Friday, 07 April 2017 10:38

Guide To Gran Canaria's 8 Golf Courses

The Meloneras golf course close to Maspalomas The Meloneras golf course close to Maspalomas photosgrancanaria.com

Gran Canaria eight golf courses means that you are never more than a few minutes way from the fairways. This is our guide to each course.

Why golf in Gran Canaria?

With 320 days of sunshine every year, beautiful scenery and eight golf courses, Gran Canaria is a superb golf destination. It's one of the few places in Europe where you can play without mittens during the winter and is perfect for golfers with families who prefer blue pools to greens. 

Read our guide to why Gran Canaria is such an underrated golf destination

Maspalomas Golf 

The 18-hole Par-73 Maspalomas golf course, between the Campo Internacional Resort and the sand dunes, is the second oldest on the island; it opened back in 1968.

It's a flat course with wide fairways and is a great spot for a convenient, relaxing round of golf. It isn't as challenging as the newer courses, but the location right by the Maspalomas dunes and the fairways lined with palms make it a pleasure to play.

Maspalomas Golf, designed by Mackenzie Ross, has a driving range, pro-shop, and a putting green. 

Anfi Tauro Golf

The 18-hole Anfi Tauro Golf course opened in 2006 and was designed by Von Hagge, Smelek & Baril. It's an Arizona-style course set in a dry valley and it's and original and challenging course with features like lakes, stone walls, and rough areas that are literally made of rock. The sea breeze makes every round different and the setting is great fun.

Meloneras Golf

This 18-hole, par-71 course is right by the sea overlooking Pasito Blanco marina and has a fantastic, tropical atmosphere with exotic palms lining the fairways. The Meloneras Golf course, designed by Ron Kirby, gets harder as you work your way through the holes and nine of the fairways have ocean views. 

This is a tough course for beginners but the setting makes it unmissable.

Salobre Golf (Old Course)

The Salobre Golf & Resort has not one but two 18-hole courses. The original par-71 course, known as the Old Course, opened in 1999 and was designed by Roland Faure. It's a traditional course suitable for players of all levels. The palm-fringed fairways vary hugely in length and approach tiered greens. Watch out for the tee shot at the 14th which is over a ravine.  

Salobre Golf (New Course)

Opened in 2008 and designed by Ron Kirby, the 'New' 18-hole, par-71 course at Salobre Golf & Resort is tricky and almost reminiscent of a links course thanks to its natural setting. It's a short course with lots of doglegs, hanging fairways and changes in level and is a fun challenge for golfers of all levels. 

 Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas

The Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas is the oldest golf club in Spain and was founded back in 1891 by British and local golfers. It was originally located on a links course close to what is today the centre of Las Palmas city but is now at Bandama just 15 minutes drive from the capital. 

The location is spectacular as the course is on a plateau between valleys lined with vineyards and is right next to the spectacular Bandama Caldera. 

The course was designed by Mackenzie Ross and is 18 holes and a par 71. It's open to visitors Monday to Friday and you need to book in advance. 

Unlike the island's other courses, this one is close to the island's capital. It even hs its own golf hotel located right by the first hole. 

The course itself is moderately challenging with height changes, some tricky bunkers. As an old course, it is short with narrow fairways and small greens. 

El Cortijo Club de Campo

One of the longest courses in Spain with six tees per hole and six lakes, the El Cortijo Club de Campo course is six kilometres south of Las Palmas city and is located on old farmland in a palm-fringed valley. It's 18 holes, a par 72, were designed by Blake Stirling y Marco Martín and have fast greens. 

User reviews largely seem to agree that the course layout is excellent nd the course suitable for all levels although there are plenty of comments about the poor state of the fairways and the surroundings. 

Las Palmeras Golf

This 18-hole, par-3 course is really a big pitch & putt rather than a small golf course. It's conveniently located right in Las Palmas city and has a large putting green and chipping area with bunkers. 

Published in Golf

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Tip of the day

  • How To Choose A Legal Gran Canaria Airport Transfer
    How To Choose A Legal Gran Canaria Airport Transfer

    Gran Canaria's hotels have to be licensed and offer a quality level of service as well as having insurance and complying with fire regulations. The same goes for the boats that take people out to watch dolphins, the companies offering jeep safaris, and even the holiday let apartments. 

    However, not everybody in Gran Canaria follows the rules. For example, there is a significant industry running illegal and uninsured transfers between Gran Canaria airport and the island's resorts. These cars, driven by locals and foreign-residents, are just private vehicles and the drivers are unregulated and uninsured. They don't pay tax and there is no way to hold them responsible if something goes wrong. 

     At Gran Canaria Info we believe that all people and all companies offering services to tourists should legal and above board.

    So, how do you know that your airport transfer service is legal and registered with the Gran Canaria authorities?

     Using legal Gran Canaria airport transfers

    It is quite easy to know if your airport transfer service is operating in a legal way because all registered transfers have the following...

     A blue license plate: Taxis and other public service vehicles in Gran Canaria all have blue plates.

    A VTC sticker in the window: This stands for Vehículo de Transporte con Conductor, the official designation for licensed transfer drivers ans chauffeurs.

    An SP sticker on the car: This indicates that the car offer a Servicio Publico or public service and is therefore allowed to pick up and transfer members of the public. 

    Parked in the transport zone: Official airport transfer vehicles don't park in the public car park of the airport. Instead they have their own parking zone right by the arrivals gates at the airport (next to the taxis and package tour buses). Your transfer driver therefore should not have to pay a parking fee before leaving the aiport. 

    How to spot an unlicensed transfer service

    Unlicensed drivers get away with offerring their service because they claim that they are just members of the public picking up a friend. They are allowed to stand at arrivals with a sign (just like any member of the public can).

    However, they also have to park their car in the public car park and will walk you there with your luggage, stopping to pay the parking fee at the meter. A licensed transfer driver does not need to do this because they have their own parking zone right by arrivals.

    Some unlicensed drivers don't even wait at the arrival gate because the official drivers recognise them and get annoyed. Instead they have to stand further away (often by the Spar supermarket or the car rental desks). 

    When an unlicensed driver drops you at the airport they will not want to be paid in a public area because this proves that they are charging rather than "transporting a friend" for free. 

    An unlicensed car will not have a blue license plate, or a SP or VTC sticker, and will often look like a private car (because it is a private car). 

    What's the problem with unlicensed airport transfers?

    Some people use unlicensed cars because they are the cheapest option and don't realise that they are unlicensed. 

    There are several problems with unlicensed services. The most obvious is that they are uninsured so if something goes wrong or there is an accident, you are not protected. The price that unlicensed drivers offer is only low because they cut corners (hopefully not literally). You have no way of even knowing if your unlicensed driver has a Spanish driving license, insurance and a good driving record. Licensed drivers are vetted regularly and must be fully insured and licensed to work.

    Another problem is that unlicensed transfers undermine the legitimate transfer drivers and businesses in Gran Canaria. Local drivers make a living from transfers and offer a legal, regulated service with minimum standards. Every time an unlicensed service undercuts them, it is effectively stealing from local people and the island economy.

    We believe that everybody in Gran Canaria deserves better!

    Gran Canaria Airport Transfer Services

    To find out more about the Gran Canaria airport transfer, see our Gran Canaria airport transfer article which explains the three different models; man/woman from pub with car, online transfer websites, and local transfer services.

    Or you can book a legitimate Gran Canaria airport transfer at a great price right here. Our service uses local drivers and supprts the island economy because all the money you spend stays in Gran Canaria.

    Alex Says: Using our service also helps the Gran Canaria Info team to keep providing quality local information here and in our Facebook Group

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