Mallorca - Great golf all-year round
Rapidly rising up the league table of popular golf destinations, Mallorca is closing the gap on the perennial front-runners, the Costa del Sol and the Algarve. The British, who make up nearly a quarter of all visiting golfers, are expected to flock there this year in even greater numbers than the roughly 30,000 who made it in 2010.
Golf Santa Ponsa
Golf Santa Ponsa
Telephone:
+34 971 690211
Email:
Website:
Courses:
Santa Ponsa 1: 7,156 yards, par 72
Santa Ponsa 2: 6,620 yards, par 72
And it’s not hard to see why Mallorca, which is little more than a two-hour flight away, is so popular. Firstly, with delightfully warm summers and mild winters, golf can be played throughout the year. There are no mats or temporary greens. Appropriately enough for a golf island, there are no fewer than 19 full-sized courses that welcome visitors, another couple that are for members only and three nine-hole tracks which altogether add up to nearly 400 holes. As well as being closer to the UK than its principal rivals, Mallorca also offers significantly better golf value. And because the island is quite compact, it’s never far from one course to the next. Consequently, playing on several during even a relatively short break is perfectly feasible. And so here are a few that we recommend wholeheartedly.
A particular favourite of the rich and famous, Golf Santa Ponsa appears to have presidential appeal as no fewer than three US Presidents – Jimmy Carter, George Bush Snr and Bill Clinton – have graced its fairways. Clearly the pulling power of this ravishing resort, which lies on the south-west coast just south of Calvià and not far from Palma, extends right across the Atlantic. Royalty, too, have evidently succumbed to its charm as HRH Princess Birgitta of Sweden is another frequent visitor to this hugely fashionable corner of the island.
There are not one, but two great 18-hole courses and a nine-holer that’s ideal for working on your short game. Although only Santa Ponsa 1 is open to visitors, it is the most challenging of the three and has hosted the Balearic Islands Open on no fewer than six occasions. The great Seve triumphed here twice and another proud Spaniard, Miguel Angel Jiménez, was the most recent winner in 1998.
It’s not hard to see why the tour pros raved about this outstanding course. Not only do the generous fairways encourage players to open their shoulders and let rip but it also demands precise approaches and great respect. The elevated greens are quite a feature, as is the water, which comes into play on five holes. The 10th, which measures not far short of 600m off the very back tees, is one of the longest holes in Europe. But there’s no need to be either intimidated or frightened as the course is generally pretty forgiving with only modest rough and too few threatening trees to worry about.
Always presented in immaculate condition, extensive work carried out last year will ensure that it remains right up there with the very best. New greens were laid, a state-of-the-art irrigation system was installed, new drainage was dug and even the impressive clubhouse was extensively refurbished. No expense has been spared in a determined effort to ensure Habitat Golf Santa Ponsa remains right up there with the very best.
