Andalusia Golf

Challenge de España Returns — This Time, Isla Canela Takes Centre Stage

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A Ryder Cup veteran, a five-time Major champion’s ghost, and Spain’s hottest young talent — the 27th edition has a field worth watching.

The Challenge de España arrives at Isla Canela Golf Links in Huelva this week, 28–31 May. It is the HotelPlanner Tour’s first official event at the venue. With a prize fund of €300,000 and DP World Tour cards on the line, the stakes are higher than the scenery — and the scenery is already remarkable. (HotelPlanner Tour)

A links test with serious teeth

Isla Canela Golf Links sits between natural marshlands and the Atlantic Ocean, with views across the Guadiana River towards the Portuguese Algarve. It is one of the few genuine links-style layouts on the 2026 Road to Mallorca schedule.

Spain Canelas Links Course

The course is flat — but do not mistake flat for forgiving. Strong winds and undulating greens are the real examiners here. Creativity, patience and adaptability will separate the contenders from the also-rans.

Experience meets ambition in the field

The 2026 field is a study in contrasts. On one side: seasoned DP World Tour winners chasing a route back to the elite. On the other: a generation of young Europeans who have not read the memo about waiting their turn.

Chris Woods 3 DP World Titles

Chris Wood arrives with three DP World Tour titles, a Ryder Cup appearance in 2016 and a career ranking of world number 22. His compatriot David Horsey has four European Tour victories to his name. Alejandro Cañizares, Julien Quesne, Tom Lewis, Justin Harding and Steven Brown complete a core of players who know exactly what is at stake — because they have been there before. (MyGolfWay)

Pablo Ereño Challenge de Catalunya

Facing them: Pablo Ereño, fresh from winning the Challenge de Catalunya two weeks ago and currently sitting second on the Road to Mallorca standings. South African Wilco Nienaber, the powerful MJ Viljoen, and emerging talents Tiger Christensen, Anders Emil Ejlersen and Frank Kennedy are also in the mix.

Joel Moscatel adds a further local subplot. The Spaniard won this very tournament at Real Club Sevilla Golf in 2024 and arrives at Isla Canela with unfinished business.

Spain’s golfing generation is making noise

The Challenge de España is backed by the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, the Government of Andalusia, the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation and the Spanish Sports Council. It is a serious investment in the next generation of European professional golf.

RFEG Vice President Jaime Salaverri put it plainly:

“The level on the HotelPlanner Tour keeps getting higher, and the Challenge de España has established itself as a tournament that prepares players for the leap to the DP World Tour.”

Ereño’s recent win was cited as exactly that kind of evidence. (TenGolf)

 The DP World Tour cards are very much up for grabs

The top 15 players on the Road to Mallorca at season’s end earn DP World Tour cards. The standings entering this week are as tight as they have been all season. A single strong performance can move a player several places in either direction.

DPT World Tour Logo Stars

For the veterans in the field, this is a chance to reclaim status they know well. For Ereño and the younger contingent, it is the next step on a journey that is very much in progress.

Somewhere in this field, a career is about to change direction. That is what the HotelPlanner Tour does — and why this week at Isla Canela matters.

And if golf in southern Spain sounds like your kind of week, you do not have to watch from a screen. Browse our Costa de la Luz golf courses and put yourself in the picture. Or, the Algarve sits just across the river — close enough to see from the Spanish fairways and just as easy to book with Tee Times.

Spain Golf – The Alps Tour 2023 will come to Spain

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Palomarejos Golf. Palomarejos will be the first Spanish stage of the Alps Tour 2023

Palomarejos Golf will be the first Spanish stage of the Alps Tour 2023

The 22nd Alps Tour season will have three important tests being held in Spain: the Alps de Las Castillas, the Alps of Andalusia, and the Fred. Olsen Alps de La Gomera, where the 5 players who will be able to play the Challenge Tour next year will be determined.

“We believe that the Alps Tour is a circuit in which you learn to compete and much more, to prepare, to manage, to travel, and so on, and the careers of these great players bear that up”, says Jaime Salaverri, president of the RFEG Professionals Committee.

The Alps de las Castillas, the first Spanish stop on the Alps Tour, will be held at Palomarejos Golf, in Talavera de la Reina.

“There have been excellent players who have gone on to succeed worldwide from the 11 years of partnership between the Castilla La Mancha and Castilla León Federations”, states the host president, Carlos Gutiérrez.

The Alps Tour will then head to Isla Canela Links in May to celebrate the Alps of Andalusia.

“The Royal Andalusian Golf Federation (RFAG) maintains its support for the Alps Tour not only to see the emergence of the great golf stars, but also to attract young players to the golf courses of Andalusia, where there is much more to do than golf and they like it”, said Pablo Mansilla, the president of the federation.

“After 12 years of backing the Alps Tour, the RFAG is happy with the outcomes”, concluded Pablo Mansilla.

The Fred. Olsen Alps of La Gomera at Tecina Golf, in the Canary Islands, is the third and final Spanish event.

“Our journey has witnessed the beginning of great players worldwide and we continue to bet on professional golf. Whoever wins at Tecina Golf is going to have a great career ahead of them”, says Cousins Pusnik, Fred. Olsen’s asset manager and director of Tecina Golf.

On April 19–22, Palomarejos Golf will host the Alps de Las Castillas, while on June 14–17, Isla Canela Links will host the Alps de Andalusia. Finally, on July 12–15, Tecina Golf will host the Alps of La Gomera. All of them will have the support of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation.

Book your golf holidays in Spain with Tee Times Golf Agency and play on some of Europe’s best golf courses.

You can also read other posts about Golf in Spain:
Spain’s PGA has presented the Spain Golf Tour 2023
Raimat Golf Club aims to build a pitch-and-putt course
Solheim Cup staff will wear Andalusia-themed uniforms

Portugal golf

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Bellavista golf course. Portugal Golf, Seniors Golf – Portugal Vs Andalusia

Bellavista golf course

Seniors Golf – Portugal vs Andalusia

The Bellavista golf course (Huelva), the oldest in Andalusia (1916), received the 1st exchange match between the Portuguese Golf Seniors National Association and the Seniors of the host club.

The Portuguese – Spanish tournament took place in warm weather and some wind, a golf course in excellent condition (good and fast greens), with 60 players, scoring the top ten of each team for the trophy.

Bellavista golf course Seniors won with 333 points, leaving Portugal in second with 321.

Highlighting the hole-in-one obtained by the Portuguese Manuel Batista on hole 3 (par 3 with 132 meters) and going up slightly. In his first hole in one in competition, he played with an 8-iron.

José Luiz Gonzalez Meneses won in net with 37 points, leaving the Portuguese Carlos Magno tied in 2nd.

In gross he won Daniel Gene with 29 points and the best Portuguese was Manuel Batista in 5th place with 25 points.

The women’s competition, with twenty competitors (seven from ANSG) was won by Rita Vecino with 36 points. Jeanette Van Der Struik was the best ANSG’s with 31 points.

The prizes were distributed during a social lunch at the host club, with the “captain” of the Southern Delegation of ANSG, José Gago Leiria, presenting the main trophy to Alberto Rodriguez, director of Bellavista Golf Course.

The “second hand” of this exchange tournament will take place on 9th of September at Quinta da Ria Golf Course in Tavira.

You can also read other posts about Golf in Portugal:
Portugal golf holidays – all inclusive on Algarve hotels
Vale Do Lobo Ocean Course
Inspiring Golf Ahead Of The OPEN