Pula

Mallorca is already well endowed with top class golf courses – including the likes of Son Gual, Alcanada and Son Antem (West) – but golfers can now add the revamped Pula layout to their list of must-play tracks on the Balearic island.

A decade after they were opened in 1995, the 18 holes at Pula were extensively remodeled over a three year period to transform the course from a regular, resort-style layout to a championship course capable of holding European Tour events.

The man responsible for this conversion was none other than Spanish golfing hero José María Olazábal – perhaps better known in the field of golf design for his courses at Mission Hills, China and Real Sevilla – and Ollie completed this major project in three phases between 2004 and 2006.

Incredibly, the Pula renovation was carried out in the middle of a five-year spell hosting the annual Mallorca Classic and full credit must go to the grounds staff for having the course available for professional tournament play during that time. Ironically, the two-time Masters champion won the 2005 Mallorca Classic and this was Ollie’s 23rd and last European Tour title.

In 2010, three years after the last Classic had been held at Pula, along came the Iberdrola Open Cala Millor Mallorca and – yes, you guessed it – more remedial work. This time, the fairway on hole 3 was leveled and the 17th green was moved back and to the right, with six new bunkers installed on a re-shaped fairway.