Salobre Golf – The Beauty and the Beast

Two golf courses set in the same landscape, yet offering two completely different experiences. At Salobre Golf Resort, above Maspalomas, the Old Course winds through a mature landscape of palm trees, water features and sweeping views. Just a short distance away, the rugged volcanic terrain shapes the character of the New Course.

Anyone familiar with both courses will understand why the comparison is so fitting: the Beauty and the Beast. It is not about deciding which course is better. It is about two distinct personalities that complement one another precisely because they are so different.

And Salobre is approaching an important turning point. After several years with only nine holes of the New Course available for play, extensive work has been taking place on the remaining nine. The complete 18-hole course is expected to return during the winter of 2026/2027. In early November, I went to see the progress for myself.

Old Course – The Beauty

Opened in 1999 and designed by Roland Favré, the Old Course is the more established of Salobre's two golf courses. Its 18 holes, played to a par of 71, offer an enjoyable and varied round in which carefully maintained fairways, palm trees and the surrounding mountains come together in a harmonious setting.

Yet its peaceful appearance should not be mistaken for an easy round. Elevated tees, sloping lies, strategically placed bunkers and relatively small greens demand accuracy and thoughtful course management. A well-positioned ball often proves more valuable than an exceptionally long drive. That is part of the Old Course's appeal: it is approachable without ever becoming predictable.

Even after several rounds, there is something new to discover. Some holes surprise with their views, others with the tactical decisions they require. This is a course that does not need to make a spectacle of every challenge.

New Course – The Beast

The New Course, designed by Ron Kirby and opened in 2008, is its striking counterpart. Fairways wind through rocky ravines, across ridges and alongside steep hillsides. Here, the terrain often dictates which shots make sense – and which are better left unattempted.

Distance is not always rewarded. Sometimes a controlled shot to the safer side of the fairway is the wiser decision. Changes in elevation make judging distances more difficult, while even a well-struck ball can finish in an awkward position. Given the considerable differences in height, a golf buggy is often the more comfortable choice.

It is precisely this unusual character that makes the course so fascinating to me. The New Course makes no attempt to imitate its older neighbour. It is wilder, spectacular in places and demands the golfer's full attention from the very first tee.

Walking the Second Nine Holes

On 3 November 2026, I walked the second nine holes of the New Course, which had not yet reopened for regular play. What impressed me most was not any single hole. It was the sheer scale of the layout and the extraordinary amount of work involved in bringing it back into operation.

Fairways stretching across vast areas, greens in exposed positions, enormous natural stone retaining walls and paths winding through the hills: only when you explore this landscape on foot do you begin to appreciate its true dimensions. Everywhere I looked, there were signs of the work that had gone into restoring and maintaining the course.

What makes it even more remarkable is the contrast with the surrounding terrain. The carefully maintained playing surfaces sit within an otherwise dry and rugged volcanic landscape. The scale of the work is impressive, yet the course retains the character of the natural environment around it.

These photographs document the visible progress in early November 2026. Based on what I saw, reopening around the turn of the year seems entirely possible. That is, however, my personal assessment following the visit – not an officially confirmed opening date or an announcement from the operator.

The Return of a 36-Hole Golf Resort

Since the pandemic, the New Course has only been partially available. Together with the 18 holes of the Old Course, Salobre has therefore been operating with 27 playable holes. Once the remaining nine holes reopen, the resort will once again offer two complete 18-hole courses: the par-71 Old Course and the par-70 New Course.

The restoration forms part of a longer-term development programme. Since 2022, golf course architect David Williams has been involved in a master plan for the resort's golf facilities. The programme includes improvements to bunkers and tees, playing conditions and a more sustainable approach to the dry landscape and its natural resources.

For golfers, the return to 36 holes means one thing above all: greater variety within a single resort. Those staying for several days can alternate between a more traditional, harmonious course and a distinctly unconventional one, without having to travel from one golf club to another.

A Golf Resort for Different Playing Styles

Salobre also offers a driving range, practice facilities and a Golf Academy. The resort is home to the five-star Salobre Hotel Resort & Serenity as well as a number of private villa developments. Guests staying here find themselves surrounded by the very landscape they play in during the day.

What I particularly appreciate about Salobre is the variety it offers: relaxed rounds, demanding holes and opportunities for focused practice. Added to this are the extraordinary sense of space and tranquillity, qualities that are not always easy to find at such an extensive golf resort. The hotel and its facilities deserve their own feature in this travel journal.

Why Salobre Stands Out for Me

Over the years, I have visited a number of golf courses and resorts across Europe and the Canary Islands. Of all the golf resorts I have personally experienced, Salobre is the most beautiful to me. This is not intended as a universal ranking, but as my own considered impression after many visits and, most recently, my walk across the second half of the New Course.

What impressed me was not simply the scale or the scenery, but also the evident ambition behind the work being carried out. Two courses with such different personalities, set within a resort that gives both the space they deserve: I have not encountered quite this combination anywhere else.

Deciding which course is better is almost beside the point. The Old Course has its elegance; the New Course has its rugged, unmistakable character. Together, they reveal what makes Salobre Golf so special.

The Beauty and the Beast: once the New Course has fully reopened, Salobre will have regained its exceptional 36-hole golf offering.