Son Antem Golf East

The verdict

Son Antem East is the friendly face of one of Mallorca's busiest golf resorts. Designed by the Spanish architect Francisco Lopez Segales and opened in 1994, it was the first course on a property near Llucmajor that grew into a two course destination resort just 20 minutes from Palma and its airport. The East is the original layout and remains the more relaxed of the pair.

It plays as a par 72 of about 6,250 meters across flat, gently wooded ground, with broad fairways, accessible greens and trouble that is mostly in plain sight. That makes it a fine choice for a easygoing round, a higher handicapper, or the first day of a trip when the body is still waking up. It is not the island's most dramatic course, but as part of a Mallorca golf break, paired with its tougher sibling, it is reliable, sunny and good value.

The holes worth the trip

The character of the East is space and ease. The land is largely flat, the corridors are wide, and most holes give the driver room to work without severe punishment for a stray shot, so confident players can attack and nervous ones can relax. Stands of pine and the occasional water hazard provide definition and a little strategy, but the course rarely sets out to trick or trap you.

Where the East asks its questions is around the greens. The putting surfaces are mostly flat and receptive, but reaching the right portion leaves the best look at par or birdie, and a tidy short game turns a comfortable round into a good score. The par 3s are pleasant rather than fearsome, and the par 5s give the bigger hitter a realistic chance to go for it in two.

This is golf designed to be enjoyed in the Mallorcan sun rather than to test a low handicap to its limit. For that reason it pairs perfectly with the longer, more demanding West Course over a few days, letting a group warm up or wind down on the East and rise to the challenge next door. Conditioning is consistently good and the resort setting makes the whole day effortless.

Where to stay nearby

The simplest base is the resort hotel at Son Antem itself, an Autograph Collection property with a spa, two courses on the doorstep and stay and play packages that make a golf trip seamless. The wider south of the island, from Palma to the beach resorts of the bay, offers a full range of hotels within a short drive, with the city's dining, marina and old town close at hand.

Son Antem East is best played alongside its sibling and the island's other strong courses. Combine it with the championship Son Antem West next door, the parkland of Son Muntaner near Palma, and the seaside Alcanada in the north. See our Golf in Spain hub and our best courses in Mallorca ranking to shape the route, or browse Mallorca golf holidays.

Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Palma.