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Golf and Mallorca: A Perfect Pairing

the Pomposo Creative Team
Golfers in Mallorca can cruise along scenic roads on this magical island with 340 miles of coastline to more than 20 championship golf courses, including such prestigious venues as the T-Golf & Country Club, a top 100 course in Spain where this year’s Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final will be held November 4-7. And as a bonus for avid golf fans, the European Tour will return to Mallorca for the first time in 10 years for the Mallorca Golf Open, October 21-24. It’s a chance to see some of the world’s top players battle it out at Golf Santa Ponsa, one of the premiere resort destinations on the island.

the Pomposo Creative Team
Driving along the winding roads and coastal highways of Mallorca yields natural landscapes of extraordinary beauty, beaches and bays, wineries and quaint villages. While the beach towns have always attracted a steady stream of visitors, the interior rural areas have blossomed, offering intimate, farmhouse-chic experiences--and anywhere you go, you’re never too far from a golf course. Along with these attractions, year-round hotels and golf resorts, many of which stage fun competitive events for recreational golfers, have made Mallorca a must-play golf destination any time of year. Plus non-stop flights to Palma are just a short hop from major cities throughout Europe.
Mallorca is compact enough to enjoy many of its courses on a short visit, with apres-golf on sunny terraces with expansive views and delicious Mediterranean cuisine a guarantee.
For a weekend getaway, center your golfing itinerary around Palma de Mallorca, the island’s capital. Situated on a scenic bay in the southwest of the island, Palma is a cosmopolitan city with architecture from the Moorish times, a must-see cathedral dating from the 1200s, a vibrant nightlife and world-class shopping. And with a variety of accommodations from resorts to boutique hotels to apartments, Palma is a sweet spot to explore the area’s many top courses.
A good starting point is Son Vida, just 12 km from Palma. It features three 18-hole courses for players of all skill levels, plus a 9-hole course. Son Vida, known for its challenging terrain, is the oldest course in Mallorca and well-known to European professional golfers (Spain’s beloved Seve Ballesteros won the Balearic Open there in 1992). Its sister course Golf Son Muntaner offers breathtaking mountain and bay views and is home to the island’s oldest tree--a 1000-year-old olive on the 15th hole named Na Capitana. The courses at Son Vida host fun events for the recreational golfer, including the Arabella Golf Mallorca Marathon, an ultra-fun golf competition held in the spring where participants play 63 holes on four courses in one day!

the Pomposo Creative Team
The T-Golf & Country Club, just 15 km from Palma, was completely revamped in 2018 with Bermuda fairways and bentgrass greens and is one of the most popular venues on the island. The stunning Tramuntana Mountains are a beautiful backdrop to this demanding layout, which will host the European Challenge Tour’s 2021 Road to Mallorca finale, where spectators can catch glimpses of next-generation golfing talent like Spain’s Santiago Tarrio and Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia. Other area tracks to check out are Golf Park Mallorca Puntiro, the only Nicklaus Design in Mallorca. This gently rolling parkland-style course runs through 165 acres of pine, olive and carob trees. Golf de Andratx, a bit farther west, is considered one of the most challenging in the Mediterranean; its 600-yard par-five sixth hole, dubbed the Green Monster, is the longest hole in Spain.

Eneko Santiago Saracho
No matter where you play in Palma, you’re just minutes from the well-known beach resort of Magaluf with its secluded coves, lively markets, buzzy nightlife, and marinas with luxury yachts and fishing excursions.
Tennis fans should swing about 60 kms east to the area of Manacor, where tennis great and golfing enthusiast Rafael Nadal calls home. If you’re lucky you might catch him playing in a local tournament, such as the Olazabal & Nadal Invitational, held at the exclusive Pula Golf Resort. In 2018, the course was renovated by two-time Masters Champion Jose Maria Olazabal and hosts many events, including amateur showcases like the International Couples Championship, which will be in late November this year. Pula also has a first-rate golf academy. Stay and Play packages at the Son Corb boutique hotel offer access to the area’s other top courses, including Canyamel, Capdepera, whose 15th was voted as Best Hole on the Island by Mallorca Magazine, and Son Servera, the second oldest club on the island with stunning views of the mountains and the bay of Cala Millor.
Continuing your loop of the island, head north to the towns of Pollenca and Alcudia, which draw travelers looking for a quieter experience and some of the best golf in Mallorca. The inland town of Pollenca is one of the most beautiful in Mallorca and is made for long leisurely strolls and al fresco dining; it’s also an ideal jumping off point for some of Mallorca’s best hiking and cycling trails. Alcúdia is a charming walled town that was once a Roman settlement and is home to Golf Alcanada. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., it is widely regarded as one of the top courses in Europe. Almost all of its 18 holes provide spectacular lighthouse and sea views you won’t want to miss.
No matter where you choose to play or stay, you are never far from an unforgettable golf experience.
