Son Gual Course Review

'Son Gual is a golfing haven of peace and tranquillity where worldly woes and stress is forgotten' 

This is the opening line from the Son Gual website and after playing the course we couldn't agree more. When flying into Palma airport you can see why Son Gual is renowned as the island's 'best golf course' as the picturesque fairways and bunkers draw you in as you come into land.

The creation of Son Gual began in 1995 when a passionate golfer's vision was to produce a beautiful manicured high quality course to complement the existing golfing opportunities on the island.

From the many high quality designers considered for the project, renowned golf course architect and 3-time German amateur champion Thomas Himmel was eventually commissioned.

The course is located close to Majorca's capital of Palma and includes views out to the breathtaking backdrop of the Tramuntana Mountains, with a strategic course layout, players of all abilities are challenged to use every club in their arsenal.

Green fees aren't cheap at €150 which includes access to the practice facilities, a course guide and access to the locker room which has the most fantastic showers imaginable and the sauna area.

Signature holes

We arrived bright and early on the practice ground, which is better maintained then a lot of courses we have seen, with a number of greens and targets to aim at it really sets you up for a challenging day on the championship course.

There are a number of signature holes, from the first, where you tee off from a great height down to quite a tight fairway, with carefully placed bunkers to the left of the fairway ready to catch your ball and out of bounds to the right.

The 3rd hole tests your position off the tee and leaves an approach shot with a bunker which is over 120 yards long. The green had a big helping slope to the pin position we played to.

The 5th hole is a short par 3 (pitching wedge from the white tees) but over water which brings doubt into your mind, the green has some vicious slopes and going long off the tee means and near impossible up and down.
We would class the course as a links type as there aren't a lot of trees and there is a very strong wind which plays either into or down on each hole.

Elevated

The 8th however is set within trees to an elevated green with a huge slope to the front of the green. If you come up short your ball is destined for the bottom of the hill.

The 18th is possibly the hardest hole on the course, although it is stroke index 2 and a par 5. A tight drive with water to the left and a bunker in range to the right sets the nerves going. The lay-up has water to the right and a bunker to the left. The green is surrounded by water so going for the green in two is risky.

In May 2009 Son Gual hosted the Mallorca Senior Open, this proves what a sought after course Son Gual really is. Although the green fees are quite expensive, you can't help but enjoy playing this course. It really is a true test to any standard of golfer.

What's more, the future looks bright for Son Gual with plans for a further nine hole extension on probably the most stunning piece of land on the entire estate.