The Poniente Golf course could actually be a dream location par excellence. Hardly any other golf course can offer such a spectacular scenery. From the upper greens, one has an enchanting view of the Tramuntana Mountains which emerge in the background. Here the pyramidal Galatzó and the bulky, almost square massif of s’Esclop loom about 100 meters into the sky. On the 6.5 km long course with a height difference of almost 110 meters, a variety of trees welcomes us. In the lower realms near the waterfront powerful, old fan palms line the edge of the fairways and in the upper area mainly pine, olive and fig trees grow.
The Poniente Golf Course in south west Mallorca is one of the oldest courses on the island.
A demanding course
The frequent water areas, the many trees and long distances make the Poniente golf course a rather difficult course (slope 138). Since the golf course, which was designed by John Harris, was already inaugurated in 1978 (is thereby one of the oldest courses on the island) the course fits well into the landscape. The golf course is just 12 km far away from the capital Palma and the next access to the highway is in about 3 km. Poniente has so much to offer, but in all fairness, it should be mentioned that particularly in the hot season the greens are not in the best condition. A more intensive maintenance would surely turn the so beautifully situated golf course into a dream location.
Old trees and the repeated nice view on the Tramuntana Mountains are quite characteristic for Poniente.
Nevertheless let us virtually swing our golf clubs and take a walk around the golf course. The golf course is relatively long, but since it has no steep slopes, you can walk the distance in a sporting fashion on spikes in about four hours, although of course it is more comfortable to drive around with a golf cart. Let us start our stroll by walking passed the clubhouse, an old finca, which has been converted into a country-style inn with a large beer garden. Near the first tee, a huge driving range invites you to tee off. Further up another driving range is available for pitching and putting.
Start
Surrounded by pine trees you will find tee no. 1. The 405 meters to the green lead gently down onto a wide green. A touch poses the only real risk here and is prompted by the driving range on the left side. By avoiding the bunkers on the right side and the water on the left, I , as a mediocre golfer, am with four strokes able to reach the somewhat bumpy green. Then you have to cross the road, which is not really that busy. The next par 5 with a distance of half a kilometre from the yellow tee can be mastered with a 14 handicap. Tee 3 is quite difficult, a handicap level 2 is justified due to the many bunkers, numerous trees and the leisurely ascent. Henceforth, the pine trees that surround the greens make life a little difficult. Since every strongly distorted tee inevitably ends up in the forest. However, if you hit the ball fairly straight, you can achieve a par at hole 5, a very short par 5 (yellow 435 m).
After crossing the road again (be careful here, because bushes and trees impair visibility) we reach a tee, which reveals a somewhat curious history. Not far away from the tee, we see an ingrown bicycle frame in the trunk of a pine tree. Rumour has it, that a refugee during the Spanish Civil War left the bicycle there and then continued his journey on foot. The left behind bicycle in the meantime has grown together with the tree trunk and is now located at an altitude of about 10 meters. Whether true or a legend, we are not sure, but we do know that from now on the course continues to go uphill between the pine forests.
Gently rolling hills make the course playable without a golf cart.
Views on the Tramuntana Mountains
At tee 8 we reach the highest point of the course and are rewarded with a magnificent view on the Tramuntana Mountains. When teeing down we need to study the terrain carefully and take into account the steep slopes to the right.
Lots of water starting from hole 9
With regard to the second nine holes we have to deal right at the beginning with the hardest hole (Hcp 1). While the trees during the first nine holes were the ones that made life difficult, it is now the water. While the ball if necessary may be found again in the woods, the water simply swallows it and imposes a penalty stroke. For this reason, we must conclude that the many small and larger ponds no doubt make playing the second half more exciting, but also make it more difficult.
Starting from hole 9 many water obstacles determine the course.
Starting from tee 14 after many splish-splashes it goes back up passing by the clubhouse towards the glamorous viewpoints. Once the plucky golfing friend has been able to fight himself past the pine trees to green 16, he may catch a moment’s breath and enjoy the beautiful view. The view straight ahead, presents the powerful grey shiny stone mountains of the Tramuntana. If we look to the right Palma’s Cathedral shines in a yellow glow.
High up on tee 18 the ball almost flies down by itself. We have strolled along many paths, have hit the ball up and shallow, however not always the same one. But now we have finally completed the course, the small white ball rolls into hole 18. At the cosy clubhouse we have surely earned ourselves a beer and a bocadillo. During a relaxed chat about the highs and lows of our game we enjoy the late afternoon sun and golfing as such.