Mallorca for pre-season preparation or to round off the golf year — when the mix is right, it’s a treat for the golfer’s heart, the soul and the palate. A great bonus: in the pre- and post-season (9 Jan–5 Mar and 6 Nov–22 Dec) the courses are not only much more affordable but also more enjoyable, as you can play without any pressure.
A travel diary of 7 intensive days.
Off the plane and straight to the first tee, 35 minutes away, on Mallorca. Winding around the five-star Steigenberger Hotel is “Golf de Andratx.” Here we found a halfway house that alone makes the course worth playing. It is situated at the end of the “Green Monster” — the 6th hole, a par 5 of 532 m uphill into the wind: monstrous in every sense! “Golf de Andratx” offers many beautiful tee shots with stunning views.
Tip: Hire a buggy without fail. A course that belongs on your own Mallorca golf list.
Peguera is, like many other tourist towns on Mallorca at this time of year, almost deserted at the start of the season. We nonetheless found the authentically Spanish “Casa Enrique” in Paguera. The friendly staff served superb tapas for around €4 each. Between two of us we had five tapas and were well satisfied. http://bit.ly/2nhw2ss
Day 2
Straight across the island. “Pula Golf” in Son Servera is our destination — where the European Tour and the European Senior Tour have both made a stop for the pros. The unusually designed and challenging course by J.M. Olazábal even offers the occasional magnificent sea view on the second, more amateur-friendly 9 holes.
Ask about the affordable golf packages in combination with other courses and the adjacent country hotel: www.pulagolf.com
Day 3 – Son Gual
Just a few kilometres from Palma, this exceptionally well-maintained, harmoniously designed course is a gem. What makes it challenging are the many lakes spanning several holes and the numerous very large bunkers. The incredibly large greens are relatively easy to hit, but the putts become endlessly long as a result. A fantastic clubhouse with a restaurant terrace that leaves virtually nothing to be desired in terms of the view. The only fly in the ointment is the planes approaching Palma every ten minutes. That said, we highly recommend this course, which is ranked among the Top 100 in Europe. www.son-gual.com/golf-mallorca/
Day 4
The Maritim Hotels have once again taken over the Hotel Galatzó, perched on a hillside. www.galatzohotel.com The well-equipped four-star hotel complex, also popular with tennis players, is just 11 minutes from Santa Ponça and the golf club of the same name.
At Santa Ponça 1 you have the feeling of playing in a park very close to the lively town centre, yet the round remains completely calm and relaxed. In the evening we dined in Peguera, practically at the foot of the Maritim Hotel, at the steakhouse La Hacienda at the entrance to the village. Steaks and salads excellent — which comes at a price, naturally. www.hacienda-steakhouse.es
Day 5 – Capdepera
Today we drove 90 km across the island — well worth every kilometre. A club run with passion by its owners. Perfect condition, and that in the pre-season! 12 amateur-friendly, exciting holes to rack up the points. And then comes an indescribably wonderful different golfing world, cutting through rugged, mountainous terrain. It can safely be said that hole 15, a par 3, is one of the most beautiful and impressive on the island. In general, the authors fell in love with the final 6 holes. Recommendation: start your golf holiday with “Capdepera Golf” and end it there too. www.golfcapdepera.com
Evening dinner:
Right below the Maritim lies “Rancho La Romana” (Peguera). Good food and drinks at extremely fair prices, in an authentic ranch designed with an eye for detail. www.la-romana.es
Day 6: The 36-hole day!
We played the first 18 holes at “Real Golf de Bendinat.”
A very unusual course. Holes 1–7 are for warming up, and then it becomes extremely spectacular — reminiscent of the unforgettable Monte Mayor on the Costa del Sol. Gigantic tee shots and incomparable holes.
A buggy is highly recommended! The only downside is an unfriendly caddiemaster and catering that is “Very British.”
Just a few minutes’ drive separated us from the second 18 holes of the day at “T-Golf Poniente” (“T” for Tamsen, the Hamburg-based owner). A superb championship course — which also means it is very long. It impresses with good design and the feel of a classic golf course. The course, continuously being renewed and updated until the end of 2018, also convinces with excellent maintenance and extremely friendly and attentive staff.
Closing dinner “Vista de Rey”: the à la carte restaurant by the lower pool at the Maritim Hotel. Those were a few intensive days of pre-season preparation for us, which unfortunately came to an end the next morning with the 125-minute flight back to Germany. An unforgettable week behind us.
