Alcanada is one of those courses that lingers in your memory. Not just for the view of the lighthouse or the perfectly manicured grass, but for that feeling you get when you're on a course truly designed for golf. I played it during my golf trip to Mallorca, and I can tell you it was a memorable experience.
Mallorca, news
The course is located in the northeast of the island, a few kilometers from Alcdia, directly overlooking the Mediterranean. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the course unfolds naturally among hills, pine trees, olive trees, and picture-perfect sea views. But don't be fooled by its beauty: the layout is technical, requires precise choices, and changes depending on the wind.
A course that changes: up and down towards the sea
My experience began on the first nine holes, which unfold on hilly terrain. Here, the course rises and falls between natural slopes, narrow doglegs, and blind tee shots that force you to trust your shot. The surrounding vegetation gives you a sense of intimacy, but every now and then it opens up and allows a glimpse of the sea, foreshadowing what's to come.
The back nine are a different story. The course begins to curve toward the coast, and the protagonist becomes the Alcanada lighthouse, looming between the holes like a fixed landmark. The landscape opens up, the wind becomes more present, and each hole begins to interact with the Mediterranean.
It is precisely on these holes that important pages of European golf are written: since 2019, Alcanada has been the official host of the Challenge Tour Grand Final, the final event of the season. The best players on the circuit compete here, battling for promotion to the DP World Tour. It's a crucial stage, in a spectacular and challenging setting: fast greens, meticulously planned flag positions, and the pressure of those playing for their future.
Of all the holes, there are a few that have truly remained in my heart:
Hole 3 A par 4 that seems easy, but isn't
A short par 4 that doesn't seem intimidating... but it doesn't take much to complicate your life. The tee shot is blind, and the fairway slopes slightly, with lateral bunkers ready to punish overshots. I tried to be conservative to leave a comfortable second shot, but the green is well-defended and unforgiving with hidden slopes. It's one of those holes where you need more brains than strength.
Hole 7 The picture-perfect par 5
Here, I really slowed down to enjoy the view. From the tee, the view of the ocean and the lighthouse is breathtaking. The fairway slopes gently toward the green, squeezed between bunkers and Mediterranean scrub. The opening shot must be well-placed to avoid the bunker in the middle of the fairway, and the second shotif you decide to attackrequires courage. The surrounding scenery is so captivating, you almost forget about your score.
Hole 11 Pure Strategy
Another par 5, another story. This hole is long and tricky, with a narrow, sloping fairway. Every shot must be considered: the ball's position on the third shot greatly affects the entry to the green, which is well protected by a side bunker. The lighthouse in the background is an incredible constant on the back nine.
Hole 13 The signature hole of Golf Alcanada
This is the course's signature hole, the one that alone is worth the trip. A downhill par 5, with the Alcanada lighthouse perfectly aligned before you and a breathtaking, open view of the blue Mediterranean. The tee shot is both spectacular and technical: I took the driver and managed to land in the center of the fairway, edging past the bunker placed right there to make you think twice.
From that point on, you enjoy a hole that embodies all the charm of this course: clean lines, nature as the protagonist, and a well-defended green that forces you to think until the very last shot. If there's one moment I'll take home from this experience, it's this tee shot.
Hole 17 an Open-level par 3
Almost at the end of the round, Alcanada pulls off a masterstroke. The 17th is a 194-meter par 3 with the sea on the left and a green protected by well-placed bunkers. The wind, as often happens here, is unforgiving.
