Costa Adeje - Canary Islands - Spain

I played Costa Adeje in July 2022. I paid €91 for golf, buggy and buffet lunch. The buffet was nothing special, but the golf really was worth the visit. Firstly the design is lovely. Yes it's wide, so some will call it a "resort course", but as a bad 8 handicapper there are very few gimme holes. There's a very good range of tees to cater for all abilities, and when I played the condition of the course was immaculate - it couldn't be faulted. And we must've seen at least a dozen greenkeepers out tending the course as we played, far more than most local members courses back home. All in all this is a solid 4 ball rating. If I lived here I'd join, and when I come on holiday, I'll pay the greenfee. The way to play this course is definitely to play the 18 hole championship course first thing, take lunch and beers in the very comfortable clubhouse, then take your mates and a couple of buggies with beers to play the 9 hole "lakes" course at the bottom of the hill. A nice hit and giggle with a few beers to end the day.

Costa Adeje was fortunate enough to host two back-to-back European Tour events last year with winning scores of -25 and -27! However, it was more than challenging enough for me.

I wonder if this is the only golf course in the world where many of the fairways are split into several walled terraces - the 4th hole had over 10 different levels by my count! On most holes you're shot flies over these terraces, although on the 18th, it's alongside them - definitely an advantage to be a leftie like myself on this hole if you end up against a wall! This quirk along with the black sand and great views of La Gomera gives the course a distinct character and makes it worth playing.

In terms of the quality of the golf, I'd say that the course doesn't demand much strategy, especially off the tee. I played driver on all but the par 3s as there's usually plenty space to miss, so it's pretty much get it as far as you can down there. As others have said, the par 5s are pretty long, which also takes away strategy as only very long hitters will need to consider not laying up. However, what the layout lacks in strategy it makes up for in the greens, which do the heavy-lifting in protecting par.

Many of the greens have multiple tiers with both sudden and subtle slopes (I think the 12th must be close to 6ft between tiers). Combine this with the quick speed, tricky pin placements and the bermuda turf (which makes even straight putts bend) and all but the best putters will walk away with several 3 putts (I even managed a couple 4 putts). Playing the course blind you'll end up on the wrong tier several times - even knowing the course you'll need good distance control to make sure you're hitting/missing in the right places.

Overall I can easily see how the pros demolished the course, but also think it'll give a real challenge to the recreational golfer who will will need their A-game with their irons and short stick to play to their handicap.

Played the course in beginning of September and the course was in pristine condition, the greens were really fast and in very good condition. There are some really memorable holes on the course such as holes 4, 5 and 15. Overall the course is fun to play but it is very lengthy at times even though I'm a long hitter I wasn't getting near hitting the greens in two on the par 5's. Would definitely recommend a round here though if you are in the area. The staff was also nice and for a 85 euro round with a buggy and really decent rental clubs I can't complain and enjoyed the day to the fullest!

Some of the best views on the sea towards La Gomera, the greens are good and also the club is not too crowded. Wide fairways and you find your ball easy even if you do not hit it straight all the time. A very good holiday course.

Having played Adeje many times over the years I thought it deserved a review. Some reviewers see it as a holiday golf course which seems unfair, there’s plenty of challenge for most golfers, fairways are wide but if you miss them the rough or waste areas will add shots to you score. Highlight holes for me are the 4th and 5th with most of par 5’s joy to play. The greens are always fast and course was in great condition even in May when courses in Tenerife often see maintenance after the peak winter season. Pace of play is normally good and the buffet in the clubhouse great value.

For those seeking a golf "activity" while on vacation a visit to Costa Adeje will fill out your agenda. The course is geared towards the holiday golfer. Shotmaking elements are simplified to keep the parade moving. The challenges -- should one call them that -- are purely pedestrian in nature. The weather clearly assists when playing but those looking for something more will need to search elsewhere.

by M. James Ward

Unfortunately only two courses in Tenerife were played this time, the other being Golf Sur and I have to say everything about this course made it a better place to play for me.

The greens for starters are excellent only Hindhead played earlier this year had better greens and of course this meant a few too many three putts. Definitely a course you need to have played before.

The course starts easy with the 1st and 2nd and then from the 3rd it gets really going. The 3rd is a great par 5 with fantastic views followed by a great par 4 4th. 5 and 7 are lovely par 3s and don't be mistaken by the length when we played you needed a lot more club than you think. The course continues in fine form until 11 were it remains enjoyable but in my mind not quite so tough, but then 15 through 18 are really fun again, the 17th in particular stands out as tricky with its length. 18 is a par 5 that gives the opportunity for a long (3 wood in my case) shot to try and make in two.

Be warned you can not chip and run you will end up short every time. Definitely a better course to me that Golf Del Sur. This should be ranked much much higher than it is and of course with the likes of Garcia, Poulter, Olazable etc all having played here there is a little bit of history too. Would like a four and a half here but going to round up not down.

Costa Adeje offers good holiday golf at a reasonable price at this time of year. The fairways are wide enough for anyone to enjoy a round here but if you do somehow miss them your approach shot may well be difficult as the ball usually sits down in the rough. There is a decent amount of variety in the layout and four of the six par 3’s (5, 7, 10 & 16) are very good holes. Of the others, the attractive 4th and par 5 8th were two of my favourites. A number of the fairways were once used as banana plantations and are split into rows of terracing giving an unusual appearance as you look back towards the tee. The course can easily be walked if you prefer to do so and the views of the mountains, sea and islands certainly add to the enjoyment. Ask to play from the white tees if you need more of a challenge (review below), at almost 6,800 yards it’s no walkover. Brian W

If your objective is merely to enjoy a nice walk in the sunshine whilst occasionally hitting a ball, then you won't go wrong with the well manicured Costa Adeje course. If your objective is a challenging round of golf on a top class course - then you'd be best giving this course a miss. Playing off a handicap of 14 at the time, I found this course to be lacking in both challenge and character. Indeed, the only character it seemed to have was an almost endless and frustrating (when in a cart) number of tiers on various fairways. The amount of property around the course is almost overbearing, making it feel as though you are encroaching on other people's property. If it were not for the beautiful weather, you would not pay a visit to a course like this at home. I would add as a caveat, that having played El Chaparral & La Cala on mainland Spain, and Quinta Do Lago in Portugal - perhaps my own expectations were too high.

Played Costa Adeje on Sunday and liked it very much. Since I didn´t see the course with its original black sand bunkers, I can´t comment on that. Definitly didn´t bother me as much. It is actually easier to know, if you are in a bunker or if you are in a waste area by using different coloured sand. Anyway, the course was in great condition. In comparison with Golf del Sur this one was not dried out at all, but all in lush green. Hole 5 even had a sort of Hawaiian look to it. The course has the unique element of numerous terraces along and across the fairways. Most of those are lined up with stone walls. By that feature many fairways are divided into many levels. Very interesting to play. Great value offer - greenfee, buggy + lunch buffet for € 89,00. My favourite holes were 4, 5 and 7.