Son Muntaner was named Best Golf Course in Spain at the 2025 World Golf Awards. I played it on a Saturday morning last week, with a full tee sheet and mixed handicaps in the group. Here's what I found.
Getting There
Five minutes from central Palma. That alone puts it in a different category from most courses on the island worth talking about. Son Gual takes twenty minutes, Alcanada fifty. If you're based in the city and want a serious round without building a half-day around the drive, Son Muntaner is the answer.
The service from arrival through to the round was smooth. The team are attentive without being intrusive. Range balls, practice facilities, and the overall operation all sit at the level the course's reputation would lead you to expect.
The Walk and Why the Buggy Is Included
The course is a genuine physical test on foot. Several long climbs up to tees. The buggy is included in the green fee, which is the right call by the club. Most players will want it, and making it a separate charge would feel wrong at this level. After years in China relying on caddies, I prefer to walk, but I understand why most visitors take the buggy here.
How the Course Reveals Itself
My opening stretch was erratic. I made conservative tee choices and still couldn't get a full read on the layout early on. That's not a criticism. It's what the design does. Son Muntaner doesn't show you everything from the tee. The course reveals itself through approach play.
Holding greens from the wrong angle is difficult. There are narrow sections and subtle targets that demand precise positioning rather than just getting the ball somewhere near the flag. Landing areas define the course. Tee shots and layups often require commitment to tight zones that aren't obvious until you reach them. Once you understand that, the design starts to feel fair. Strong shots get clear reward.
The Par 3s
They use elevation well throughout. Protection comes from the shape and angle of the hole rather than just length, though the longer ones from the back tees are over 200 yards and demand proper club selection. The 13th was a rare moment of clarity on the day.
Front Nine vs Back Nine
The front nine, particularly the opening six holes, plays tightly. Water and defined landing areas keep things honest. There's no room for loose driving.
The back nine opens up slightly. More freedom with the driver, though the green complexes stay small and deceptively difficult. Depth perception from distance is a consistent challenge here. Greens look larger than they are, and approach distances look shorter than they play.
The Greens
Rolling pure at a solid pace, with clear potential to get quicker into summer. That quality rewarded good putting, especially from range. This is where the Best in Spain title starts to make sense. The greens are consistently excellent, and they held up across a full tee sheet on a busy Saturday without losing pace or surface quality.
Bunkers
One honest negative: bunker sand was inconsistent. Some lies firmer, others softer, which complicates execution on shots you've planned the same way. Minor on a course of this standard, but worth knowing if greenside sand play is part of your game.
The Olive Tree
Hole 15. The ancient olive tree standing in the middle of the fairway has been there for roughly a thousand years. The Balearic government declared it a natural monument. The course was designed around it.
The Restaurant
Not an afterthought. The food matches the standard of the course. Worth staying for after the round rather than heading straight back to Palma.
2026 Green Fees
Dynamic pricing through the Arabella Golf Mallorca booking system. Peak rate currently €250 for 18 holes, with the lowest widely seen later-day rate around €125. That gap is significant enough to be worth tracking if you have flexibility on timing. Check current rates at arabellagolfmallorca.com. Handicap certificate required.
Son Muntaner is part of the Arabella Golf Mallorca group alongside Son Vida and Son Quint. All three courses are accessible from the same resort complex.
Verdict
The Best Golf Course in Spain title is not marketing. Son Muntaner delivers a course that tests positioning, discipline, and clarity of decision-making from the first hole to the last. It rewards control over power and creates scoring opportunities through precision. Five minutes from Palma makes the logistics straightforward. The greens alone justify the trip.
A return visit with more fairways found would unlock a deeper read of the layout. That's the mark of a course worth coming back to.
Want to play Son Muntaner with a PGA professional alongside you?
See the play-with-a-pro experience →