Rota Golf Club

About Rota Golf Club

Rota Golf Club plays on the 18-hole course inside the Base Naval de Rota, the Spanish Navy base on the northern shore of the Bay of Cádiz that has also hosted United States forces since 1953. The course sits just inside the base gate, between the town of Rota and El Puerto de Santa María, and was laid out in the mid-1950s. The club does not own it: its competitions are held on the base course, known as the Captain Jake Dennis Golf Course.

The par-72 course measures about 6,300 yards from the white tees. The ground is rough and uneven, with firm fairways lined by eucalyptus, and missing the fairway is heavily punished; local players have a name, the golpe roteño, for the improvised recovery shot this demands. Ships or aircraft from the base are often in view.

Access is the key practical point: because the course is on a military base, it is not a normal pay-and-play venue, and visitors report needing to enter with military personnel. Contact the club before planning a round.

Spring and autumn give the most comfortable conditions. In summer, tee off early, before the heat builds.

Rota Golf Club in pictures

What you’ll find

• 18-hole golf courseGolf tournamentBookRound of GolfBook
• Golf club membershipAnnual membershipApply

Nearby places to visit

Rota's beaches are only minutes from the base gate. Playa del Rompidillo (1 km) is the town beach on the bay side, running east from the marina below the old town, and continues into Playa del Chorrillo (2 km), whose sheltered water and breezes suit sailing. On the Atlantic side, Playa de la Costilla (2 km) is Rota's busy main beach with a promenade, and Playa Virgen del Mar–Puntalillo (2 km), usually called El Puntalillo, is backed by pines and dunes. Further north-west, Playa de Punta Candor (4 km) is a natural beach with a protected dune system along its length.