Great courses, perfect weather, easy transport links and plenty of nightlife make this the ideal destination for your next Portugal golf holiday. Here’s eight of our favourite courses…
Dom Pedro Victoria
Designed by Arnold Palmer and host to the Portugal Masters every year on the DP World Tour, the Dom Pedro Victoria Course is a brilliant test. With plenty of sand and water to avoid, not least on the tough closing stretch, drama is guaranteed at this iconic venue.
San Lorenzo
Meandering through thick pine forests and past the spectacular lagoons of the Ria Formosa Nature Reserve, San Lorenzo is a beautiful course that lays claim to be the best in the region. Holes 6-8 and then 15 – played alongside the water – garner all the attention, but this is a truly great course for all 18-holes.
Dom Pedro Old Course Vilamoura
The second oldest layout in the region, the Dom Pedro Old Course was built in the late 1960s and is very much the Grand Old Lady of Algarve golf. It’s every inch the classic Algarve course, demanding precision play among the stunning umbrella pines. A Hawtree update in 1997 only improved things. A must-play.
Vale do Lobo Royal Course
Much like the legendary Cypress Point in California, the Royal Course at Vale de Lobo is famed for its photogenic 16th that plays across the cliffs to a green more than 200 yards away. It’s a spectacular hole that’s worth the green fee alone. But don’t ignore the Ocean Course (the second course at Vale do Lobo Resort) – another cracker.
Quinta South Course
A former DP World Tour course, the South at Quinta do Lago is the original and some say best on the property, having hosted the Portuguese Open many times. The conditioning is always superb, while elevation changes, some amazing par-3s and rapid greens make for a round that will not disappoint.
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Quinta do Lago North
After undergoing €10m renovation by Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley and Beau Welling, the second course at Quinta do Lago Golf has become an Algarve giant, with all tees, greens and bunkers having been completely rebuilt. The result is a magnificent ‘new’ course to rival anything in the area.
Dom Pedro Millennium
Another iconic course from the Dom Pedro Golf Collection! Originally part of the 27-hole Laguna course, architect Martin Hawtree (of Trump Links fame) added a new nine holes to create the Millennium Course back in 2000. The result is a layout that is not overly long or demanding, but very enjoyable to play, particularly for groups of mixed abilities
Vila Sol
Another 27-hole venue, this time designed by the legendary Donald Steel, Vila Sol occupies a glorious 150-hectare estate and has twice hosted the Portuguese Open. We recommend the Prime & Challenge nines, which offer golfers a very challenging 18 holes in beautiful undulating surroundings.
Visit Golfbreaks.com to find your next Vilamoura golf holiday.
