Guest: Stephen Dundas, Director of San Roque Golf Club
Few golf clubs have a history as rich, complex and internationally recognised as The San Roque Club. Once home to Q-School legends like Ian Poulter, Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose and Lee Westwood, and former residence of Seve Ballesteros, the club has shaped some of the greatest careers in modern golf.
Today, San Roque is entering a new era — one defined by excellence in course conditioning, sustainability, member experience and a clear long-term vision.
To understand that evolution, I sat down with Stephen Dundas, Director of the San Roque Club, former Tour professional and the man who has overseen the club’s ambitious refurbishment and modern repositioning.
What followed was a fascinating deep dive into golf course design, club culture, Sotogrande’s wider golf ecosystem, and how San Roque is preparing for the next decade.
From Scotland to Sotogrande: Stephen’s Path to San Roque
Stephen’s story begins far from the Costa del Sol. A talented amateur who won the 1992 British Amateur Championship, played the 1993 Masters, the Open Championship, and eventually transitioned into coaching and club management, he was tasked nearly a decade ago with finding a golf club to renovate or acquire.
“We looked at Barcelona, Madrid, Murcia… and then San Roque came up,” he recalls. “With its history, its heritage and its potential, it was a complete no-brainer.”
Stephen and his group acquired the club in 2019 and immediately began assessing what needed to be done — not only to restore the Old Course to former glory, but to bring it into the 21st century.
The Rebuild: Greens, Bunkers, Trees, Water & The “San Roque Philosophy”
San Roque has always been known for its routing and architecture, but by 2019:
- the fairways had narrowed dramatically
- the course was constantly wet due to poor drainage
- trees had closed in lines of play
- surrounding houses were at risk in heavy storms
- maintenance had become unsustainable
The renovation was guided by a simple idea:
✅ Build a golf course that members want to play three times a week.
✅ Focus on conditioning and sustainability rather than professional events.
✅ Make it fun, fair, fast – and still challenging on the greens.
“Valderrama is incredible — a golf cathedral,” Stephen says. “But that’s not what we wanted to be. We wanted members to enjoy themselves, keep up pace of play, and want to come back tomorrow.”
Major changes included:
- Removing water features that were unnatural to San Roque’s landscape
- Opening tee shots for playability
- Transforming the greens into the course’s main defence
- Re-shaping bunkers and removing unnecessary hazards
- Installing modern drainage to protect both course and neighbouring homes
- Removing 18 hectares of maintained turf to reduce costs and environmental impact
The results?
✅ A 30% reduction in water usage
✅ A 30% reduction in fertiliser, chemicals and fuel
✅ Faster, firmer, more playable conditions
✅ A natural look true to the environment
And the members?
“90% love it,” Stephen says. “There’s always a nostalgic 10%, but the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”
Membership: Who Joins San Roque Today?
When Stephen arrived, San Roque had 323 members across 12 different categories. Today:
- 565 total members
- Four simplified membership options (4-month, 6-month, annual, corporate)
- A broader demographic mix
- Roughly 100 full-time residents
- A growing contingent of Americans, Canadians, Dutch, Belgians and Spanish
San Roque is not yet at capacity — with room to grow to about 650 members under their model.
Competitions are central to club life:
✅ 150+ annual tournaments
✅ Weekly play on Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends
✅ Eight to ten social evenings per year
✅ Exceptional terrace culture and a lively community
And thanks to its welcoming ethos, locals visit the clubhouse even if they never pick up a club.
Club Culture: “Accessible, Warm, Welcoming”
Unlike some heritage clubs, San Roque deliberately avoids exclusivity.
“We never use the word exclusive,” Stephen says. “Everyone is welcome — golfers, non-golfers, families, friends. What matters is behaviour and respect.”
Music plays softly around the club; the team is focused on service; the atmosphere is intentionally relaxed.
This, Stephen believes, is the future of golf.
“Clubs that don’t modernise are going bankrupt. Golf must be accessible. It must be enjoyable. It must make people want to come back.”
Sotogrande’s Golf Ecosystem: A World-Class Cluster
One of Stephen’s strongest points is what sets Sotogrande apart:
- Valderrama – the iconic championship course
- Real Club Sotogrande – historic, elegant, Spanish in character
- La Reserva – modern, ambitious, rising rapidly
- San Roque Club – member-driven, warm, superb conditioning
- Almenara Alto – outstanding practice facilities, full academy offering
- Finca Cortesin – world-class and only 25 minutes away
“There are very few places in Europe with this density of high-quality, diverse golf,” Stephen says. “This is golf heaven, in a region with security, schools, infrastructure and 300 days of sun.”
The Next Decade: Vision 2030
San Roque’s priorities for the future:
✅ Break into the Top 3 Courses in Spain
The club has already moved from No. 25 to No. 4 in six years (Golf Digest Ranking).
✅ Continuously improve course conditioning
With a focus on greens, playability, and sustainability.
✅ Keep delivering the “gate to gate” experience
From the moment you enter until the moment you leave.
✅ A united team culture
“You are only as good as your worst department,” Stephen says — meaning caddy masters, greenkeepers, reception, restaurant and course staff must all deliver excellence.
Final Thoughts
Stephen is clear: San Roque is not trying to be Valderrama. It is trying to be the best San Roque possible — a modern, friendly, beautifully conditioned, sustainability-led members’ club.
And in the wider context of Sotogrande — Europe’s safest, most international, best-connected and fastest-growing luxury community — the club is poised for a very bright future.
If you haven’t visited, played, or enjoyed the terrace at San Roque recently, do yourself a favour and go.
It’s one of the jewels of Sotogrande’s lifestyle landscape.
🎙️ This post draws from insights shared in one of our episodes, available on YouTube and Spotify. For more on Sotogrande’s insider tips, tune in and explore other episodes too.
To discuss areas, schools, and commuting options, or to see a short list of homes that fit your brief, reach out to Noll Sotogrande Real Estate, our incredible Sponsor co-owned with Stephanie Noll, without whom none of this would be possible.
Thank you, Charlie.
