Destination: Golf in Mallorca

Spain is the most popular golfing destination in Europe, and it is hard to see that changing. Granted, countries such as Bulgaria and Turkey are taking a bigger share of golfing tourists than they ever used to, but Spain is the unquestioned leader.

With over 300 days of sunshine in the south, unrivalled nightlife, a whole host of championship quality golf courses and fantastic value for money, there simply isn’t need to look elsewhere.

There are so many options within Spain, but Mallorca has come to the fore as a major player over the past decade or so, hardly surprising considering it possesses every ingredient needed for the perfect golf holiday.  

Climate and geography

Mallorca forms part of the Balearic Islands off the east coast of mainland Spain, an archipelago including Minorca, Formentara and Ibiza. Mallorca possesses a Mediterranean climate, characterised by hot, dry summers and mild winters. Indeed, the daily mean temperature during August in Mallorca is 78.6 degrees, with the average high 85.1 degrees. These summer figures are replicated throughout Europe, but what makes Mallorca so popular is the conditions in the other seasons. Average temperatures in November are above 60 degrees, with only 2.2 inches of rain falling all month. What’s more, February sees 168 hours of sunshine a month – a far cry from the 67 hours we see in England.

Mallorca has two mountainous regions, at the north-west and east ends of the island, but two thirds of its golf courses are situated within 20 miles of Palma, the capital of the Balearic Islands. Whilst Palma itself may not be the most glamorous of places, it hosts the island’s international airport and runs parallel to the sea on the flattest past of the island. Naturally, many courses have positioned themselves within touching distance of the capital, but far enough away from the CBD to provide a sense of tranquillity and the illusion of playing golf in the most remote countryside location.  

Son Antem Golf Resort & Spa

The Marriott Son Antem Golf Resort and Spa has to be considered as one of, if not the, premier golfing destination in Mallorca. Located just ten miles away from the airport, it possesses two championship-standard golf courses: the East and the West.

The East course is the perfect course for a mid- to high-handicappers whilst also presenting a challenge to the more skilful golfer.

Many golfers prefer the East because of its large fairways and modest length, but the West is frequently rated above it in the list of Spain’s top golf courses. It is far tighter than its counterpart, and driving accuracy is the most important skill around this golf course.  Read our full review here.

Both courses finish in front of the Marriot’s striking five-star hotel, a great place to relax with a beer after your round. There are also many other points of interest and activities on offer at Son Antem, ranging from waterskiing and scuba diving to organised walks and horse-back trips around Mallorca’s nature preserve trail.

Son Gual

The Son Gual golf course opened in 2007 and features large lakes, 66 bunkers, 800 olive trees – some over a thousand years old – wild flowers in the rough areas and vineyards in several areas around the course.

The course is 7,250 yards from the backs, with bent grass conditioning from the large tees to billiard-table greens. The captivating design includes one of the finest collection of par 3’s to be found anywhere in Europe, and an eighteenth hole which, for those who played it, is likely to go straight into their “Hall of Fame” list.

In the short space of time since Son Gual opened, it has been recognised by Golf World magazine as the number one on the island and ninth best in Spain and more recently was included in the Rolex World’s Top 1000 Golf Courses.

Other Courses

Vall D’Or Golf Club is slightly further away from Palma on the island’s east coast, but can easily lay a claim to be considered the best and most beautiful on Mallorca. It started life as a nine-hole course but was extended to 18 in 1993. The course is short but immaculately presented, and many drives are hit from elevated tees offering stunning views over the Mediterranean Sea. The front nine is carved through scented pine forest, with the course opening up on the easier back nine. Both nines present a variety of good holes, but the undisputed gem is the third.  Drives are hit from an elevated tee with panoramic views of the Porto Colom. It doglegs left around the 250-yard mark and the green is reachable in two, but the putting surface sits uphill and gives the impression of being carved out of the hillside.

Mallorca possesses a disproportionate amount of golf courses for its size, and most are worth of an extended mention. Golf de Andratix is viewed by many as one of the island’s best, while Golf de Poniente is frequently regarded as the best-designed course on the island. The north east of the island receives less coverage than Palma and its catchment area, but is also home to an array of beautiful courses, such as Canyamel and Capdepera.

There is so much top-quality golf on offer in Mallorca, and that is before we consider the vibrant nightlife, gorgeous beaches, rugged coastlines and numerous restaurants serving fresh surf and turf.  There really are few better golfing destinations in Europe, and with sunshine all year round, all the ingredients for a perfect holiday and great value and discounts with www.golfbreaks.com, there is no better time to book your holiday.