With over 20 golf courses, Mallorca is a real golfers paradise.
All these courses are within an hour’s drive of Finca Cassiopea
Here is a short description of each of the golfcourses with links to their websites
Alcanada – 18 Holes
Opened in 2003, Alcanada golf course 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.
The only course situated by the sea, Alcanada gives golfers the opportunity to soak up the fantastic views of Alcudia bay while they play a round or two.
This golf course has been built in an ‘environmentally sensitive’ area that also means you may be met by wild birds and other wild life to brighten up your game.
– Alcanada
Andratx – 18 holes
The Andratx golf course at Camp de Mar was opened in 2000. Magnificently laid out, its design is credited to the Gleneagles Golf Development.
It is a long course but is well maintained and exceptionally well run.
The Royal Dorint Hotel, which is adjacent to the 18th green, offers the best in five star luxury and the clubhouse is of the highest standard, as one would expect from such a new course and, like so many Mallorcan golf courses, part of the course is surrounded by property developments. But the remainder is set in unspoilt Mallorquin countryside.
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.
– Andratx
Bendinat – 18 holes
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.
Canyamel – 18 holes
Canyamel golf course 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.
Capdepera – 18 holes
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 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.
The club house is extremely comfortable and is the ideal place to sit and analyse your round – or drown your sorrows, as the case maybe.
Golf Park Puntiró – 18 holes
Golf Park (Puntiro) is part of the Golf Park Entertainment Group which was founded in 1997. This is their third course, following ones in Madrid and Marbella. A Jack Nicklaus Designs course, it takes wonderful advantage of the natural terrain this part of Mallorca offers. It is situated just outside Palma on the road to Sineu, 5 kms after the village of Son Ferriol.
There is a 240 yard driving range with 42 practice bays (14 covered). There is also a coaching studio where you can sit and watch a video of your game.
Maioris – 18 holes
Golf Maioris was opened in 2007 and is the second course in the Pula Golf group.
A championship-standard course, it is set amongst the classic Mallorquin landscape of pine, carob and olive trees, and offers a stern challenge to any golfer – four lakes and two “island” greens see to that!
Overall an enjoyable course for players of all standards with a superb clubhouse and bar at the 19th.
Pollensa – 9 holes
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.
The clubhouse facilities are excellent and offers saunas and a fitness and massage room.
Poniente – 18 holes
One of Mallorca’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 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.
For nature lovers, Poniente is a haven of plants, flowers and wildlife.
Pula Golf – 18 holes
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.
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.
Santa Ponsa – 18 holes
The course was designed by Falco Nordi and opened in 1977. It is probably one of the best known and most used golf courses in Mallorca and many well-known celebrities from the world of sport, entertainment, politics and royalty visit the Santa Ponsa golf 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.
Son Antem – 18 holes
The Marriott Son Antem Golf Resort Spa offers golfers the chance to stay at one of Europe’s top hotels and at the same time play golf on two of Mallorca’s leading golf courses, as well as enjoy the other sporting facilities on offer at this purpose built sporting complex.
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.
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.
Son Gual – 18 holes
Son Gual opened in October 2007 and was the dawning of a dream that began in 1995 to design and lay out a high quality golf course. It is set in the grounds of the Finca Son Gual near to the village of Sant Jordi, and in the “Valley of a Thousand Windmills”.
The course was designed by the former German amateur champion, Thomas Himmel and it boasts some wonderful bunkers and more than 1,000 olive trees.
Son Muntaner – 18 holes
Son Muntaner was opened in March 2000 and holds two important environment friendly certificates. It was designed by Kurt Rossknecht and is a great championship course surrounded by majestic native vegetation. It is probably Mallorca`s most exclusive course and the green fees reflect this fact.
Son Quint – 18 holes
Son Quint opened in September 2007 and is the third course in the Arabella group.
It is undulating, rather than hilly, and the course is forgiving for the less talented but still a tough challenge for those trying to beat par. The lake on the par 3 12th is particularly daunting. The greens are fast and will get even quicker as the cut level is reduced. The course entrance is on the right before entering the Son Vida urbanisation in Palma de Mallorca.
Son Servera – 9 holes
The second oldest golf course in Mallorca, Son Servera was opened in 1967 and was designed by John Harris.
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.
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.
Son Termens – 18 holes
The first thing that strikes you about Son Termens is its friendliness.
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.
Son Vida – 18 holes
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.
Vall d’Or – 18 holes
When it opened in 1985 Vall 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.