Son Antem (East) - Balearic Islands - Spain

The reviews below together with a distinct lack of love elsewhere have kept me away from the East course at Son Antem for four years, but I finally decided to give it a try recently.

Conditioning was indeed not great when I visited, but I was offered both a discount and a chance to switch to the West course in the pro shop. In fact, the state of fairways was not a lot worse than the West course on the two occasions I have played there and the temporary greens I was warned about were actually newly laid and rolled truer than most others on the course!

Design-wise, the East course actually has a better start, with an inviting tee-shot into a benign par 5, followed by a short par 3, whereas the West inexplicably starts with some of the narrowest holes on the course. Although most of the East course is laid out among the houses on the property, these houses are placed away from the line of play and must collect fewer golf balls in their gardens than at Son Vida or Andratx. You will come across non-golfing holiday makers crossing the course on foot en route to their houses in places, however, so do pay attention.

If you choose to stay at Son Antem, I would certainly recommend a round here as well, especially if it is quiet compared to the West as was the case during my visit. I played a walking round in under three hours, a rarity elsewhere on Mallorca. Otherwise, I have played at least ten other courses which are better on the island.

Having had a late night in Palma the three of us we were in no hurry to get onto the East Course at Son Antem, having been startled by the sorry state of the West Course the day before. We went out at 10.45 and after 35 minutes had not completed the first two holes.The place is hugely popular with German couples who either play in singles or four-balls and their pace as is generally excruciating as their play. Irrespective of how many they have taken they will still be lining up a last putt even if they run the risk of turning their ankle in the hole.So we set off and cut in whenever there was an empty hole. The signage is very poor so players have little or no ideas where the next tee box is which further delays things. This could be a nice little holiday course with some attractive looking holes and nice views, provided no one minds spending a minimum of five hours playing it. By the time we cut across to 18 we had played six holes in over two hours, which is deplorable. And we met a German man on his wife who had just teed off thinking that they were playing the 11th.The kindest thing to say is, until the owner Marriott starts spending some money on tees, greens and fairways, puts some signs up, tells players to repair pitch marks, replace divots and rake bunkers, plus putting some sensible signage up simply go and play somewhere else.

Played the East course once while staying at the resort. Course is somewhat more open and easier than the West, layed along somewell hidden fairway housing. When I played the course was in terrible condition. green with complete bare patches, very soft and soggy and rummbly. Same with areas of the fairway and also the tees. Not sure what Marriot is trying to do with the course, but from my point of view it needs a complete renmake. Played with a member who mentioned that the course was closed for 3 month! for maintenance, but still in terrible condition (with the local player sharing my view).