Spain
Alcanada
For me, the Robert Trent Jones Jr. course from 2003 is the most beautiful in Mallorca. But it is also the most challenging. The fairways are long, it's mostly uphill or downhill and the greens are tricky. What else? My flight partners Darren (HCP -4.9, reigning French champion) and Ben (HCP -5, winner of the European Young Masters) gave me a round I will never forget. They were both playing in the 109th Copa S.M. El Rey the next day. Unfortunately, I had missed the entry deadline.
Andratx
Golf de Andratx was the first course I played on Majorca and sadly the only opportunity to play with my late father in law. My memories of the design are a bit limited, but I remember that I was not to impressed of the course – mainly I did not like the proximity of the adjoining holiday homes in Camp de Mar. But this is a very personal impression, and players who are able to strike the ball straighter than me might not have the same problem.
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Buenavista
The Seve Ballesteros design of the Buenavista Golf Club on the Island of Tenerife is a perfect course for a great round of holiday golf with a fantastic club house. In my opinion, the second nine are much better than the first nine – mainly because they are closer to the Atlantic Ocean. If you plan to play the Par 72 layout, have a close look at the street you take to go there. Some are a bit, say narrow and curvy.
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La Cala, America
With three 18-hole courses the La Cala Golf Resort in Mijas, Andalucia is one of the largest or maybe the largest in Spain. All the courses are very hilly with lots of changes in elevation. The distances between the holes are quite impressive and you better rent a buggy when playing there. Renting a buggy is also advisable because you could store the massive amounts of balls you will need. And water, lots of water. What can I say about the Campo America? I liked this course the most. Why? I have forgotten.
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La Cala, Asia
The Seve Ballesteros design of the Buenavista Golf Club on the Island of Tenerife is a perfect course for a great round of holiday golf with a fantastic club house. In my opinion, the second nine are much better than the first nine – mainly because they are closer to the Atlantic Ocean. If you plan to play the Par 72 layout, have a close look at the street you take to go there. Some are a bit, say narrow and curvy.
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La Cala, Europe
The last of the three La Cala courses. While writing this I try to remember how I liked the course. I can't. Is it a bad sign? I have to ask my doctor. Oh wait, here is something about the Europe Course I remember. The first hole Par4 is reachable even if you are not a long hitter, and most of the other holes are also easier compared to the other two courses.
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Son Gual
I played Son Gual in Majorca because I wanted to take a few coaching lessons there. The lessons were great. Actually. Actually, because they didn't really help me much during the round. Of course, this was only because of my limited skills, and not because some of the holes had more sand than the Dune du Pilat. But let me put it this way. Whoever is "off the fairway" here is usually in a bunker. Or in the water. It doesn't matter. It's an island, this Majorca.
Son Muntaner
The Kurt Rossknecht design of Son Muntaner was opened in the year 2000. It's the most difficult to play of the three Arabella Golf courses, all set in the posh Son Vida area, some 15 minutes drive from downtown Palma de Mallorca. If you trust the website of Son Muntaner, to play, you have to book at least a month ahead to avoid disappointments. Or just go in early February like it did. Fast play and a lower but not a low green fee guaranteed.
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Son Quint
The fairways at Son Quint are wide and the greens are generous, but the most impressive feature are the views you will have from some of the holes. When I played there I had time to enjoy the views. Lots of time. Because play on a Sunday was dead slow. Anything special? Yes, the Pro let me play a second round for free after I complained about the speed of play. The views were still good.
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Son Servera
Opened in 1967 and later extended, this course in the east of the island is one of the oldest in Mallorca. Holes 3 to 7, known as the Pine Trap, are the highlight of the course, which proved to be one thing in particular during my visit: Slow in terms of the pace of play. To be fair, I had been warned by the pro shop, but simply underestimated how much time snowbirds take for their favourite pasttime on a Saturday in February.
Son Vida
Opened in 1964, Son Vida is the oldest golf course in Majorca. European Tour tournaments were held here twice in the 1990s, with Seve Ballesteros the winner on one occasion. Today the course probably would be too short for a big tournament. But I had a lot of fun. «Off the fairway» at Son Vida means most times «on the terrace» of one of the numerous villas that stretch to the left and right of the fairways. Usually I don't like this, but it didn't bother me here. Or at least not very much. My late father-in-law was a huge Son Vida fan.
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T Golf Calvia
T Golf Calvia, formerly known as Golf de Poniente, dates back to 1978 and has been completely renovated in recent years. The club benefits from a huge clubhouse that was also freshly renovated, but closed by the Balearic regional government when I visited the course in 2019. No proper building permit! Things happen. The course itself is really fun to play with some very nice holes. In 2020 and 2021 the Grand Final of the Rolex Challenge Tour was played here. Probably with an open clubhouse.
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