Son Antem Course Review

The West Course at the Marriott Son Antem offers narrow fairways surrounded by woods and undulated greens, with a fantastic view towards the Randa Mountains.

A par 72 course which is 6,293 yards from the white tees is an extremely challenging course for players of all abilities.

The course is located close to Palma Airport and is part of the Marriott Son Antem Golf & Spa resort which makes for a perfect destination for a golfing holiday.

We played the more challenging West Course but there is an easier East Course which is more suited to beginners as it has wide fairways and is fairly flat. Both courses are designed by golf course architect Francisco Lopez Segal.

We arrived at the driving range, which was well manicured, however you played your shots from a height into what can be best described as dead ground. This wasn't a major problem but it's not the nicest to look at. We have been told by the Director of Golf at Son Antem that this area is being re-designed in the not-so-distant future.

Short game

With three putting greens and a short game area, Son Antem really sets you up for the course, which is needed as you have to be fairly accurate off the tee.

Prices for the West Course vary from €67 to €89 during peak times of the year, they also offer a twilight price which is between €46 and €58.

You can tell the course is well looked after and watered on a regular basic to keep the grass nice and green. The greens were soft. Hitting an 8 iron into the first hole left a huge pitch mark, but don't be fooled into thinking the greens here are slow, they are anything but, plus the contours from the undulations make holing putts very difficult.

The course has a fairly easy start, although accuracy off the tee is a must. It's not till the 9th hole where you find yourself having to think about any water.

The hole itself is only 389 yards long but the bunkers and trees to the left and right of the fairway really make you think about your shot. If you find one of these bunkers it makes your approach shot extremely difficult as the green is guarded by a lake.

Signature

The 14th hole is another regarded as a signature hole, another tight tee shot which makes you want to hit the ball to the right where there are a number trees waiting to catch your ball. The green has one huge bunker to the left which starts at the front of the green and runs right round to the back, with another to the right.
If that doesn't put you off, the green is also surrounded by water for any shot which is off target. A lay up on this hole is advised if you have to hit a longer iron or wood to the green.

The final hole at Son Antem reminded me of the 18th at Sawgrass, with water all down the left hand side and strategically placed bunkers on the right.

If you manage to find the short stuff off the tee you still have a long shot into the green, which again has water to the left and a huge bunker to the right of the two tiered green.

After your round you enjoy the golf clubs own restaurant and bar named La Vista Verde, which has a very relaxed atmosphere, perfect after a hard day on the links!