Golf Guide

This handy directory provides basic infomation in a nutshell on the Algarve's golf courses, from Castro Marim in the east right over to Parque da Floresta near the southwestern point. Famed for their quality design and playing conditions, courses in the Algarve can be enjoyed the whole year round thanks to an ideal climate, mostly sunny and warm but moderated by fresh Atlantic breezes. Built in harmony with the natural environment and suitable for golfers of all abilities, the courses afford ideal conditions for golfing holidays. At all the Algarve courses golfers will find the following common amenities: a clubhouse, bar, restaurant, pro shop, hire of equipment such as clubs, trolleys and buggies, and at least one putting-green.

The red dot on the map above represents the Golf courses that have numbered in ascending order from left to right ( 1- 22). Golf courses 9 - 13 are surrounding the Albufeira area.

This article is taken from the Essential Algarve, Edition No 22 December-January 2003/4. For the whole article, and a complete list of all Golf courses please download by clicking here for the Golf guide pdf.

 

9. SALGADOS

This coast line course features several links holes by the beach but with a difference: Salgados has by far the largest number of water hazards to be found on any course in the Algarve - fourteen in all. Accuracy of shot-making is therefore of extreme importance. This is specially the case with the par-5 sixth where there is a large lake on the right and rough to the left of the narrow fairway The 12th is a short par-3 to a two-tiered green just beyond a lake and guarded by bunkers on each side. Sea and land breezes across the low lying terrain affect the playing conditions, making this a challenging course that demands concentration.

HOLES: 18 LENGTH: 6,080 METRES
PAR: 72 EXTRAS: DRIVING RANGE
TEL. 00 351 289 583030

10. BALAIA

This executive par-3 nine-hole course is part of the Balaia Golf Village complex just east of Albufeira. Built on pleasant, undulating terrain with umbrella pines, cork oaks and carob trees. The course has holes measuring between 73 and 160 metres in length (58 to 147 metres for ladies), demanding a wide range of club selection for tee-shots. Excellent for holiday golf and sharpeninG one's short Game.

HOLES: 9 LENGTH: 983 METRES
PAR: 27 EXTRAS: DRIVING RANGE AND GOLF SCHOOL
TEL. 00 351 289 570442

11. PINE CLIFFS

The spectacular Pine Cliffs clifftop nine-hole layout is set against a glorious backdrop of the Atlantic. Only 2,324 metres long and with one par-5 hole, it is a pleasant holiday course set amongst umbrella pines, although narrow, undulating fairways demand accurate placing of shots. The piece de resistance is the last hole, a par-3 aptly named 'Devil's Parlour', where a long shot from the clifftop tee must carry a deep chasm in the reddish cliffs in order to the reach the green located close to the hotel grounds. Another memorable hole is the short par-4 second where one is tempted to thread the drive between two tall pinetrees not far short of the well guarded green.

HOLES: 9 LENGTH: 2,324
PAR: 33 EXTRAS: GOLF ACADEMY
TEL. 00 351 289 500100

12. VILAMOURA

The Villamoura – The Old Course A mature course of classic English layout opened in 1969, with mainly narrow pinetree-lined fairways. Renovation work to the irrigation system, re-seeding and general upgrading was carried out, and a completely new clubhouse built in 1997. This is one of the favourite Algarve courses of both visiting and resident golfers. The one and only lake is on the attractive par-3 fourth where the tee-shot must clear not only the water but also a pine and a bunker fronting the green. The back nine has three par-5's with the long 16th requiring three precise shots to avoid the menacing pines and to reach the green safely.

HOLES: 18 LENGT: 6,254 METRES
PAR: 73 EXTRAS: DRIVING RANGE AND PUTTING GREEN
TEL. 00 351 289 310341

Vilamoura – Pinhal Golf Course The course opened in 1976, but several holes were re-constructed in 1985 and 2001 to improve its playability and appeal to all levels of golfers, Pinetrees are also a strong feature, and combined with the comparatively small greens, mean that accurate shots are required on most holes. The par-4 fourth is an interesting hole where one needs to play for position from the tee as a lake comes into play onthe approach shot, Careful play is also required on the par-3 twelfth with its contoured green guarded by bunkers. The excellent closing hole is a par-4 with a downhill approach shot to a well defended sloping green.

HOLES: 18 LENGTH: 6,353 METRES
PAR: 72 EXTRAS: DRIVING RANGE
TEL. 00 351 289 310390

Vilamoura – Laguna Golf Course This parkland course built on low-lying coastal land has many heavily bunkered greens and several water hazards to take advantage of the high water table. More exposed than the other courses at this large resort, Laguna is often influenced by the sea breezes. The 9th is a tricky par-4 with an old well in the middle of the fairway and a lake on the right, all the way to the green. Played from a raised tee, the par-3 17th has a threatening lake on the left.

HOLES: 18 LENGTH: 6,111 METRES
PAR: 72 EXTRAS: DRIVING RANGE
TEL. 00 351 289 310188

Vilamoura – Millennium Golf Course Opened in May 2000. This is an extremely attractive, quality course. It is situated adjacent to the Laguna layout with which it shares a spacious, modem clubhouse. The first nine holes are completely new and were built mainly in amongst typical Algarvean pinewoods. The par-36th with its lakeside green is destined to be one of the signature holes. The back nine holes, part of the former 27-hole Laguna course, are located on flattish undulating terrain and have been refurbished and partially modified.

HOLES: 18 LENGTH: 6,157 METRES
PAR:72 EXTRAS: DRIVING RANGE
TEL. 00 351 289 310188

13. VILA SOL

The course is laid out on ideal undulating terrain in amongst natural woods, mainly pines, carob and fig trees, and little artificial landscaping was required during construction. Several water hazards were, however, introduced. The original 18-hole course, opened in 1991, was the venue of the Portuguese Open in 1992/3. In 2000, a third 9-hole loop was opened, named the Prestige, and the others are now the Prime and Challenge loops. With its large, contoured and often speedy greens, together with several long, testing par-4 holes, the course is an excellent challenge for golfers of all handicap levels.

HOLES: 27 PAR: 72 (EACH 18-HOLE COMBINATION)
LENGTHS: PRIME+PRESTIGE 6,320M, 10-27 – CHALLENGE+PRESTIGE-6,173 – PRIME+CHALLENGE – 6,335 METRES
EXTRAS: DRIVING RANGE & ACADEMY
TEL. 00 351 289 300505/25