Mallorca vs the Canary Islands for Golf
Two of Spain's island golf escapes, pulling in different directions. Mallorca brings the better courses and the shorter hop from much of Europe. The Canary Islands bring the one thing the mainland and the Balearics cannot guarantee in winter: reliable, warm Atlantic sun. Here is the honest head to head, with our verdict up front.
Photograph: Club de Golf Alcanada, via Google
The verdict
For the better golf and the easier trip, Mallorca wins. One compact island holds around two dozen courses, led by Golf Son Gual near Palma, the Thomas Himmel design that has hosted the Mallorca Golf Open, and the seaside Club de Golf Alcanada, a Robert Trent Jones Junior course looking out to its little lighthouse island. Add Son Muntaner and a deep supporting cast, all within an easy drive, plus a short flight from most of Europe and a glorious off course island, and Mallorca is the stronger all round golf destination.
But the Canary Islands own the one season Mallorca cannot. When the Mediterranean cools from November to March, Tenerife and Gran Canaria play warm, dry and reliable, which makes them Europe's true winter sun golf. The headline course is Dave Thomas' Abama on Tenerife, tumbling through subtropical ravines to the Atlantic, with Anfi Tauro's red canyon on Gran Canaria close behind. The golf is good rather than great and the flight is longer, but for guaranteed midwinter warmth the Canaries are unmatched. Pick Mallorca for the courses and spring or autumn, the Canaries for dependable winter golf.
Head to head
| Mallorca | Canary Islands | |
|---|---|---|
| Signature courses | Golf Son Gual, by Thomas Himmel; Club de Golf Alcanada, by Robert Trent Jones Junior; Son Muntaner; Pula Golf | Abama, Tenerife, by Dave Thomas; Anfi Tauro, Gran Canaria; Golf Costa Adeje; Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas |
| The best single course | Golf Son Gual, the manicured Palma parkland that has hosted the Mallorca Golf Open, pushed hard by seaside Alcanada | Abama on Tenerife, a Dave Thomas design dropping through palm filled ravines to the ocean, the jewel of Canary golf |
| Depth and choice | The deeper field, with roughly two dozen courses on one easy island within short drives of each other | Fewer courses, spread across separate islands; Tenerife and Gran Canaria are the two golf hubs |
| Best season | Spring and autumn at its best; hot summers and cooler, sometimes wet winters | The winter sun specialist, warm and dry November to March when Europe is cold; their biggest advantage |
| Getting there | A short flight from most of Europe to Palma, then a compact island to drive | A longer flight to the Atlantic; island hopping needs a ferry or a connecting flight |
| Off the course | One of the Mediterranean's great islands: Palma's old town, coves, mountains and superb food and hotels | Volcanic landscapes, black sand beaches, Teide National Park and year round resort warmth |
| Who it suits | Keen golfers wanting the best courses and a short hop, in spring or autumn | Winter escapers who want guaranteed warmth and reliable midwinter golf above all |
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 Mallorca if
You want the better golf and the simpler trip. One small island gives you Son Gual, seaside Alcanada and a deep field of quality courses within easy drives, plus a short flight from most of Europe and one of the Mediterranean's finest islands to enjoy off the course. It is the stronger spring and autumn golf destination, and the natural choice for a keen group chasing design quality.
Pick the Canary Islands if
You want guaranteed winter sun. When the Mediterranean cools, Tenerife and Gran Canaria stay warm and dry, which makes the Canaries Europe's most reliable midwinter golf, headlined by Dave Thomas' Abama and Gran Canaria's dramatic Anfi Tauro. The golf is good rather than world class and the flight is longer, but for dependable warmth from November to March nothing in Europe beats it.
Plan your Spanish island golf trip
Mallorca, the Canary Islands or a winter and a spring trip to each. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge builds the tee times, transfers and base, and costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Mallorca vs Canary Islands questions
Is Mallorca or the Canary Islands better for a golf holiday?
It depends on the season and what you want. Mallorca has the stronger and deeper golf, led by Golf Son Gual and the seaside Club de Golf Alcanada, a Robert Trent Jones Junior design, with around two dozen courses on one easy island, and it is at its best in spring and autumn. The Canary Islands win on guaranteed winter sun, with Tenerife and Gran Canaria playing warm and reliable from November to March when Mallorca cools. Choose Mallorca for the better courses and a shorter flight from much of Europe, the Canaries for dependable midwinter golf.
What is the best golf course in Mallorca?
Golf Son Gual, the Thomas Himmel design near Palma that opened in 2007 and has hosted the Mallorca Golf Open, is widely rated the island's best, a bold, manicured parkland test. Its closest rival is Club de Golf Alcanada near Alcudia, a Robert Trent Jones Junior course from 2003 and one of the only true seaside courses in the Balearics, with views to the Alcanada lighthouse. Good judges split between the two.
What is the best golf course in the Canary Islands?
Abama Golf on Tenerife, a Dave Thomas design dropping through subtropical ravines and palm groves to the Atlantic, is the most celebrated course in the Canary Islands and the jewel of Tenerife's golf. Gran Canaria counters with the dramatic Anfi Tauro in its red rock canyon and the established Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas, while Tenerife also offers Golf Costa Adeje and Golf del Sur. Abama is the headline round most visitors travel for.
When is the best time to play golf in Mallorca and the Canary Islands?
Mallorca is best in spring and autumn, roughly March to May and September to November, with hot summers and cooler, occasionally wet winters. The Canary Islands are the winter sun specialists, playing warm and dry from November to March when much of Europe is cold, which is their single biggest advantage. For a midwinter golf escape the Canaries win, while for a spring or autumn trip with better courses Mallorca is hard to beat. Always confirm seasonal conditions before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.