Diversity and special features of Mallorca's golf courses
In Mallorca, golf courses are more than just places to play sports. They are part of everyday life, cultural heritage, and community spirit—places where stories are shared, friendships are made, and local traditions are cultivated. With a wide selection of 24 golf courses in total, even professional golfers will be satisfied. This is one of the reasons why the Golf Challenge Tour Road to Mallorca, in which the top 20 participants qualify for the European Tour, ends on the Balearic island.
Twenty golf courses are challenging 18-hole courses and four are attractive 9-hole courses. Players have the opportunity to compete on 21 of these courses for a green fee and can look forward to first-class playing and training conditions. Two golf courses in Santa Ponsa and the La Reserva Rotana golf course in Manacor are private courses.
Golf courses in the southwest of Mallorca
The unique atmosphere of the southwestern golf courses
The golf courses in the southwest of the island offer a unique atmosphere, characterized by picturesque nature and mountainous landscapes. Nestled in these breathtaking surroundings, the golf courses blend harmoniously into the natural environment, whether directly by the sea or surrounded by majestic mountains.
Golf de Andratx: Challenges and highlights
With a handicap of 28/35, you can play all year round on the 18-hole, par 72 Golf de Andratx golf course all year round, surrounded by mountains and the bay in Camp de Mar. The course was designed by Rodney Barr and Kurt Rossknecht, has a total of 60 sand bunkers, and is hilly with seven ponds. A special highlight is the "Green Monster" (hole 6, par 5). At 609 m, it is the longest hole in Spain and is particularly challenging due to the slope, bunkers, and ponds. Overall, the championship course is very difficult. The halfway house after hole 8 offers a little treat in between. Here you can fortify yourself with Mallorcan tapas and a cool drink. But the golf course is also interesting for spectators and guests – they can indulge themselves in the clubhouse and restaurant or browse in the pro shop.
T Golf Calvia: A Renovated Golf Paradise
Another challenging golf course is the T Golf Calvia Golf Club , which underwent extensive renovation in 2018. It is also an 18-hole, PAR 72 course and requires a handicap of 28/34. The first half is fairly flat and the second half is more hilly, with the course having a total length of 6,426 m, thus requiring skilled, long and accurate play. The Challenge Tour 2020 and 2021, as well as the Challenge Tour PRO 2021, took place here.
Santa Ponsa I Golf Course: A legendary golf course
The Santa Ponsa I golf course designed by Folco Nardi and Pepe Gancedo in 1977, is a jewel in the heart of Mallorca's golf scene. This par-72 course is particularly notable for its long and challenging holes, including one of the longest par-5 holes in Europe on the 10th hole, which measures an impressive 590 meters. The golf course also has a rich history, having hosted the European Tour six times. Golf legends such as Ballesteros, Langer, Olazábal, Woosnam, and many others have demonstrated their skills on this course. The next tournament, the "Torneo Reyes Magos," is scheduled to take place here on January 13, 2024.
Other golf courses in Santa Ponsa: exclusivity and variety
The club is complemented by two additional exclusive courses reserved exclusively for members. The 18-hole Santa Ponsa II golf course was opened in 1991 and has a length of 6,053 meters. The 18th hole of this golf course is a highlight, as the par-3 hole features a green that is laid out on a piece of land and resembles the island of Mallorca in its shape. This golf course also offers a variety of practice facilities. The driving range extends over an impressive 350 meters and offers tees on both sides that are over 100 meters long. A putting green and a chipping green are also available. In 1995, the course was selected by the PGA (Professional Golfers' Association) as the venue for the Balearic Open. This prestigious event attracted some of the world's best golfers to test their skills on this challenging course. The winner of the 1995 Balearic Open was G. Turner.
The third golf course in Santa Ponsa, Santa Ponsa III, was founded in 1999 and is a private short course with nine holes. Members can enjoy themselves on the pitch & putt course with short holes ranging from 94 to 304 meters.
Golf courses in Palma and the surrounding area
Arabella Golf's Son Vida: Golf courses in a class of their own
The most prominent golf courses on Mallorca are the four at Arabella Golf Son Vida. The Son Muntaner golf course was opened in 2000 and is an 18-hole, 72 PAR course, which is the only golf course in the Balearic Islands that belongs to the European Tour Destinations association. Despite the relatively flat terrain, bunkers and ponds make for a challenging level of difficulty, so a handicap of 36 is required. Special features include the covered driving range with ten tees and the double tee. With the double tee project, you can tee off from the 1st hole and the 10th hole at the same time. The Son Muntaner golf course also hosts exciting events. From October 20 to 23, 2022, over 12,000 visitors were able to experience the Mallorca Golf Open, and in 2023, the first professional event of the Ladies European Tour. In addition, the golf course has been awarded the Golden Flag by 59club for the sixth time in a row, recognizing it as one of the best golf courses.
The counterpart to the rather flat Son Muntaner course is the Son Vida golf course. Designed by Hawtree in 1964 and redesigned by Rossknecht in 2001, the 18 holes, PAR 71, with a distance of 5,601 meters, lead through the villas of Son Vida. With a handicap of 54, you can experience the highlight of the sixth hole in particular. A PAR 5 with 461 meters offers a unique panorama of the cathedral and the bay in Palma from the tee. The otherwise medium level of difficulty is increased considerably by the 16th hole. The course runs steeply downhill over a water hazard, requiring the utmost precision. The Son Vida golf course has also been awarded the bronze flag by 59club. The Son Muntaner golf course is available as a driving range.
Son Quint Golf Course: Modernity meets tradition
The third golf course in Son Vida is the Son Quint course, which was designed by Espinosa and Rossknecht in 2007. The 18-hole course with a par of 72 and a total length of 5,750 meters invites aggressive play that is enjoyable for both beginners and advanced golfers. In particular, the back nine offers a beautiful panorama of the capital city of Palma de Mallorca.
Son Quint Pitch and Putt: Ideal for beginners and casual players
Right next to the Son Quint golf course is the 9-hole PAR 3 Son Quint Pitch and Putt course. This fourth golf course in Son Vida was also designed by Rossknecht and Espinosa in 2009. The flat to hilly course is easy and all holes are PAR 3. A handicap of 54 is desirable, but you can also play without a course permit.
Other challenges: Son Termes Golf Club and Real Golf de Bendin
Another golf course in the Palma area is the very challenging Son Termes Golf Club, which requires partially blind tee shots, and Real Golf de Bendinat. Both courses require a handicap of 36.
Conclusion: Diversity and beauty of golf courses in Mallorca
Overall, the golf courses in southwest Mallorca and in Palma and the surrounding area not only offer impressive variety for players of all levels, but also breathtaking scenery that makes the golfing experience in Mallorca unforgettable. Whether you are an experienced pro or a casual player, the golf courses on the island promise a challenging yet rewarding experience.
