better course than Valderrama too. Please don’t bang me up in jail emperor, I think your new clothes are lovely. |
| | | If you want to play the great golf courses around the world, you have to play this. Its expensive (very), historic (very very) and a great experience. Your golf game is fully tested no doubt. |
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| 17 July 2007
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| | I played this great course earlier this year and was not disappointed. The condition was quite unbelievable, there were greenkeepers on their hands and knees manicuring the fairways! It would be hard to pick a favourite hole because there are no weak ones, but the last 4 are pretty special. Pricey, but this aint a dress rehearsal. |
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| 14 November 2006
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| | I was lucky enough to play Valderrama a couple of years ago when a friend & I had a week's holiday, staying at San Roque. Valderrama is simply stunning and everything we had heard was true. Often we build the great courses up in and minds and they cannot live up to our expectations - Valderrama certainly does and more. During our holiday, we regularly ran into 2 other groups of golfers who were playing similar courses to us, in a different order. So whenever we saw each other, we would compare notes. One group played Valderrama the day before we were due. We asked them "is it as good as they say? What about the condidtion?" One of the group told us a story, where he reached what he thought to be the first green. His caddy asked, "what club would you like?" "Well a putter I should think," our new friend replied, "since I'm on the green - the last thing I want to do is, play a bump and run and risk taking a divot out of a green." "You're not on the green," the cadie advised, "the green is 30 yards that way!!" The day after we played, they were due to dig the greens up, becasue they were not happy with them!! That's how high standards are at Valderrrama. |
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| 08 July 2006
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