Golf Holidays Portugal: Best Places To Go On The Algarve
In terms of idyllic golf holidays Portugal has been blazing a trail over the past decade with its rapid growth in the number and range of courses. This article focuses on the traditionally popular Algarve coast to point out the differences in the area’s great courses.
Widely considered a safe-option for a golf holiday Algarve, on Portugal’s south coast, boasts the weather and courses to provide year round golf.
The central Algarve has the highest density of golf resorts and courses in the country. Sifting through the resort courses for exceptional ones is no easy task as the standard is generally high. The Millenium parkland course is an enjoyable course with nice water features, but still a little modern. The Old Course is a great mature course where the greens are consistently fast and the landscaping around this hilly course has been brought to a fine art.
But for a real challenge, head to the Vale Do Lobo Royal, host to the Portugal Open and one course that favors good course management over long driving (the sand traps and rough will easily lose you two shots per hole).
On the eastern coast the climate gets milder and the courses become more elite. Many visitor come solely to play the Jack Nicklaus designed Monte Rei course. Admittedly it is a beautiful course and you can see how Jack designed obstacles and the locations topography into every hole. But for an equally enjoyable round of golf then follow the locals to some of the lesser known courses such as the Quinta Do Vale (opened in 2008 and designed by Seve) or the unique Castro Marim with its castle style clubhouse.
Finally, the western Algarve is open to the Atlantic wind and this factors into every course that lines the hillsides or coasts in this scenic areas. From the hillside views of Parque Da Floresta and the Penina Championship Course you could happily play these every day and they would change along with what way the wind is blowing. Both courses have top-class greens and were designed with deep green-side bunkers to attract in errant shots.