The oldest golf club in Spain – founded in 1891
Although now not located on its original site, the golf club of Las Palmas – the capital city of Gran Canaria – is the very oldest in all of Spain and was formed to cater mainly for the ex-pat British golfers who had begun to colonise the island around that time and wanted to fulfil their desire to play golf as they would do back at home!
The club moved to its present location teetering on the edge of the Bandama volcanic crater back in 1956 and designer Mackenzie Ross worked his magic on what must have been a fairly unforgiving tract of land. In fact the current driving range is probably one of the quirkiest anywhere with its teeing area set high on the edge of a side-crater of the main extinct volcano with players blasting their practice shots down into the old crater!
The course exudes golfing quality both in terms of design and conditioning with excellent tees, fairways and greens with the putting surfaces being of the highest order.
The layout begins by skirting along and around the old crater before climbing into the hills to the west and then diving back down to the clubhouse for the closing stretch. Many of the greens are elevated and whilst not protected by severe bunkers as often found on more modern courses the challenge is to keep the ball flying high and then getting it to hold on the slippery greens.
The course is blessed with spectacular views from most of the holes and with its own slightly cooler micro-climate in the foothills of the main Gran Canaria mountains it is a relatively easy walking course.
The on-site 3 star Bandama Golf Hotel is a comfortable venue in which to base yourself for a few days of stay and play, before perhaps heading to the south of the island for some more modern golf courses and hotels more typical of a contemporary Spanish golf holiday.
