Golf de Son Vida

Son Vida occupies a genuinely privileged piece of ground — a hilltop estate above Palma that has been at the heart of Mallorcan golf since the 1960s, making it the oldest course on the island. The layout was originally designed by Fred Hawtree, and it sits within the grounds of the Castillo Hotel Son Vida, a converted 13th-century castle that remains one of the most striking clubhouse settings in European golf. The combination of history, altitude, and architecture gives the place a character that newer island courses simply cannot manufacture.

From the higher points of the course, the views sweep across Palma, the bay, and the Serra de Tramuntana mountains — a backdrop that has a way of making a missed putt feel slightly more forgivable. The terrain is gently rolling by Mallorcan standards, with mature pines and Mediterranean scrub framing the fairways and demanding accurate placement rather than raw distance.

Son Vida sits at the top of the Mallorcan pecking order — a resort course, yes, but one with genuine pedigree. Visitors playing here tend to pair it with the island's other Son Vida estate courses nearby, making this corner of Palma a credible destination for a dedicated golf trip.