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Algarve Golf Course Descriptions
We give brief details of the Algarve courses below in a west to east order and an
explanation of the golf areas.
Most courses require players to present their handicap certificates before
play. The handicap limits of the Algarve courses for men and then ladies are shown in
the tables.
Western Algarve – Sagres to Albufeira
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There is a lot of variety in layout and landscape of these golf courses and the
coastal scenery in this part of the Algarve is splendid. Lagos is a good place
to stay or, if you want to combine your golf with a lot of night life, the
popular holiday town Albufeira might be your preferred venue. There are more
possibilities for those wishing to play without full handicap certificates in
this area. |
| Course | Holes | Par | Handicap | Description |
| Parque da Floresta | 18 | 71 | 28 / 45 | Most westerly course, hilly terrain provides a challenge for your golf and fitness. |
| Boavista | 18 | 71 | 27 / 34 | This established course with views over Luz and the sea, offers some of the most challenging par 3’s, a good test of golf with generous size fairways. |
| Palmares | 27 | 72 | 28 / 36 | This course promises to be a ‘not to be missed course’ on the Algarve with spectacular views and holes to match, designed by Robert Trent Jones. |
| Penina - Championship | 18 | 73 | 28 / 36 | A flat parkland course with interesting water challenges, this course always seems to play longer than expected. |
| Penina - Resort | 9 | 35 | --- / --- | Attractive 9 hole course with some challenging holes. |
| Penina - Academy | 9 | 30 | --- / --- | A 9 hole short course very suitable for beginners or to practice your short game. |
| Pestana - Alto | 18 | 70 | 28 / 36 | Like Penina, a Henry Cotton designed course with parkland features. |
| Morgado do Reguengo - Morgado | 18 | 73 | 28 / 36 | Opened in 2003, this course situated between Silves & Monchique, has wide flat fairways with pot bunkers and large, not so flat, greens. |
| Morgado do Reguengo - Álamos | 18 | 71 | 28 / 36 | Alamos is a short but very challenging golf course with very small greens , offers the same type of countryside as the sister course Morgado. |
| Oceanico - Faldo | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | Covers undulated terrain and is a challenge to the mind and skill of the player. |
| Oceanico - O Connor | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | Has several lakes and streams which demand accurate play and creative shot making. |
| Pestana - Pinta | 18 | 71 | 27 / 35 | Takes advantage of its rural landscape and gentle slopes and offers fast greens. |
| Pestana - Gramacho | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | An 18 hole course with very wide fairways, a good holiday course. |
| Pestana - Silves | 18 | 70 | 27 / 35 | Set in the rural Algarve, this course offers a mixture of tough par 3's, both wide and narrow fairways and some scenic elevated tee shots. |
| Vale de Milho | 9 | 27 | --- / --- | 9 par 3 holes with two sets of tees, some water hazards, suitable for beginners. |
| Salgados | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | Set in wetland area next to bird sanctuary, water hazards demand skill and accuracy. |
| Balaia | 9 | 27 | 28 / 36 | An attractive course to test your short game. |
| Sheraton Pine Cliffs | 9 | 33 | 24 / 28 | A descriptive name for an attractive course with a cliff top challenge on the ninth. |
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Central Algarve – Vilamoura to Quinta do Lago
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This area offers the highest concentration of golf courses, all within a 30
minutes drive of Faro Airport. Several of these courses require handicaps better
than the more usual 28 for men and 36 for ladies. Golfers choosing to play these
courses usually stay in the holiday resort of Vilamoura or the holiday estates
around Quinta do Lago and Vale de Lobo. |
| Course | Holes | Par | Handicap | Description |
| Oceanico - Victoria | 18 | 72 | 28 /36 | This fine undulating course has numerous water and sand hazards and is the first to be designed by Arnold Palmer in the region. |
| Oceanico - Millennium | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | Offers the greatest variety in Vilamoura with both, open holes and holes in the pine trees. Opened June 2000. |
| Oceanico - Laguna | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | An open course with few trees and as the name implies, plenty of water. |
| Oceanico - Old Course | 18 | 73 | 28 / 36 | Set in a landscape of umbrella pines, ideal course for those with a long straight drive, a challenge. |
| Oceanico - Pinhal | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | Another challenge set in the pines; perhaps the fairways are wider; but the greens are smaller. |
| Pestana - Vila Sol | 27 | 72 | 27 / 35 | Pines, lakes, some elevated tees and deceptive greens make an attractive and testing course. |
| Vale de Lobo - Ocean | 18 | 73 | 28 / 36 | Set in a holiday villa complex with many pines, the narrow fairways call for accurate play. |
| Vale de Lobo - Royal | 18 | 72 | 27 / 35 | A very good course with a selection of challenging holes as well as some easier ones. Has the most photographed par 3 hole over the cliffs. |
| Quinta do Lago - South | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | A long course but not too daunting except perhaps the long par 3 over water. |
| Quinta do Lago - North | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | More water, more dog-legs, and plenty of pines make this another attractive course to play. |
| Pinheiros Altos | 27 | 72 | 28 / 36 | The three 9 holes have the same characters with large lakes and pine trees. |
| Quinta do Lago - Laranjal | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | Set amongst beautiful lakes and natural streams surrounded by pine, oak and the orange trees that provides its name |
| San Lorenzo | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | Built on a plot of land that could only be used for a golf course it could only produce a course of exceptional quality, a must to play. |
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Eastern Algarve – Courses East of Faro including some in Spain
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Tavira in the Eastern Algarve is a realistic alternative to the more popular
golf destinations west of Faro. There are four relatively new golf courses,
Benamor, Castro Marim and the two Quinta da Ria courses, and then several others
just beyond the border with Spain including the 27-hole Islantilla. |
| Course | Holes | Par | Handicap | Description |
| Benamor | 18 | 71 | 28 / 36 | Excellent greens, Bermuda fairways and an interesting and challenging combination of holes with superb land and sea views. |
| Quinta da Ria | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | This is a fairly open course so you can spray the ball onto adjacent fairways. Offers some fantastic views over the lagoon and sea. |
| Quinta de Cima | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | This course meanders through orange groves with predominantly more mountain views. The several water holes and tree lined fairways make it a challeng. |
| Monte Rei Golf & Country Club | 18 | 72 | 24 / 32 | This course provides a variety of spectacular holes but fair challenges, coupled with unspoiled natural beauty. |
| Castro Marim | 27 | 71 | 28 / 36 | The most easterly course in the Algarve set in the hills provides a good challenge to your golf without over testing your stamina. |
| Quinta do Vale | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | This course lies beside the Guardiana River. The front nine uses natural waterways and the back 9 uses the rolling countryside. |
| Costa Esuri (Spain) - West | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | Front nine holes are flat and run along the Guadiana river but second nine holes are more undulated and tighter making them more challenging. |
| Costa Esuri (Spain) - East | 18 | 72 | 30 / 40 | This challenging course offers lovely shaped holes, fast putts and elevated tees. We suggest the use of a buggy. |
| Isla Canela (Spain) | 18 | 72 | 28 / 45 | This flat and open course lies over the eastern border of The Algarve in Spain. |
| Islantilla (Spain) | 27 | 72 | 28 / 36 | Three nines offer a variety of golf and scenery, although there is now much development around this course. |
| El Rompido (Spain) - Sur | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | The outward 9 are narrow requiring accuracy from the tee and into the greens, the inward 9 are a little easier but much more open to the elements. |
| El Rompido (Spain) - Norte | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | It has wide and narrow fairways with many holes running alongside various marshland lagoons. |
| Nuevo Portil (Spain) | 18 | 71 | 28 / 36 | A good holiday golf course with generous fairways in Punta Umbria, approximately 45 minutes drive from the Portugal border. |
| Bellavista (Spain) | 18 | 70 | 28 / 36 | A slightly hilly inland course with pine trees, west of Huelva. |
| La Monacilla Golf | 18 | 72 | 36 / 36 | La Monacilla is a good alternative to the nearby El Rompido courses. The course offers a good chance to score well with wide tree lined fairways. |
| Dunas de Doñana (Spain) | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | A flat course with water coming into play on 8 holes, in the area of El Coto de Doñana National Park. |
| Monte Castillo | 18 | 72 | 28 / 36 | This challenging course set in beautiful surroundings in the middle of a race track provides a test to your golf. |
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