Canyamel

When Pepe Gancedo surveyed the beautiful countryside around Canyamel, he knew that he needed to spoil Mallorca as little as possible when designing the course.
As a result, this course has been developed taking into account many of the existing features. The little house on the 9th hole was preserved, as were the typical dry stone walls on the 7th, 13th, 14th and 15th, where they come into play across and adjacent to the fairways.
This is a course of two contrasting halves. The first nine holes are quite difficult, with hole 5 offering a particularly excellent view of Menorca. The second nine holes are longer and flatter than the first, but make for an excellent and challenging round of golf.
The European PGA visited the course and proposed a series of modifications which have now been carried out. The PGA have classified Canyamel Golf Course as an ideal course for playing an Open event.
Among its facilities Canyamel Golf offers a double driving range for 40 people, 2 putting greens, a pitching green and a practice bunker. In addition to this, at the Club House there is a restaurant, showers and lockers and a lounge with video.
Handicap Gentlemen: 28
Handicap Ladies: 36
Buggies: Walkable if fit, can be hired for 38€ - 41€ per buggy.  Buggies allowed on fairways.
Trolley 6€

Puntiro

Golf Park Puntiró Mallorca opened on the 1st of September 2006 to the general public and has been beautifully shaped in 66 hectares of land by architects from Nicklaus Design based in Belgium.
The Golden Bear's company has created golf courses in 28 countries worldwide, and Mallorca becomes the site of his 279th layout.
Golf Park Puntiró Mallorca is a par-71 course measuring 6,027m. Constructed on an estate of around 165 acres the environmentally sensitive course is home to indigenous pine, olive and carob trees.
The difficulty of the course is average, though it can reach high levels from the back tees, and with its Bermuda grass the course looks more like a classic American-style layout.
Two enormous man-made lakes provide the backbone of Golf Park Puntiró's challenge, and two couplets of holes - the 7th and 8th, and the 15th and 16th - are the thrilling showcases of any round here.
The 8th hole is 334m and the tee-shot is played directly over water to the fairway, leaving an approach of 65 to 90 metres. However, a parallel fairway has been built into the lake to the right of the green, giving the golfer a chance to play to this slim inlet and have a shorter 30-yard chip.
The 16th is a dramatic short hole, playing 172 metres entirely over water to a raised and bunkered green.
The practice area is superb. The driving range has greens and bunkers to simulate real game conditions. It is 220m long, allowing even the biggest hitters to practice comfortably. It offers 42 practice tees, 14 of which are covered and 28 uncovered.
The investment in the course is weighty, and the Nicklaus design, combined with good maintenance and a large body of available water in the course's man-made lakes, seems a recipe for success.

Handicap Gentlemen: 28
Handicap Ladies: 36
Buggies: Easily walkable, can be hired for 39€ per buggy. Buggies allowed on fairways (90º rule) subject to weather conditions.
Trolley: 7€ (09 & 18 Holes)
Club Hire: 28€ (18H), 20€ (09H)

Santa Ponsa 1

The Golf Santa Ponsa resort consists of three courses and a stunning four star hotel. Of the 3 courses, Golf Santa Ponsa 1 is the only one open to the general public, as Santa Ponsa II and III are for members only.
One of the distinguished elder statesmen of golf in Mallorca, Santa Ponsa hosted the Balearic Open on the European Tour on seven occasions between 1988 and 1998.
Golf Santa Ponsa 1 was designed by the late Italian Folco Nardi and opened in 1977. It is open, uncomplicated with fairways amongst the most generous on the island, making it an ideal place to enjoy ripping into your drives and approach shots.
There's a superb shape to the course with several doglegs and intelligent use of water, particularly at the dramatic par-4 16th. At 437 yards, this sliding left-to-right dogleg is difficult enough, but it skirts an enormous lake on the right for the entire length of the hole. Good course management is required to safely negotiate a water hazard of this size, and for some laying up and playing the hole as a par-5 could be the wisest option.
The par-4 18th is a fine finish to a very enjoyable round of golf, and was the scene of an epic play-off between Seve Ballesteros and Jesper Parnevik for the 1992 Balearic Open. They played the hole 6 times before Seve eventually triumphed. The story goes that Parnevik's caddie was so exhausted, the Swede took up the bag for the final stretch.
The resort is also known for the par-3 18th on the Santa Ponsa II course, containing an island green in the shape of Mallorca. It's a stunning hole and a joy to play. Just beware of the south-east coast, the water awaits the wayward shots!
Handicap Gentlemen: 28
Handicap Ladies: 36
Buggies: Easily walkable.  Buggies can be hired for 42€ per buggy, and are allowed on fairways.
Junior Price: 48€ all year. (Equivalent to 50% discount off full adult price.)
Trolley: 5.50€
50 Practice balls: 4€
Club Hire: 21.50€ (Generic Brand) Club Hire: 39.00€ Srixon or Callaway
Driving Range Fee: 8€

Son Antem East

Francisco López Segales designed the Golf Son Antem East course which is built on an old hunting estate - so wildlife is in abundance.
The par-72 layout is more suited to beginners and intermediate golfers. It starts with easier holes, and finishes with the more challenging. The most difficult hole is the 15th par-4 (378 meters) as the second shot calls for an accurate drive over water into a relatively small green.
Generally the fairways are wide and long, but the approaches to the flat and even greens require some accuracy to ensure an enjoyable and fair round.
Five lakes come into play throughout the course, which means it can be quite a challenge for low handicappers too!
Handicap Gentlemen: 54
Handicap Ladies: 54
Buggies: Easily walkable.  Buggies can be hired for 42€ per buggy - Buggies to be kept on paths.
Electric Trolley: 16€ (18H) 10€ (09H)
Club Hire: 38€ (18H) 26€ (09H)
Practice Balls: 4€ - 50 Balls

Son Gual

German businessman Andreas Pamer, had the original dream behind Son Gual, and three-time German Amateur champion and course designer, Thomas Himmel, realised it. Himmel’s remit was pretty much a blank canvas and he has produced quite a work of art. Two loops of nine fit easily into the 175 acres of land and an extensive earthmoving process has shaped a natural-looking, spectacular course. To add to the visual aspect a collection of large lakes, primarily constructed as irrigation reservoirs, 66 bunkers, 800 newly planted olive trees (some over a thousand years old) and a special mix of wild flowers in the rough areas have been put into place. Another special feature, and one that will bear fruit – quite literally – in a couple of years, is the incorporation of vineyards around the course. Visually it looked impressive – though slightly daunting. On an initial tour of the course the sand and water catch the eye a bit too readily but once you get round to playing the holes for real, it is remarkably fair and nowhere near as terrifying as it first appeared.
The 1st tee, perched at the highest point of the course, offers spectacular views to make up for any missed fairways and you are quickly into the leisurely pace of things. Fifteen-minute starting intervals are set out to ensure there won’t be any waiting around on the tee, and this is just as well as there might be the occasional reload, with water playing a leading role on four of the first nine.
The two par-5's are both just about reachable, but the 4th will require a very precise fairway-wood approach, while at the 6th it is far too easy to get carried away and try to cut off too much from the tee. Nevertheless, it is good fun attempting it. As is the case from start to finish, most of the greens are cleverly angled to encourage good shot-making and there are generous, and beautifully manicured aprons, to allow the choice of a putt, rather than a forced one-dimensional succession of testing chips. With the 9th, a superb long par-3 over more water dealt with, half an hour is set aside for relaxing and a generous tapas, and maybe even a beer. As halfway huts go, the clubhouse terrace is up there with the very best.
The back nine follows a similarly impressive theme, with intelligent routing offering a variety of choices for both tee shots and approaches. Par-5's and shortish par-4's tease and tempt, and the round gently builds up into a simmering crescendo. The 15th – take a note here of the size of the tee – is played out in front of a ‘palacio’, which dates back to World War One, and is now possibly the grandest building to house manure in the world. More water could easily be the undoing of plenty of medal and strokeplay rounds at 16 and 17 and the last, a par-5 that will only tempt the monsters and the clinically insane, is a fitting finish. A stream will catch anything hooked off the tee, and the same stretch of water will do likewise with anything pushed with the second or third (or even fourth!) shots. And if you think your problems are over once you have reached the green, then think again, as there is a real likelihood that your round will end up with three jabs. From one end to the other, this is a demanding closing hole.
A round at Son Gual will challenge anyone and satisfy everyone. It is easy enough to walk, with the next tee never too far away. And as befits most memorable rounds the clubhouse offers the perfect place to unwind and reminisce about the last few hours.'

Son Muntaner

Nestled between the hills of Son Vida and the island's capital of Palma, the Arabella resort consists of three classic courses, Son Vida, Son Quint and Son Muntaner.
Son Muntaner Golf was added in May 2000, when Kurt Rossknecht, who renovated Son Vida, returned to work on a tougher, longer companion for its sister course.
Son Muntaner is a player's course, and from the 1st hole you're confronted by difficult approach shots over water to bunkered greens. A slithering lake runs the length of the 2nd and 3rd holes, testing your accuracy on each shot.
Son Muntaner boasts Mallorca's oldest olive tree - "Sa Capitana" is said to be 1,000 years old. It stands near the 15th tee, so do try to avoid belting it with a golf ball!
The joy of playing here not only lies in having to shape the ball off the tee to get the ideal position for your second shot, but also in the size of the greens which offer the opportunity for varied pin positions, making the course play differently every day.
Key Information about Son Muntaner Golf-
Holes: 18 Holes - Par 72 / Length: 6300m Speed of Play: 10 Minute tee intervals. Grasses:  Fairways: Bermuda Princess Greens: Bent Grass Agrostis Stoloniferar Bunkers: 70 Lakes: 4 Layout: Wide fairways and medium sized greens. Suitable for average handicap players. Driving Range: Yes Club Hire: Nike Electric Trolleys: Available Halfway House: Snacks & beverages at tee 10
Handicap Gentlemen: 28
Handicap Ladies: 36
Buggies: Long flat course walkable if fit. Buggies which are fitted with GPS can be hired for 45€ per buggy. Buggy discounts available for groups - Please contact us for more information. Buggies allowed on fairways.
Electric Trollies: Available 20€ each
Junior Price: 55€ all year.

Son Vida

Son Vida Golf is the oldest course in Mallorca, but it wasn’t the first to be built on the island. The Hotel Golf Playa de Alcúdia built in 1934 was Mallorca’s first golf complex, however the Civil War paralised the project, until 30 years later when Son Vida opened in 1964.
Great milestones, and the million players who have walked on its greens, give this course its legendary status. Few courses can boast having held a European Tour event twice (in 1990 & 1994).  It was in the first of these events that Severiano Ballesteros made history. The now legendary Cantabrian sportsman won the Balearic Open in the play-off at the 18th hole, a spectacular par 5 dogleg. An incredible feat that is recorded for all to see in the Clubhouse at Son Vida.
In 2001 the famous German architect Kurt Rossknecht received the commission to redesign the course increasing its difficulty, and to optimise the areas of play. At 5,601m it is short by modern standards, but is remembered by most for its sweeping doglegs, and its final signature hole.
Today, Son Vida Golf Course remains as one of the most popular courses amongst golfers who visit Mallorca. Its mature woodland and spectacular views of the bay of Palma make it one of the more attractive courses on the island.
Handicap Gentlemen: 54
Handicap Ladies: 54
Buggies: Relatively short undulating course, walkable if fit. Buggies which are fitted with GPS, can be hired for 40€ per buggy. Buggy discounts available for groups - Please contact us for more information. Buggies must be kept to buggy paths.
Electric Trollies: Available 20€ each
Junior Price: 55€ all year.

Vall Dòr

Vall d'Or golf course is set in a splendid location, close to the sea, in the municipality of Felanitx, about a 40 minute drive from the resorts of Cala Bona and Cala Millor.
It began life as a 9 hole course in 1985, and was redesigned in 1993 by American architect Bradford Benz to make a full 18 hole course. Benz appears to have succeeded in creating the classy standards more often associated with the cars that share his name, for Vall d'Or is a short but wonderfully presented course. The first 9 holes are set amongst pine trees, and have unrelenting views over the Mediterranean sea. The course opens with a short par-3, and is followed by a difficult par-4 that winds steeply into the hills. These holes give no hint to the first time player of the breathtaking revelation that is the next hole.
The 3rd must rank among the 10 best and most beautiful golf holes on the island. It is a par-5 with an elevated tee that offers spectacular views over the bay of Porto Colom. The hole plays downhill through a valley and turns left to where the green is lofted into a hillside by intricate rock bouldering. A good drive leaves you in range to reach in two, but with a hanging lie that promotes a fade. Ideally placed at the green's front right corner is a tall willow tree, a magnet for the brave who take on this approach.
The next four holes are beautiful, short but tricky and on the tree-lined front 9 it pays to leave the driver in the bag. The back 9, the original 9 hole layout, is more open and here you can really play for a score.
Along the course are three lakes and a good number of bunkers with limestone sand. It cannot be described as either a flat or mountainous course. Undulating is probably the best word, and due to its location it is well known for its cooling afternoon sea-breezes.
The 16th is an intriguing spectacle of the inward half and needs a 40-yard fade from the tee. The par-3 18th is a strong finishing hole. Its raised green, with well mown run offs, sits in front of the stylish Vall d'Or Clubhouse from where you can see the whole of Calas de Mallorca, the south-east coast of the island.
Vall d'Or golf's clubhouse has comfortable changing rooms, a sports shop, bar and a restaurant which is renowned for its quality and excellent service.
Its rural setting, its magnificent views and its contrasting holes, means that this course is a firm favourite of golfers visiting the east of the island.

Alcanada

Two essential requirements for the creation of a top category golf course are: a privileged setting and a first rate architect. Both exist at Club de Golf Alcanada in Alcudia, Mallorca.  A virgin terrain gently slopes down towards the shoreline, with its pine, olive and oak trees and the mountains of the Sierra de Levante in the background.
Robert Trent Jones Snr. & Jnr. designed the beautiful Alcanada golf course, which opened in October 2003. Typical Trent Jones features, like 58 well placed green side fairway bunkers, challenging greens with hidden breaks, and difficult but fair tee shots, already make this golf course a must for all experienced golfers travelling to Mallorca.
Almost as spectacular as the design of the course is the view across the bay of Alcudia. Club de Golf Alcanada is the only course in Mallorca that is right by the sea. The lighthouse on the island of Alcanada, just 150m into the sea, forms part of the club's logo. The golf course is located in an environmentally important area, and you will frequently find a variety of wild life and rare birds on the course, particularly in the early morning. The restaurant overlooks both the course and Alcudia bay, and is as inviting as the staff who will cater to your every need.
In 2007 Alcanada changed the tee-time intervals from 10 to 12 minutes. The 20% reduction in available tee-times means that you do have to plan ahead in order to secure your favoured slots. More importantly, the reduction in players has resulted in a reduction in the number of divots, pitch-marks and other damage to the course, meaning that it is in a better condition than many of the island's other golf courses. Furthermore, it is almost unheard of to spend longer than 4 and half hours playing 18 holes here.
At the end of 2012 Alcanada was voted as the best course on the island by clients of Simply Mallorca Golf, and in in the last 5 years Alcanada has repeatedly been acknowledged as one of the best golf courses in Europe by many different golf magazines.  It is also a founding member of the “Leading Golf Courses of Spain”
Handicap Gentlemen: 33
Handicap Ladies: 35
Buggies: Course is walkable if fit. GPS equipped buggies can be hired for 40€ per buggy, and includes free water. From Spring to Autumn, buggies are allowed on fairways, weather permitting.
Electric Trolleys: 20€ (18 Holes), 14€ (9 Holes).
Club Hire (2013: Taylor Made): 34€ (18 Holes), 23€ (9 Holes).
Junior Rate: 18H - 45€, 09H - 28

Poniente

Poniente is frequently regarded as the best designed golf course on Mallorca, and its signature par-4 10th hole has drawn rave acclaim from Spain’s best known golf course architect Pepe Gancedo, who still lives on the island.
The first thing you will notice is the rustic clubhouse, terracotta coloured and draped in ivy vines. The second is the sound of cockerels, the birds that once lived at El Gallo de Can Barral, the farm upon which the golf course and clubhouse are now built. They are part of the club’s unique ambience, and over the years have acquired respect for the golfer, and rarely crow on the backswing!
Opened in 1978, Poniente has the kind of status on the island that is afforded to the older Scottish clubs in Britain, and is a favourite of British and German golfers staying in the coastal resorts around Palma.
Its 18-hole 6,430-metre par-72 layout was created by John Harris, and combines woodland, lakes, sweeping terrain and large quick greens. The first four holes are a gentle start but soon enough the course reveals its guile at the intriguing stretch between the 7th and 10th holes.
The 8th hole plays blind and steeply downhill with a ravine to the right. Place your drive onto the fairway and you’ll have a medium iron left to a big green surrounded by palms and panoramic views. The best is still to come.
Poniente’s best and Gancedo’s favourite, number 10 will scare you at the tee. Water and reed beds loom large and to the right, bunkers guard the run-off at the fairway end, and a watermill has an iconic status in the distance. The green at first seems unreachable, but it is possible to carry the water with a sweet strike.
Handicap Gentlemen: 28
Handicap Ladies: 36
Buggies: Can be easily walked.  Buggies available for 40€, and are allowed on the fairways. Discounted buggy price of 35€ per buggy for clients pre-booking with Simply Mallorca Golf.
Club Hire: 30€ - 50€ for 18 holes, depending on brand.
Junior Price: 44€ all year. (Equivalent to 50% discount off full adult price.)