GOLF SON PARC MENORCA

Golf Son Parc Menorca gives golfers visiting the island an 18-hole course in Es Mercadal, in the Balearic Islands. It is Menorca’s only 18-hole golf course, and the club states that it stays open throughout the year. That makes it an option to consider beyond a summer trip as well as during the main holiday months.

The par-71 layout runs through pine woodland on flat ground. Narrow fairways are a defining feature, while rocky bunkers, lakes and wild reeds give the course its particular setting. A colony of peacocks is another distinctive part of the surroundings.

The course and its tees

The course opened in 1977, and its design is credited to Dave Thomas Ltd. Rather than changes in elevation, its character comes from the combination of a level landscape and a narrow route through the trees. For a visiting golfer, that is the central picture to have in mind when planning a round here.

There are four sets of tees, offering a choice of total distances for the 18 holes:

• White tees: 5,438 metres.
• Yellow tees: 5,103 metres.
• Blue tees: 4,770 metres.
• Red tees: 4,465 metres.

The choice runs from 4,465 to 5,438 metres, with par remaining 71. These figures provide a useful starting point when deciding which tees suit the length of round you want to play.

Practice and learning

A round is not the only reason to bring your clubs. The practice area has eight hitting bays, a putting green and a chipping green, with facilities for both established golfers and beginners. It brings long-game practice and the different parts of the short game together at the club.

There is also a golf academy. Visitors looking to start the game have both the school and practice facilities available, while golfers who already play can make practice the focus of their visit rather than heading onto the course.

Other facilities at the club

Sa Bouera des Golf is the club’s restaurant. Away from golf, the sporting facilities include padel, pickleball and pétanque, adding other activities to the course, academy and practice area.

For an island stay, the club therefore offers more than an 18-hole outing. You can build a visit around the woodland course, spend time working on your game or use the other sports facilities, with a restaurant also on site.