Buenavista Golf

The par-three 17th is the shot that stays with you at Buenavista Golf, a carry across a ravine to a green raised above the Atlantic. It sets the tone for an 18-hole, par-72 Seve Ballesteros design where the coast is never merely a view. Several holes run close enough to the shoreline for the sea to affect both your eye and your club selection, while the Teno mountains give the inland holes a properly dramatic frame. At 6,726 yards in total, or 6,582 yards from the white tees, the course asks for considered placement rather than repeated use of the driver, particularly when the north-west Tenerife wind gets involved. The balance is unusual and enjoyable, with six par-threes, six par-fours and six par-fives, so every part of the bag gets a proper outing. Lakes at the 9th and 18th are connected by waterfalls, adding water to the closing stretch without distracting from the wider coastal setting.

A south-facing driving range climbs gently uphill, giving you time to settle into the conditions before the first tee. Two putting greens and a separate chipping area sit near the clubhouse, while the academy can arrange tuition for players looking to sharpen a particular part of their game. The clubhouse stands at the course’s highest central point, with terraces looking across the fairways towards the Atlantic and the cliffs of Teno Rural Park. It is a relaxed place for a drink or a meal after golf, with a pro shop on hand for essentials.

Buenavista del Norte sits within a protected natural park on Tenerife’s quieter western side, and the mild climate makes this a course suited to play across the year. Golf and stay arrangements have included Meliá double rooms on half board, together with access to the YHI Spa thermal circuit and a 50-minute treatment or massage, which makes the recovery time between rounds as straightforward as the post-golf terrace routine.