Golf on Gran Canaria
A Golfer’s Guide to Gran Canaria’s Courses
Most golfers imagine that Canary Islands golf is all about sun, sea and a polite breeze nudging your ball into the right (or wrong) direction. And yes, you’ll get sunshine, but golf on Gran Canaria is a lot more characterful than people expect.Gran Canaria’s geography does half the work for the courses. Volcanic cliffs, tumbling ravines, sweeping dunes, and a climate so obliging it feels like it’s on retainer - all of it adds charm. You’ll find courses carved into coastal rock faces, laid across old farmland, tucked into valleys, perched above the Atlantic, or sculpted into desert-like hills that turn golden at sunset. It’s this dramatic scenic variety that makes playing golf here such an unexpectedly absorbing experience.
The island boasts eight main golf courses, each with its own sense of place. Starting in the south, let’s take a wander through the golfing choices offered by Gran Canaria.
1. Salobre Golf & Resort
- Courses: Two 18-hole courses (Old/South and New/North, now combined into a flexible 27-hole layout).
- Character: Rugged and dramatic. The South/Old Course is more traditional, with generous fairways and forgiving greens. The New (or “North”) loops through ravines, volcanic rock and undulating terrain - quite technical and rewarding.
- Facilities: A modern practice area, pro shop, driving range, club fitting, academy and more.
- Hotel: Salobre Hotel Resort & Serenity sits right beside the courses. It’s a 5-star resort with 313 rooms, multiple pools, spa, restaurants and direct golfer services.
- Course: 18 holes, Par 72. Designed by Von Hagge, Smelek and Baril.
- Character: Striking “Arizona-style” layout with desert-like ridges, red stone formations, lakes, and natural vegetation. Quite dramatic and sculptural.
- Facilities: Includes a par-3 course, driving range, practice greens, a golf academy, pro shop, GPS buggies.
- Hotel: Nearby accommodation includes the Anfi Emerald Hotel Gloria and the seafront Palace Royal Hotel & Spa (just 1km from the course).
- Course: 18 holes, Par 73.
- Character: Open and forgiving, with wide fairways bordered by dunes and palms. Less vertical challenge, more space to breathe and play a relaxed round.
- Hotel: The Hotel Dunagolf Suites and Hotel Kumara Serenoa are both located on-site.
- Course: 18 holes, Par 71.
- Character: Stylish and scenic. This Lopesan course takes you through landscaped fairways with sea views and mountain backdrops. Elegant but with enough challenge in its design.
- Hotel: There’s a choice of nearby luxury Lopesan resort hotels including the Baobab Resort and Lopesan Costa Meloneras .
- Course: 18 holes, Par 71.
- Character: Historic, this is Spain’s oldest golf club (founded 1891). Located in the north, it sits beside the crater of Bandama volcano, so you’re playing next to dramatic volcanic terrain and ravines.
- Facilities: Traditional clubhouse, pro shop, and all the essentials.
- Hotel: The elegant Bandama Golf Hotel is right next to the course, giving you superb convenience and views over the first tee and the volcanic crater.
- Course: 18 holes, Par 72.
- Character: Another northern course with a lush parkland layout. Palm-lined fairways, mature vegetation, and water features make it more ‘green countryside’ than volcanic wilderness.
- Facilities: Practice areas, buggy hire, club rental.
- Hotel: The historic Cortijo San Ignacio Rural Hotel is right at the heart of the course.
It isn’t just the scenery - though that alone is worth the flight. It’s the reliability. Gran Canaria offers more than 300 days of sunshine a year, warm winters, warm summers, and breezes that cool without tormenting.
Morning tee times? Never too cold.
Afternoon rounds? Never too hot.
Drinks on the terrace? Always perfect.
Add to that the island’s easy transport links, walkable resorts, good practice facilities, and friendly golf culture, and you’ve got one of Europe’s most dependable and diverse golfing destinations.
