Golf in Tenerife
Year round sunshine, volcanic drama and six courses that span a Seve clifftop epic, a Dave Thomas hillside resort and the oldest club in Spain. Tenerife is the Canaries at their most playable, a four hour hop from northern Europe with warm winter golf the rest of the continent cannot match.
Photo: Abama Golf via Google.
Why golf in Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands and the best of them for golf, a volcanic landscape crowned by Mount Teide where the courses climb hillsides, hug clifftops and run through banana terraces with the Atlantic always in view. The draw is the weather: daytime temperatures sit around 20 to 24 degrees Celsius almost every month, so this is genuine winter golf when Spain mainland and the rest of Europe are closed down.
The island splits in two for golf. The sunny, dry south around Costa Adeje, Playa de las Americas and the southern airport holds the resort courses and the easy logistics, while the greener, wilder north near Buenavista and Santa Cruz offers the most dramatic scenery and a touch more wind. A week here can mix both, and the short drives mean you are never far from the next tee.
The courses that matter
Abama Golf · Dave Thomas, 2005
A dramatic Dave Thomas design tumbling down the hillside above the Atlantic on the sunny southwest coast, with 22 lakes, sharp elevation change and the five star Ritz Carlton Abama on site. The most complete resort round on the island.
Buenavista Golf · Seve Ballesteros
Seve Ballesteros laid out this clifftop course on the wild north coast beside the Teno mountains, and many rate it among his finest work. Ocean on one side, volcanic peaks on the other, and a real test in the wind.
Golf Costa Adeje · Jose Gancedo, 1998
A 27 hole layout above the resorts of the south coast from the noted Spanish architect Jose Gancedo, woven through banana terraces and barrancos with sea views from nearly every hole. A regular tournament host.
Golf del Sur · Pepe Gancedo, 1987
A mature 27 holes of black volcanic sand bunkering near the southern airport, a long time European Tour qualifying venue and an easy, reliable round close to the main resort strip.
Golf Las Americas
A friendly, well conditioned course in the heart of Playa de las Americas, walkable between hotels and bars, ideal for an evening nine or a relaxed group round to open a trip.
Real Club de Golf de Tenerife · 1932
The oldest golf club in Spain, set high above Santa Cruz at El Penon with cooler air and long views over the capital. Private and traditional, with limited visitor access by arrangement.
Designers and opening years verified June 2026 from the clubs and leading course databases. Abama was designed by Dave Thomas, Buenavista by Seve Ballesteros, Costa Adeje and Golf del Sur by the Gancedo family, and the Real Club de Golf de Tenerife, founded 1932, is the oldest club in Spain. Access and conditioning change, so confirm with each club before planning.
When to go: the Tenerife golf season
| Window | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Nov to Mar | Peak season and the reason to come: warm, dry days around 20 to 23C while Europe is cold. Book courses and hotels well ahead |
| Apr to Jun | Excellent value shoulder, warm and settled with fewer crowds and softer green fees |
| Jul to Aug | Hottest in the south but tempered by Atlantic breeze; early tee times are best, lowest demand from golf travelers |
| Sep to Oct | Warm, reliable and quieter, a strong window before the winter peak returns |
Green fees are typically highest from November to March. Figures change by season and year; always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there, costs and where to stay
Tenerife has two airports. Tenerife South (TFS) is the one for golfers, minutes from the southern resorts and most of the courses, with direct flights from across the UK and Europe. Tenerife North (TFN) suits the capital and the Buenavista end. Hire a car: the island is compact, the motorway fast, and most southern courses sit within 30 minutes of each other.
Green fees are moderate by European resort standards and the value improves outside the winter peak. For a base, the southwest around Costa Adeje and the Ritz Carlton Abama puts you closest to the best golf, with five star resorts, pools and dining built for a longer stay. We can pair the courses with the right hotel and arrange the tee times as one package.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts in Tenerife, or read the wider Canary Islands golf hub.
Plan a Tenerife golf trip
Tell us roughly when you want to travel and who is in the group, and a concierge will build a Tenerife itinerary around Abama, Buenavista and the southern courses, costed to the head, with no obligation.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course designers and the island season verified June 2026; green fees indicative for the 2026 season. Last reviewed June 2026.