Mallorca Golf

Camp de Mar

The Andratx course at Camp de Mar is Mallorca’s newest course and was opened in 2000. Magnificently laid out, its design is credited to the Gleneagles Golf Development and Rodney Barr.

It is a long course but is well maintained and exceptionally well run.

There are more than 60 bunkers on the course and them, along with the seven lakes and tricky narrow fairways add to the severity of a beautiful, if not challenging golf course. Good and accurate driving has never been more of a requisite than it is at Golf de Andratx.

Normal Green Fee: 90 euros Includes compulsory buggy.

Santa Ponsa 1

One of Mallorca’s Championship courses, it played host to the Balearic Open when it was part of the European PGA Tour schedule on six occasions between 1988 and 1998. Severiano Ballesteros won the Open twice at Santa Ponsa.

The course was designed by Falco Nordi and opened in 1977. It is probably one of the best known and most used courses in Mallorca and many well known celebrities from the world of sport, entertainment, politics and royalty visit the Santa Ponsa course when they are on the island.

It is a very demanding course with wide, but sloping, fairways. Water comes into play on five of the holes and the 590 metre 10th is one of the longest holes in Europe.

The course is now set amongst a large golf urbanisation and the properties around the course are much sought after residences.

Normal Green Fee: 68 euros

Poniente

One of Majorca’s oldest courses, the John Harris course was opened in 1978 and is a well designed course that even the best of players find it hard to beat at times, but it remains a tough but fair course.

The views from the 8th, and 16th holes are exhilarating and make you appreciate the beauty of this course, and it is hard to believe that you are only minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the thriving resort of Magalluf.

The wide fairways are a feature of Poniente, but don’t be fooled into thinking that makes the course any easier; they don’t, because many slope away unsuspectingly. The large greens are also devious at times. But the main hazards on this course are the many trees which line the fairways and have been home to many wayward tee shots.

The 10th hole is probably one of the best golf holes in Mallorca. Stroke index 1, it does not appear that hard, but out of bounds on the right and a lot of water to negotiate make it a great hole to achieve your par on.

Normal Green Fee: 68 euros

Real Golf De Bendinat

The original Bendinat 9-hole course, designed by Martin Hawtree, opened in 1986. The second nine holes were added in 1996.

Close to the city of Palma, Bendinat is in the Calvia municipality and is set in a valley. Many of the tees are elevated, and most of the fairways are tree lined and have severe slopes. The difficult greens then add to the challenge the Bendinat course offers. The undulating and varying terrain gives the golfer the opportunity to use all 14 clubs in his bag (the maximum!).

The views over the Bay of Palma from the course are spectacular to say the least and the flora and wildlife around the course are a joy to see. And following an agreement with the Audubon ecological group in New York, the Bendinat Golf Club has created its own special nature reserve and is one of only 15 golf courses in Europe to take this step.

The nature conservancy move is just one of the many attractions Bendinat has to offer over and above its golf course; art exhibitions and open air concerts are just two of the attractions that bring people from all over the island to this south-west course.

Normal Green Fee: 65 euros

Son Vida

Son Vida is the oldest golf course in Mallorca. Designed by Fred Hawtree, it was opened by Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1964 and is now the most prestigious golf course in Mallorca as it is set amongst some of the most luxurious properties on the island.

Countless almond, carob, pine and palm trees can be found around the course which has undergone total renovation after being closed throughout the year 2001.

Normal Green Fee: 70 euros

Son Atem

The East Course opened in 1994 and is a championship course measuring 6,325 metres. It is laid out on what used to be hunting ground,, and for that reason you will come across a wide variety of animals and birds during your round.

A well designed course the wide and long fairways allow the high-handicap player to recover from bad tee shots. There is plenty of rough, and a good supply of spare balls is recommended!.

The West Course opened in 2001 and is a tougher test than the East course because of its narrow fairways and elevated greens. The course is free of building construction – wild life is all you will see on this course. The course has three lakes which come into play on five holes.

The Son Antem West course promises to be one of the finest Golf courses on the Island of Mallorca.

Normal Green Fee: 64 euros

Vall d’Or

When it opened in 1985 Val D’Or was a nine-hole courses designed by Bill Bendy. His original nine holes, which now form the back nine, are set amongst a variety of trees; carob, olive, almond and, of course, pine trees and compared to the outward nine are very hilly.

The holes that currently make up the first nine were designed by Bradford Benz and opened in 1993. They too are set amongst trees but mostly pines. However, in between the trees you get spectacular views of the Med. looking out towards the resorts of Porto Colom and Cala D’Or. Unlike the back nine which are very compact fairways, the opening nine holes are spread out more.

The opening hole is a relatively easy par-3 but that is followed by a tough 330 metres par-4. The first nine comes to a close with a par-5 which is stroke index 18, making it the easiest hole on the course – which might be true if it were not for the seven bunkers and a lake. At just over 5,500 metres (from the yellow tees) the course is not particularly tough and gives the high handicap player an opportunity to return a satisfying card!

Normal Green Fee: 69 euros

Son Servera

The second oldest golf course in Mallorca, Son Servera was opened in 1967 and was designed by John Harris.

Despite having only nine holes it is a challenging golf course and demands accuracy off the tee as most of the fairways are narrow and tree lined. It also calls for the ability to read greens well as they are very fast at times.

The opening hole can often decide how the rest of your round is going to go … the second shot to the green is blind and the result of that shot can often decide whether it makes or breaks your round.

Surrounded by mountains it is tucked away in a quiet backwater at Costa de los Pinos but is only minutes away from the resorts of Cala Bona and Cala Millor. Situated close to the sea it is nevertheless, set in a delightfully peaceful part of the island.

Normal Green Fee: 50 euros

Pula Golf

One of Mallorca’s newest golf courses, Pula opened at the end of 1995 and in 2001 underwent major re-construction work with changes to all but a handful of holes. Despite being so new, it is already well known thanks to many top class tournaments which attract many well known names from the world of show business and sport. Pula also hosted Mallorca’s first ‘Skins Game’ in 1997 when José Maria Olazabal, Mark McNulty, Carl Suneson and Bernhard Langer took part. Olazabal reckons it is amongst the top 20 courses in Spain.

Designed by Francisco Segalés, Pula is a flat course with some wonderful views of both mountains and the sea. It is built on the site of an ancient estate and many natural elements have remained in place.

The clubhouse and shop facilities are second to none and with the proposed leisure complex it will make Pula one of the highest quality courses in Mallorca.

Normal Green Fee: 84 euros

Canyamel

Canyamel opened in 1989 and its 6,000 metres offers a hilly front nine holes and a slightly longer and flat back nine – but a lot of water makes up for its flatness and is a real test of any player’s ability. Set in a small valley, the natural terrain was perfect for designing a golf course, which is just what designer José Gancedo did. The view of the mountains on the inward nine make a spectacular backdrop to a course that is set in an unspoilt part of Mallorca, and, being close to the sea, some of the outward holes offer great views of the Mediterranean. From the 5th tee you can see Menorca on a clear day.

A well maintained course with exceptionally well kept greens, many of the fairways are wide, thus giving the high handicap players chance to make amends for wayward tee shots. Many of the natural old stone walls have been left intact around the course and one of the best known landmarks on all of the Mallorcan golf courses is the stone house in the middle of the 9th fairway … and guess where your ball normally ends up from the tee? Yes, right behind the house.

Normal Green Fee: 68 euros

Capdepera

A Dan Maples designed course, Capdepera, also known as Roca Viva, was opened in 1991. It is set in beautiful countryside and whilst it is surrounded by mountains it also offers some spectacular views of the Mediterranean. The view as you stand on the 15th tee and look out over the valley to the Med. is something special and typifies the attraction of Mallorcan golf courses.

The golf course is divided into two halves: The first nine holes are flat with long fairways, while the second nine holes start off with three flat holes before rising into the Artá mountains.

There are six artificial lakes and three of these make their presence felt on the 5th, 11th and 18th holes. But it is a course which many regard as the finest and fairest in Mallorca and is a true test for high and low handicap players.

Normal Green Fee: 66 euros

Pollensa

The nine hole Pollensa course can be simply described as: hilly with narrow fairways, loads of sand and great views – plus the need to be an expert rally driver to manoeuvre the buggy around the course!

The course, which opened in 1986, has undergone a few changes in recent years with the help of a former member of the Jack Nicklaus golf course designing team, Mike Pinner, but it remains one of the most picturesque of all the Balearic golf courses, with wonderful views over the Bay of Pollensa.

Bordering the Mediterranean, this José Gancedo designed course is one of the most beautiful courses in the Balearics and has been very well designed, taking full advantage of the unspoilt Mallorquin countryside, and many of the natural stone walls surround the course.

At first sight one thinks there are bunkers everywhere, but there aren’t – there is an abundance of white sand around the course.

Normal Green Fee: 52 euros

Son Termens

Open only since May 1998, Son Termens is one of the newer breed of Mallorcan golf courses and is a picturesque yet demanding golf course that has been superbly laid out using many local features and a lot of initiative ideas from designers, The Harris Group and José Rodriguez.

A hilly course, it is surrounded by mountains and offers panoramic views towards the Bay of Palma. Set in a valley, it probably takes advantage of its natural terrain more than any other golf course in the Balearics.

Son Termens prides itself in its greens which are of the highest standard. But many of them are protected by bunkers, trees and ravines. This course leaves very little margin for error but, no matter what your handicap, you will always enjoy testing you skills against its par 70.

The 18th hole is a great finishing hole. A dog-leg left, you come off the green and walk up to the elevated clubhouse which overlooks the entire course and is a perfect place to sit and reflect at the end of your round of golf.

Normal Green Fee: 68 euros

Alcanada

Opened on October 1st 2003 this is the nearest thing to a links course on the island. When Robert Trent Jones designed this course his philosophy was ” easy bogeys and difficult pars” and without doubt he succeeded. Not a course for beginners, but the reasonably confident golfer will appreciate his skill in creating a hard but fair 18 holes.

Situated on the peninsula behind Puerto Alcudia you reach the course by taking the road from Alcudia town to the port and at the roundabout approaching the port follow the signs to Alcanada. The course is at the very end of the road when the lighthouse is in view.

Normal Green Fee: 70 euros