News that autumn hotel bookings are on the rise in Mallorca has been echoed by the holiday island’s top two golf courses, which both report an increase in visitor tee-times.
Spain’s largest accommodation booking site, Hotelbeds, says bookings for September and October have risen by 24 per cent compared to last year. And that trend has been reflected in an increased number of foreign visitors booking to play golf at Son Gual and Alcanada – widely regarded as Mallorca’s top two tracks.
However, while Hotelbeds’ report also states that a €150m planned investment in various hotels during the winter will see many of them close for the duration, both golf courses will remain open to provide a superb winter golfing destination, thanks to their partnership with the four-star Lindner Golf & Wellness Resort Portals Nous.
Son Gual’s general manager, Andreas Pamer, said: “We manage our course closures carefully to carry out essential course maintenance and ensure we remain open during the autumn and winter months. And we’ve certainly received more tee-time enquiries and bookings for autumn and winter this year than at the same time in 2013, which suggests the findings in the report are being reflected elsewhere in the island’s tourism industry.”
His view was echoed by Club de Golf Alcanada’s director of golf, Kristoff Both, who added: “As it stands, year on year, we certainly have more bookings for October and beyond, from non-residents, than we have had previously. I hope this is an indication that the perception of Mallorca as a winter holiday destination is growing. The climate and facilities certainly warrant it.”
Nicole Rose, marketing manager for the four-star Lindner Golf & Wellness Resort Portals Nous, close to the luxury yacht harbour of Puerto Portals, commented: “I’ve seen recent figures suggesting that tourism numbers for Mallorca, from the British Isles, are currently running at 68 per cent more than last year, and that is reflected in our advance bookings for autumn and winter.
“Many hotels do close in Mallorca for the winter but we don’t, and it’s proving beneficial for us and our partners as Mallorca proves a desirable and easily accessible winter destination – not just for Brits, but for anybody looking to escape the northern and central European autumns and winters.”
With its mild winter climate offering mostly sunny days and cold evenings, the island of Mallorca is ideal for an autumn or winter golfing break – and, with a flight time of around two-and-a-half hours from the UK, it’s much easier to reach than the Canary Islands or North Africa.
The island is large enough to offer a variety of scenery and topography – from snow-topped mountains down to empty golden beaches – yet small enough to enjoy both in the same day.
This all makes it a perfect winter getaway and Son Gual and Alcanada have teamed up Lindner Golf & Wellness Resort Portals Nous to also make it a perfect break for golfers; great-value packages which ooze quality cost just €445 per person (approx £348), for a five-night stay with two rounds of golf.
A five-night, bed-and-breakfast break at the Lindner Golf & Wellness Resort Portals Nous, including access to the spa and wellness area, and one green fee, per person, at each of Alcanada and Son Gual, costs just €445 per person (approx £348), based upon two sharing a double room.
The offer is available from November 2 to December 19, 2014, and, in the new year, from January 4 to February 27, 2015, and is subject to availability.
Club de Golf Alcanada, in the north of Mallorca, was voted ‘favourite course in Europe’ for an unprecedented fifth successive year in 2013 by readers of leading German magazine Golf Journal, in its annual travel awards, regarded as the German ‘golf Oscars’. And it has recently been afforded the same title by visitors to the popular German website www.1golf.eu for a staggering fourth successive year.
The Robert Trent Jones Jr-designed course, is situated in the north region of Mallorca, in a breathtaking location overlooking the Bay of Alcudia, and offers magnificent mountain and sea views.
The €30m Son Gual golf course opened only in 2007 and was ranked the eighth-best course in Spain and the top venue in Mallorca in Golf World’s benchmark Top 100 Courses in Continental Europe 2014 rankings. It features large lakes, 66 bunkers, 800 olive trees – some more than a thousand years old – wild flowers in the rough areas and vineyards in several areas around the course.
In May 2009 it hosted the Mallorca Senior Open and received gushing praise from a number of participants – former Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam even compared the greens to those at Augusta National.
The delightful African-influenced Lindner Golf & Wellness Resort Portals Nous – set amid Bendinat’s Royal Golf Course – offers 118 comfortable rooms and suites, two exquisite restaurants, a cosy golf bar, spa area with indoor and outdoor pool, Jacuzzi, saunas, steam bath and gym, all set within spacious grounds with large sun lawns, and all less than a 20-minute drive from the airport.
Mallorca Tee Time www.mallorcateetime.com
Son Gual www.son-gual.com
Club de Golf Alcanada www.golf-alcanada.com
Lindner Golf & Wellness Resort www.lindner.de/en/BM