Tenerife in Winter: 22 Degrees and Empty Fairways

It was the 18th of January. Back home, Essex was sitting under grey skies and 4°C. I was standing on the 1st tee at Buenavista in northwest Tenerife, wearing shorts and a polo shirt, looking out at the Atlantic. The temperature was 22°C. There was nobody ahead of us.

Tenerife in winter is, quite simply, one of the best-value golf trips you can take from the UK. Four-hour flight, guaranteed warm weather, good courses, decent hotels, and prices that don't require a second mortgage. Here's what you need to know.

The Courses Worth Playing

Buenavista Golf — The Headline Act

Designed by Seve Ballesteros, Buenavista is the best course on the island and one of the best in the Canaries full stop. It runs along the northwest coast through banana plantations and volcanic terrain, with the Teno mountains as a backdrop on every hole.

The front nine winds through valleys with blind tee shots and doglegs that reward local knowledge. The 5th is a gorgeous par 3 over a ravine — about 160 yards, but it plays every inch of it with the wind swirling between the cliffs.

But the back nine is where Buenavista becomes special. The 14th runs along the clifftop with the ocean crashing below. The 17th is the one everyone talks about — a par 3 that plays out towards the sea on a peninsula of volcanic rock. It's about 180 yards from the back tees and if the wind is up, you're hitting a 5-iron into it. Miss right and you're on the rocks. Miss left and you're in a bunker the size of a small country. It's terrifying and brilliant in equal measure.

Green fee is around €95, which is fair for a course of this quality. I'd call it the best €95 you'll spend on a golf holiday.

Golf del Sur

The workhorse of Tenerife golf. Three nines — Norte, Sur, and Links — giving you variety without leaving the complex. It's not glamorous, but it's well-maintained, playable for all abilities, and the lava features dotted around the course give it a character you won't find anywhere in mainland Europe. Green fees run about €70-80 for 18 holes.

Amarilla Golf

Right next to Golf del Sur and walking distance from several hotels. The back nine plays along the coast and the 15th is a cracking par 5 that doglegs around a bay. The course can get windy in the afternoon — tee off early if you can. Around €75 per round.

Golf Las Americas

Short, tight, and in the middle of the resort area. It's not going to challenge a low single-figure player, but it's a fun course for a group with mixed abilities. The 3rd hole, a short par 4, has caused more arguments in our groups than any other hole in Tenerife — driveable for long hitters, but the green is tiny and guarded by water. About €85 per round.

Where to Stay

Dreams Jardin Tropical — £1,275pp (7N/4R)

This is our most popular Tenerife hotel, and for good reason. It's a five-star in Costa Adeje with stunning gardens, multiple pools, and rooms that were refurbished recently. The buffet breakfast is one of the best I've had at any golf hotel — proper cooked options, fresh fruit, pastries, and decent coffee (not the instant stuff you get at some places).

Location-wise, you're 15 minutes from Golf del Sur and Amarilla, 20 minutes from Las Americas, and about 50 minutes from Buenavista. The hotel also has three à la carte restaurants if you're on half-board — the Mediterranean one overlooking the pool is the pick of the bunch.

At £1,275 per person for 7 nights and 4 rounds, including transfers and shared buggies, it's seriously competitive. You'd pay more for a week at a decent four-star in the Algarve in April.

Hotel Jardin Tecina, La Gomera — £1,425pp (7N/4R)

This is the adventurous option. La Gomera is a 50-minute ferry ride from Tenerife — a tiny volcanic island that most tourists have never heard of. The Jardin Tecina sits on a clifftop 400 metres above the sea, and the views are genuinely breathtaking.

There's one golf course on La Gomera — Tecina Golf — and it's built on terraces carved into the hillside. It's short (par 71, about 5,900 yards from the yellows) but the elevation changes make it play completely differently to anything on the mainland. The 7th hole drops 100 metres from tee to green. You'll hit shots you've never hit before.

The hotel has its own beach club accessible by lift down the cliff, a good spa, and the food is excellent. It's a completely different experience to the big Tenerife resorts — quiet, dramatic, and memorable.

Getting Around: Car Hire vs Taxi

This is worth thinking about properly. The courses in Tenerife are spread out — Golf del Sur is in the southeast, Buenavista is in the northwest, and they're about an hour apart by car.

If you're playing three or four different courses, hire a car. It'll cost about €25-30 per day for a decent mid-size, and it gives you freedom to explore, stop for lunch where you want, and get to Buenavista without paying €100 for a taxi. Most courses have free parking.

If you're staying at Dreams Jardin Tropical and only playing Golf del Sur and Amarilla, you can get away with taxis — they're about €20-25 each way. But the moment you add Buenavista or Las Americas, the taxi costs add up fast.

When you book through us, we can arrange transfers for golf days if you prefer not to drive. But honestly, for Tenerife, car hire is usually the smarter move.

Where to Eat Off the Course

• El Cine, Los Abrigos — right on the harbour, 10 minutes from Golf del Sur. Fresh fish pulled from the boat that morning, served grilled with papas arrugadas (wrinkly potatoes with mojo sauce). About €20 a head. This is the locals' spot.
• La Vieja, Adeje — in the old town above the resort strip. Traditional Canarian food, excellent steaks, and a wine list that focuses on local Tenerife vintages. The volcanic soil produces wines that are surprisingly good.
• Marisquería El Camisón — near Las Americas. Seafood restaurant with a tank where you pick your own lobster. Not cheap (figure €40-50 per head) but perfect for a blow-out dinner on the last night.

The Bottom Line

Tenerife won't win awards for having the best courses in Europe — it's not competing with the Algarve or Mallorca on pure golf quality. But as a winter sun destination with reliable weather, good-value packages, and enough variety to fill a week? It's hard to beat.

The sweet spot is a week at Dreams Jardin Tropical with four rounds — two at Golf del Sur, one at Amarilla, and one at Buenavista for the memorable round of the trip. Come back tanned, rested, and with your handicap intact.

We sent a group of six from Manchester to Dreams Jardin Tropical last February. They played in shorts every day, ate fresh fish by the harbour every evening, and one of them shot the best round of his life at Buenavista. Total cost: £1,275 each. They called it "the best value trip we've ever done."

Ring us on 01277 284284 or get a quote at golfplanetholidays.com. We'll build you a Tenerife package that fits your budget and your group.