"Expect significant elevation change from clubhouse to fairway; the resort shuttle is worth using between holes on hot days."

Dave Thomas carved this 2005 resort course into the western slopes of Mount Teide, climbing from 78 meters above the Atlantic to 315 meters at the 5th, with 22 lakes and waterfalls stitched through subtropical gardens. Seventeen of the eighteen holes look out to the ocean and the island of La Gomera. It hosted the European Tour's one-off Abama Open de Canarias in 2005 — John Bickerton's first Tour win — and the 2006 Tenerife Ladies Open, and today it's the Ritz-Carlton Abama's course, generally ranked the best in the Canary Islands.

Members who love drama — big elevation, ocean views, real consequences — and anyone who wants to test a bucket-list Canary Islands resort round without the €200+ fee and the five-hour pace.

The par-3 7th is the icon — an elevated tee over a deep ravine to a guarded green with the Atlantic and La Gomera behind. The 10th plunges downhill as a dogleg-left par 5 with out-of-bounds both sides and waterfalls left, and the 5th crests the property at 315 meters.

Honestly hard: the club enforces handicap limits (28 men / 36 women), the 7th is a true forced ravine carry, most greens are blind from the fairway, and the wind is famously the killer. Better admired than debuted on.

Regulars say calm days flatter it; reviewers consistently call it one of the most expensive and toughest rounds in Spain.

Elevation change is the whole game — trust plays-like distances on the steep drops around 8-10. Many approaches are blind on the real course, so the overhead view is your caddie. Add wind for authenticity.

Resort course open to the public, with hotel guests getting preferential rates; green fees run roughly €180-300 by season. Handicap certificate required; GPS carts are included and effectively essential.