Following the success of Europe's Top 1000 Golf Courses - the Peugeot Golf Guide - D'Algue Selection looked at around 32,000 courses with more than 200 independent inspectors - including former champions, professional golfers and sports journalists - with each the subject of an in depth examination.

Of the 1000 listed courses, 282 are in Europe, with 23 Spanish courses included.

Andreas Pamer, managing director of Son Gual, commented: 'It is an honour to be included in such a list but we will not rest on our laurels and it will always be our intention to improve on our rating year on year until we are regarded as one of the top few courses in Spain.'

Son Gual's inclusion in the prestigious tome comes hot on the heels of being recognised by Golf World magazine as the best Spanish course outside of the mainland and with the award of Discovery of the Year 2010 by the European Golf and Travel Media Association (EGTMA).

Laid out across beautiful Mallorcan terrain, just east of the capital Palma, Son Gual is the realisation of one man's dream. Adam Pamer, a double-glazing magnate and a self-confessed golf fanatic has been visiting the island since 1974 and purchased a holiday home there in 1994.

Frustrated with the poor condition and service he experienced at many of the island's courses, he set out to build his own dream golf club and employed three-time German amateur champion Thomas Himmel to create it.

Himmel worked wonders in delivering an exquisite golfing experience that blends seamlessly into the local landscape and the course is continuing to pick up plaudits and 'gongs' every year.

In 2009, the 1991 Masters winner, Ian Woosnam, eulogised about the greens at Son Gual. He said: 'It's a bit like Augusta. There are a lot of slopes on the greens. You've got to get the ball on the right side of the hole - if you don't you?ll be struggling. Miss it on the wrong side and you're dead.'

Regular visitors include the world number one tennis player, Rafael Nadal and Spanish international footballer Albert Riera - who has gone on record as saying Son Gual is his favourite course.

Other familiar faces at the course have included comedian Jasper Carrott, tennis legend Boris Becker, Liverpool's Spanish goalkeeper Jose Reina and German national football coach Joachim L?w.

The Rolex World's Top 1000 Golf Courses is available at Amazon and costs £ 25.00.

www.son-gual.com