The 20 best golf courses on the Algarve Coast

Best places to play golf on the Algarve Coast: our handy guide to the top golf courses in the Algarve has all the info you need to enjoy superb golfing on this renowned stretch of coast.
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Golf enthusiasts are certain to enjoy a golfing holiday in the Algarve, a scenic section of coastline in the southwest of Portugal. Here is our selection of Top 20 golf courses. 

1. Laguna Golf Course

Considerably different to the other golf courses in the area, this course is strongly reminiscent of a typical links course. Although it has little elevation, several lakes around the course along with a high number of bunkers make the game challenging, while the occasional strong winds can present an additional hazard. The clubhouse is shared with neighboring Millenium golf course.

Specification

Built 1990 // Designer Joseph Lee
Type: 18 Holes // Par 72
Location: Vilamoura
Green Fees: €45-85 (twilight-daytime)

Visit Website - Laguna Golf Course

2. Laranjal Golf Course

Opened in 2009 this course is the newest in Quinta do Lago and is renowned for spectacular fairways and beautiful greens. With five lakes and a countless number of pine, cork and orange trees this gem of a golf course was voted Best Golf Course at the Portuguese Travel Awards in 2011. It requires concentration and accuracy during play, while service is known to be highly personal and first class.

Specification

Built 2009 // Designer Santana da Silva
Type: 18 Holes // Par 72
Location: Vilamoura
Green Fees: €97-127 (July-October)

Visit Website - Laranjal Golf Course

3. Millenium Course

Located in the Vilamoura region this golf course reflects the Algarve style, with lot of typical pine trees around the holes. As a resort course, it is relatively open, with only few water hazards and narrow fairways. This makes it the perfect choice for the leisure golfer, although it might hold some interesting variations even for the experienced player.

Specification

Built 2000 // Redesigned Michael Hawtree
Type: 18 Holes // Par 72
Location: Vilamoura
Green Fees: €50-92 (twilight-daytime)

Visit Website - Millenium Course

4. Ocean Golf Course

As one of the first to open back in 1968, this course certainly helped to put the Algarve on the map of golfing. Its stunning ocean view, especially on the back nine holes, with hole #11 going right down to the ocean, it is a must play course while in the Algarve. The first nine holes are slightly hilly, and throughout the round, due to its sometimes narrow fairways, it demands quite some accuracy, but is a joy to play.

Specification

Built 1968 // Designed Sir Henry Cotton
Type: 18 Holes // Par 73
Location: Vilamoura
Green Fees: €150

Visit Website - Ocean Golf Course

5. Old Course

The Old Course, while renovated in 1996, was first opened in 1969, and is often referred to as the Grand Dame of Algarve golfing. The long Par-73 course winds gently through pine trees and reminds of an English style course. The advanced player, if choosing the right club and hitting it accurately, has a good chance for a Hole In One at hole #4, a short Par 3, while hole #9 is considered the most demanding of the course.

Specification

Built 1969// Designed Frank Pennink
Type: 18 Holes // Par 73
Location: Vilamoura
Green Fees: €77-140 (twilight-daytime)

Visit Website - Old Course

6. Pine Cliffs

It may be “just”a 9-hole course but it’s world renowned nonetheless. Pine Cliffs has a spectacular setting on the cliffs of Albufeira and offers attractive ocean views. Easy to play in general, the famous last hole, nicknamed “Devil’s Parlour”, requires a drive over a shallow ravine.

Specification

Built 1991 // Designed Martin Hawtree
Type: 9 Holes // Par 33
Location: Albufeira
Green Fees: €74.82

Visit Website - Pine Cliffs

7. Pinhal Golf Course

Originally designed by Frank Pennink, but remodeled in 1985 by Robert Trent Jones Jr this popular golf course winds gently through pine trees. The first holes are framed by holiday villas. It is generally a course easy to play for the above-average golfer, with only a few ponds & a stream. The back 9 holes also are more forgiving with open fairways.

Specification

Built 1976 // Designed F. Pennink / R. Trent Jones Jr
Type: 18 Holes // Par 72
Location: Vilamoura
Green Fees: €45-90 (twilight-daytime)

Visit Website - Pinhal Golf Course

 

8. Pinheiros Altos

This was originally an 18-hole course, sewn with Bermuda grass and designed by Ronald Fream; an additional 9 holes were opened in 2007. The course is renowned for its challenging and strategically placed hazards, many of them being water obstacles. The most scenic hole is probably hole #17, leading to a grand finale of the round.

Specification

Built 1992// Designed Ronald Fream
Type: 18 + 9 Holes // Par 72 + 36
Location: Quinta do Lago
Green Fees: €75-120 (low-high season)

Visit Website - Pinheiros Altos

9. Quinta do Lago North

This spectacular golf course is designed to challenge the above average player. Undulating greens, well positioned bunkers and several water hazards gave the course its reputation. Long drives are required throughout the round, especially on the four great long Par 5 holes and even more so when the wind comes into play.

Specification 

Built 1974// Designed W. Mitchell / R. Roquemore
Type: 18 Holes // Par 72
Location: Quinta do Lago / Vilamoura
Green Fees: 97-122 (low-high season)

Visit Website - Quinta do Lago North 

10. Quinta do Lago South

Having been many times the venue for the Portugal / Algarve Open, this outstanding golf course is not only popular among Champions. Known to require long drives it is interesting and challenging for all level players. The front 9 holes meander through parkland with a draw coming in handy, while the back 9 wind around a lake and favor a fade from the tee.

Specification

Built 1974// Designed W. Mitchell / R. Roquemore
Type: 18 Holes // Par 72
Location: Quinta do Lago / Vilamoura Quinta do Lago South
Green Fees: €97-122 (low-high season)

Visit Website - Quinta do Lago South

11. Royal Golf Course

This golf course, designed by Rocky Roquemore on the basis of a Sir Henry Cotton layout, is probably the symbol of golfing on the Algarve coast. The famous hole #16, a cliff-top carry over, might be the most published shot of the country. It is interesting yet demanding to play. Hole #9, almost an island green, offers a good chance to become a member of the clubs Hole in One Hall of Fame, while hole #18 is a challenging finale to a great round.

Specification

Built 1997// Designed H.Cotton / R.Roquemore
Type: 18 Holes // Par 72
Location: Vilamoura
Green Fees: €93-190 (guest card-visitors)

Visit Website - Royal Golf Course

12. Salgados Golf Course

The Salgados Golf Course is located in a natural wildlife reserve close to Albufeira and strongly resembles a links course, due to it being set on flat land just behind the beach. This also brings nature and its elements into the game, technical skills and accurate shots are required to achieve a decent score.

Specification

Built 1994 // Designed Vasconselos/R. Muir-Graves
Type: 18 Holes // Par 72
Location: Albufeira
Green Fees: €48-64 (low-high season)

Visit Website - Salgados Golf Courses

13. San Lorenzo

Settled within the Quinta do Lago area the San Lorenzo golf course is highly recommendable due to its excellent maintenance and conditions. Hole #1 opens requiring a long drive for this Par 5, while hole #18 needs an equally long hit to achieve the perfect finish. In between challenges a 197 yards Par 3. Truly a fine course, it also has magnificent ocean and mountain views.

Specification

Built 1988 // Designed Joseph Lee
Type: 18 Holes // Par 72
Location: Quinta do Lago / Vilamoura
Green Fees: €180

Visit Website - San Lorenzo 

14. Victoria Golf Course

The most recent Arnold Palmer designed Victoria Golf Course caters with its 5 or even 6 tees to all level players. It is a slightly undulating resort course, and a pleasure to play with waterfalls and lakes around the 90 hectares of ground. Furthermore it already has been venue for top international tournaments like the Portugal Open.

Specification

Built 2004 // Designed Arnold Palmer
Type: 18 Holes // Par 72
Location: Vilamoura
Green Fees: €16.75-38.50 (super twilight-daytime)

Visit Website - Victoria Golf Course

15. Vila Sol

While designing this course in the Vilamoura region, Arnold Palmer paid particular attention to maintaining the original topographical outline of the land, which in the end led to a very attractive course layout. While the first nine holes are somewhat more demanding, the back nine seem easier to play, although, a tip for hole #14: a tricky green waits at the end of this par 5!

Specification

Built 2004 // Designed Arnold Palmer
Type: 18 Holes // Par 72
Location: Vilamoura
Green Fees: €90

Visit Website - Vila Sol

16. Vale de Pinta

An interesting course laid out in typical Algarve landscape, Vale de Pinta is delightful to play. It rolls through small valleys and over hills, with olive trees all around. Most outstanding: Hole #10, par 3 with a well-protected green, and hole #13, an amazing 541 meter long par 5.

Specification

Built 1992 // Designed Ronald Fream
Type: 18 Holes // Par 71
Location: West of Portimao
Green Fees: €60-92.50 (low-high season)

Visit Website - Vale de Pinta

17. Penina Golf Course

Penina Golf, designed by Sir Henry Cotton and inaugurated in 1966, is among the oldest of the Algarve. Originally fields where rice was cultivated, the area was turned into a flat course with many rather unexpected water hazards and bunkers. It is designed for the more advanced player and in its history has been venue for the Portuguese Open various times.

Specification

Built 1966 // Designed Sir Henry Cotton
Type: 18 Holes // Par 73
Location: Portimao
Green Fees: €80-120 (low-high season)

Visit Website - Penina Golf Course 

18. Palmares Golf Course

Located in the Bay of Lagos, Palmares Golf Course offers outstanding ocean views. Partly built on sand dunes, it is a delight to play. Also, unlike most other courses in the area, it is not framed by vacation residences, creating a feeling of openness for the player whilst on the course.

Specification

Built 1975 // Designed Frank Pennink
Type: 18 Holes // Par 71
Location: Portimao
Green Fees: €77.50-105 (low-high season)

Visit Website - Onryia Palmares

19. Gramacho Golf Course

Originally a 9 hole course, Gramacho golf has recently been extended and now is a full par 72 18-hole course. It runs through undulating terrain, with plenty of century old olive, almond and carob trees. To achieve a respectable score, accurate play and the right selection of the club is mandatory.

Specification

Built 1991 // Designed Ronald Fream
Type: 18 Holes // Par 72
Location: West of Portimao
Green Fees: €49-79 (low-high season)

20. Alto Golf Course

Alto Golf Course, with occasional sea views to the Portimao area, is considered a test for any level golfer. Elevated greens, dog-legs and strategically placed bunkers demand technical play. Furthermore, hole #15, with 589 meters from the blues, is considered the longest par 5 in Europe and requires quite a drive.

Specification

Built 1991 // Designed Sir Henry Cotton
Type: 18 Holes // Par 72
Location: West of Portimao
Green Fees: €60-85 (low-high season)

Visit Website - Alto Golf Course 

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