Majorca, to measure against the champions

The Golf de l’Alcanada and the Pula Golf Club, located in the east of Majorca, left their mark on French golf. Two magnificent and accessible places to discover without hesitation.

Located in the Mediterranean Sea 200 km south of Barcelona, the Island of Palma de Mallorca is a tourist destination that has become a must in Europe. It has also become a land of golf with around fifteen courses of undeniable quality. While several of them have hosted major events, Golf d’Alcanada and Pula Golf Club are major courses both in terms of their layout and their recent history with professional golf. These two 18 holes respectively designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr and renovated by Jose Maria Olazabal are located less than an hour from each other in the east of the island, the most hilly part of Majorca. Playing these two jewels will allow you to measure yourself against the champions of the European circuit!

Majorca, golf

Jeong Weon Ko will keep excellent memories of his first participation in the Challenge Tour final at Alcanada Golf. At the end of a perfectly conducted week at the beginning of November, the player from Bussy finished in 4th place and won his card for the DP World Tour. With his 44 competitors, he had just taken on one of the most beautiful courses in Europe.

Robert Trent Jones Jr did not just put a golf course on a spectacular site: he first designed a formidable course perfectly adapted to its environment. Located within driving distance of the eponymous Island of Alcanada, most of the 18 holes of this 6500m course offer a superb view of this island and the Mediterranean.

In addition to the aesthetic aspect, the course offers a real test to amateur golfers through a varied route, crossing valleys and ravines. Many tee shots are high and you will often have to deal with a strong coastal breeze on the flattest part near the coast.

The course opened in 2003 is perfectly maintained with fast and steep greens. The fairways are lush and you are guaranteed a good lie everywhere. You will not be disappointed by any hole, like the magnificent par 5s with spectacular tee times. The par 4s are varied, ranging from some short and tight to a 435 yard white. The par 3 threes are not to be outdone: it will be necessary to keep the strength to face the monstrous 17 and its 213 meters from the back-tees.

The 13 (par 5) is the signature hole of Golf d’Alacanada

Pula GC: remembering Bourdy
Grégory Bourdy made himself known to the world on another course on the island located an hour southeast of Alcanada. Indeed, the Bordelais won his first victory on the European circuit, the Mallorca Classic, in 2007 at the Pula Golf Club.

Gregory Bourdy won the Mallorca Classic in 2007 (Photo JAIME REINA / AFP)

Located in a place as quiet as it is breathtaking, Pula Golf Club was created in 1995 and completely redesigned by José María Olazábal between 2004 and 2006. The Basque, two-time Masters winner, who also won the Mallorca Classic in 2005, made it a par 72 of 6246 meters very frank.

Indeed, 14 of the 18 holes offer a view of the green from the tee. But that does not mean that you should not think during your journey!

Indeed, it will be necessary to put in place strategies, in particular to avoid the ponds which mark out the route. You will be amazed by the splendor of two water obstacles located at the end of the outward journey with their magnificent stone edges. If the course is perhaps a little easier (all things considered) than Alcanada, it remains a great challenge and an unforgettable moment.

It will be all the more unforgettable when you have reached the old mansion dating from 1581 housing the current hotel and country club facilities. Indeed, in addition to having a practice equipped with trackman and two putting greens, the Pula Golf Club has an excellent hotel service. It will be good to spend the night (or even several) there in the large, modern and well-decorated rooms, and take advantage of the spa and all the services offered. It will be necessary at all costs to test the excellent gastronomic table offered in the evening with a refined and sought-after cuisine.