After a wet Sunday the sun was again shining on us as we took a walk around Sotogrande this morning. Based on this sunshine we booked a round at the San Roque Club. It is quite a popular spot with two courses there – the Old Course and the New Course. We were booked on the New Course which we discovered is not as popular as the Old Course although still a very good course at half the price : )

We got through about 4 holes and felt a spot of rain – this wasn’t part of the plan! Me being the forever optimist thought it wouldn’t amount to much but unfortunately it got quite heavy. Not to worry there were plenty of trees to take shelter under and we didn’t have anyone behind us so we could just wait it out. This became a recurring theme on the front nine – play, stop, play, stop. We enjoyed a dry back nine though and my golf even improved slightly! I managed to drive the 12th which was a short par 4 and then sank the putt for an eagle.

We must have been a bit too excited after that as we drove off the wrong way and Steve teed off on the 6th hole instead of the 13th. Steve’s asking me if it is a par 4 or 5 – I didn’t have my glasses on and I’m looking at the scorecard and I’m saying I think it is a par 5 but that could be a 3! I went back and looked at the sign and it said Hole 6! Duh – we drove back the way we came and wallah there is the sign to the 13th and low and behold it is a par 3. By the way, Steve hit his tee shot out of bounds on the 6th – obviously wasn’t meant to be.

We really enjoyed the course – there were two lakes which they used very well on four of the holes. The New Course was created by Perry Dye in 2003. It is set on beautiful natural terrain with many scenic views. The difference between Old and New is mostly in the Dye-family shaping: big, steep bunkering, larger greens and railroad sleepers. The course resembles a Links in many areas although it is a Parkland course. The New Course was the venue for the Spanish Open in 2006 and the Qualifying School Finals from 2003 – 2007.