A Guide To Golf In Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria has become a haven in winter for golfers looking to escape the cold and wet weather and enjoy a few rounds on sun-soaked fairways without having to travel to longer-haul destinations.

Don’t be fooled into thinking, though, that a Gran Canaria golf holiday isn’t an option in the remaining months, as the consistently sunny climate makes it a great choice irrespective of season.

We’ve compiled all of our expert team’s knowledge and inside tips of this island to give you the ultimate guide to golf in Gran Canaria to ensure your holiday is incredible!

Maspalomas Golf course in Spain's Gran Canaria with green fairway and blue sea

Gran Canaria At A Glance

  • Location: This island in the Atlantic Ocean is part of the Las Palmas province in the Canary Islands, Spain. It is situated southeast of Tenerife and west of Fuerteventura.
  • Closest Airport: Gran Canaria Airport, positioned on the east coast of the Island.
  • Flight Time: Approx. 4 hours 30 minutes – varies slightly depending on where in the UK you fly from.
  • Best Time to Travel: Peak season for a golf break to the island is considered to be between November and April; however. there is year-round sunshine.
  • Climate: Expect anywhere from 21 and 24 degrees Celsius between November and April.

 

Best Golf Courses in Gran Canaria

 

Salobre Golf Club Old Course

Swimming pool at Salobre Hotel And Serenity in Gran Canaria

On-site at the luxurious five-star Hotel Resort & Serenity, the Old Course is surrounded by rocky terrain offering a visually interesting contrast to the manicured greens and fairways. As well as being arguably the most well-known golf courses on the island, it has also hosted high quality professional tournaments such as the Spanish PGA in 2006 and the 2001 Spanish Senior and Women’s Championships.

  • Holes: 18
  • Par: 71
  • Designer: Roland Favré
  • Opened: 1999

 

Salobre Golf Club New Course

Putting green with flag at Salobre Golf Course in Gran Canaria

Previously an 18-hole course, this has now become a nine-hole Par 36 course and merged with Salobre’s Old Course to offer a 27-hole golf course at this incredible resort.

  • Holes: 18 (Operating as 9 holes since 2022)
  • Par: 70 (Operating as 36 since 2022)
  • Designer: Ron Kirby
  • Opened: 2008

 

Anfi Tauro Golf Course

Anfi Tauro Golf Course in Gran Canaria, Spain, with large rocks, blue sky and see in the distance

Having opened in 2006, Anfi Tauro has quickly created a reputation as a ‘must play’ for anyone visiting the island. The design team have carved out a golf course that provides spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean as well as the surrounding volcanic mountains.

  • Holes: 18
  • Par: 72
  • Designer: Von Hagge, Smelek and Baril
  • Opened: 2006

 

Lopesan Melonares Golf Course

Flag on the green at Lopesan Melonares Golf Course in Spain's Gran Canaria

Another Rob Kirby design, Lopesan Melonares played host to the 2007 Spanish PGA Championship, so you can be assured of its quality. Here, you’ll enjoy great views of the mountains on the front nine. The back nine features vistas across the Atlantic Ocean, which runs in parallel to a few holes before the course bends back around the Pasito Blanco marina.

  • Holes: 18
  • Par: 71
  • Designer: Ron Kirby
  • Opened: 2006

 

Maspalomas Golf Course

Birds eye shot of Maspalomas Golf in Gran Canaria with trees lining the fairway

Positioned next to the Maspalomas Dunes Nature Reserve on the south east part of the island, just off the coastline and spread over 400 hectares, this Mackenzie Ross-designed course offers spectacular scenery. With wide and flat fairways, this is a great course to be enjoyed by golfers of any ability.

  • Holes: 18
  • Par: 73
  • Designer: Mackenzie Ross
  • Opened: 1968

 

Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas

real club de golf de las palmas 5

This is the oldest golf course in Spain so playing here is a truly unique and memorable experience! Dating back to 1891, the current layout was configured by Mackenzie Ross in 1957. In addition to its rich history, it’s also laid out in the crater of an extinct volcano – this golf course is definitely worth the 45 minute drive from the south of the island.

  • Holes: 18
  • Par: 71
  • Designer: Mackenzie Ross
  • Opened: 1957

 

Things to do in Gran Canaria

When you’re not playing golf (which, let’s be honest, won’t be that often), this magical island still has plenty to keep you entertained.

  • Playa de Maspalomas: Located on the southern edge of Gran Canaria, this beach is the perfect place to spend days away from the fairways and explore the incredible sand dunes that sit behind it, separating the beach from Maspalomas golf course.

 

  • Palmitos Park: Spread across a whopping 20 hectares, this botanical garden, aviary and zoo also features an amphitheatre.

 

  • Roque Nublo: Take a day trip to this volcanic rock close to the centre of the island in the municipality of Tejeda. This is the third highest point in Gran Canaria after its formation 4.5 million years ago and is surrounded by beautiful natural terrain in a protected park.

 

  • Las Palmas: Just 45 minutes north-east by car from the Maspalomas region, the island’s capital is worth exploring for the shops, bars and restaurants, as well as visiting Casa de Colón which was home to Christopher Columbus.

 

Top Travel Tips for Your Gran Canaria Golf Holiday

Our team have spent many days traveling to and from Gran Canaria, so have plenty of insights on how to get the most from your golf trip.

  • Buggy Rental: Although the golf courses are surrounded by rugged terrain, they are also quite hilly and the sunny climate can be draining if carrying clubs for a full 18-holes, so we recommend pre-reserving buggies.

 

  • Accommodation Location: Most of the golf courses are on the southern coast of Gran Canaria, so ensure your accommodation is situated in a similar area to keep your golf transfer times (and costs) to a minimum. Give us a call if you need help choosing a hotel.

 

  • Book Early for Prime Tee Times: As there are only a handful of courses on the island, prime tee times can often go quite quickly so ensure you book as early as possible as it is ‘first come, first served’ for those 10am slots.

 

  • Consider All-Inclusive Board Basis: If you are looking to keep to your budget or are a group leader of a larger group or society, we would recommend considering going all-inclusive. This way all your food and drinks is paid upfront and there is no quibbling over how best to split a restaurant bill.

 

  • Experience Las Palmas Golf: Don’t discount Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas in the north of the island, situated high in the mountains above the island’s capital city, on the edge of the dramatic Bandama volcanic crater. Although a longer transfer, it’s the oldest golf club in Spain and offers a different experience to the more-frequented courses of the south, with a clubhouse that provides a real sense of history and a quirky driving range where you hit down into the crater.

 

  • Consider Course Order: Availability permitting, we suggest playing Maspolomas first – although by no means a pushover with some long and testing holes, it’s the flattest and most forgiving of the courses in the south of the island, which makes it an ideal ‘warm-up’ to the dramatic tests of Salobre and Anfi Tauro.

 

Top 5 Golf Holiday Deals Playing Gran Canaria’s Best Golf Courses

Despite there being just a handful of golf courses on the island, there are a wide range of hotels and resorts so all budgets and preferences can be catered for. Here are some of our current top deals that our team have hand picked:

 

How We Can Help You Find The Best Gran Canaria Golf Courses

Call our award winning team on 01904 406550 or email us at info@glencorgolf.com and let our expertise and first hand insight ensure you  book the perfect golf holiday to the Canary Islands.

We can ensure you end up playing the best courses in Gran Canaria to cater for your needs, whether you are looking for a winter golf holiday with a partner, or arranging on behalf of your golf society. We can also take care of your accommodation, advise on where to spend time away from the fairways, and ensure you are picked up and dropped off everywhere you need to be with transfer services so you aren’t late for a tee time.