FINDING FAIRWAYS Mallorca Golf Course Reviews with Matthew Cull
H
ello readers, and welcome to another new Celebrity Magazine Mallorca feature. In Finding Fairways, I will have been to play one of the many courses in Mallorca and will write a review in each edition. In the U.K I had previously worked for a leading Golf industry magazine, and in fact, I launched my own golf industry publication in the
USA some years ago, so the golfing world is very familiar. When I became involved with Celebrity this was always a feature I wanted to roll out. I got the ball moving ( (pardon the pun, sorry that was terrible ) by sending out an email to all the golf courses on the island a short time ago, stating what I wanted to do and within minutes I had an email back from Golf de Alcanada Director
of Golf, Kristoff Both saying “Count us in, Matthew”. This was the type of response I had hoped for, and others followed quickly after. I now have the rest of the course reviews planned in for this year and the beginning of 2021 as well. As a result of Kristoff ’s enthusiastic and swift response, we of course kick things off with a review of Golf de Alcanada.
Golf de Alcanada Nestled in a quiet corner of north east Mallorca, just a stone’s throw from Alcudia, Club de Golf Alcanada is now considered by many as the best golf course on the island. In complete darkness, late January, I set off from home in the south western corner of Mallorca at around 7am, and picked up Celebrity Sports writer Alex in Palma en route to the north of the island, a journey that took around an hour with clear roads. Just before arriving at the course we pulled the car over by Alcanada beach to witness the sunrise. I’m not generally ‘a morning person’ so I don’t get to see many rises, but this one was certainly worth the early alarm call!
Arriving at the course, I noticed the electric car charging points, some of them provided by Porsche, with whom the club has a collaboration in place. Everything about the clubhouse, restaurant and pro shop, even the changing facilities 20 | CELEBRITY MALLORCA
Driving range
are nicely presented. The well-stocked professional’s shop has everything you would expect from the usual consumables, clubs, and an excellent range of golf clothing from some of the top apparel brands. I had heard many people speaking very highly of the course and facilities at Alcanada, so it’s been a course I’ve wanted to play for a long time. I certainly wasn’t disappointed. Designed by renowned architect Robert Trent Jones Jr, Club de Golf Alcanada’s 18hole course opened in 2003 and is located right by the sea. The 6,499-metre lay-out blends naturally into the typical Mallorcan landscape. The club takes its name from
a nearby island just off the shore which, complete with its own lighthouse, can be seen from most of the holes. Apart from the splendid sea view, players are surrounded by pine and olive groves throughout their round and, even though a young course, Alcanada is already recognised by a number of well-known golf magazines and golf guides as one of the finest courses in Spain and Europe. The capable groundstaff had the course looking in pristine condition, this really was one of the nicest courses I’ve played. After a quick warm up on the driving range, Alex and I headed to the clearly signposted first tee.
