Spain
It is easy to understand why golf in Spain is often thought of as ‘Andalucia’. The most southerly area of Spain has more world-class courses than exist in the whole of most countries. They include some of the best-known courses in Europe – Valderrama, San Roque and Sotogrande – in addition to more recent additions such as Finca Cortesin and La Reserva. But while it remains one of the leading areas for a golf break in Europe, it is far from the only destination in Spain worthy of your attention. To narrow down your choices – there are over 300 courses in Spain and its islands – we showcase the strengths of five different options.
The Canaries- Year-round sunshine
We are big fans of the Canaries – and not just because of the magnificent climate that means you can enjoy at least 20C and sunshine every month of the year. That is of course a big lure – as is the tremendous infrastructure that comes with being a giant of the holiday industry – but the courses themselves deserve a lot more credit than they often receive. This is not ‘only’ holiday golf – this is golf of a very high calibre.
Gran Canaria illustrates this nicely; you might have heard the courses are OK there.Well, they are not OK – they are outstanding. Led by the two-course complex of Salobre – which is a wonderful base for your stay given it has a Sheraton hotel at its heart – it offers courses that are distinctive and exciting. The desert-like topography offers courses akin to those we are used to seeing in Arizona, and nowhere does it better than Salobre. The North is a Top 200 Continental European course.
Near neighbour Anfi Tauro is good too, and if you haven’t been to this corner of the world for a golf holiday already, you need to try it. Also on Gran Canaria is the island’s Royal club – a classy parkland on the edge of a volcano – as well as El Cortijo by PeteDye’s protege Blake Stirling, clifftop thrill sat Meloneras and Maspalomas by Turnberry creator Mackenzie Ross. On Tenerife there are two superstar courses; Seve Ballesteros’ clifftop thriller Buenavista in the north-west corner and Abama, a Dave Thomas monster which is both at once scenic and challenging – especially the Augusta-like greens. Also in the south of the island is John Jacobs’ lovely resort course Las Americas and three loops of nine at Golf del Sur, where the sea is almost always visible and the fairways are lined by palms trees and the black volcanic soil. On tiny La Gomerais the intriguing La Tecina while Lanzarote and Fuerteventura also have courses.
Valencia & Murcia- A mix of fun and Top 100 class
This south-eastern area of two adjoining regions offers a superb combination of classic resort golf in addition to a surprising amount of really classy stuff. The star of the show is in the Valencia area, which is home to the outstanding El Saler course – as close to a links as there isto find in Spain. It is sated as Javier Arana’sfinest work and is in the top 10 of GolfWorld magazine’s Continental Top 100;a high-calibre links with sand dunes lining many of the fairways and others framed by umbrella pines. Nearby El Bosque and Las Colinas augment a trip here, with the former a Robert Trent Jones classic amid undulating, pine-clad parkland. There is plenty of water and dog-legs on the back nine. Las Colinas is a big budget America-style blockbuster. Murcia gets its reputation via the LaManga complex and of its three courses we actually prefer the West the most. Also in the region is Hacienda del Alamo, a Dave Thomas resort course with an abundance of water and sand, as well as Mar Menor, attached to an Intercontinental hotel.
Mallorca- Classy and convenient
Mallorca is seriously well populated by golf clubs and many of them are home to high calibre too. There are plenty of simple-but-fun venues – not least in the south-west area around the fleshpots of Palma Nova, but elsewhere there are Top 100 tracks. Son Gual is the No.1, a fixture in our Continental Europe Top 100 since it opened in 2007 and every inch the championship venue. Think of The Grove, just with a lot of sunshine…Alcanada benefits from views across Bay of Alcudia to the lighthouse. This Robert Trent Jones Jnr design opened in June 2003 and is one of the top 20 courses in Spain – and the only track on the island which is next to the sea. The Jose Maria Olazabal altered Pula has matured nicely in recent times and was host to the European Tour in 2010. Puntiro is a Nicklaus design in a mature 165-acre estate where pine, olive and carob trees dominate the landscape, while Son Vida is the oldest course on the island, by Fred Hawtree. Two courses at Son Antem are excellent resort golf and a lower-profile course like Vall D’Or will amaze you that you have never heard of it.
Barcelona- The perfect city break
Everyone can find something to entertain them here. It is one of Europe’s most appealing city breaks – and it is very easy to combine all the attractions of Las Ramblas, the Camp Nou and the marina with some first-class golf. El Prat is the city’s superstar, having moved from the airport to a rural location north-east of the centre and engaging Greg Norman to lay out fully 45 holes of elite woodland golf. The Rosa combination is in our Top 100 while another two combine to test Europe’s best on Tour each year.
There is more though: another fine day can be enjoyed at Sant Cugat and Terramar. The former was designed by Harry Colt on the outskirts of the Catalan capital in 1914 and if you follow the coast south to the gorgeous town of Sitges, you will find the latter, another historic club from 1927. It sits on the edge of the Med and last year opened a spectacular new beachside green. To extend your golf, you can travel north to PGA Catalunya and Emporda, or south to Lumine and Bonmont. All are within an hour’s drive of the city centre.
Sotogrande- The superstar trail
If money is no object, Sotogrande should be your choice – this is golf of a quality that can sit alongside the Top 100 inland courses of England and Scotland. Valderrama is the most famous course in Spain and is rightly at the top of everyone’s wish list. Robert Trent Jones initially designed it, just as he did neighbouring Sotogrande Old. The latter is being refurbished and will open again in the spring of 2016 – to much anticipation. San Roque’s Old and New are a great day out either side of lunch in the characterful clubhouse – although if you are playing the uber-tight New in the afternoon, don’t reach for too many beers in the break… La Reserva opened in 2003 and is a bold design by Cabell Robinson with terrific views over the tree tops and an absence of residential development round the edges. Robinson also designed Finca Cortesin, a championship venue that is routinely in immaculate condition and which feels five-star in all aspects. Stay and play at Almenara resort – right in the heart of all these Sotogrande giants – for arguably the best golf break on the Continent.
To add in more ground, look to newly-renovated Las Brisas to the west of Marbella, familiar Tour venue Montecastillo in the other direction, or classy Olazabal design Sevilla to the north.
Travel essentials
THE CLIMATE On mainland Spain, there is a difference between the north and south. In Santander in the north for example, you can expect the sun on your back from April to the middle of September with an average of at least six hours of sunshine. Only June and July guarantee relatively rain-free months. In the south though, Almeria has nine hours of sunshine from April to September and very little rain from mid April until October. It really is outstanding, as is the Sotogrande area. The courses of the Canaries enjoy an even better climate – year-round sunshine and at just four hours away by plane, they are fantastic winter golf options.
WHEN TO GO Depends if you want to swim and sunbathe as well as play golf. Even northern Spain is significantly warmer and drier than Britain in the winter. Head for Sotogrande, Almeria and Murcia in our winter and you will love the warmth. Finally, in summer, the courses of the Canaries are relatively empty! Because they are such great winter options, everyone goes there then and tee sheets are crammed. Come the summer, it is a lot less busy… and less expensive.
GETTING THERE Budget airlines fly to the likes of Alicante, El Prat and Girona (for Barcelona), Palma (for Majorca), Malaga, Las Palmas (Gran Canaria) and Tenerife.
CURRENCY Euros
TIME GMT
Mallorca
One of the most attractive holiday destinations in Europe also has an astonishing number of high-calibre courses given its size.
As a renowned holiday jaunt, Mallorca’s popularity remains a constant lure for tourists. Glorious beaches, fabulous climate, the wide choice of accommodation and the easy, affordable routes saw more than 13m passengers pass through Palma Airport in 2014. With 300 days of sunshine per year and average temperatures rising to 25˚C (76˚F) in August, it is the perfect climate for visitors looking to enjoy themselves. There are already many reasons to visit Mallorca but there is a subtle change taking place on the largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands.
Golf is now climbing towards the top of the ladder on the list of reasons to make the trip. This year, golf will be pushed into the limelight more than ever as the International Golf Travel Market takes place in November. It is Mallorca’s chance to shine at its brightest and continue its emergence as a major player for European golf tourism.
The golf clubs themselves are creating a united front in a concerted effort to spread the word about what they have to offer. The Golf Course Association of Mallorca is a group of 19 fine courses across the island formed under one sunny brand: Mallorca Golf Island. Last year saw 600,000 rounds played on the island and they want even more. And there are some high-quality tracks and an attractive blend of variety for golfers to get their teeth into – all located within 45 minutes of each other.
In recent times, two clubs have emerged as the top duo on Mallorca, Alcanada and Son Gual. In the north of the island, Alcanada has perhaps symbolised Mallorca’s emergence in the way it is now challenging to become one of Europe’s leading courses in the 13 years since it opened. With fabulous views across to the island and the iconic lighthouse from many of its holes, the Robert Trent Jones Jnr-designed course boasts pine and olive groves and a challenging test high on quality and spectacular scenery. Just 15 minutes from the capital Palma, a slice of Augusta can be enjoyed at Son Gual, according to Ian Woosnam, who made the grand comparison with those famous greens where he won a green jacket. The exacting greens are accompanied by lush fairways, enormous bunkers and plenty of water; the Son Gual experience is a memorable one. At Golf de Andratx, there is an authentic feel as it winds through olive groves and passes ancient stone walls, embracing typical Mallorcan architecture on a testing course.
Real Golf de Bendinat, overlooked by an imposing castle, is brimming with royal connections as HRH Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, HRH Princess Brigitte of Sweden and Hollywood royalty – Oscar winning actor Michael Douglas – are among those to have played this fine course. There is charm and tranquillity in great supply at Canyamel in the north-east, with resident wildlife of turtles and rabbits in this declared nature reserve. Capdepera is a picturesque course located in the north-east on one side of the Artá mountain range; it makes the most of its location with six lakes to negotiate. Golf Maioris – a stone’s throw from Palma – offers up some of the widest fairways on the island to allow big hitters to unleash the driver, although well-defended greens call for a good balance of accuracy.
Nearby is T Golf & Country Club Poniente – benefiting from a reconfigured layout of the holes by new owners in last October to further improve the experience and offering wonderful views throughout of the mountains of Sierra de Tramontana. Golf Park Mallorca Puntíro is a Jack Nicklaus design making the most of natural environments with precision and power all required at different times. Golf Santa Ponsa has two 18-hole courses – Santa Ponsa I has hosted European PGA Tour events on several occasions with Seve Ballesteros among the former champions, while Santa Ponsa II serves up a memorable par-3 18th with an island green in the shape of Mallorca.
Son Antem also has two tracks: the East was built on former hunting grounds in the 1990s and stays true to the natural history of the environment, while the West was added in 2001, and embraces the Mallorcan countryside and Randa mountain views. A 1000-year-old olive tree is just one of the unique features at terrific Son Muntaner, while Son Quint – the youngest course on the island – is perched on a hillside with remarkable Bay of Palma views. Son Servera is the second-oldest club on the island, stretching out below a range of mountains, while Son Termens is beautifully integrated into its natural environment of mountains, hillsides and trees.
Son Vida, which opened in 1964, is the oldest of Mallorca’s 19 courses and harks back to those traditions with familiar style. But it has plenty of pedigree after acting as a host venue for European Tour events. But you are never far away from Mallorca’s island attraction at Vall D’Or as pine forests, almond and olive groves make way for wider fairways leading down towards the coast on the back nine.
Want to know more?
w: mallorcagolfisland.com/en