Not every golf course suits every golfer. That sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how often I see groups book courses that are completely wrong for their ability — and then wonder why they didn't enjoy the round.
A scratch golfer on a flat, wide-open resort course gets bored. A 28-handicapper on a tight, punishing championship layout loses eight balls and three hours of their life. Neither has a good time, and both blame the holiday.
So here's my honest guide to which courses suit which handicap levels at the destinations we sell. I've broken it into three bands: low (0-8), mid (9-18), and high (19-36). For each course, I'll explain why it works for that level — not just list names.
Low Handicap (0-8): Courses That Actually Test You
If you play off single figures, you want courses that reward precision, penalise poor shots, and make you think on every tee. Here are the best ones we book:
Son Vida, Mallorca
Par 71, 6,460 yards. This is the original course in the Arabella Golf complex and it's a proper examination. The fairways are tight — tree-lined throughout, with mature pines that grab anything more than 15 yards offline. The greens are small and well-protected by deep bunkers.
Why it suits low handicaps: Every tee shot demands a specific shape. You can't just blast driver and find the fairway. The 6th is a dogleg left par 4 where the ideal tee shot is a gentle draw past the corner — anything straight runs into trees. If you can shape the ball both ways and keep your irons below the pin, you'll score. If you can't, you'll scramble.
Aphrodite Hills, Cyprus
Par 71, 6,900 yards from the tips. The course climbs and drops through dramatic terrain, and the signature 7th hole — a par 3 over a gorge — is just the start. The back nine has several holes where the fairway falls away on one side, and the greens are firm, fast, and heavily contoured.
Why it suits low handicaps: Course management is everything. The elevation changes mean club selection is rarely straightforward — you're constantly adjusting for uphill, downhill, and sidehill lies. A low handicapper who plans their way round will score well. A long hitter who just sends it will find trouble everywhere.
Oitavos Dunes, Lisbon
Par 72, 6,300 yards (but plays much longer in the wind). This is consistently ranked as one of the best courses in Europe, and it lives up to the billing. The course sits on a headland near Cascais, fully exposed to the Atlantic winds, with firm, links-style turf that runs the ball unpredictably.
Why it suits low handicaps: Wind management and creativity. You need to be able to hit low, running shots into greens, play knockdowns off the tee, and judge the bounce on firm fairways. On a calm day, any decent golfer can score here. When it blows, only the best keep it together. The 6th hole, a par 3 played downwind towards the ocean, is one of the best short holes I've played anywhere.
Mid Handicap (9-18): Courses That Challenge Without Crushing
The sweet spot for most golfers on holiday. These courses make you think but don't punish every mishit with a lost ball:
Quinta de Cima, Eastern Algarve
Par 72, 6,500 yards. Wide fairways through umbrella pines on the front nine, then a tighter, more interesting back nine with water features and well-placed bunkers. It's a proper test without being unreasonable.
Why it suits mid handicaps: The fairways are wide enough that a slightly offline drive still finds grass. But the course rewards accuracy — hitting the right part of the fairway makes the approach much easier. The greens are large with subtle breaks, so you'll have birdie chances if you're hitting greens. A mid-handicapper who's striking it OK will come in around their handicap. You'll lose a ball if you're really wild, but probably not more than one per round.
Amendoeira (Faldo & O'Connor), Portugal
Two courses, both par 72. The Faldo course is the more generous of the two — wide corridors, strategic bunkering, and greens that are receptive to well-struck approach shots. The O'Connor is slightly tighter but still very playable.
Why it suits mid handicaps: The Faldo course in particular was designed with resort golf in mind. The landing areas are wide, there's minimal forced carry, and the hazards are visible. You can see where the trouble is and aim away from it. For a mixed-ability group, this is the best destination in Portugal — the high handicappers enjoy the Faldo, the low handicappers get tested on the O'Connor.
Son Muntaner, Mallorca
Par 72, 6,500 yards. More modern and more open than Son Vida, with wider fairways and more room off the tee. The greens are the highlight — superbly conditioned, true, and with enough slope to reward good iron play.
Why it suits mid handicaps: You can miss a fairway by 10-15 yards and still find a clean lie. The course rewards good putting more than great ball-striking, which plays into the hands of a mid-handicapper who can roll it well. The 15th is a fantastic par 5 — reachable in two for longer hitters but with water guarding the green, so a strategic layup and wedge is often the smarter play.
High Handicap (19-36): Courses That Let You Enjoy Your Round
If you play off 20+, you need wide fairways, minimal forced carries, and forgiving rough. Losing four balls per round isn't fun — it's expensive and slow. These courses let higher handicappers play real golf:
Golf del Sur, Tenerife
Three nines (Norte, Sur, Links), each par 36. The fairways are wide, the rough is mostly volcanic rock (so balls are usually findable), and the greens are large and relatively flat. It's not going to make any "best courses in the world" list, but it's well-maintained and genuinely enjoyable for all levels.
Why it suits high handicaps: Very few forced carries over water or scrub. The landing areas are broad, and even off-line shots usually end up playable. The lava rock features add visual interest without creating penal hazards. You can score here regardless of your handicap, and that's exactly what a holiday round should feel like.
Quinta da Ria, Eastern Algarve
Par 72, 6,100 yards from the yellows. Open, flat-ish layout alongside the Ria Formosa Natural Park. Wider than its sister course (Quinta de Cima) and with fewer trees to worry about.
Why it suits high handicaps: The openness is the key. There's no claustrophobic tree-lined corridors — just generous fairways with visible hazards. Water comes into play on a few holes but is avoidable if you plan your tee shot. The 8th is a great example — a par 5 with water short of the green, but there's acres of room to lay up safely. A high handicapper can play this course, enjoy the scenery, and come in without losing more than two or three balls.
Salobre Golf, Gran Canaria
Two courses — Old and New — both designed as resort golf. The Old course has wider fairways and is the better choice for higher handicaps. It runs through a volcanic valley with views towards the ocean, and while there are elevation changes, the landing areas are generous.
Why it suits high handicaps: It was built as a resort course, and that means it was designed for golfers of all levels. The forced carries are minimal, the greens are large and gently sloped, and the rough is short and rarely punishing. It's also a walking-friendly course, which is a bonus for anyone who doesn't want to sit in a buggy all day.
The Mixed-Ability Group Solution
Most groups have a range of handicaps. Here's the approach we take:
- Pick one or two courses that suit everyone — Amendoeira, Quinta de Cima, or Son Muntaner work for 4-handicappers and 24-handicappers alike.
- Add one "challenge" course for the low handicappers — Son Vida, Aphrodite Hills, or Oitavos. The high handicappers can still play from the forward tees and enjoy the experience.
- Play a team format on the harder course — Texas Scramble or Betterball means the weaker players contribute without the pressure of individual scoring.
We had a group of 8 last autumn — handicaps ranging from 3 to 31. We put them at Amendoeira with the Faldo course for day one (everyone loved it), O'Connor for day two (the better players were challenged, the others played from forward tees), and Salgados for day three (a beautiful coastal course that's fair for all levels). Every single person said it was "the best golf trip I've been on." Getting the course selection right makes all the difference.
Tell us the handicaps and we'll match you with the right courses. It's what we do.
Get a Free QuoteRing us on 01277 284284 or get a quote at golfplanetholidays.com. We'll ask about your group's ability and build a package around courses that actually work for everyone — not just the lowest handicapper.