I moved to Mallorca in March 2025 and have been playing golf here every week since. Before that, eleven years in Shanghai, a city where golfers often think nothing of spending up to €500 on a single hour long lesson, where access to a course often means a membership costing more than most people's annual salary. Moving here felt like arriving somewhere that had quietly been one of Europe's best-kept golf secrets.
This is what I'd tell a friend planning a trip without tourism copy and extra fluff.
When to Go
If you want the best conditions, aim for the spring and autumn peak windows. If you want better value, look more closely at June-August and December-February. October is still one of my favourite months to play, but it is no longer the cheap option.
Late spring is excellent but expensive. Summer is hot, but it is also when many courses soften pricing materially, especially if you play early or go twilight. Winter is quieter, cooler, and often one of the best-value times to be here.
How Many Rounds?
One round per day is comfortable for most golfers - the courses are demanding, and summer heat is real. In cooler times, 36 holes a day is possible if you are that keen, but most golf-only visitors on a 5-7-day trip play 4-5 rounds.
Which Courses to Prioritise
Serious golfers, limited time: Son Gual and Alcanada. These are my two if I had one week and two rounds.
DP World Tour experience: Son Muntaner (Arabella). Best in Spain 2025.
Scenic east coast: Canyamel and Pula. Worth combining with a night in Artà or Capdepera town.
Hardest test: Golf de Andratx, southwest.
Beginners or mixed groups: Son Quint (Arabella), Son Antem East, or shorter courses.
"With a week on the island, the quality runs deeper than most visitors expect."
Getting Around
A hire car is the most practical option. Public transport doesn't serve many of the best courses well. Roads are good; traffic is manageable outside peak summer.
Clubs
Bring your own for three rounds or more. Hire for a mixed holiday with one or two rounds planned. See the club hire guide for recommendations on the best companies, what they charge, and which setups are worth using. There are some great options that deliver to your hotel or course and make life easier than lugging a travel bag through an airport and praying for no snapped shafts.
What Else to Do
Old town Palma is genuinely beautiful. The northwest coast (Valldemossa, Deià, and Sóller) is some of the most dramatic scenery on the island. The northeast is quieter and wilder. The food - local seafood and island wine - is excellent.
A golf trip that doesn't include at least one long lunch somewhere unexpected is only doing half the job. Build in at least one afternoon where you don't have a tee time and explore. The golf might be the reason to come but the rest will make you want to come back soon.
Want the trip arranged properly - courses, tee times, restaurants, transport, PGA professional throughout?
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