Perched on the clifftops above the Atlantic, Amarilla Golf and Country Club is the sort of place where you catch yourself taking in the view before you hit. Mount Teide rises in the distance, framing a Donald Steel designed golf course that weaves through indigenous Canarian flora and volcanic rock formations. The layout takes full advantage of the coastal terrain, with several holes running close enough to the ocean that you'll hear the waves between shots.
I've always liked Donald Steel's approach, and Amarilla is no different, it's strategic rather than overpowering and it rewards a bit of thought from the tee. The clifftop holes are the obvious highlights, but the routing inland has its own character, with elevation changes and natural contours that keep you honest throughout the round. Being out on the coast, you'll often have a breeze coming in off the Atlantic, so you might find yourself taking an extra club one hole and throttling back the next.
The landscape is distinctly Tenerife, with native plants and wildlife adding texture to the experience. It feels more natural than some resort layouts, with volcanic stone and native planting giving it that distinctly Tenerife look. You're playing golf in a natural environment that happens to have fairways and greens rather than the other way around.
If you're putting together a Tenerife golf break, Amarilla is an easy way to add some coastal drama and a proper wind test to your line-up, especially if you're mixing it with more sheltered resort rounds.
Who is this for?
Golfers planning a Tenerife golf holiday who want ocean-side holes, volcanic scenery and a course that plays differently when the breeze gets up.
Who is it best for?
Mid-handicappers and better who enjoy plotting their way round in the wind. A strong pick for societies wanting variety alongside the island's more resort-style, sheltered tracks.
