Mallorca 2023

An Insider’s Guide to Golf Courses and Hotels on the Beautiful Island of Mallorca December 2023

Imagine an island with turquoise blue waters, secret coves, soft golden sands, lush green foliage, rugged mountains, picturesque villages, a choice of amazing hotels and golf courses and to top-it-all, a vibrant capital city. Now drop that island in the sea only a couple of hours flight from most European cities...

Welcome to Mallorca!

Son Gual Golf Course

01 / Mallorca

In late October, 2023 I toured Mallorca with the aim of visiting our current hotels and golf courses as well as checking out new venues. Since my last visit, the island has blossomed into a serious golf destination where some impressive hotels have opened and the island’s public spaces are more manicured and stunning than ever.

Map of Mallorca Alc anada Golf Course

Castillo Son Vida Ar abella Sheraton So n Muntaner Golf Course So n Vida Golf Course So n Quint Golf Course

Capdepera Golf Course H otel Creu de Tau & Art

Es Princip Hotel San Francesc Hotel

P u la Golf Resort So n Servera Golf Course St eigenberger Golf Resort An dratx Golf Course

Gr an Hotel Cap Vermell Melbeach Hotel Canyamel Golf Resort H otel Can Simoneta

St Regis Mardavall Resort H otel Bendinat R eal Bendinat Golf Course Santa Ponsa Golf Course So n Gual Golf Course T Golf Calvia T Golf Puntiro Golf Course

I visited the most western point on the island (Andratz) to the most eastern point (Cala Ratjada) with many wonderful stops in between. In short, I checked out 12 hotels and 12 courses – staying and playing at a few, as well as taking in the varied and beautiful scenery.

My teenage children accompanied me on several visits and played 81 holes in 5 days.

Accustomed to travel they loved our trip.

In fact, they preferred it to some of better known destinations we’ve visited despite them having to “work” more than staying at an all-encompassing resort

For tailor-made itineraries and quotations please call 0207 870 1258 or email info@golfhbm.com

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Whilst it was raining cats and dogs back home in the UK, we enjoyed perfect weather and al fresco breakfasts overlooking the Balearic sea. Golf was shirt-sleeves and shorts. All this, just a 2 ¼ hour flight from London.

It was windy on the last couple of days and it sometimes rained at sunset but the sun still shone throughout the day. The weather is absolutely ideal for golf throughout the year with daytime temperatures ranging from 15 oC in January (with 7 hours of sunshine) to 30 oC in Cathedral de Palma August (12 hours of sunshine).

Cathedral de Palma

The Spanish are very welcoming and friendly people but the Mallorcans, even more so. It’s surely down to living on such an idyllic island whilst being conveniently close to the mainland as well as France and Italy. They’re also professional and look forward to welcoming more British golfers.

Cathedral de Palma

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Son Quint

Son Muntaner

I thought the island, with the exception of the purpose-built seaside resort of Platja da Palma, was entrancing. I accept that the new hotels at Platja da Palma are good and plentiful but I am not convinced that our clients will find the area attractive or great for après-golf. Plus, it’s all pretty much at the end of the airport runway…I am sure the area is moving upmarket but it’s going to be at least five years before an eclectic range of restaurants replace the rather tatty cafes and bars.

Balearic Sea Panorama Beach

Santa Ponsa

Palma & Surrounds Far better suited for our clients than Platja da Palma is the historic and charming city of Palma which reminded me a lot of Lisbon with its wide avenues, marina, huge cathedral and laid-back soft ambience. Palma has an impressive range of great restaurants and cafes where an easy afternoon and enjoyable evening can be spent.

We discovered two super hotels (Hotel Es Princip and Hotel St Francesc) in Palma which are perfect for three or four nights before perhaps moving to a golf or beach resort for the second part of your holiday.

20 minutes south of Palma and along the coast is the superior four-star Hotel Bendinat and just three miles further is the hyper-smooth St Regis Mardavall Resort. The discreet Steigenberger Golf Resort sits on the enjoyable Andratx golf courses about ten miles to the west.

St Regis Mardavall

Son Muntaner

Within 2-30 minutes of these three hotels, there are six courses to choose from. The best two are Son Muntaner and T-Golf Calvia. The former golf course is quite tight in places but very pretty and I could not believe how much T-Golf Calvia (formerly Poniente) had improved.

With a gorgeous clubhouse, T-Golf Calvia is an excellent test of golf with quite generous fairways but plenty of hazards and large greens. We played our first game at T-Golf Calvia and it set the tone for the rest of the holiday.

T Golf Calvia

T Golf Calvia Clubhouse

Son Muntaner features a slick bag-drop service and has all the traits of a well-run and long-established golf course. My next favourite is the traditional Real Bendinat which resembles the older and more exclusive courses on the Costa del Sol. Santa Ponsa has a relatively basic start and finish but is inexpensive, easy-to-walk and not too difficult.

Please see back page for four example itineraries

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Andratx surrounds the Steigenberger Golf Resort so life can be very pleasant in this tucked-away corner with its two restaurants. The golf course has six holes surrounding the hotel and the others are more spacious and in the countryside. The hotel is also just three miles from the marina, shops and eateries of Port d’Andratx.

Steigenberger Golf Resort

Andratx Golf

Heading back towards Palma, Hotel Bendinat is a rather circuitous and hilly walk from the attractions of Portal Nous with its astonishing yachts, numerous restaurants and upmarket beach bars. Closer to the hotel is the small but trendy and brand new Iberostar Grand Portal Nous at Caleta de Portals Nous with its bar and restaurant. However, Hotel Bendinat is so lovely that you might not want to leave it all. Overlooking the sea, the bedrooms are spacious, the staff superb and you feel that you’re staying at a private club and not a hotel. We had a delicious lunch, a fine dinner and a couple of very generous breakfasts there…all the time with sea views.

Hotel Bendinat

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We also ate at ‘Flanigans’ overlooking the marina at Portal Nous – established for over 40 years, we had great service and super-tasty food. Wine lists in Mallorca are international with a welcoming lean towards the local wines but also a serious nod to neighbouring Italy and France.

On arrival, St Regis Mardavall seems to be a huge resort but there are only 125 bedrooms so you’re spoilt for space and facilities. Pools galore, three restaurants, delightful gardens and the typical “Colonial Glamour” of the St Regis brand. Dinner at its second-best restaurant (Es Terra) was excellent and, yet again, the service was faultless.

After playing Son Muntaner, we toured its sister courses of Son Quint and Son Vida.

Opinions vary but I prefer Son Vida which resembles a very large garden with 18 holes cut through it over the more classic layout of Son Quint.

Son Vida

Son Quinta

Son Muntaner

Son Vida is also more shaded so would be a real pleasure to play in the hot months. Plus, the clubhouse at Son Vida is a treat whereas the clubhouse at Son Quint is good but the least attractive of the three. Both are pleasant but lesser clubs than Son Muntaner.

Part of this special set-up is the Arabella Sheraton and Castillo Son Vida where my parents stayed in the spring. The Arabella Sheraton has the slightly better facilities and more modern attitude, plus it overlooks Son Vida Golf Club.

The Castillo Son Vida (a converted private castle) is the larger of the two hotels and has a more upmarket feel to it, the view of Palma from its huge terrace is outstanding. Both hotels have two restaurants and there’s a shuttle that takes you to and from the golf courses.

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You can also eat at the other hotel with the three-minute taxi being paid for by each hotel. I think I would prefer a short break at Castillo Son Vida and a longer stay at the Arabella Sheraton – but I wouldn’t complain either way! The sights and sounds of Palma are five miles away.

Hotel Castillo Son Vida

Castillo Son Vida Hotel Es Príncep

Hotel Es Príncep in Palma is an eight-iron away from the sea, a par-five from both marinas and a wedge away from the start of the capital city. A member of Leading Hotels of the World, it regularly wins prestigious awards and combines contemporary design with a classic façade. There’s a spa, rooftop bar and sundeck and superb restaurant. With only 68 rooms, Es Príncep really is a boutique luxury hotel.

Sant Francesc

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Another hotel I really enjoyed is Sant Francesc which is next to the Sant Francesc church. With just 42 bedrooms, it’s architecturally stunning and sipping a G&T around the rooftop pool overlooking the church could be the real meaning of “guilty pleasure!” The restaurant space includes the stunning garden and as a member of Small Luxury Hotels, Sant Francesc is a very fine example of how Mallorca has upped its game.

Son Gual

Alcanada

A few miles north-east-east of Palma are two of the longest-standing quality courses on the island – Puntiro and Son Gual. Puntiro was designed by Jack Nicklaus and was feted for many years but then started to look tired and tatty but now it’s looking better than ever with a stunning clubhouse, brand new greens and vistas thanks to a serious treethinning programme. It’s arguably the fairest golf course on the island thanks to the generous fairways and lack of hidden traps. The fairway grasses are nice and tight and the greens even tighter.

Puntiro Golf

As a sister course of T-Golf Calvia, we have terrific rates for playing both courses. Just 2 miles away from T-Golf Puntiro is Son Gual which has all the feel and look of a wellestablished private golf course. Set over a massive 156 undulating hectares, the huge views down towards the city of Palma and coast can cut your concentration.

For tailor-made itineraries and quotations please call 0207 870 1258 or email info@golfhbm.com

10 / Mallorca

Pula Golf Resort

Of the eight Mallorca golf courses rated among Spain’s Top 100, Son Gual is second only to Alcanada at No.22. The greens are superb and the attention-to-detail of greenkeeping was of the highest of any course.

Both these T Golf Puntiro and Son Gual deserve to be played and are only 25 minutes from any of my recommended hotels in and around Palma thanks to the terrific and quiet road network.

Pula

Pula Golf Course

From Son Gual we drove for 45 minutes on the MA-15 dual carriageway through the beautiful agricultural landscapes and vineyards to reach Pula Golf Resort. Pula is a charming destination that’s hosted the European Tour several times.

Son Servera

There are bedrooms in either the old “Quinta” or the contemporary new wing, gym, spa and good restaurant. They call this north-eastern part of Mallorca “the island within the island”. To me, it has all the feel, wonder and heat of Provence with style in abundance plus gorgeous beaches and coastline.

Accommodation at Pula is quite spacious in the contemporary wing with a large lounge and kitchen area with dishwasher and fridge which makes it ideal for longer stays. The Quinta features very generous accommodation with lots of wood, terracotta tiles and views of the golf course, courtyard or outdoor pool. There’s also a communal lounge with fireplace in the Quinta and a second restaurant which serves larger parties. I actually preferred the authenticity and classic presentation of the bedrooms in the Quinta but the new bedrooms are more practical.

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At first glance, you could be fooled that the golf course at Pula looks fairly basic with views from the panoramic restaurant showing a fairly simple Par four 1 st hole and the Par three 18th separated by the practice ground. However, Pula has some very, very good holes from the third onwards and encourages a mix of aggressive and sensible play. The middle of the course is tough so aim to make your score at the beginning and end. Designed by Jose-Maria Olazabal, the likes of Darren Clarke and Sergio Garcia have won the Mallorcan Open here. Pula is family-owned with pride and it’s easy to see that they’ve spent some serious money.

On previous visits, the golf in this area was average because of the basic greenkeeping standards but how times have changed. I was amazed at the improvements at Son Servera, Canyamel and Capdepera and would now thoroughly recommend them. Under an Capdepera Golf Course hour from any of my suggested hotels here is Alcanada – rated 11th best in Spain and also rated in Europe’s Top 100.

Capdepera Golf Club has all the look and feel of a welcoming golf club with its long driveway leading to the low and long clubhouse. Fairways weave through orchards with plenty of bunkers too. A relatively generous course despite the small greens, you’ll enjoy the fair easywalking challenge as well as the views of the mountain and coast. I would suggest booking a morning tee-time so you have time for lunch on the splendid terrace.

Capdepera Golf Club

Canyamel Golf

Canyamel Golf Club

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Canyamel Golf Club is a grand affair and I would recommend buggies – it’s a hilly course with a huge hilltop clubhouse with sensational views. You’ll need to shape your shots as there are plenty of doglegs and a sublime array of flora to avoid and enjoy.

View from Canyamel Golf Club

Son Servera

Our last game of golf was at Son Servera which is a devilish course sitting very close to a beautiful beach. Established for nearly 60 years, Son Servera now features five brilliant holes called “The Pine Trap” and 13 classically-Mediterranean golf holes that are pretty to look at and fun to play. A short course that measures 6330 yards off the Yellows, it’s tougher to score well than you would imagine. Near my four preferred courses in the north-east are plenty of good hotels but four stood out for me as having serious advantages and style.

Hotel Can Simoneta

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Canyamel Hotel Can Simoneta is less than 1km from the discreet beach resort of Canyamel and sits in a quiet, ‘dreamlike pine trees and seaside’ setting. There are only 26 bedrooms but there’s a brilliant restaurant, beachside spa, pool, garden with mesmerising views and refined service. Several of the bedrooms have private terrace and even the Standard bedrooms are decorated with panache and aplomb. I thought this five-star hotel was very special and can easily imagine staying here for a couple of weeks with a few rounds of golf to break up the lullaby.

Melbeach Hotel

View from Melbeach Hotel Balcony

Also in Canyamel is the four-star Melbeach Hotel & Spa with its modern, quite Scandinavian look. I would recommend the slight upgrade to Deluxe Bedroom with Sea View. The hotel is literally five yards from the sea and has its own beach club and restaurant. The town is small and seasonal and is a great place to unwind in the quiet months with three golf courses just a short drive away.

Canyamel Coastline

Please see back page for four example itineraries

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Cap Vermell Hotel Canyamel Coast

Cap Vermell Hotel Entrance

Very close to Canyamel Golf Club is the large and luxurious Cap Vermell Grand Hotel which is laid out like a hilltop village…But on a grand and “no-expense-spared” scale. There are 142 bedrooms, of which even the simplest (the Grand Deluxe) would grace any hotel. If you’re travelling in a party, ask me about the Four Bedroom villas with private pool and four bathrooms, kitchen and private parking. Wherever you choose to stay at Cap Vermall, there are four eateries, the Serenitas Spa and views over a few holes on Canyamel Golf Club and the coast.

Capdepera For something more intimate and historic for a few nights, you can’t go wrong with a stay at Hotel Creu de Tau & Art in picturesque Capdepera. An historic building, it’s been converted with style into a romantic boutique hotel with a sensational spa. It’s also where we had our best meal of the tour with Chef graciously allowing my 15 yearold daughter to celebrate her birthday at the Adults-Only restaurant. It’s a very “zen” hotel that plays on all your senses.

Hotel Creu de Tau & Art

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The bedrooms start at 50m2 and have a 2m * 2m bed and terrace and you might fancy the slightly larger Deluxe bedroom with terrace jacuzzi.

The gardens feature a pool and sunlounge area looking out over the rooftops of the village and up to towards the 14th-century castle.

Hotel Creu de Tau & Art Spa

Hotel Creu de Tau Restaurant

When to Go We travelled in late October and enjoyed temperatures of about 22 C/72 F. The hotels and golf courses were nicely busy but by no means full. Driving was easy and the airport is large but efficient. Hire car collection involves a three-minute walk from airport to a car park where you then need to find the relevant hire car desk. It was fine but I always recommend the Lead Driver gets the hire car sorted while the rest of the party pick up the clubs etc from the luggage belt.

Many of the hotels in Mallorca close from early November to late January but those that remain open are in low-season. Hoteliers and golf course directors alike told me that it’s best to avoid July and August as there’s a different vibe to the island, but February to June and September to late November offer great weather and better prices. December and January are a little riskier when it comes to the weather but the prices are very appealing.

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A heads-up for golf, I would suggest playing quite early as the courses use various types of Bent and Bermuda grasses which thrive in the climate. They grow quickly but tend to scuff a little by mid-afternoon; so seize the day by playing golf early in ideal conditions followed by a lazy afternoon or exploring the myriad of attractions. It had been a while since I had played on Bermuda and it took me a few holes (or more!) to get used to the fluffiness of the green surrounds so make sure you spend 30 minutes or so on the practice ground and chipping green before your first round. Maintenance standards are high but they have to be, as the green-fees – although cheaper than similar-quality golf courses elsewhere – are still on the expensive side.

T Golf Calvia

Overview With a flight time of just 2 ¼ hours, Mallorca makes for a great break of four or more nights and I would suggest making your holiday a two-centre affair mixing two parts of the island or longer at one of the beachside hotels or resorts.

There are 19 courses on the island of Mallorca and I’m very confident that you’ll be delighted with the 12 that I had the pleasure of visiting, playing and recommending to you. Play doesn’t take too long and the courses have either a big welcome and slick service or warm welcome and laid-back but efficient style.

Steigenberger Hotel & Andratx Golf Course

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Driving on the Island was enjoyable and relaxing. Local drivers are polite, the roads are good and the signage is excellent. With this in mind, you may prefer for us to hire a car for you to allow more flexibility and to get to know the island and/or play a variety of golf courses . Another option is to arrange private transfers or you can ask the hotel staff to arrange a taxi whenever you need one.

Cala d’Egos, Port Andxratx

Overall, Mallorca is a quality-led destination with prices to match. Whilst this means that your holiday budget needs to be reasonable, it also means that your fellow tourists are also on the more affluent side. It makes for a sophisticated and adult-orientated atmosphere with a superb level of service, attention-to-detail and authentic experience.

Mallorca has, without doubt, become my favourite Spanish island.

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Sample Itineraries All of our holidays are tailor-made to meet our clients’ ideal requirements so give us a call to chat through the when, where, why and who of your perfect holiday and we’ll build a completely bespoke itinerary just for you. To get the ball rolling, here are some example itineraries for four Mallorcan golf holidays, complete with prices based on four people in the party. We can also advise and book flights for you, complete with our ATOL Protection.

Five-Star Golf Hotel • Seven nights’ bed & breakfast in Golf View twin/double bedrooms at the five-star Steigenberger Golf & Spa Resort, Camp de Mar • Free minibar soft drinks and access to Wellness Area • Two rounds at Andratx (on site) • One round at T-Golf Calvia, Real Bendinat and T-Golf Puntiro • Citroen C4 Picasso SUV with CDW, Zero Excess and Zero Deposit £1420 per person between April and mid-June 10, 2024 (some dates in May are slightly more expensive)

Luxury Palma City & Golf Break • Meet & Greet and private return airport transfers • Four nights’ bed & breakfast in twin/double bedrooms at the five-star Hotel Es Princep, Palma • Golf with private transfers at Son Muntaner, T-Golf Calvia, Son Vida & T-Golf Puntiro £1085 per person between January 8 and March 14, 2024

Get Your Game in Shape • Five nights’ bed & breakfast in twin/double Suite rooms at the four-star Pula Golf Resort, Son Servera • Two half-board dinners • Free gym access • Unlimited access to the Trackman Practice Range • Unlimited golf at Pula • Golf at Son Servera and Capdepera • Citroen C4 Picasso SUV with CDW, Zero Excess and Zero Deposit £655 per person January 8-31, £790 February 1-18 and £825 February 19-March 3 and £970 Mar 4 to April 30, 2024

The Mallorca Two-Centre Wow Holiday • Four nights’ bed & breakfast in twin/double Garden bedrooms at the five-star St Regis Mardavall, Costa d’en Blanes • Golf at Real Bendinat and T-Golf Calvia • Four nights’ bed & breakfast in twin/double bedrooms at the five-star Can Simoneta, Canyamel • Golf at Son Servera, Capdepera and Alcanada • Citroen C4 Picasso SUV with CDW, Zero Excess and Zero Deposit

£2030 per person March and £2695 April, 2024

Son Gual Golf Course

For availability, tailor-made itineraries and bookings, please contact us on 0207 870 1258 and info@golfhbm.com