Tenerife has more golf courses than any other Canary Island — twelve at last count, spread across terrain that ranges from sea-level lava fields in the arid south to pine-forested ridges in the verdant north. The island is playable 365 days a year, which matters when October in northern Europe means waterproofs and cancelled tee times. The combination of reliable winter sun, direct flights from most European cities, a headline course that ranks among the best in Spain (Abama), and solid value options from €70 a round is why Tenerife stays consistently busy with golf visitors who have already exhausted the Algarve and Marbella.
I have been sending golfers to Tenerife since the early years of DGE Golf, and I have played every course on this list. These rankings reflect real rounds played, not press trips or hosted visits. Green fees shown are the 2026 high-season rack rates taken from course websites; early booking, shoulder-season timing (November through February outside school holiday weeks), and booking through a golf travel specialist all reduce these figures meaningfully — typically by 15–25% on the premium courses.
Tenerife golf divides naturally into four zones. The south — San Miguel de Abona, Costa Adeje, Playa de las Américas — gets the most sun, houses most resort hotels, and clusters four courses within 20 minutes of each other: Golf del Sur, Amarilla, Las Américas, and Costa Adeje. The west coastholds Abama in its own position above Guía de Isora, 30 minutes from the south resorts, accessible but worth treating as a dedicated half-day. The northwest tip has Buenavista, worth the 90-minute drive if your group has the handicap to appreciate it. The north — El Real Club and Las Rosas — is greener, cooler, and suited to golfers exploring Puerto de la Cruz and the Orotava Valley. Mixing south and north in the same day costs two hours in the car; plan by zone.
Abama Golf
The clear number one in Tenerife and one of the finest courses in Spain. Abama sits on steep volcanic terrain above the Atlantic on the island's west coast, falling 150 metres from the highest point to the ocean. Dave Thomas built in natural lava flows as hazards, tight corridors through palm groves, and greens that frame views of La Gomera and El Hierro on clear days. The conditioning is consistently exceptional — Abama is part of the Ritz-Carlton estate and maintains championship standards year-round. It plays short on the card (par 71, under 6,500 metres from the tips) but the terrain, the persistent Atlantic wind, and the psychological weight of hitting over raw lava make it far more demanding than the scorecard suggests. Book morning tee times; the wind typically strengthens after midday on the upper holes.
Best for: Golfers who want the best course in Tenerife. Most rewarding combined with a stay at the Ritz-Carlton Abama.
Golf Buenavista del Norte
One of the last major course designs completed under Seve Ballesteros, opened in 2008 and finished shortly before his death in 2011. Buenavista sits at the tip of Tenerife's Teno peninsula on coastal cliffs, with Los Gigantes visible to the southeast and the full Atlantic horizon to the west. The design is genuinely links-influenced: exposed to constant wind, fast-running fairways, bentgrass greens that demand local knowledge, and natural rough that has nothing in common with the manicured resort courses in the south. Accurate ball-striking matters far more than distance here. The location in the quiet northwest means fewer visiting golfers and a pace of play that feels like a private round. The drive from the south (just over an hour via the TF-82 mountain pass through the Teno massif) adds logistical weight but golfers who make the effort consistently rate it among their favourite rounds in Spain.
Best for: Low-to-mid handicappers who appreciate links-style golf. Worth the drive from the south resorts for a dedicated day.
Golf del Sur
The most historically significant course in Tenerife. Golf del Sur hosted the Spanish Open and Volvo Masters during the European Tour's years of heavy investment in Tenerife golf in the late 1980s and 1990s. It is built entirely on black basalt lava fields south of El Médano, with a character unlike anything else on the island: volcanic rock flanks every fairway, the wind off the Atlantic never stops, and the greens run fast. The club operates three 9-hole courses — North, South, and Links — that combine into 18-hole layouts; the South and Links combination is the tournament configuration and the most demanding. There are no trees and no shelter. The design relies entirely on natural terrain and wind, which means it rewards course management at every level of handicap. A great choice for a second visit if you have already done the south resort courses.
Best for: Golfers wanting a European Tour venue with real character. Good for groups willing to mix 9-hole combinations.
Golf Las Américas
The most conveniently located championship course in Tenerife, sitting directly above the main Playa de las Américas resort strip. Las Américas is a parkland design in the loosest sense — planted palms and subtropical vegetation frame the fairways, but the ground beneath is volcanic and the views from the upper holes extend across the ocean toward La Gomera. The layout is generous off the tee by Tenerife standards, which makes it well-suited to groups covering a range of handicaps. Conditioning is good without reaching Abama's standards. From the main south resort hotels, a transfer here takes under 10 minutes, which makes it the natural choice for a straightforward opening or closing round of a trip.
Best for: Groups based in Playa de las Américas and Costa Adeje who want quick, easy access to a decent 18-hole layout.
Golf Costa Adeje
Costa Adeje is the most scenic of the south Tenerife courses. The layout climbs up into the hillside behind Adeje, providing clear views across the ocean toward La Gomera, and uses significant elevation change across 27 holes (played in two 18-hole configurations: Valley and Lake, or Lake and Mountain). The Mountain nine includes several dramatic downhill par 3s that play very differently depending on the wind. The course plays firmer and faster than Las Américas and the upper fairways run tighter. Choosing it over Las Américas makes sense when your group handles elevation and varied terrain well, or when you want slightly more variety from a south-coast base.
Best for: Groups who want elevation, ocean views, and variety. A step up from Las Américas for capable golfers.
Amarilla Golf & Country Club
Built on basalt lava fields immediately south of Golf del Sur, Amarilla shares some of its neighbour's raw volcanic character but plays more forgivingly. The four holes along the ocean at the southern end of the course are the main attraction: the par-3 16th in particular forces a full carry over a deep lava ravine to a small green perched directly above the Atlantic. Conditioning varies more than at the top-tier courses, which the green fee reflects honestly. A strong value choice for a second or third round when you want something different from the typical resort parkland, especially if your group is already based near Golf del Sur.
Best for: Good-value second round for golfers already at Golf del Sur. Anyone wanting ocean-edge holes at a fair price.
Real Club de Golf de Tenerife
The oldest golf club in Tenerife and one of the oldest in Spain, founded in 1932 by the British community working in the island's banana and tomato trade. El Penón sits in the green hills above El Sauzal on the north coast at altitude, with views across the Canarian Atlantic toward Gran Canaria. The layout is short (par 70) but tight, with mature pine and eucalyptus lining most fairways and greens that slope steeply with the natural hillside. The north coast microclimate means more cloud cover and occasional rain, especially November through February — a genuine contrast to the always-dry south. The historic clubhouse, unpretentious membership atmosphere, and golf history make it one of the more characterful clubs on any Spanish island.
Best for: Golfers interested in history and a traditional club atmosphere. Best combined with Puerto de la Cruz and the Orotava Valley.
Golf Las Rosas
A 9-hole course played as 18 using different tees, situated in the Orotava Valley in the fertile green belt of north Tenerife. Las Rosas is surrounded by banana plantations and flower farms with Teide visible above the treeline, and the setting is striking in a way the layout itself does not match: low handicappers will find it undemanding. It earns its place on this list as the best option for golfers exploring the north of the island who want a round without driving back to the south. Tee times are easy to secure, the green fee is genuinely low, and the pace of play is relaxed.
Best for: Relaxed extra round for north-coast explorers. Higher handicappers who want an accessible and affordable 18 holes.
How to plan a Tenerife golf trip
A well-structured Tenerife golf trip plays 4–5 rounds over 6–7 days. Base yourself in the south — Costa Adeje, San Miguel, or directly at the Ritz-Carlton Abama if budget allows — and you are within 20 minutes of the main south courses and 30 minutes from Abama. Build one day for the Buenavista drive; it is a long morning that takes planning, but the round is distinctive enough to justify it for any group that enjoys course variety.
The best months for golf in Tenerife are October through March. Temperatures sit between 18–24°C, there is no humidity, and the south courses play firm and fast in conditions that favour links-style shot-making. April through June is also excellent and slightly less crowded. July and August are hot in the south — 28–33°C on course — which pushes all tee times into early mornings and creates competition for 7am and 8am slots. Book at least 6–8 weeks ahead if travelling in summer.
Groups of four or more benefit significantly from coordinating transfers and tee times in advance. Getting eight golfers into the same morning slot at Abama or Golf del Sur through independent bookings is harder than it sounds; both courses prefer to manage groups centrally, and preferred morning times fill quickly. A golf travel specialist handles all tee times, transfers, and accommodation in one conversation — and can typically access preferred rates that reduce per-round costs by 10–20% compared to booking directly at rack rate.
For a detailed breakdown of accommodation by course zone, see our Tenerife Golf Holiday Accommodation Guide. For the wider picture across the Canary Islands, our Canary Islands course guide covers Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura with the same level of detail.