Region: Tenerife, Lanzarote & Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain | Best Time: Year-round — average 23°C | Nearest Airport: Tenerife South (TFS), Lanzarote (ACE), Gran Canaria (LPA)
Editor’s Note: The Canary Islands are Europe’s only year-round guaranteed golf destination — sitting off the African coast at the latitude of the Sahara, winter temperatures rarely drop below 18°C. What surprises most visitors is the quality: Golf Las Americas was designed by Pepe Gancedo and consistently ranked Spain’s best volcanic-landscape course; Abama on Tenerife’s western cliffs is one of the most spectacular resort holes anywhere. Combined with the extraordinary food scene emerging across the islands and Lanzarote’s alien volcanic terrain, the Canaries deliver a genuinely extraordinary golf experience.
The 5 Courses to Play
1. Abama Golf — Tenerife ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Designer: Dave Thomas (2005) | Par/Yardage: 72 / 6,960 yards | Rating: 74.5 / 137
- Why Play It: Carved into the volcanic cliffs of Tenerife’s west coast with the Atlantic 300 metres below — Abama delivers the most dramatic golf scenery in the Canary Islands. Dave Thomas’s routing uses every foot of elevation change, with the par-3 15th dropping towards the ocean in a shot unlike anything else in Spain. The Abama resort hotel’s seven Michelin-starred restaurants complete one of Europe’s most extraordinary resort experiences.
- Book: abamagolfresort.com | Green fees from €185
2. Golf Las Américas — Tenerife ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Designer: Pepe Gancedo (1989) | Par/Yardage: 72 / 6,235 yards
- Why Play It: Gancedo used the volcanic rock, black lava fields and palm-lined fairways to create Tenerife’s most unique layout — a course that genuinely couldn’t exist anywhere else on earth. The Atlantic Ocean borders multiple holes; the volcanic soil produces a distinctive firm, fast ball flight. Host of the Tenerife Open (European Tour) — a genuinely memorable round.
- Book: golflasamericas.com | Green fees from €95
3. Costa Teguise Golf — Lanzarote ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Designer: John Harris (1978) | Par/Yardage: 72 / 6,346 yards
- Why Play It: Golf on a volcanic island of extraordinary visual drama — Lanzarote’s lava landscape, César Manrique’s art installations and the Timanfaya volcanic national park create the most alien environment in European golf. Costa Teguise threads through palm trees and volcanic rock with views of Fuerteventura. The island’s near-permanent sunshine and consistent trade winds make every round unique.
- Book: lanzarotegolf.com | Green fees from €65
4. Meloneras Golf — Gran Canaria ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Designer: Ron Kirby (2004) | Par/Yardage: 71 / 6,268 yards
- Why Play It: On Gran Canaria’s sunny south coast beside the Maspalomas dunes — Kirby’s routing makes clever use of the natural sand dunes and Atlantic views. The Lopesan Costa Meloneras resort hotel provides direct course access. Consistently voted Gran Canaria’s best course; the combination of dune landscape, year-round sunshine and competitive green fees makes this exceptional value.
- Book: melonerasgolf.com | Green fees from €80
5. Golf del Sur — Tenerife ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Designer: Pepe Gancedo (1987) | Par/Yardage: 71 / 6,310 yards
- Why Play It: The Canaries’ most popular course with visiting UK golfers — three loops of nine through volcanic black-rock terrain with ocean views and Mount Teide as backdrop on clear days. The North Course is the most challenging of the three nines; the mixture of lava hazards, palms and Atlantic light makes this a genuinely distinctive experience that no golf simulator can prepare you for.
- Book: golfdelsur.es | Green fees from €75
Where to Stay
- Abama Golf & Spa Resort (5★GL): Tenerife’s finest resort — clifftop location, seven Michelin restaurants, two pools and direct course access. The benchmark for Canarian luxury. Check availability on Expedia →
- Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora (5★): Europe’s largest infinity pool, 300 metres from the sea on Tenerife’s west coast. Close to Abama and Las Américas.
- Lopesan Costa Meloneras (5★): Gran Canaria’s finest resort — on the beach beside the Maspalomas dunes, direct access to Meloneras Golf.
Practical Information
- Getting There: Tenerife South (TFS) — 4h from London, direct flights year-round with all major UK carriers. Lanzarote (ACE) and Gran Canaria (LPA) equally well-served. Winter (December–February) is peak season; book courses and hotels early.
- Year-Round Golf: The unique selling point. When Scottish links are frozen and the Algarve is cold, Tenerife and Lanzarote offer 20–24°C sunshine. December and January are genuinely excellent golf months here.
- Island Hopping: Inter-island flights are 30–45 minutes and cost €30–60. A Tenerife–Lanzarote combination makes an exceptional week’s golf with two completely different landscapes.
- Mount Teide: Spain’s highest peak (3,718m) dominates Tenerife’s interior. The cable car to the summit (book in advance) provides one of the most spectacular views in Europe and a memorable non-golf afternoon.