Golf Post

The Early Bird Catches the Worm

The plane takes off on time from Cologne-Bonn airport just before 5:30 a.m. After a smooth flight and a one-hour car journey across the island, I’m sitting on the inviting terrace of the Pula Golf Resort in the east of Majorca just over three and a half hours later.

I enjoy the pleasant temperatures in the morning sun and the hearty breakfast. Freshly fortified, I pick up my electric cart and hired clubs and play my first relaxed round on the adjacent golf course.

Vamos a la Playa

With a German club member, I make a short trip to the nearby Los Pinos Beach in Son Servera, whose Bar Playa is known for its delicious fish dishes. Here, we savor freshly caught grilled sole with a glass of crisp white wine.

The view of the turquoise-colored Mediterranean Sea is just as magnificent as the laid-back ambiance. The aroma of freshly roasted garlic pervades the bar, which is popular with locals and foreigners alike, and whose attentive and friendly staff exude pure joie de vivre.

Spanish, English, and German are spoken. A number of our compatriots have purchased property in this charming and peaceful area of the island and opted for membership at Pula Golf.

The resort, owned by the Sala family, is the ideal base for exploring the golf courses in the east and north of the island. Their son, Arnau, runs it with great passion as General Manager. Ten of the 31 rooms are located in the Majorcan-style manor house dating back to 1561, in front of which is the putting green. The stylish building and its small chapel are also used for wedding celebrations.

The remaining accommodation units are divided between superior and deluxe apartments, which are located opposite the manor house at ground level and surrounded by magnificent nature, which is where I stay. It is modern and functionally furnished and is situated right next to one of Majorca’s typical windmills. Green fees are free for guests of some room types.

A total of 24 golf courses are spread across the island. With the Golf East Mallorca packages, you can play Pula Golf and the nearby courses at the Club de Golf de Son Servera and Capdepera Golf at discounted rates. A round on the course of Club de Golf Alcanada, which has been recognized as the number one on the island many times over and enjoys an excellent international reputation, is also possible.

Location, Location, Location

Less than an hour from Son Servera, Majorca’s top club is located in the far north of the island with a fantastic view of the bay of Alcudia. On the small offshore island that gave the club its name, there is a lighthouse dating back to 1861, which was manually operated until 1960 when automation took over. As a tribute to this historic lighthouse, the Club de Golf Alcanada incorporated it into their logo.

Opened in 2003, its owner, Hans-Peter Porsche, recruited Robert Trent Jones Jr. to design the course. The par 72 course is 6,559 meters long from the back tees and offers views of the sea from 17 holes; the only course on Majorca that lies directly on the coast.

The layout of the course is varied. Most of the holes lead uphill and downhill, sometimes through valleys and ravines. The course is surrounded by a dense tree population including pine and olive trees as well as holm oaks that flank the fairways.

I particularly enjoy the tee shots from the elevated tees into the steeply sloping fairways, while the bunkers placed in the center of the fairways, typical of RTJ Jr., are also one of the standout characteristics of the course.

The challenging course requires a strategic game. The first five holes are particularly tough, with mental strength required on the holes where ravines (barrancas) have to be overcome.

Not forgetting the firm and fast greens, which have a stimpmeter of 11.0 on our round, meaning that two putts is a great result! The minimum HCP of 33 for men and 35 for women is fully justified.

The condition of the tee boxes, fairways, and greens, including the clubhouse and various practice facilities, is immaculate. This also includes the Toptracer driving range, which was the first of its kind on Majorca. In particular, the perfect conditioning of the bunkers with their precisely cut edges and finely raked sand is also striking, thanks to more than 20 greenkeepers. Too beautiful to play in.

Host of the Rolex Challenge Tour Finals Supported by The R&A

The club, a founding member of the Leading Courses of Spain, is delighted to be hosting the final tournament of the Road to Mallorca tournament series in 2024 for the fourth time since 2019. At the end of October 2024, the 45 top-ranked players will compete for one of the 20 tour cards that entitle them to participate in the DP World Tour the following season.

German Golf Director Kristoff Both can think of no better way to promote the club than through the repeated live TV broadcasts on the four tournament days.

The club has also attracted attention in the past with the Spanish Senior Championship and one of the most recognized men’s amateur tournaments in the world, the International Spanish Amateur Men’s Championship Copa S.M. El Rey, held here for the second time in 2024.

We pass the attractive halfway house, the Lighthouse Bar, after #9 and a second time after #15, offering refreshing hot and cold drinks and tasty snacks.

The club has been using recycled wastewater from the neighboring hotels in Alcudia to irrigate the course since 1990. Indeed, the club has been regularly awarded the annual Q Calidad Turistica seal for quality, service, and the environment since 2010. Tetra Bricks have been used instead of plastic bottles since 2019, and water stations at various points on the course ensure you can refill your own drinking bottles during your round.

Everything at the Highest Level

After a challenging round of golf, a great lunch awaits us on the clubhouse terrace in a fantastic location. Soaking in the marvelous view over the bay, I particularly enjoy the excellent Pulpo a la Brasa and the spicy Gambas al Ajillo from the numerous excellent tapas on offer.

The aesthetics found throughout the club grounds are unrivaled. Eye-catchers include the starter’s house and the iconic clock from the American watch manufacturer VERDIN. This includes, for me, the colorfully designed pro shop, which is located together with the restaurant in a Majorcan-style building dating back to the 17th century.

More Than a Golf Course

Back at the Pula Golf Resort, I see for myself to what extent the aforementioned slogan is true. The small outdoor pool is just as inviting as the fully equipped Gym & Spa with indoor pool, sauna, and state-of-the-art training equipment, which is complimentary for hotel guests. I don’t make use of the resort’s own physiotherapist or the various beauty treatments on offer.

Completely relaxed, I look forward to dinner in the S’Era de Pula restaurant, as the resort also knows how to impress with its cuisine. After an aperitivo at the bar, it’s not easy to choose from the Mediterranean cuisine with local produce from the 6,000 square meter fruit, vegetable, and herb garden where organic cultivation is a top priority.

Sustainability plays an important role at the resort, where a circular economy is practiced. The resort is the first ‘Competitive Regenerative Hotel’ in the whole of Spain to have its own golf course. Measures include the avoidance and reduction of plastic, including the refilling of drinking bottles with still and sparkling water throughout the property, the use of solar energy, and the use of recycled water on the golf course.

European Tour Course

Pula Golf has existed since 1995 and owes its original design to Francisco Segalés. The course was redesigned between 2004 and 2006 by two-time Masters champion and 23-time winner on the European Tour José María Olázabal. Oli transformed it into a 6,297 meter long, par 72, championship course from the back tees.

His last Tour victory on this course dates back to 2005, when he won the Mallorca Classic, which took place here between 2003-2007. The current layout has been in place since 2010, when some final adjustments were made. This was followed by the 2013-2017 Olazábal & Nadal Invitational, a Pro-Am tournament in favor of the Rafa Nadal and Sport Mundi Foundation.

I agree with the owner’s description of the course in the Birdie Book as ‘Challenging but fair’ and ‘Tough Par, Easy Bogey’.

The course is divided into three distinct areas that can be reached through tunnels that pass under roads. Each hole has its own character.

Most of the holes lead uphill and downhill through open terrain. The course is characterized by several elevated tee boxes, greens that can be played blind, numerous bunkers, and two lakes with watercourses. The fairways offer plenty of approach shots, while there is no rough worth mentioning. Fairways, greens, and bunkers are in well-kept condition, with only the tee boxes needing some room for improvement. Overall, the course is fun to play.

Pula Golf was the first course on Majorca and the second in Spain to be equipped with a Trackman driving range. This is double-decked and is located between #1 and #18 right next to the clubhouse.

I enjoyed my golf trip to the Germans’ favorite island and can highly recommend this perfectly run resort with its great service and attentive staff.

Recommended Stopover

On the way to the airport, I pass Manacor, the third largest town in Majorca. It is particularly famous for its industrial pearl production. Another attraction is the impressive training center of tennis’s great Rafael Nadal.

Sports enthusiasts should visit this center and the adjoining Rafa Nadal Museum Xperience. It offers numerous interactive opportunities to practice different sports and provides an overview of the champion’s greatest successes.

Rafa is a passionate golfer with a HCP in the low +range. However, his extraordinary swing is probably not on any golf pro’s training program.

Cologne, June 2024, Juergen Linnenbuerger