- 10 hours ago
In the first of this Travelling Golfer series, Rory Anderson heads to Mallorca to experience Pula and Alcanada. He plays both courses to see what the area has to offer.
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00:03hello guys and girls and welcome to a brand new series here on the golf monthly channel called
00:08the traveling golfer i'm your host my name's rory for any of you who do recognize me you know that
00:13i'm an eight handicapped golfer i spent years traveling the world filming golf content and
00:17whacking it on youtube but i'm here on the golf monthly channel to pretty much do the same and
00:21show you guys some of the best destinations that you guys might want to consider for future golf
00:26holidays to kick off the series i'm off to mallorca 48 hours two golf courses let's get going
00:42right guys just got to gatwick airport uh got a two hour 20 minute flight time from here to palma
00:47capital city of mallorca once i get there got an hour's drive to the northeast corner of the island
00:52where the two golf courses that i'm playing this week are waiting for me two epic golf courses yeah
00:57stay tuned 48 hours in mallorca golf sun maybe a couple of beers and uh yeah we'll see what happens
01:04but yeah 48 hours in mallorca here we come
01:18right guys morning of day one of my mallorca adventure and i'm at pula golf resort one of my
01:24favorite venues that i visited here in mallorca basically it's like a one-stop shop stay and play
01:29resort you've got two different accommodation options one here and then some proper golf centric
01:33apartments up there got the sierra de la pula restaurant just literally 20 yards away from
01:38where i am now fantastic restaurant great pro shop track man on the driving range two-tier driving
01:45range here at pula like everything you need for a golf holiday literally roll out of bed onto the
01:50first tee or onto the driving range and away you go 18 hole golf course i'm going to set myself
01:54a
01:54target of breaking 80 today we'll see you know it's a european tour venue it's hosted multiple european
02:00tour events in the past so we'll see how i get on obviously i play off eight so you know
02:05breaking 80
02:06is an ambitious slash realistic target depending on how i'm playing i'm kind of quietly optimistic
02:13let's take to the golf course show you what it's all about here at pula what you can expect you
02:17head
02:17to mallorca on your next golf holiday you all have noticed i've gone baby blue head to toe
02:35hope that's okay with some of you guys i know got beard got man bun and now head to toe
02:41in the same
02:42color apologies if that offends anyone but here we go stroking x18 par four downwind
02:50bunkers up the right i'm not sure if i can fly them or not but let's find out i guess
03:04straight at them
03:08drifting right a touch but it should be fine findable for sure
03:17should be nice
03:21oh that's gone gone a little bit long right guys long and left of the first green here or the
03:28fourth
03:28green should i say after skipping the first three holes um texas wedging don't really feel like
03:35tipping off a bear lie i'm trying to practice my chipping at the moment after a few years duffing
03:41it all over the world but this is definitely a putt in my eyes
03:48sit down now go go in that's it oh there's a lot of emotion going on you can probably hear
03:54on the
03:55cam it is quite windy today here in mallorca obviously i've looked at the forecast the last
03:59couple of days it does look like it's going to die down a bit look it's start of march in
04:04the uk
04:05today we're wearing underarmoured base layers bobble hats thermal leggings if you're getting
04:10on a bit like i am and here in my walker i'm in a t-shirt it's lovely weather it's
04:14about 10 12
04:15degrees now definitely take a pile on the first two points
04:32so straight away here on the fifth hole at pooler you're faced with what this course is really all
04:38about in the middle of the round here at pooler you've got quite big sizable water hazards like i
04:42said it is a little bit windy today so all up the right of this hole you've got water into
04:48the wind
04:48today so playing a little bit longer than it usually would i'm gonna hit driver which i think
04:52is pretty aggressive considering the fairway just gets narrower and narrower and narrower the further
04:56up the hole you go you know if it was a still day i wasn't just straight out my hotel
05:01room onto the
05:01course i'd flirt with the idea of hitting a two iron down there into the fat part of the fairway
05:05but today i'm gonna hit driver i'm on holiday i'm wearing baby blue head to toe so
05:11shouldn't be taking myself too seriously should i
05:17ah some arrow just leaking right get down not gonna lie
05:27ah rinse one into the water so taking a bit of a drop got about 110 ish yards
05:35getting into the wind got a 50 degree wedge what a disappointing start par on the first
05:43stupid club choice off the second to be fair so i'm gonna hit the green and
05:50top two play three in for a five with two putts
05:59oh it's at it if it's the club be up be up yes please that is six feet or so
06:06i've got a
06:07pop up people come on right this would be very sneaky getting out of here with a four
06:14great wedge shot if i don't say so myself not like me at all
06:21come on come on left to righter for another par
06:30oh i've hit that quite hard as well don't miss this now roars
06:37thank god
06:41that's exactly where i wanted to hit it i think that's perfect
06:51and he's fat at it
06:57not gonna lie fat at that it's done quite well actually
07:02all right for a four pretty uninspiring after the t-shot which was in a great
07:07position to be fair
07:13there
07:14go
07:15go
07:16eh
07:18i'll take it
07:204 or 5 hives to kick things off with not the end of the world
07:25i nearly missed that
07:47Now Pula opened for play in 1995 and it was just about a decade after that that the course
07:53went through an extensive remodeling phase and it was none other than Jose Maria Olathebel
07:57who was overseeing that project and anyone who's ever played a Olathebel course knows that
08:02the guy knows exactly what he's doing. Hardly surprising for a double Masters champion and
08:06Ryder Cup legend but yeah he oversaw the renovations here at Pula and you can definitely see how from
08:12these back tees if you look behind me there the white tee is a good I don't know 60 yards
08:18further
08:18back than the LAT here today on the 12th there really is championship golf on offer here at Pula
08:24if you're the kind of low handicap golfer who likes to test yourself this is definitely a course that
08:29will test your game but with multiple tee positions it is definitely a friendly or a more friendly
08:34proposition for handicapped golfers who just want a bit more holiday golf vibe. Today on the 12th
08:40we've got 127 yards plays uphill wind slightly off the right and a little bit against I would say
08:45so let's see what we can do here I've not had the best of front nines. Respectable in places and
08:52something to work on for tomorrow when I head to Alcanada which is one of the favourite courses that
08:56I've played over the last few years. So yeah enjoying my time so far here in Majorca let's see if
09:01we can
09:01finish strong on the back nine rack up a few more pars starting with the par 3 12th.
09:09That is a toe-y hook but I reckon I'm putting. Right as you can see just about held on
09:17to the
09:18putting green to be honest with you great result after a pretty bang average shot and I'll show you
09:24in a second but the step in this green is quite severe so the pin literally three or four yards
09:29up
09:30onto the top level. This is not an easy hole despite only being 130 yards from the LOTs today.
09:39Go! Go! Okay.
09:45As you can see if you get this just slightly wrong that is just going to go and go and
09:53go off the
09:54front edge of the screen. That's a naughty little pin isn't it?
10:01And that's the air out to the right. Get out of that bunker.
10:17Right this is kind of my nightmare considering how bad my chipping is. Ball off the down slope.
10:22Green running away from me. I've got the 60 degree wedge out. Weight on the left. Oh god this is
10:30so
10:30difficult for me. I played that quite nicely though. Not understanding how it's not rolling right
10:39instead of left but oh well it's on the green. That could have been Duff City. Right one final putt.
10:46Can I scramble a par? Can't believe that that chip has rolled down here although now that I'm on this
10:52side of the hole it is a little bit more obvious. See that thing that tall pros do when they
10:57kind of
10:57look at it from all angles does make sense but ain't nobody got time for that. If I can slot
11:03this one
11:04I'll be happy with the way I've played on day one. Looking very much forward to trying a little bit
11:08harder to put a score together tomorrow. The golf course tomorrow is out of this world so make sure
11:14you stay tuned for that. Not that hard enough. That's poor to say the least.
11:25All right tap in bogey.
11:29Oh well. Right guys and girls there's a bit of a snapshot of what is on offer here at Pula
11:33Golf Resort
11:34in Mallorca. Make sure you stay tuned because tomorrow we've got an absolutely amazing course
11:38playing at Alcanada Golf Club. Host of the Challenge Tour Grand Final. Three time host
11:42as of November this year. So if you are looking for a winter golf holiday later on in the year
11:46definitely consider Mallorca because you can play a few rounds of golf here at Pula.
11:50You can go to the event at Alcanada. You can obviously then play that golf course the day after
11:55the event in tournament condition. There are some other courses in this corner of the island as well.
11:59So yeah. Good first day at Mallorca. Hopefully you've enjoyed what you've seen of Pula Golf Resort.
12:05If you have any questions about this place make sure to pop in the comment section. But for now
12:09I'm going to head into the Pula Clubhouse. Get changed. Go for dinner in a banging restaurant.
12:14Get up early tomorrow. Hit the road for some more golf.
12:17All right guys. Day two of my Mallorca adventure.
12:46All right guys. Day two of my Mallorca adventure.
12:46And I'm off to a place called Alcanada Golf Club. It's about an hour's drive. Just less than an hour
12:52from where I'm staying here at Pula Golf Resort. Still up in the northeast corner of the island.
12:57And this I have to say is one of my favorite golf courses that I've played over the last few
13:03years.
13:03So yeah. Special one in store for today.
13:36All right guys and girls. Arrived at Alcanada Golf Club. But as you can see from the drive in,
13:41the location of this course is pretty spectacular. We'll see more of the amazing views as we get to
13:46the high points around these mountains with some of the raised tees looking out over the bay of Alcudia.
13:51Looking pretty special. I have played this golf course before and I was last here. I didn't play
13:57but I was watching the Challenge Tour Grand Final which has been hosted here at Alcanada twice.
14:01It's coming back in 2023 for a third visit. So as you can see when you come here, play off
14:07those back tees.
14:08Championship golf is very much on the cards and the winning score last year was only minus nine.
14:13And bearing in mind these guys are obviously playing for their rights on the DP World Tour.
14:17So they're at the top end of the professional game. Really, really amazing players. And only coming
14:22out with a winning score of minus nine shows you what the test of golf is like here at Alcanada
14:26from
14:26those back tees. Now, I'm not man enough to take on those white tees because it's over 7,000 yards
14:31from back there. I get my handicap at a 6,200 yard course. So I've edged forward onto the yellows
14:37which
14:37are still 6,600 yards and I've set myself a target of breaking 80. Now, an educated guess. I'd say
14:45I'm
14:45probably not going to do it. But anyway, let's crack on, play a bit of golf here at Alcanada.
14:50Like I said, an hour from where I'm staying at Pula and a really, really special course.
14:53Can I break 80? Jump in the comments down below. Yes or no?
15:01It's up the right. It's well hit. It's fine. It's just over that bunker.
15:07Kicking down now. Could be on the adjacent fairway once gravity gets involved. But
15:12considering I'm fresh out of the car with no time to warm up, I'll take that to start.
15:25Not really expecting to hit this all the way up to the green.
15:29Anything in play and over that trouble I'll be happy with.
15:38I'll be happy with that start.
15:38Ripped it straight at the bunker.
15:42Yep, that is about five, six yards short of the green. Exactly where I was aiming.
15:46Happy, happy with that start.
15:50Like that. Run.
15:53Ah, not enough to get over that slope.
15:57Not the best, but given my history of the duffs, I'm not overly disappointed with that.
16:05I just needed to fly a little bit further or take a little less loft.
16:08Something to think about. Obviously, I didn't have a chance to warm up on the practice screen
16:11before I teed off. So, a little bit of guesswork with how the green is going to react over the
16:17first couple of holes. But hopefully I'll get up to speed with them, for lack of a better pun.
16:23Apologies. Right, birdie put on the first.
16:30Go in. Go in.
16:33I will take a two-inch tap-in par put on the first hole without a warm-up any day
16:39of the week.
16:40Level par through one.
16:44Yep, actually a bit of a cut there, but that's absolutely fine.
16:57And hit the slope.
16:59And go a bit.
17:01And go a bit more.
17:02And go in.
17:04I think we can all agree
17:07that that is a gimme.
17:09So, worth noting that Alcanada boasts this tag marshall buggy system, which is a really,
17:14really detailed GPS of the golf course. It tells you what your pace of play is like,
17:19what your start time was. I've been playing for 29 minutes.
17:22Too too old. Maybe you need to speed up a little bit, but you can do all sorts of stuff
17:26with this.
17:28Give it a bit of food and bevs action.
17:32Lovely. As you can see, map of the course.
17:36You know, don't get lost, all that kind of stuff. It's a great system.
17:40One of the fancier GPS units out there for sure.
17:47Bit skinny. Low on the face, up the right.
17:50Not a good shot at all, but
17:52it's bouncing. Could even get a bit of carter path alive and a few extra yards out of that one.
17:58So, quick shout out to Alcanada actually. The course opened for play in October 2003.
18:03So, we're creeping up on the 20th birthday of this magnificent golf course.
18:08We'll just see if I can find my ball, flick another little wedge shot into this par 4 green
18:12and hopefully start off with par, par, par. That would be lovely.
18:18I've taken the wrong club down here. I've got a 60 degree wedge.
18:21So, I'm going to have to throw this quite far, but I definitely can't be bothered to go back to
18:25the buggy.
18:28Played it nice.
18:31And sit.
18:33Definitely take that.
18:36No, that was low all day long.
18:39Now, to be honest with you, struggling for a bogey.
18:45Yeah, in for a five, one over through three.
18:47To be honest with you, without a warm up, take that for sure.
18:51Right, seventh tee. Raised tee.
18:53Absolutely spectacular view in the background.
18:55As you can see, as this par five snakes its way down the hill,
18:58in between bunkers and rows of trees.
19:01Brilliant, brilliant golf hole.
19:02I would argue this is the signature hole on this golf course.
19:04There are other candidates later on in the round, which I'm sure you'll see on this video.
19:09But yeah, if I can get a good drive away over this bunker, chasing down the hill,
19:13even though it's a 600-yard par five from this yellow tee,
19:16I reckon I can get pretty close in two.
19:19So, bombs away, as they say, and let's see if we can sneak one down there in the fairway.
19:30Bit necky. Definitely not my best strike.
19:33Bit necky.
19:34Up the left, it's absolutely fine.
19:36It's at that kind of big tree right in the middle of the two bunkers.
19:38But as you can see, I've been so close to going down this slope and getting a few extra yards.
19:46That would have been lovely.
19:47But as it stands, I've got about 320 yards left in.
19:52So, there are two bunkers down there.
19:54One right, one left.
19:55Which I do think make this layup a little bit more complicated than it needs to be.
19:59So, I am kind of tempted to hit three-wood and just try and get it as close to the
20:03green as possible
20:05over these bunkers and in play with a wedge.
20:07Unfortunately, though, three-wood off the deck is not really in my strong suit.
20:14So, I'm going to be a wimp.
20:15I'm sorry.
20:16I'm going to play this hole as a three-shotter.
20:19Which, let's be honest, unless I absolutely ripped one down the right side here and chased down the hill.
20:24It was always going to be anyway.
20:27So, I'm just going to hit a six-iron, which I don't think is enough to reach the bunker on
20:31the right.
20:33If I go in that direction, should leave about a wedge in.
20:40That is straight out of the bunker.
20:42So, if it does reach it, I'm an absolute plonker.
20:47Yep, comfortably right in the middle of that bunker.
20:51Right, so, nine-iron, one-three-six.
20:54Try and catch it a little bit clean.
21:00Like that.
21:01If that's the yardage, that's such a good shot.
21:04Get down, get down, get down!
21:09Straight over the top of the pin, but I think I have hit that a little bit too hard.
21:13Probably got like a 35-footer for a birdie.
21:16I'll take it though.
21:46I'll take it though.
22:04Come on.
22:08Par required to break 80.
22:15Oh, hit a bit bottomy, but that's so straight and safe.
22:21Oh, that's fairway, I think.
22:23Rubbish for distance, but accuracy-wise, lovely.
22:30Stay there and be the yardage.
22:33Stay there!
22:35Just not quite reached the green, but I think it's literally like a yard short.
22:39Should be putting that.
22:40Now, I know I said I quite fancy practicing my chipping at the moment,
22:44but, and this would be a good opportunity to practice that strike off the tight fairway lie,
22:49but let's be honest, I need to get this down in two for a 79, so I'm running back to
22:55the putter.
22:57Off the left, quite a few left to right putts today, all on the pace.
23:06And swing, and go, and that's a tapping.
23:1379, nothing to write home about for decent golfers, but for me, eight handicapper, seven over, broken handicap,
23:21break 80, done.
23:25There we have it, guys, all done at Alcanada, all done in Mallorca, I'm sad to say.
23:29That was my 48 hours on this amazing island, playing two really cool golf courses.
23:34Really enjoyed my stay at Pula.
23:36As always, fantastic all-encompassing resort, track man driving range, superb restaurant,
23:42great place to have a few drinks in the evening, really relaxed kind of vibe, friendly people,
23:46and obviously the two different accommodation options on site, making it a super convenient
23:51place to stay and play in Mallorca. And then you've got this place, Alcanada Golf Club,
23:55an hour's drive, or just less than an hour from Pula. So if you're looking at maybe like three nights,
24:00five nights kind of holiday stay and play package, definitely recommend Pula as a good base.
24:06There are accommodation options near Alcanada, but as a standalone golf club, they don't have their own
24:10hotel as of yet. So this is definitely a kind of tack it onto the itinerary kind of vibe option,
24:17and I certainly would recommend it. One of my favorite courses that I've played over the last
24:21few years, and I'm lucky to say that I've ticked off a fair few all the way around the world,
24:25and this is definitely one of the most spectacular places to play, as you can see behind me.
24:29And as I said at the start of the video, super friendly, really great clubhouse to have a spot
24:34of lunch after you around. Unfortunately, I don't have time for all that. I've got to shoot back to
24:39Palmer Airport now and back to the UK. Back to base layers and jumpers and bubble hats and...
24:46Can I just stay in Mallorca?
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