The Spanish Island sitting off the mainland with well over 300 sunny days per year has over 20 golf courses. But none were of the standards that one Adam Pamer who just loves Mallorca, wanted to call home.
8th Hole
So what is the successful businessman to do! Build his own of course. Wouldn’t you? First off bring in golf course designer, who a player himself was a former German amateur champion. 10 years ago without a hotel or housing development to fall back on we have new to the Mallorca landscape “Son Gual” which has a closing hole that some have described as a serious contender as Europe’s best par 5’s and Spain’s most dramatic 18th.
Ian Woosnam former Masters Chapion and PGA Tour star went one step further to likened the greens at Son Gual to those at Augusta National. Within 2 years of opening the course was hosting a Senior European Tour Event – Mallorca Open won by Mark James and of course Mr. Woosnam was in the field.
Accolades came at a fast and furious pace for San Gual which at over 7,200 yards from the tips plays only to a par 70! It might just have the best collection of par 3’s in Spain. Large undulating greens are complimented by 66 bunkers, a number of lakes, and some 800 olive trees of which some are over 100 years old. Throw in a garnish wild flowers and vineyards and you have a must play scenario in Mallorca!
- Golf Monthly stated that Son Gual was Mallorca’s “first truly world class golf destination.”
- Today’s Golfer – “is what a modern championship course should be” and, in naming it the Balearics’ top course and the ninth-best in Spain in its benchmark Top 100 listing,
- The Daily Mail calling it – “the cream of Spanish island golf”;
- Golf World – “Mallorca finally gets the course it deserves…” Golf World said “Mallorca finally gets the course it deserves…”
After a it’s quiet opening in 2007, word of mouth soon established Son Gual as a must-visit play for golfers on the island and quickly propelled it to the status of Mallorca’s top course.
17th
It also became the place to be seen on the island, at least in golfing terms. Celebrity spotting became a popular pastime for visitors and members, with tennis superstar Rafal Nadal a regular; FIFA World Cup winners Lothar Matthäus and Joachim Löw paid visits; the former mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, was spotted on the fairways; and a whole plethora of well-known faces from Sky Sports’ football coverage converged on the course for an end-of-season golf tournament.
Son Gual is just outside the capital city of Palma, has a full calendar of events and is currently unable to slot in its own celebratory event.
In keeping with the understated opening 10 years ago, general manager, Andreas Pamer – Adam’s son – says there are no immediate plans to celebrate the anniversary with a special event.
He explained: “We already have a full calendar of events so we haven’t scheduled in anything special, but we were happy to raise a glass or two of champagne to celebrate.
“It’s been a fabulous 10 years and we thank everybody who’s visited during that time and everybody who’s written such great things about the course. We will continue to provide the best we possibly can for golfers and non-golfers alike for the next 10 years and, hopefully, beyond.
3rd back
“Every day when we arrive we’re still just as excited as we were the day we opened. And I think that has a lot to do with the success we have enjoyed.”
Son Gual continues to prosper and, with Mallorca enjoying an average of around 320 days of sunshine per year, there’s every chance there will be some more impressed visitors this winter.
Staff and members at Mallorca’s number-one golf destination, Son Gual, got together to raise a glass to celebrate the venue’s 10th anniversary. Maybe you should plan to plan to visit and raise a glass alongside. After all our season for most North Americans will be coming to a close.
For more information: son-gual.com/golf-mallorca
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September 2017
