Son Gual breaks into European Top 50 for first time

Son Gual, Mallorca's number-one golf destination, has risen nine places to 42nd in the popular Top 100 Golf Courses' European ranking - breaking into the website's top 50. 

Top 100 Golf Courses also ranked the Thomas Himmel-designed layout as number one in the Balearic Islands and seventh overall in Spain. 

Son Gual's managing director, Andreas Pamer, said: "There are a number of these rankings out there at the moment but some are more credible than others, and we are delighted to be elevated to 42 in the latest Top 100 Golf Courses' listing … especially when you consider there were two new entries in the top 30, which makes it increasingly difficult for others to improve. 

"Having leapt nine places we will be looking to maintain our high standards in the future and hopefully break into Europe's top 40 the next time the ranking is issued." 

Top 100 Golf Courses spokesman Andy Newmarch said: "Another strong move for Son Gual in the continental Europe numbers - a great modern course with high standards that improves on each visit. One of the younger European courses that has to be on your ‘must play' list …" 

The accolade follows on from last year's Golf World ranking which also placed the 7,240-yard, par-72 course - located just outside Palma - as the top venue in Mallorca and seventh in Spain. 

Son Gual's stunning €30m course celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. It features large lakes, 66 bunkers, 800 olive trees - some more than a thousand years old - wild flowers in the rough and vineyards in several areas around the course. 

It includes several outstanding, memorable holes, including a closing hole described by one reviewer as a "serious contender for Europe's best par-five and Spain's most dramatic 18th", plus one of the best collections of par-threes in Spain.

Son Gual is also a regular celebrity haunt: visitors have included German FIFA World Cup-winning captain Lothar Matthäus; German national football manager Joachim Löw; the former mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg; tennis' 16-time grand-slam event winner Rafael Nadal; and any number of instantly recognisable faces from the worlds of TV and entertainment. 

Related:

West Cliff GC claims new Top 100 ranking