TENERIFE

The largest of the Canaries is a golfing paradise island in every sense – there are nine courses sprinkled around and two absolute belters which are right up there among Europe’s best.

The jewels in Tenerife’s golfing crown are the Dave Thomas-designed Abama, with its immaculate conditioning and dramatic clifftop location, and the even more spectacular Seve Ballesteros created Buenavista on the wild and remote north west coast.

Both courses will blow you away; Abama with its crystal white bunkers, huge Augusta-esque greens, 22 lakes, 25,000 palm trees, spectacular waterfalls and significant elevation changes and Buenavista – dubbed the Pebble Beach of Tenerife - with its amazing location…. the first nine holes are set against the backdrop of the Teno cliffs with five back nine holes running along the coast and a number of greens just yards away from the frothing Atlantic. In true Seve-style it also features six par-5s, six par-4s and six par-3s and several spectacular elevated tees for a great combination of variety and pure drama.

Most courses are in the deep south including Golf del Sur, a former European Tour venue and the island’s only 27-hole complex, and Costa Adeje and Golf Las Americas, which handily happen to be near the vibrant resorts of Las Americas and Los Cristianos.

Exception to the rule is the historic northern star Real Club de Golf de Tenerife, home of the second oldest club in Spain, and the breathtaking Donald Steeldesigned Tecina, a 40-minute ferry trip away on the stunning neighbouring island of La Gomera - a magical adventure and well worth experiencing.