Golf Club Alcanada - Challenge Tour Final Course
Updated: Oct 12
Golfing at Alcanada: What an Amazing Experience in October
Just outside Port d'Alcúdia, Club de Golf Alcanada combines fantastic design with equally stunning views, and that combination should never be taken for granted. The Mediterranean is in view throughout the round, and the Alcanada lighthouse, on a small island just offshore, gives you a reference point you keep coming back to.
Alcanada has hosted the Challenge Tour Grand Final several times since 2019, and for good reason. It tests the best young professionals and still feels welcoming to amateurs. I played it in October 2023, and the timing couldn't have been better.
A Course That Opens to the Horizon
From the first tee you are greeted by a stunning view. Pine trees line the fairways, there is a light salty breeze, and the water glitters through the trees. There is a real sense of peace out there, crowned by the lighthouse, which keeps reappearing from different holes. You will love every bit of it.
Alcanada suits October. The summer heat has gone and the light turns soft and warm. The course feels calm and spacious, a pleasant distance from the busier resorts further along the coast. I have played Mallorca in July and August, when the heat is borderline oppressive, so October at Alcanada was a welcome change: mid-20s, a light breeze and no sun scorching overhead. This is golf heaven.
Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s Design
The course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened in 2003, and it is truly special. Jones created a modern championship layout that also works as a lasting portrait of Mallorca. The routing runs down towards the sea and back up the hill, and you are constantly adjusting to changes in wind direction and elevation. You never seem to play the same shot twice.
At around 6,500 metres the course has real length, and it earns it. Your position on the fairway and the angle into the greens decide whether you are attacking the pin or scrambling. The greens are large and subtly shaped, protected more by run-off areas than by heavy bunkering, and they reward thoughtful approach play rather than brute force.
October Is the Time to Play
If you are thinking about playing Alcanada, October is probably the best choice. It is comfortable, the greens are fast without being unplayable, and there is just enough breeze to make every shot interesting. A tee shot you think is perfect can easily drift a few metres, and on the approaches nothing matters more than a committed full swing.
The first part of the round eases you in, but through the middle of the course its real character comes out. That middle stretch is the best and most complete part of the course, with constant elevation changes, great views of the bay and a steady stream of decisions about how much risk you want to take.
The 13th, a par 5, is one of the most beautiful holes I have ever played. It has the best view of the lighthouse and looks very inviting, but it can get you into a lot of trouble if you are not careful. The wind was slightly helping, my drive was decent, and I had about 220 yards left. After far too long debating, I hit 3-wood, struck it clean and found the green in two. I walked off thinking, "That is why you play courses like this."
The conditioning in October was exceptional. The greens rolled beautifully, the fairways were true and consistent, and the bunkers were well maintained. I felt dialled in.
The atmosphere almost matched the course. The staff were friendly, the pace of play was great, and the whole experience felt premium without being formal or intimidating. Just great golf on a great course in great condition, with nobody stacked up behind you.
The 18th is a great finish, with the October sun on the fairway as it climbs back to the clubhouse. It is an honest, strong closing hole that demands focus and rewards you with sea views. I stood on the green afterwards, looking back down the fairway to the sea, and thought: this is how golf in Mallorca should feel. Not packed resort courses in the summer heat. This. October. Alcanada. Perfect.
One of the Best in Europe
Club de Golf Alcanada is not just one of the best courses in Mallorca but one of the best coastal courses in Europe. Very few combine all three: engaging strategy, stunning scenery and real tranquillity. Other courses on the island may be better known, but none gave me as much overall satisfaction, especially in the right season.
The course is great at any time of year, but if you get the chance, play it in October. The autumn light, the cooler temperatures and the clear air create conditions where every shot matters and every hole feels special. I have played a lot of golf on Mallorca, and this was one of my best rounds on the island. A lot of that came down to timing.
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