
The
San Roque Club has impressive qualifications: venue for the PGA
European Tour Qualifying School in November, the MacGregor Week
which is held just before the start of the European Tour season,
and the Andalucian headquarters of the PGA European Tour. During
the 1997 Ryder Cup the San Roque Suites Hotel hosted the teams
and officials for the event, and they had warm words of praise
for the service and treatment they received. In fact, the resort
has become so popular that it has been named the host hotel for
the American Express World Golf Championship at Valderrama in
November 1999 and 2000.
The course is the result of a joint effort by British designer
Dave Thomas and the Japanese owner Asahi Kanko. Their purpose
was twofold: to build a course that would challenge players of
all levels, and to make a "stadium course" in anticipation
of its hosting major European championship events. It is indeed
a challenge, and a round of golf played here also constitutes
an extremely pleasant outing through some typically Andalucian
countryside.
The clubhouse atmosphere is one of the most welcoming anywhere
and the restaurant is well worth a visit. There is also a Japanese
Tepanyaki restaurant and an equestrian centre.