Over the past decade golf holidays in Portugal have proved increasing popular as European golfers seek out top notch courses that can be played year round. This article focuses in on the Algarve region in the south, the home of Portuguese golf.
If you enjoy playing a different championship course every day of your golf holiday Algarve has courses by the dozen, and all within close proximity of Vilamoura. Indeed, the town is famous for its glut of golf resorts (Oceanico have over 10) of which the Millenium and Vilamoura Old Course are the best. The Old Course benefits really from having more mature fairways and greens which make them play more consistently.
Of the independent clubs in the area, Vale Do Lobo Royal is the most challenging, especially for amateurs, as the course design (bunker placement, green speeds) suits long accurate drivers. The nearby Pinheiros Altos and Quinta do Lago Laranjal are just as enjoyable and a lot more forgiving of errant shots.
On the eastern Algarve border with Spain is where some of the more exclusive (i.e. pricey) clubs can be found. The Monte Rei is rightly the number one club in the area, thanks in no small part to the great design by Jack Nicklaus, with no let up on challenging holes on the front and back nine. Equally enjoyable (and more wallet friendly) is the Quinta Do Vale course – a new design by Seve Balasteros that only opened in 2008 but is already proving a picturesque and well designed course.
Heading to the west coast it becomes noticeable how much the prevailing Atlantic breezes become a factor in how courses play. Nick Faldo knew this when designing the Oceanico desert style course incorporating undulating fairways and fast greens into the low lying terrain.
Close to Lagos there are also some hillside courses which afford the opportunity of spectacular views while you play. The Boavista has views of Lagos and the sea with several holes playing across the slopes to test your above/below feet shots.
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