Golf plays its part in Lanzarote tourism
The volcanic island of Lanzarote has a reputation for being a little bit different to the other Canarian islands. Of course, most of the European visitors who arrive here are looking for a sunshine holiday based in one of the main coastal tourist towns along the southeast coast.
However, for those who’re prepared to travel just a little further afield around the island then they’ll be rewarded with some truly unique examples of nature, art and local culture that will totally enhance the visitor experience.
More of that in a bit but first let’s consider some of the main sporting options.
Around the coastline, Lanzarote is well-known for diving, surfing and various other water sports. Inland, you’ll find cyclists who come here for warm weather training on the local roads and golf also features two 18-hole layouts situated close to the airport.
Unlike many other Spanish resort-style courses, there are no houses overlooking either 18-hole layout so golfers never feel hemmed in by residential complexes at close proximity – and there’s no noise from adjacent construction sites to blight the round either.
There’s been talk down the years about a third course on Lanzarote near the Playa Blanca resort on the south coast but as yet nothing’s happened. If additional golf facilities are a must have for golfers then the four courses on Fuerteventura are only a short 30-minute ferry ride away!
The course at Costa Teguise is a John Morrison layout, one of the last the renowned architect designed before he died in 1977. Occupying a large 200-acre site on the lower slopes of a dormant volcano, the fairways on this course fan out from the clubhouse in two distinct loops of nine.
Three thousand palm trees were planted during the original build, framing every hole as they weave around a rather desolate landscape of old lava fields – it’s nothing short of a miracle actually that anything can grow in such an inhospitable agronomic environment.
Costa Teguise hosts a pro-am event (Turismo de Teguise Campeonato de Canarias de Profesionales 2024) 1-3 November with a prize fund of 20,000 euros so staging this tournament indicates the capability of the course to challenge elite players as well as the casual holiday golfer.
Lanzarote Golf
The course at Lanzarote Golf is a 2008 Ron Kirby design and it’s one of three that the architect has to his name in the Canary Islands. Built on a smaller scale, the eighteen holes here are a perfect complement to the layout of its more established golfing neighbour.
The clubhouse environment has recently been modernized with the introduction of a new Golf Hub indoor practice facility, along with an upgraded dining space which is now known as La Honorable restaurant (and is also available to non-golfers).
Francisco de Béthencourt recently arrived from Anfi Tauro in Gran Canaria as the new Director of Golf and he has plans to improve many aspects of the course, most importantly the quality of the putting surfaces – he knows only too well if you get your greens right then you’ll satisfy the vast majority of the clientele!
CACT – Centros de Art, Cultura y Turismo
Away from the golf courses, Lanzarote has some wonderful local attractions to heighten the senses, offering some truly unique examples of nature, art and local culture combined into one, as envisaged by the celebrated local artist César Manrique.
Several Art, Culture and Tourism Centres are woven into the volcanic fabric of the island, from the spectacular lava tunnels at Jameos del Agua (pictured above) to the gardens at Jardín de Cactus, where around 4,500 cactus plants from five continents are on display.
Wineries
There are nineteen bodegas in Lanzarote, most of them located in La Geria region between the small towns of Tinajo, San Bartolomé and Yaiza, Like the golf courses, it’s astonishing to think anything of value can grow in this bleak, black terrain but somehow the vineyards that have been developed over time now produce good quality volcanic Malvasia wines.
A wine tour, like those presented by Bodegas Stratvs, is well worth the journey to take part in.
Thanks
The short golf trip to Lanzarote was arranged through the European Golf and Travel Media Association and expertly organized by Turismo Lanzarote.
Participants were fortunate enough to stay in luxury accommodation at Villas Alondra in Puerto Carmen and they dined at a number of top class restaurants including Paradisus by Meliá Salinas Lanzarote in Costa Teguise, Dunas de Famara outside Caleta de Famara and Kentia Gourmet Club in Puerto Carmen.
Sincere thanks to everybody involved in making this a memorable trip to such a remarkable island in the Canarian archipelago.
Jim McCann
Member
European Golf and Travel Media Association