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I Don’t Play Golf and Even I Loved My Stay at This Golf Resort in Spain — Here’s Why


Mallorca, the largest of Spain’s enchanting Balearic Islands, has typically been synonymous with bucket-list beaches and opulent Spanish villas. However, it has quietly become Ibiza’s more modest sister in terms of nightlife.

When looking for luxury and comfort but still an activity-filled getaway on the island, Hacienda Son Antem Golf Resort showcases an entirely different yet just as significant side of Mallorca that often goes unnoticed. Hacienda’s view of Mallorca is abundant with landscapes in various shades of green and gold, stunning mountain views, and world-class golfing while maintaining the foundations of Mallorcan art, Spanish architecture, and island charm.

Interior of the Hacienda Son Antem lobby.

Miguel Merino/Courtesy of Hacienda Son Antem Golf Resort, Autograph Collection


This resort doesn’t play host to your grandfather’s buttoned-up, cigar-smoke-laden type of golf club.

Upon arrival, you’re greeted by a beautifully designed lobby filled with high-ceiling arches, palms, pottery, and Mallorcan sculptures by local artisans. The spacious, Spanish-style design seems built to appeal to the naturalist due to the colors of the surrounding vistas. It almost looks as if the gardens of Mallorca’s historical village of Llucmajor were built around the resort.

Lounge chairs in the resorts garden.

Miguel Merino/Courtesy of Hacienda Son Antem Golf Resort, Autograph Collection


I grew up traveling to golf resorts with my uncles, who considered themselves amateur golfers when I was growing up. During summer vacays, I’d go to Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Palm Desert, and now and then, Florida, so I was excited to travel to Spain for the first time for a European golf experience. While I don’t play, I was always in charge of driving the cart, so I have an affinity for this glorious sport and how it, as a pastime, can bring families and friends together on the greens.

Here’s my review of Hacienda Son Antem Golf Resort, Autograph Collection, a golf resort about much more than just golf.

Hacienda Son Antem Golf Resort

  • The walls of the guest rooms are covered in soft sandy-toned linen cloth, which not only aids in soundproofing but also gives a feeling of luxury and comfort without taking up any visual space.
  • Hacienda has an outdoor pool, but the indoor Wellness Spa Pool is heated and lovely for the colder months when the outdoor area is closed.
  • A cozy Spanish-style living room, located just in front of the tapas bar, Ses Vinyes, hides the only TV in the resort’s common areas behind a large canvas above the fireplace, where I watched my favorite team in the Champions League alongside some soccer fans from Madrid.
  • From the lobby to the guest rooms, Hacienda supports and displays many pieces of hand-crafted Mallorcan art.
  • Next door at Son Antem Golf, the course offers wheelchair-accessible golf. In conjunction with the Handisport Foundation, there are two ParaGolfers available, which are all-terrain wheelchairs that help raise golfers into a standing position, allowing a more conventional golf swing.

The Rooms

Interior of a Superior King Terrace guest room.

Miguel Merino/Courtesy of Hacienda Son Antem Golf Resort, Autograph Collection


As a traveler who believes that colors can set the mood, I loved the muted, lighter palette of stone gray, taupes, beiges, and other neutrals the designers plucked from nature showcased at Hacienda Son Antem.

It was a breath of fresh air to see a property move away from the typical “masculine” colors of dark greens, browns, navy blues, and burgundy usually found at golf hotels and resorts. Instead of leading with a sporty vibe, the design here is modern, Spanish luxe, and stately comfortable. The room almost forcibly puts you at ease, and the accommodations left me, a non-sporting guest, feeling like I’d landed on an elegant property on the edge of a large Spanish nature reserve.

With only 151 rooms, Hacienda has the footprint for larger common spaces but is still designed to give an intimate feel. I really appreciated feeling like the rooms weren’t right on top of the lobby at this resort; the layout gives you a bit of breathing room, which is needed, especially after international travel.

The entry-level Deluxe Guest Room is available with a king or two queen beds, both with a terrace. This is the resort’s smallest room at just under 350 square feet, and there is a priority location version of this room with a garden view, but it’s not mobility accessible. At this same square footage, there is also a Family Room that can accommodate two queen beds with a smaller terrace, which would be nice for a family unit or even a girlfriend’s holiday.

For a larger, more luxurious stay, Superior Rooms cover 387 square feet, with a terrace and a seating area. At around 670 square feet, the one-bedroom King Suites are a treat big enough to share. Whether with a significant other or a friend, this gorgeous suite has a large terrace and a dining table that seats four. Inside, the closet space is large enough to store sets of golf clubs at the front and a week-long wardrobe for two in the bedroom. There’s a separate living room, of course, but here, you’ll find another dining table for four, a bar, and an HD television. Upon entering, you’ll first want to open the large floor-to-ceiling windows that frame grassy fields, allowing you to enjoy a cross-suite breeze.

Food and Drink

Given Mallorca’s island status, coming to Spain for the first time as a pescatarian didn’t make me as anxious as many other locations. Although Iberia is known as the home of ham, the chefs at Hacienda were accommodating, and the menus were so varied that I rarely had to ask any questions.

While my friends jokingly screamed, “More jamon, baby!” at dinner, breakfast at the resort is complimentary every morning from 7–11 a.m., including many items that are part of local cuisine. You’ll also find vegetarian and vegan options, and I had no issues finding meals accommodating my dietary restrictions. My favorite meals were from Es Camp Restaurant, where I loved their calamari and the Mediterranean salad. There was also a vegan cheesecake on the menu that was very good — a rare sight given how few dessert options there are for people who don’t eat dairy.

For Hacienda to have just 151 rooms, it was fantastic having an abundance of choices between two restaurants and the resort’s charming tapas bar, Ses Vinyes. At that bar, their bartenders are great at making cocktail classics and conversation, both lost art in many places.

Es Peixet is their outdoor, poolside restaurant, which is also a cute place to have sunset cocktails. Much like their outdoor pool, the restaurant is seasonal, so check with the hotel before you plan to dine when cooler weather arrives.

Activities and Experiences

The resort isn’t only reserved for golfers, but “golf” is in the name of the game here, and enthusiasts are in for a treat here.

Just a buggy ride or three-minute walk away, the Son Antem golf club boasts two high-quality 18-hole courses: the East Course and the West Course. Both courses provide unique challenges and scenic experiences, but the East Course is considered the Resort Course, inaugurated in 1994; the greens are scenic, and the average playtime is around 4 1/2 hours. Known for its wide fairways, it has a more forgiving layout, which is ideal for beginners and casual golfers but is nice for all levels. This is the setting for a laid-back day with family while soaking in the surrounding quiet beauty.

The West Course, dubbed the Championship Course, is built to test skill and is a considerably more challenging course for more advanced golfers. Although with tighter fairways and more difficult greens, the West Course also has breathtaking vistas of Mallorca.

Son Antem Golf also offers amenities such as a driving range, putting greens, and expert golf instruction and team-building activities at their golf academy, which would be great for groups of friends or family. This facility has elevated Hacienda Son Antem into a premier European golf getaway.

The Spa

Hacienda’s wellness area is home to an indoor pool, sauna, and steam room, all available to guests over 14. Here, you can indulge in treatments designed to renew after long-haul travel or a day on the nearby greens. From massages to aromatic body scrubs and facials, the spa provides a tranquil escape; you can also request in-suite massages for resort suite guests who want to indulge in more luxury.

Family-friendly Offerings

Comfy lounge chairs in the courtyard patio.

Miguel Merino/Courtesy of Hacienda Son Antem Golf Resort, Autograph Collection


Hacienda Son Antem offers a private ceramics workshop that I enjoyed with friends but would also be sweet for couples or an energetic, familial, multi-generational experience. Led by local artists from Mallorca, they teach traditional techniques and will guide you through creations. It was a great pre-dinner activity with cocktails for me, but I also think it’s a fun way to keep everyone, including kids, mentally active on vacation.

The outdoor pool has a lifeguard and an adjacent restaurant, which is nice for families that want to spend their day swimming. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. but is seasonal, so check with the hotel if you are traveling during colder months. The indoor pool is open year-round.

Accessibility and Sustainability

One of the standout features of Hacienda Son Antem Golf Resort is its commitment to accessibility, which makes disability-inclusive travel with friends and family feel normalized.

Many of the rooms and suites are accessible, as is the on-site parking, the restaurant, the spa, pools, fitness center, and the business center. While the resort is not generally pet-friendly, service animals are welcome.

Next door, Son Antem Golf, only a golf cart ride away, is also determined to bring golf to all. The golf courses held the first edition of the International Wheelchair Golf Open Championships (IWGOC) in November 2018 and continue to encourage accessible golf on both of their championship-level courses. During the first year, 40 wheelchair-user golfers from 22 countries came together in Mallorca at Son Antem to enjoy the resort’s facilities.

Regarding sustainability, the resort practices regular recycling, which is also available in guest rooms, and Hacienda uses water conservation techniques throughout the resort and in guest rooms.

Location

The exterior of Hacienda Son Antem Golf Resort during sunset.

Miguel Merino/Courtesy of Hacienda Son Antem Golf Resort, Autograph Collection


Located only 15 minutes from Palma de Mallorca’s airport, Hacienda Son Antem Golf Resort is nestled into former farmland with distant views of Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is considered the backbone of Mallorca.

This resort is slightly outside Mallorca’s busier touristy spots, so renting a car is a good idea if you’re not interested in using taxis or Uber. Another option for exploring beyond the resort can be reserving tours, whether with a group or privately, to enjoy the island during the day.

The iconic Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma, known as La Seu by locals, is just over 20 minutes by car from the resort. It will be crowded, and I suggest a guide to help navigate so it doesn’t take up your entire day, but you can’t come this far not to see Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece and one of the symbols of Mallorca’s cultural heritage.

About 40 minutes drive from the resort is Old Town Mallorca, also known as Palma de Mallorca. Touring the Old Town is why you brought your camera to Spain; you’ll want to walk the narrow, yellow-hued streets, peek into courtyards, and walk over stones that are hundreds of years old. Like many before you, including myself, you’ll wander through plazas and eat tapas and contemplate how much it would take to become a local.

If you decide to take in a bit more nature outside of just golf, drive the hillsides surrounding Llucmajor, the village that hosts Hacienda, to explore trails for hiking, running, walking, or rent a bike for a day. Depending on which one you choose, these trails can take you to small beaches and olive groves and give you a different perspective of a more natural Mallorca.

While I’m not the biggest beach baby, Hacienda is only a 15-minute drive to Playa de Palma. This popular city beach turns into a heavily populated nightlife area due to the surrounding hotels and restaurants — but just a 25-minute drive from the resort will get you to the turquoise blue waters of the Mediterranean at Es Trenc beach.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

Hacienda Son Antem Golf Resort is part of Marriott Bonvoy’s unique Autograph Collection, so if you’re a member, you can earn loyalty points during your stay at the property. In addition to that, Marriott Bonvoy members can earn 10 points for every $1 spent at Son Antem Golf through the Golf Links Program. Points can be redeemed for Marriott Bonvoy gift cards, which can be used for golf rounds, hotel stays, spa treatments, and golf classes.



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