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Owned by a member of the Porsche family, Club de Golf Alcanada, in the north of Mallorca, is on the fast track to becoming one of Europe’s top courses.
It’s rare, but it does happen: that ‘lightbulb moment’ can sometimes strike when it’s least expected on a golf course.
A slight change to your set-up, swing, grip or putting stroke can suddenly transform you from a clueless hacker to someone who looks like they may have played the game before.
Of course, as amateur golfers, we all know it can too easily go the other way in the blink of an eye. What once worked so brilliantly is either entirely forgotten or suddenly deemed utterly useless after a moment of failure.
At Club de Golf Alcanada in the north of Mallorca, there’s no guarantee on experiencing one of those lightbulb moments. Instead, they do things on a larger scale in this part of the island.
Dominating the scenery at a club, which continues to press its claims as the best in Mallorca, is a mid-19th century lighthouse standing proud. It offers the kind of views which turn a very good golf course into a truly memorable experience.
Arguably, the best view is from the elevated 13th tee, where you hit down and towards the Bay of Alcudia, with the towering structure away in the distance. Sending a full-blooded tee shot soaring into the sky with that backdrop must be a thrilling experience for anyone who has achieved the feat.
Some of us might never know but it can be confirmed that scuttling one 100 yards or so, with another strike which failed to go anywhere close to the middle of the club-face, was rather less satisfying.
Whether you are left beaming or your driver is on the blink, it’s still the kind of view where you can forget about the obvious flaws in your golf game, even if it’s for just a few brief glorious moments.
Although the lighthouse adds to the whole experience, there are several ‘wow’ holes at Alcanada.
And there is even more added ‘wow’ factor in 2019, thanks to a €700,000 revamp, which has seen all 18 greens replaced, so nobody can blame an unruly bobble for that missed putt.
Since the course opened in 2003, Alcanada has established itself as a top European golf destination. Around 45 minutes’ drive from Palma airport, the north of Mallorca remains relatively unspoilt in contrast to some of the mass tourism areas in other parts of the island.
Of course, there is still nightlife, culture, and plenty to see away from the golf course. But it is a more authentic Mallorca and well worth venturing north for some of the incredible scenery and experiences waiting to be discovered. Those who stay in the south on their visits to the island are simply missing out on so much more.
The Porsche-owned club is a Robert Trent Jones Jr-designed layout. And, in keeping with the owners’ attention to detail in manufacturing luxury cars, Alcanada has not cut any corners – it might be suggested it prefers to glide around them instead.
In addition to the 7,108-yard course benefiting from the new greens, there will also be work to upgrade more than 7,500 yards of the underground irrigation system, while also revamping and improving the pro shop. Plus, the sand has also been replaced in all of the bunkers.
These improvements may not gain many headlines in isolation but it all adds up to a level of care and attention to keep Alcanada as pristine as possible.
This follows on from a host of other improvements over the last year or so, such as a new halfway house called the Lighthouse Bar, where golfers can enjoy a mid-round break for a chilled glass of something, a light snack and to sit back and call a few groups through.
That relaxed vibe runs through the fabric at Alcanada – a club which knows its roots but has added a modern touch in all the right places.
That tradition and history is epitomised in the centuries-old Mallorca clubhouse – a 19th hole brimming with style. After the round, the inviting sun terrace is the ideal spot to catch a few rays, enjoy some liquid refreshment and drink in those views all over again.
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