42 THE WORLD OF GOLFING
SON GUAL
Son Gual takes top spot
in European rankings
Son Gual
Golf Son Gual in Mallorca is celebrating
another accolade after it was voted as
the top course in Europe by readers of
highly-respected German magazine Golf
Journal. the popular Mediterranean island was
named as the top golfing destination
ahead of fellow golfing heavyweights:
Portugal’s southern coast of the Algarve,
Belek in Turkey and Spain’s Costa del Sol.
Designed by Thomas Himmel, the 7,240-
yard, par-72 course boasts particularly
challenging greens, which were once
likened to Augusta by former Masters
champion Ian Woosnam. The dramatic
layout topped the list in the publication’s
18th edition of the coveted Golf Journal
Travel Awards. Son Gual’s managing director, Andreas
Pamer, said: “To be named as the Most
Popular Golf Course in Europe by the
readers of Golf Journal is a source of
great pride to us.
More than 1600 votes were registered
by readers and visitors to www.
golfjournal.de, where Son Gual was
voted ahead of Mallorcan neighbours
Club de Golf Alcanada and Real Golf
de Bendinat in second and third place
respectively. So it was no surprise that
“A lot of work goes on behind the
scenes in ensuring the experience is as
enjoyable as possible for all of our guests
and it’s fantastic to receive this sort of
recognition. Course rankings are often
down to personal opinions but these
mean more when they are voted from
people who have actually visited us and
rated the experience so highly.”
WEBSITE: www.son-gual.com
Günter Reiter, deputy chief editor of Golf
Journal, added: “Four times, Golf Son
Gual has been second in the category of
the Most Popular Golf course in Europe,
so congratulations to them on finally
making it to the number one position.
“Participants justified their choice with
the varied and challenging golf holes and
the beautiful clubhouse terrace of Golf
Son Gual.”
Built on agricultural land at a cost in
excess of €30m in 2008, Son Gual has
since established itself as a leading
European venue and features large lakes,
66 bunkers, 800 olive trees – some more
than a thousand years old – a superb
collection of par-threes and one of the
most memorable finishing holes to be
found anywhere on the continent.