Alcanada vs Son Gual
Mallorca's two finest courses sit at opposite ends of the island and offer opposite pleasures. Alcanada, by the Bay of Alcudia in the north, is the most beautiful round on the island, played in sight of its little lighthouse. Son Gual, minutes from Palma, is the top rated championship test, immaculate and demanding. Here is the honest head to head, with our verdict up front.
Photograph: Club de Golf Alcanada, Mallorca, via Google
The verdict
For pure course quality, Son Gual edges it. Thomas Himmel's 2007 design just east of Palma is a big, muscular par 72 routed through thousands of olive trees, with bold bunkering, water and large, contoured greens, kept in a condition that few clubs in Spain match. It is consistently rated the best course on Mallorca and has the feel of a private championship club, the round a serious golfer comes to the island to play.
But Alcanada is the one most visitors remember. Robert Trent Jones Jr laid it out above the Bay of Alcudia in 2003 for owner Hans Peter Porsche, and the sea is in view for almost the entire round, with the tiny Alcanada island and its lighthouse as the backdrop. It is a fine, varied course in its own right, but it is the setting that lifts it, the most beautiful golf on the island. Pick Son Gual for the stronger, more testing layout, Alcanada for the scenery and the sense of place, and on a longer trip play both, one near Palma and one in the north.
Head to head
| Club de Golf Alcanada | Golf Son Gual | |
|---|---|---|
| Designer and year | Robert Trent Jones Jr, opened 2003 | Thomas Himmel, opened 2007 |
| Par and length | Par 72, around 6,500 meters | Par 72, around 6,600 meters |
| Setting | Bay of Alcudia, sea and lighthouse views throughout; the island's most scenic course | Inland near Palma, olive groves and mountain backdrop; a private championship feel |
| Course standing | A top three Mallorca course, celebrated above all for its setting | Regularly rated the number one course on Mallorca for quality and conditioning |
| Location | Port d'Alcudia, northern Mallorca, about an hour from Palma | About 10 minutes east of Palma toward Manacor |
| Best paired with | The Pollensa coast, Alcudia old town and the northern beaches | Palma, the Tramuntana foothills and the island's other Palma area courses |
| Who it suits | Players who prize beauty and a memorable seaside round | Serious golfers wanting the strongest, best conditioned test on the island |
Course facts verified June 2026; green fees move with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick Alcanada if
You want the most beautiful round on Mallorca and a base in the quieter north. Robert Trent Jones Jr used the Bay of Alcudia to full effect, with the sea and the lighthouse island in view almost throughout, and the course is varied, walkable and a genuine pleasure. It pairs with the beaches and old towns of the north, so it suits couples and groups who want scenery and a relaxed coastal trip as much as the golf itself.
Pick Son Gual if
You want the strongest, best conditioned course on the island and an easy base in Palma. Thomas Himmel built a bold, demanding par 72 through olive groves, with the polish and privacy of a championship club, and it routinely tops Mallorca rankings. It suits low handicappers and groups who put course quality first and want to stay in or near Palma, with the city, the Tramuntana and the rest of the island's golf close at hand.
Plan your Mallorca golf trip
Alcanada in the north, Son Gual near Palma, or both with the island's other courses alongside. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge books the tee times, transfers and stay, and costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Alcanada vs Son Gual questions
Is Alcanada or Son Gual the better golf course?
Son Gual, a Thomas Himmel design that opened in 2007 just east of Palma, is the more highly rated course for pure quality and conditioning, regularly placed at or near the top of Mallorca rankings. Club de Golf Alcanada, a Robert Trent Jones Jr layout at Port d'Alcudia from 2003, is the more beautiful, with sea views to its namesake lighthouse island throughout the round. Son Gual edges it for golf, Alcanada for setting, and both are among the best on the island.
How far apart are Alcanada and Son Gual?
They sit at opposite ends of Mallorca. Son Gual is about 10 minutes east of Palma, on the road toward Manacor, while Alcanada is roughly an hour north at Port d'Alcudia. A golf trip can comfortably include both, basing in or near Palma for Son Gual and spending a night or two in the north for Alcanada and the Pollensa coast.
Which Mallorca course has sea views?
Alcanada is the standout for sea views: it runs along the Bay of Alcudia with the Mediterranean and the little Alcanada island and its lighthouse in sight for much of the round, and is often called the most scenic course on the island. Son Gual is inland near Palma, set among olive trees and Mallorcan countryside, with mountain rather than sea views.
When is the best time to play golf in Mallorca?
Mallorca plays golf year round, with the prime months in spring, March to May, and autumn, September to November, when the weather is warm and settled and the courses are at their best. Winter is mild and good value, and high summer is hot, so early tee times are wise. Always confirm seasonal conditions and book ahead in spring and autumn.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Mediterranean golf, the best windows to travel and the courses worth the trip. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.