Tenerife is known for its party scene and package holidays but this Spanish isle also boasts nine golf courses, luxury resorts and a year-round spring-like climate…
- Year round spring climate and winter sun
- Play against the backdrop of the Teide Volcano
- Island golf at its best at La Gomera
- Vibrant nightlife in the Island’s South
- Green fees that fall in Summer and rise in Autumn and Winter
When the European golf season winds to a close and colder weather sets in, golfers seek out winter sun.
A flight from mainland Europe to Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands usually takes around four hours. Upon landing, you’ll find yourself just 300km off the coast of Morocco, bathed in warming sunshine and simultaneously cooled by gentle northeasterly trade winds.Â
The tourism authorities in Tenerife know this volcanic island will always attract the sun-worshipping party crowds who love the hotels and resorts at southerly Playa de las Americas. They also know that golf is big business for the island’s economy.
British golfers alone make up almost half of the 50,000 who visit the island every year to play golf in its spring-like climate under bright blue skies.
Tenerife’s nine golf courses offer a quality product, including cliff-top settings, unforgettable ocean views and venues that have hosted events on the DP World Tour and the LET (Ladies European Tour).
The island first hosted tour golf in 1989. FIRST COURSE/ REAL CLUB DE GOLF TENERIFE 1932 ETC ETC
There is no shortage of quality accommodation on the island catering for golfers. The Mare Nostrum Resort in Playa de las Americas and close to Los Cristianos has three hotels to choose from.
The Mediterranean Palace Hotel and Sir Anthony are five star, while the Cleopatra Palace is four star. All are close to vibrant bars and restaurants and the sophisticated shopping of the Los Cristianos district.
Mare Nostrum Resort – three luxury hotels
The Mare Nostrum hotels are excellent, do exactly what they say on the tin, but are large and busy.
If you’d like to pay a little extra for a more peaceful secluded stay look to the Abama Gran Hotel Golf Resort and Spa, the jewel in Tenerife’s crown.
It is the clearest indication yet of Tenerife’s ambitions to attract wealthy well travelled golfers.
Abama Golf | Tenerife
This 27-hole Dave Thomas designed resort opened in April 2005, and has over 25,000 palm trees as well as plants, flora and volcanic rock beds.
Hillier than Tenerife’s other courses Abama’s principal 18-hole layout winds up, down and round the landscape.
None of its holes are average, and most border on the spectacular, with views across the Ocean to nearby island La Gomera.
For high-mid handicappers Abama’s greens are difficult and the slopes may seem too severe for fun holiday golf.
There is only 20 feet of flat surface on the four-tiered green at the par-three seventh.
If you hit the putt too hard to a front pin, it’s easy to putt off the green and down the steep run-offs.
The shaved run-offs and aprons were a feature of most of the greens and make scoring well difficult. You need to be hitting your irons well and the right distances to avoid the penal green surrounds at Abama.
Spectacular Island golf at La GomeraAn easier and arguably prettier test of golf can be found off Tenerife’s coast, at Tecina Golf on the island of La Gomera.
A 45-minute ferry ride from Los Cristianos on the Fred Olsen express – followed by transfer by road through volcanic hillsides – sees you arrive at La Tecina Golf.
Easier than Abama but more beautiful in setting, Tecina enjoys views of Mount Teide – Tenerife’s volcano –  and the island’s southern coast.
Many holes are set against stunning ocean backdrops, like the 363-metre 10th hole, which teeters on a clifftop.Â
Seve’s imagination shaped Buenavista GolfTwo other must-play venues are the Seve Ballesteros designed Buenavista golf club in the northwest and Golf Costa Adeje, a former banana plantation and regular venue of the Tenerife Ladies Open, located just 5kms from Playa de las Americas.
Summer green fees bargains
Tenerife is unusual in that green fees are cheaper during the summer months, when the island is in low season, and higher during winter when Tenerife’s tourism reaches its peak. Temperatures can reach as high as 35 degrees in July and August, which is physically demanding to play in, with or without a buggy.
Playing golf in the summer heat is energy sapping, so we’d recommend avoiding the midday sun and aiming for early tee times or playing late in the day.
Staying hydrated and making use of buggies and carts is recommended.
If you do want to walk and carry, bring a lighter bag with space to carry plenty of fluid and energy rich snacks.
Whatever the season you’re guaranteed the ball flies against clear blue skies in Tenerife, an island deserving of its moniker ‘Land of Eternal Spring.”
Where to Play
Abama Gran Hotel Golf Resort and Spa
www.abamahotelresort.com
Tecina Golf
www.tecinagolf.com
tecinagolf@fredolsen.es
Buenavista Golf
www.buenavistagolf.es
Golf Costa Adeje
www.golfcostaadeje.com
Golf Las Americas
Golf del Sur
Where to Stay
Mare Nostrum Resort
A luxurious resort with five hotels in the South of Tenerife located near Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas.
www.marenostrumresort.com
Essential Information
Currency: Euro
Weather: Minimum and maximum average temperatures are 15 degrees celsius in Winter and 24 degrees celsius in Summer
EDITOR
Matthew Moore
Global Golfer Magazine is written by Matthew Moore, a British golf journalist and member of the IGTWA (International Golf Travel Writer’s Association). He is a lover of golf history & world class golf courses and an avid collector of golf course guidebooks and yardage charts.