GOLFING GETAWAYS: Son Gual takes top spot in European rankings

News

Michael Graham
September 3, 2019

Golf Son Gual in Mallorca is celebrating another accolade after it was voted as the top course in Europe by readers of highly-respected German magazine Golf Journal.

Designed by Thomas Himmel, the 7,240-yard, par-72 course boasts particularly challenging greens, which were once likened to Augusta by former Masters champion Ian Woosnam. The dramatic layout topped the list in the publication’s 18^th edition of the coveted Golf Journal Travel Awards.

More than 1600 votes were registered by readers and visitors to www.golfjournal.de, where Son Gual was voted ahead of Mallorcan neighbours Club de Golf Alcanada and Real Golf de Bendinat in second and third place respectively. So it was no surprise that the popular Mediterranean island was named as the top golfing destination ahead of fellow golfing heavyweights: Portugal’s southern coast of the Algarve, Belek in Turkey and Spain’s Costa del Sol.

Son Gual’s managing director, Andreas Pamer, said: “To be named as the Most Popular Golf Course in Europe by the readers of Golf Journal is a source of great pride to us.

“A lot of work goes on behind the scenes in ensuring the experience is as enjoyable as possible for all of our guests and it’s fantastic to receive this sort of recognition. Course rankings are often down to personal opinions but these mean more when they are voted from people who have actually visited us and rated the experience so highly.”

Günter Reiter, deputy chief editor of Golf Journal, added: “Four times, Golf Son Gual has been second in the category of the Most Popular Golf course in Europe, so congratulations to them on finally making it to the number one position.

“Participants justified their choice with the varied and challenging golf holes and the beautiful clubhouse terrace of Golf Son Gual.”

Built on agricultural land at a cost in excess of €30m in 2008, Son Gual has since established itself as a leading European venue and features large lakes, 66 bunkers, 800 olive trees – some more than a thousand years old – a superb collection of par-threes and one of the most memorable finishing holes to be found anywhere on the continent.