Mallorca is the Mediterranean's most rounded golf island, a short flight from northern Europe with a long shoulder season, a clutch of genuinely excellent courses around Palma and the only seaside course in the Balearics at Alcanada. From the polished modern challenge of Son Gual to a lighthouse framed coast, here are the seven we rate most highly, ranked, with our verdict on each.
Photograph: Golf Son Gual Mallorca, Golf Son Gual Mallorca, via Google
Mallorca concentrates most of its best golf around Palma and the southwest, an easy base of city, beaches and the Tramuntana mountains, with a second cluster on the quieter east coast. The island's standout courses are modern, well conditioned and walkable, led by Son Gual just outside Palma and the Arabella trio of Son Muntaner, Son Vida and Son Quint. The one true seaside round, Alcanada, sits an hour north on the Bay of Alcudia and is worth the drive.
Every fact here, from designers and opening years to tour history, was checked at the time of writing. The verdicts are ours, and the order reflects our editors' view rather than any single published list, so reasonable people will reorder the top four, particularly between Son Gual, Alcanada and Son Muntaner. Green fees quoted elsewhere on the site are indicative and seasonal, dearest in spring and autumn. If you want these built into a costed trip, that is exactly what our concierge does.
The island's number one and consistently rated the best course in the Balearics. Thomas Himmel built Son Gual just east of Palma as a polished, championship standard parkland of olive trees, water and immaculate conditioning, with generous fairways giving way to demanding, well defended greens. Privately owned and run to a very high standard, with a fine restaurant and practice ground, it is the most complete golf experience on the island and the round to build a trip around.
The only course in the Balearics right beside the sea and, for many, the most beautiful on the island. Robert Trent Jones Jr routed it down to the shore of the Bay of Alcudia, with the little lighthouse island of Alcanada framing several holes and the Tramuntana mountains behind. An hour north of Palma, it pairs a genuine seaside setting with a strong, varied layout. The scenic highlight of any Mallorca trip and worth basing a night or two nearby.
The flagship of the Arabella Golf resort on the edge of Palma and a host of DP World Tour and Ladies European Tour events, including the Mallorca Golf Open. Kurt Rossknecht laid it out through ancient olive groves and pine, a mature, strategic parkland with a thousand year old olive tree by the clubhouse and excellent conditioning. The most pedigreed of the three Arabella courses and an easy walk from the hotels and the city.
The course that brought golf to Mallorca, the island's oldest, set in the hills of the smart Son Vida suburb above Palma and once played by Severiano Ballesteros. Modernised by Kurt Rossknecht in 2001, it is a shorter, tighter, hillier test than its Arabella siblings, with tree lined fairways and views over the bay of Palma. More charm and history than length, and an enjoyable, accessible round close to the city.
The leading course on the quieter east coast, between Son Servera and Capdepera, and a venue with real tour history, having hosted European events. A renovation by the two time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal sharpened a rolling layout of olive and oak with the Llevant hills behind. Attached to a resort hotel, it is the natural base for a couple of days golf on the east side, away from the busier southwest.
The youngest of the three Arabella courses above Palma, a generous, modern parkland that climbs into the hills with wide views over the city and the bay. More forgiving than Son Muntaner and well suited to mixed groups and higher handicaps, it also has a popular pitch and putt alongside. With its two sisters a short transfer away, it completes the easiest multi course base on the island, minutes from Palma.
A scenic inland course in the hills of the northeast near Capdepera and Canyamel, with a dramatic mountain backdrop and a quieter, more rural feel than the Palma courses. Rolling and well wooded, it makes a relaxed, attractive round for golfers basing on the east coast around the resorts of Cala Millor and Canyamel. A good pairing with Pula Golf nearby for a few days away from the busy southwest.
Designers, opening years and tour history verified June 2026. Several courses are attached to resorts where the right stay smooths tee times. Course profiles are added across the site as the directory grows. Always confirm visitor access and fees directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Tell us which of these are on your list, the Palma courses, the seaside round at Alcanada or the quieter east coast, and roughly when. One concierge arranges the tee times and base and costs the trip to the head, with no obligation.
Son Gual, Thomas Himmel's 2007 course just east of Palma, is our pick and is consistently rated the best in the Balearics for its conditioning, design and all round quality. The seaside Alcanada by Robert Trent Jones Jr and the tour host Son Muntaner are its closest rivals. Reasonable people reorder the top four.
Mallorca plays well from roughly March to November, with spring and autumn the sweet spots for warm, settled weather and the courses in top condition. Winter is mild and quiet, a useful off season escape, while July and August are hot, so most golfers play early and favour the shoulder months either side of high summer.
Yes. Golf Alcanada on the Bay of Alcudia, an hour north of Palma, is the only course in the Balearics set right beside the sea, with the little Alcanada lighthouse island framing several holes. Most of the island's other courses are inland parkland layouts around Palma and the east coast, often with sea or mountain views but not on the shore.
Yes. Almost all of Mallorca's courses welcome visitor play, and several, including the Arabella trio around Palma and the east coast resorts, offer stay and play packages that smooth tee times. Buggies are widely available and dress codes are standard. Green fees are seasonal, dearest in spring and autumn. Always confirm directly before booking.
Mallorca and Spanish island golf, the shoulder season and the booking windows that matter. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course designers, opening years and host events verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.