Three or four groups were already queuing on the first tee when we arrived at 7:50 on a Sunday morning. We had booked early specifically to get ahead of the pace-of-play that resort courses can suffer from. We had not got ahead of it.
That is a useful thing to know about Son Antem West before you even hit a shot. It is a popular resort course in a well-run complex close to Palma, and it operates accordingly. Go in expecting that and you will enjoy the round. Go in expecting a quiet, unhurried experience and you may not.
First Impression
Driving into the resort, the scale of it is immediately clear. Residences, extensive green space, a golf academy, paddle tennis courts, a hotel. It reads as a complete golf destination. The check-in was organised, the staff helpful, and a small shop near the entrance made it straightforward to pick up a coffee and a snack before the round. Useful detail at 7:45 in the morning.
Out on the course, the setting opens up. The West course sits in open Mallorcan countryside near Llucmajor, 15 to 20 minutes from Palma. There are no houses visible from the fairways, the Randa mountains sit in the background on the back nine, and the wildlife is a constant presence. Rabbits cross the fairways regularly. Herons and various birds are around the water holes throughout the round. It does not feel like a suburban golf course, which helps.
The Course
Francisco Lopez Segalés designed Son Antem West, which opened in 1995. It plays to a par 72 from around 6,890 yards on the back tees. The layout is generally open, the fairways generous, and most tee shots carry little penalty for being slightly offline. That makes it accessible for mixed-ability groups and holiday golfers, and clearly that is what it was designed for.
The holes that stand out are the tree-lined ones. On those holes the tee shot is tighter, the line matters more, and the shape of the approach changes depending on which side of the fairway you find. The more open sections of the course are pleasant but give you little to think about off the tee. You pick a target and swing.
A few holes are worth knowing about specifically. The 10th is a dogleg-right with water short of the green. The approach has a decision to it: take the water on or lay up, depending on how the tee shot came off. The 12th is a relatively open par 4, but the Randa mountain backdrop makes it one of the better-looking holes on the back nine. The 16th is the best hole on the course: an uphill dogleg-right par 5 through the trees, finishing at a small, protected green. The 18th has water covering much of the left side off the tee.
The Greens
Small and undulating, and they roll very purely. The speed was good, not especially quick, but consistent and true. The surfaces themselves were in good shape for a course carrying that many rounds on a Sunday. Several greens are raised or slope away from the player. Worth knowing before you chip: the ball releases considerably further after landing than it looks like it will. A lower, running shot is often the better option over trying to land something soft on the edge.
Conditioning
Very good for the traffic it was handling. The fairways were solid, the greens rolled consistently, and the presentation held up well across the round. There was very little wind, which meant conditions were about as straightforward as they get here. From the back tees the course did not feel especially long even in calm air.
Walkability
Walking is completely fine. The routing is straightforward and the terrain is flat. There were a couple of moments between holes where the path was not entirely clear on foot, but nothing significant. For anyone who prefers to walk rather than take a buggy, this is an easy course to do it on.
The Honest Part
A large part of Son Antem West is strategically flat. The open holes give you a wide landing area, a straightforward approach, and a small green to aim at. You can play those holes on autopilot. Compared to Son Gual, Alcanada, or Andratx, the course covers less ground mentally. At green fees in the same range, it competes with those courses on price while offering less in terms of how much the layout stays with you.
Practical Information
Green fee: €105 on the day we played. The resort is well set up before and after the round. There is a small shop near check-in for coffee, water, and snacks, which is genuinely useful if you are on an early tee time. Buggy hire is available. Walking is straightforward throughout.
Location: Llucmajor, about 15 to 20 minutes south of Palma. Easy to reach and easy to combine with a day or two in the city.
Verdict
7/10. Son Antem West is a well-run resort course with good conditioning, reliable service, and a layout that suits a wide range of players. The 16th is the best hole, the tree-lined sections are the most engaging, and the wildlife and open countryside make the setting better than the course alone. It suits holiday golfers, mixed groups, and anyone who wants an enjoyable and accessible round close to Palma. It is not the right choice if you are specifically looking for a course that will test you from start to finish. See how it fits alongside the others on the full Mallorca golf courses page.
I take clients to Son Antem West on play-with-a-pro days. Want to play it with someone alongside you?
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