"Friendly" is the first adjective that comes to mind when I think of Capdepera on Mallorca. Now, I do not mean to wind some of you up by writing about the nice people working there or the relatively moderate green-fee (at least by Mallorcan standards), although both are certainly true.

Instead, it is the friendliness of the design that makes me come back and to recommend this course to friends and acquaintances. By this, I do not mean that the course is (too) easy, but rather that the difficulties are introduced in a gentle fashion, allowing the player to first gain confidence. Not bad if you are visiting in your off-season.

Having gained a bit of confidence, it is then up to you to keep your wits about you when facing the temptations served up by the architect. One example: it is very tempting for many of us to go for the green on the short par 4 10th hole. I have now tried several times and am ashamed to admit that I have had more double and triple bogeys than birdies.

The experience on the 10th tee will be useful as you cross the access road to deal with holes 13-18. I have had windy or difficult days when I have hit irons from nearly every one of the last six tees but also nearly windless days when my game has been on and I have been able to hit driver, 3-wood or hybrids instead.

On almost every occasion I have played here I have felt a very strong urge to play again, very soon, in order to do better, irrespective of whether I have shot 77 or 84. An indication as good as any of the quality of this design!