Destination Golf Spain 2018 * | Page 22

Son Gual Mallorca » Poniente One of Mallorca’s oldest courses, the John Harris course was opened in 1978 and is a well designed course that even the best of players find it hard to beat at times, but it remains a tough but fair course. The views from the 8th, and 16th holes are exhilarating and make you appreciate the beauty of this course, and it is hard to believe that you are only minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the thriving resort of Magalluf. The wide fairways are a feature of Poniente, but don’t be fooled into thinking that makes the course any easier; they don’t, because many slope away unsuspectingly. The large greens are also devious at times. But the main hazards on this course are the many trees which line the fairways and have been home to many wayward tee shots. Mallorca » Son Gual Son Gual opened in October 2007 and was the dawning of a dream that began in 1995 to design and lay out a high quality golf course. It is set in the grounds of the Finca Son Gual near to the village of Sant Jordi, and in the “Valley of a Thousand Windmills”. The course was designed by the former German amateur champion, Thomas Himmel and it boasts some wonderful bunkers and more than 1,000 olive trees. There are plans to add a second 9-hole course at some later date. 20 Mallorca » Andratx The Andratx golf course at Camp de Mar is one of Mallorca’s newest courses and was opened in 2000. Magnificently laid out, its design is credited to the Gleneagles Golf Development. It is a long course but is well maintained and exceptionally well run. And the clubhouse is of the highest standard, as one would expect from such a new course and, like so many Mallorcan golf courses, part of the course is surrounded by property developments. But the remainder is set in unspoilt Mallorquin countryside. Good and accurate driving has never been more of a requisite than it is at Golf de Andratx. Mallorca » Maioris Golf Maioris was opened in 2007 and is the second course in the Pula Golf group. A championship-standard course, it is set amongst the classic Mallorquin landscape of pine, carob and olive trees, and offers a stern challenge to any golfer - four lakes and two “island” greens see to that! After a fairly easy par four to start the second drive has to miss the large pine trees in the centre of the fairway and then players have to negotiate a challenging green. The par-5 4th is one of the “island” greens, and judging distance accurately is the key to this great hole. Another notable hole is the par-3 13th. It is only 142 metres (yellow tees) but the green is surrounded on three sides by water. Overall an enjoyable course for players of all standards that also has a superb clubhouse and bar at the 19th.