Try two of Spain's best at Son Gual and Alcanada

Alcanada

While Son Gual is a course that has been created from nothing, Alcanada, an hour or so away in the north-east corner of the island, is the complete opposite.

Here architect Robert Trent Jones Jnr has partnered nature to create a course of seamless beauty with glorious views out on to the Bay of Alcudia and the lighthouse the club has taken for its emblem. It opened in 2003.

The Porsche family owns Alcanada and everything about it is just as slick as their cars. The clubhouse, a fine old converted farmhouse, serves wonderful meals, first-rate snacks and has a wine list so good that non-golfers come here simply to have lunch.

The course is a delight too although, like Son Gual, it is a place designed with the competent player in mind.

It starts off with a beastly par 5, especially if the wind is blowing off the hills, that is uphill all the way and over a ravine before we eventually find a rolling green tucked away on the left-hand side.

Like Son Gual there are a lot of raised greens that are easy to end up short of the first time we play so club up and, again, sacrifice the monster tee shot to keep the ball on the lush fairways.

There are so many glorious holes it is difficult to single one out but the 610-yard par-5 seventh is a stunner. You hit from a raised tee and sweep downhill back towards the clubhouse.

The ninth is a long par four through a tight opening of trees before aiming at the distant lighthouse – another beautiful, if daunting, challenge.

The back nine is less tough with a couple of short par fours and easier walking but there is still so much to enjoy.

And having survived the test then enjoy a moment of peace on the terrace and savour that cold beer or a chilled Spanish white wine and rejoice in the knowledge that you have played not only two of the island’s but the country’s very best.