June 12th, 2009
Son Gual, Mallorca
Reviewing golf courses for a living isn’t a bad life. But then familiarity breeds contempt so it stands to reason that after a while even trudging from tee to green along high calibre fairways can begin to feel like nothing more than a regular job. But then I went to Son Gual.
Mallorca is one of the more popular golfing destinations in Europe, boasting around 24 golf courses and a climate that is pleasantly mild all year. However, quantity doesn’t always mean quality and it was a major fillip to the island’s attempts to attract a more discerning golfer when Golf Son Gual opened in October last year. A year on, it has become the most desirable golf address on the island and it is easy to see why.
Laid out across beautiful Mallorcan terrain, just west of the capital Palma, Golf Son Gual is the realisation of one man’s dream. Adam Pamer, a double glazing magnate and a self-confessed golf nut, has been visiting the island since 1974 bought a holiday home there in 1994.
Frustrated with the poor condition and service he experienced at many of the island’s courses, he set out to build his own dream golf club and employed three-time German Amateur champion, Thomas Himmel, to create it.
Himmel has worked wonders, moving mountains – literally. Some 1.4 million cubic metres of earth have been shifted to accommodate the course and deliver an exquisite golfing experience that blends seamlessly into the local landscape.
The German has employed some inventive designs including some of the largest tees in the world. For example the par-3, 15th is the size of at least three normal greens.
Created as a par-72, water is the predominant feature on the course. Seven lakes come into play ensuring Son Gual is known for its beauty as well as the excitement that playing a round over and around a body of water provides.
“Golf Son Gual has, a year on, become the most desirable golf address on the island and it is easy to see why”
Another standout feature of the course is Himmel’s use of large bunkering. There is one sand trap that measurers an astonishing 240m by 84m, at the par-4, second hole.
The project is rumoured to have cost around £24 million which is not surprising given the polished finish, five-star practice facilities and luxurious clubhouse. Just reward would see Son Gual crowned with a major professional event in the very near future.
As for the course itself, it measures 7,250 yards from the tips with bent grass conditioning from the large tees to the billiard table greens. The captivating design includes one of the finest collection of par-3s to be found anywhere in Europe and an 18th hole which, for those who have played it at least, is likely to go straight into their Hall of Fame list of best finishing holes.
Other notable features include 15-minute gaps between tee times, 800 mature olive trees, acres of wild flowers, extensive bunkering, lakes, waterfalls and even a sprinkling of on-course vineyards. Indeed, the Son Gual vintage is sure to be appreciated down the line by Europe’s golfing cognoscenti. Furthermore, there are no plans for construction on the golf course, a refreshing rarity in today’s property-fuelled golf tourism business which ensures the surrounding areas will remain unspoiled.
Given this mouth-watering cocktail, it is no surprise that celebrities, international sports stars and discerning golf travelers have been reaching for their wallets, keen to make a round at Golf Son Gual a more permanent fixture.
Despite a barrage of requests, details of the eagerly-awaited membership packages will not be released until later in the year and are likely to be limited to fewer than 500 in total. Thankfully, you won’t have to wait too long for the Son Gual experience as there are a number of daily visitor green fees available at €150.