Thugs Courses
Though most of our members play regularly at their respective clubs in England, and our June Cup is contested annually on a different course here in the UK, the majority of our competitions have been contested at the following courses;
Andratx
Tel (0034) 971 236 280
Fax (0034) 971 236 331
E-Mail: info@golfdeandratx.com
Opened in 2000, Andratx is a course not to be attempted on foot. Though this eco-friendly par 72 has been well designed, it was wedged in where it would fit, and as a consequence there are many long distances between greens and next tees.
The 18th is a wonderful finale with a lake guarding almost the whole of the left side of the fairway and front of the hole (However certain Thugs members have had more problems avoiding the hotel roof!).
Andratx is 6200 yards of golf course spread across 10 miles of town. It is also the most difficult course by far in the opinion of Thugs members.
Last played in 2016 when found to be less difficult, but in less than ideal condition with a few poor Tee boxes and greens.
Santa Ponsa
Tel. +34 971 69 90 64
Fax. +34 971 69 75 89
e-mail: mailbox@habitatgolf.es
A regular Balearic Open host, this is a long, broad course with more than a few obstacles to add interest. Only a 10 minute drive from Magaluf, this 6700 yard par 72 track is popular with many golfers, and is usually perfectly manicured.In the past, Santa Ponsa has suffered from poor management and customer service. However, on all our visits since 2008, we have been pleased to see a well managed and attentive set up, with the course remaining in very good order even in high season.The 10th hole is the longest in Spain, but they’re all long after a night in Magaluf!
T-GOLF PONIENTE
Phone: +34 971 130148
FAX: +34 971 130176
e-mail: golf@ponientegolf.com
About 4 minutes drive from Magaluf, this is a popular course for visiting societies, and as such can suffer occasionally from over use in high season. However, the course offers a good varied selection of holes with a mixture of tight fairways and forgiving expanses.
Situated amongst seven lakes and numerous pine glades, this 7000 yard par 72 course is home to the feared hole 10 - one of the original ‘Hollywood’ holes from which our name derives. Poniente also offers a fabulous selection of post-round cakes at its beautifully authentic Majorcan club house.
We were extremely disappointed with the condition of the course in 2015, and also the attitude of the management, resulting in us downgrading the course on our favourites list and now not returning for another 4 years.
The course record here is held by the legendary Severiano Ballesteros (71), though he would have found it more difficult if like us, he was distracted by Ashey snoring at the side of the 18th.
REAL BENDINAT
Tel: +34 971 405200
Fax: +34 971 700786
e-mail: info@realgolfbendinat.com
A beautiful course, with fabulous scenery around 15 minutes drive East of Magaluf. This par 70 course is a wildlife conservation area, and as such is abundant with flora and fauna.
The many elevations of the course make for a very interesting round (As do Jimmy Elliott’s duck-rounding displays here), and the tightness of some of the fairways ensures varying amounts of difficulty throughout its 6200 yards.
A firm favourite with some Thugs, whilst considered far too tough by others, one thing all of us agree on, is that it always retains its quality despite being a busy course.
SON VIDA
Tel: (+34) 971791210
Fax: (+34) 971791127
e-mail: info@sonvidagolf.com
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A top class course which has hosted the Balearic Open on many occasions. This was the first course in the Balearics, and remains one of the best.
At 6100 yards, the par 71 course seems much longer due to the length of some of the par fours. Situated 3km North West of Palma, with views over Sierra Tramuntana and Palma Bay, this course has much to offer every level of golfer.
After a long round, the clubhouse lounge is a fabulously luxurious place to relax, though its roof tile may need a little attention after a run-in with Graham Wilson’s Pinnacle 2.
Son Vida remains popular with most Thugs due to the variety of holes, and is generally in great condition though occasionally a little too wet in the closing holes, and prone to disorganisation due to cramming too many players into short tee-off slots.
SON ANTEM EAST
Tel: (+34) 971129200
Fax: (+34) 971129201
e-mail: mhrs.pmigs.golf.reservation@marriott.com
A course which hasn't figured in our plans much, due to the terrible condition we usually encounter. Given another chance in 2017, we found the course to be in worse condition that it has ever been, and will no doubt be dropped from our list for quite some time.
This 6600 yard course is, by all accounts the poor relation to its sister course (Though we weren’t particularly impressed with the West course either), and though some holes have cleverly placed hazards, the whole Son Antem complex feels featureless.
The East course will however always be fondly remembered by us for the ‘Blazing Saddles’ moment in 1999 described in the ‘Magic Moments’ section of this site.
SON ANTEM WEST
Tel: (+34) 971129200
Fax: (+34) 971129201
e-mail: mhrs.pmigs.golf.reservation@marriott.com
As with its sister course, Son Antem West has not proved particularly popular with Thugs members due to many holes appearing flat, featureless and identical to each other. The course was not in prime condition when we last played it, and other than the odd water feature, didn’t stir up any excitement amongst us.
Another course we shall probably return to every five years, more out of competition variation than popularity.
SON TERMES
Tel: (+34) 971617862 Fax:
(+34) 971616895
e-mail: golfsontermens@terra.es
A 25 minute drive inland from Magaluf, this stunning 5800 yard par 70 course is one of the toughest we play in our calendar.
Set high in the mountains with breathtaking views, and eagles circling above the fairways, this is another course that should not be attempted on foot unless you’re super-fit or a mountain goat.
The outgoing nine holes are a little tightly packed in, however the course then opens up into a very impressive back nine.
The 13th is a typical ‘Hollywood’ hole, and offers big hitters the chance of a birdie, but the sensible approach is usually to lay up short of the vast gully in front of you.
Beautiful, testing, and one of our favourites.
Tel (0034) 971 74 83 15
Fax (0034) 971 74 83 16
E-Mail: recepcion@golfmaioris.es
Opened in 2010, and added to our itinerary the following year, Maioris is a superbly designed par 72 course, which is always in fantastic condition.
15 minutes drive west of Palma, on the outskirts of Arenal, this course has much to offer those who can keep the ball on the fairway, but some well protected greens, and difficult scrubland capturing wayward drives make it a very difficult test.
A number of interesting water features come into play. Most notably the pretty island green at hole four.
Originally one of the cheapest courses to play, it is now becoming very popular, and with its popularity come the inevitable price rises.
MAIORIS
T-Golf PUNTIRO
Tel: (+34) 971797330
Fax: (+34) 971603216
e-mail: reservas@golfparkmallorca.com
First played during our 2007 tour, this course proved an instant hit with all our members. Customer service here is second to none, and the food is very good too.
The course is generally in fantastic condition, with 18 superbly designed holes, all with their own unique feature designed to punish anything but an accurate shot. The 8th is a particular thugs favourite, allowing various degrees of bravery as the green can be reached across the lake with a safe third shot, good second shot or even an extremely well struck drive.
Around 25 minutes drive from magaluf, this course will be a regular Thugs choice for years to come.
SON QUINT
Tel: (+34) 971791210
Fax: (+34) 971791127
e-mail: golf.sqg@arabellastarwood.com
Another course first included in our 2009 itinerary, and the latest addition to the Arabella group of courses, Son Quint is a very fair and open course with some cleverly designed holes, and fabulous facilities.
Twenty four hours after a huge storm had closed Majorca’s courses we found Son Quint to be in great condition with no sign of the previous downpour, and within 20 minutes of one of the heaviest storms we have ever witnessed, the course was perfectly playable, such is the quality of the drainage here.
The course offers some great risk/reward holes, most notably the 6th, which can be reached in one by cutting the dog-leg over out of bounds, and also the par three 12th which allows the option of a safe mid iron left of the green, or a 200 yard carry over water to make the green.
Another Thugs favourite, however a 2018 change to the design of two of the more interesting holes has taken some of the attraction away.
SON MUNTANER
Tel: (+34) 971 78 30 30
Fax: (+34) 971 78 30 31
e-mail: golf.smg@arabellastarwood.com
Son Muntaner was included in our 2009 plans for the first time and became an instant hit. A friendly and superbly maintained course, it is the flagship of the Arabella group, who also own Son Vida and Son Quint.
The cost of playing here had previously proved too restrictive for us until we were offered the chance to play it within a package, and it became immediately clear why the course had previously remained off limits to the average hacker.
Son Muntaner is 6500 yards of careful design with perhaps a few too many strategically placed bunkers to add to the menacing ponds guarding greens.
Majorca’s oldest olive tree is situated in the middle of the 16th fairway, adding another hazard to the list.
SON GUAL
Tel: (+34) 971 78 58 88
Fax: (+34) 971 78 58 99
e-mail: info@son-gual.com
As part of our 20th anniversary celebrations, THUGS made our first visit here. The venue for many major European competitions, Son Gual was once compared to Augusta by Ian Woosnam, and has a reputation for being not only one of the finest courses in Spain, but also makes the list in Europe's top 100 courses.
Green fee costs have always been a restriction, though it is a course we have always wanted to play, and the offer of heavily reduced rates during our 2018 tour proved too good to turn down.
Plenty of water awaited our first trip, and a number of tricky, well-designed holes tested us on this very pretty course. Unfortunately our visit coincided with unusually strong winds which made the golf even more difficult, resulting in somewhat low scores throughout.
Mallorca
PULA
Tel: (+34) 971 817 034
e-mail: hotel@pulagolf.com
Pula Golf was founded in 1995 and completely redesigned by José María Olazábal between 2004 and 2006 to meet the demands of international and professional golf. It has been transformed into a long and demanding course, with a par of 72 over 6,246 m. THUGS members found it to be an excellent course offering good value and a fair test of golf in beautiful surroundings.
capdepera
Tel: (+34) 971 818 500
e-mail: info@golfcapdepera.com
Capdepera Golf was designed by famous US golf architect Dan Maples. It comprises a mix of easier holes in the valley where an old almond plantation used to be and more challenging holes that go up into the beautiful hills of the Mallorquin Llevant mountains.
Hole 15 up in the mountains with a panoramic view all the way to the coast is the highlight of a course that our members did not particularly enjoy - perhaps the very slow pace on the day was a factor, however the course condition and the fact that almost every teeing area has a left or right slope did not help.
Son Servera
Tel: (+34) 971 84 00 96
e-mail: reservas@golfsonservera.com
Son Servera is a beautiful Par 72 course with a mix of woodland, heathland and parkland holes. Several features adorn the course including water, pine avenues and dramatic undulations. THUGS members found Son Servera to be in excellent condition with fast but fair greens, testing shots over water hazards, and lush fairways.
This was a very highly rated course amongst our members.
Tenerife
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Tenerife Golf Courses
From 2024 The THUGS Tour will be held on the island of Tenerife at the following courses:
Costa Adeje
Tel: (+34) 922 710 000
e-mail: reservas@golfcostaadeje.es
Golf Costa Adeje is one of the most impressive golf courses in the Canary Islands. Located in the most exclusive area in the south of Tenerife, in a magnificent natural enclave that offers spectacular views of the island of La Gomera.
The privileged mild climate, with an average annual temperature of 22 ºC, makes this course the ideal place for playing golf all year round.
Golf Costa Adeje is a course with an original design of 18 holes, par 72. Golfers enjoy a unique natural environment and spectacular sea and mountain views from any point of the course.
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Los lagos
Tel: (+34) 922 758 663
e-mail: reservaslagos@golfcostaadeje.com
Located next to the driving range, the 9-hole, par 33 Los Lagos course is the ideal place for golfers with a higher handicap, seniors and novice golfers.
The course owes its name to the 6 magnificent lakes that are integrated within. The reception of Los Lagos is located in an original wooden house, with a pleasant family atmosphere, equipped with all the necessary services, such as shop, rental of clubs, buggies, snack bar and parking area.
las americas
Tel: (+34) 922 752 005
e-mail: reservas@golf-tenerife.com
The course is attractively located in a natural, gently sloping amphitheater with a par 72 and 6.051 meters in length. Among its attractions, it offers ravines and lakes which contributes to a pleasant environmental effect.
amarilla
Tel: (+34) 922 785 124
e-mail: reservas@marinasanmiguel.com
18 holes by the sea, bordering the Marina San Miguel. The designer, Donald Steel, took advantage of the beautiful contrasts of the island to achieve a varied course with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean.
The 5th hole, a real gem for golfers, with the sea as fairway the ball must go over the ocean to reach the green. The experience of playing on the course, feeling the sea breeze becomes one of those golf days you never forget.
Inaugurated in 1989, a year later it debuted internationally in high level competition, hosting the second edition of the Open de Tenerife, part of the PGA European Tour.
Golf del sur
Tel: (+34) 922 785 124
e-mail: golfdelsur@golfdelsur.es
GOLF DEL SUR course in Tenerife, first opened in 1987, with a professional tournament, has hosted since then many competitions at the highest international level. During the years 1989, 1992, 1993 and 1994 it hosted the Tenerife Open, belonging to the PGA European Volvo Tour, with victories of José Maria Olazábal in its first two editions and of David Gilford and Mark James, in the following years. In 1995, at Golf del Sur took place the Shell Wonderful World of Golf Tournament, where they confronted each other Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson.
Currently the course has 18 championship holes that offer you the opportunity to enjoy a challenging game while enjoying the incredible views.
Moreover, in 1999 at Golf del Sur two worldwide records of long drive, were achieved both by the British player Karl Woodward. First he established a new record by achieving a shot of 398 yards and a few months later, he finally succeeded in breaking his own record beating the 400 yards barrier with a shot of 408.
Cally Palace
Tel: 01557 814341
e-mail: info@callypalace.co.uk
Contact Cally Palace Hotel & Golf Course (bespokehotels.com)
Cally Palace golf course is owned by the Cally Palace Hotel which has only very recently opened up to non-residents, this 18 hole parkland course provides a pleasing challenge for all skill levels.
Designed by well-known golf architect Tom Macaulay, the course opened in 1994 and it makes the most of its picturesque setting near Gatehouse of Fleet, with wonderful views of nearby Cardoness Castle, Rutherford’s Monument and the Fleet Estuary. Natural contours, magnificent trees, hidden burns and the beautiful Cally Lake give this course a mature feel that belies its relatively young age.
Brighouse bay
Tel: 01557 870509
e-mail: enquiries@brighousebay-golfclub.co.uk
http://www.brighousebay-golfclub.co.uk
Brighouse Bay Golf course is a stunning 18 hole course 6 miles south west of the Artists' Town of Kirkcudbright on the Solway Coast in Dumfries and Galloway, South-West Scotland.
From the White Tees the course measures 6636 yds and is rated Par 73 (SSS 72), and from the Yellow Tees it measures 5662 Yds and is rated Par 70 (SSS 68). The course measures 5245 yds from the Ladies Red Tees and is Par 72 (SSS 72)
The course is perched imposingly above the beautiful Solway coastline and has spectacular sea views stretching over the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man
The natural coastal terrain plus the varying lengths from each of the 3 tees, change the character of each hole and make the course interesting and challenging whatever your ability and handicap level.
Kirkcudbright
Tel: 01557 330314
e-mail: office@kirkcudbrightgolf.co.uk
Our course sits above the southern edge of the beautiful and historic town of Kirkcudbright, with panoramic views of the town and harbour, the Galloway Hills and the Dee Estuary.
We are a top rated course and Club, with visitor feedback that highlights the challenge and quality of the course combined with superb hosting. We invite you to enjoy a fine test of golf and then to relax in our clubhouse and sample our specialist Thai catering or simply relax with a drink with your friends.
colvend
Tel: 01556 630398
e-mail: secretary@colvendgolfclub.co.uk
https://www.colvendgolfclub.co.uk/
This testing 18-hole parkland course is situated on the Solway Coast in South West Scotland, conveniently located near to Dumfries, Dalbeattie and Castle Douglas.
The course has spectacular views across to the Cumbrian Fells and also to the Isle of Man.
Many of the holes offer challenging water features and tree lined fairways with the original 9 holes having small well-guarded greens and undulating fairways.
The 8th hole is one of the best par 3 holes in the area and is worthy of the stroke index 6.
The additional 9 holes that were opened in 1997 are now well established and offer golf of the highest quality.