Golf in East & Central Algarve

Golf in Eastern Algarve

"Central Algarve" Golf Courses

"Vale do Lobo" Ocean Golf Course

Vale do Lobo's Ocean Golf Course, is situated on the very edge of the coastline and allows golfers to tee-off alongside some of the most incredible ocean views in the Algarve.
Flanked by pine and eucalyptus trees, this par 71 course is part links with fairways leading down to the shores of the Atlantic.

Balaia

Opened in April 2001 this small and attractive 9-hole course offers the opportunity to improve your iron shots and your short game. It carries the title of "Executive Course" which in its name implies the quality of its layout and subtle challenges. Located at the back of a Holiday Complex it presents from the first tee a charming view of most of the course with the ribbon of blue sea as its background. A course to test the ability to control shot length and direction.

Pine Cliffs

This well maintained course of nine-holes is located on the cliff top near Albufeira and managed by the adjoining Hotel Sheraton. The prize of the course is its ninth over a ravine with beautiful views down on the sandy beach, locally nicknamed the "Devil’s Parlour". This small and beautiful course is set among the pine trees and presents a pleasant and charming course with good greens.

Salgados

The course is set on the flat lands behind the sandy beach of Praia de Galé. The environmental nature of the course is to associate it with a typical Links Course but with the added asset of the sun. It is very open to the elements with little vegetation and lots of water hazards. It requires a technically skilled player to achieve a good result from a round due to the prevailing onshore breeze.

Laguna Course

The 18 Holes have been laid out over level ground and provide and with the exception of the eleventh and twelve that take the player around and over a lake, it is open fairways for the player with very few trees to present difficulties. It is a course that can be likened to some degree to the challenges that are provided by a Links course. However, there are many water hazards with strategically placed bunkers in open terrain. These factors combined with the occasional strong wind make for an interesting round.

Millennium Course

Martin Hawtree has extended his original concept of the original 27 Holes by adding another 9 and created and creating two distinctive courses. These new holes are part of the Millennium Course and wander amongst the parkland of pine tress that are often found on the coast in the Algarve. The course is a pleasure to play with subtle with few very tricky situations except for possibly the the par-3 sixth with its lake on the left of the fairway waiting for erring balls.

Old Course

This is the second oldest golf course in the Algarve. Set in an umbrella pinewood and laid out in an interesting way to take advantage of the natural contours. It is from the English school of Course design. The first Holes are easy and inviting with reachable par-4s. The par-3 on the attractive fourth is a Hole in One potential. Club selection from here will play an important part of your game, and straight shots will be needed. The ninth is an excellent example of this situation. The back nine has three interesting par-5s. The sixteenth providing a 522 metre challenge for good length and straight hitting.

Pinhal Course

This course is laid through the pine tree forest of the area and is set back from the tourist beach area. The outward nine holes wander through the holiday villas that line the fairways. The well-positioned bunkers make the course very enjoyable to the players, testing their choice of clubs and their accuracy. The Par-4 on the fourth hole is difficult to achieve with water waiting for the erring shot. The Par-3 on the eighth of 149 metres is tricky than it first appears. The back nine-holes have a more open feel but the slightly altered fifteenth will cause a problem to meet the Par-4 it requires.

Victoria Course

The Victoria Clube de Golfe Course is laid out over virtually flat terrain covering some 90 hectares it includes a series of constructed mounds specially landscaped to emulate the outline of inland hills on the horizon. The series of beautiful lakes and waterfalls also helps to provide an attractive background whilst playing the course.

This is at present the longest 18 holes golf course in Portugal. Each hole has a minimum of five tees from which to play thus making the course suitable for golfers of all handicap levels.

Vila Sol Course

The English architect of this course has carefully maintained the original topographical nature of this undulating terrain. Changes when necessary have been kept to a minimum to preserve the natural state of being. The outward nine-holes are testing for a golfer starting with a par-4 of 381 metres. Next an even longer par-4 hole, then another par-4 of 385 metres. To follow the sixth and eighth holes, both par-5s, are awaiting the player with each a little under 500 metres. The back nine has two par-3 holes that are attractively designed. The par-5 on the fourteenth is particularly difficult to achieve with a tricky green awaiting the player.

Course Description
The name of this course is appropriately suggesting is enviable location. As an older golf course it had a strong influence in placing the Algarve as a destination in the golfing world. The fairways have a tendency to be narrow and accuracy is imperative when playing. The holes wander through pine trees with wonderful views of the sea between the homes lining the sides of the fairways. Some of the holes take you along the cliff top with the blue Atlantic sea as the backdrop.

Pinheiros Altos

Located within the well-known Quinta do Lago estate this course enjoys a solid reputation. Within the golfing world it is known as providing a mental challenge due to well placed hazards. There are now 27 holes. The layout has changed to create the three groups of none holes named Oliveiras (Olives), Pinheiros (Pines) and Sobreiros (Corks), respectively.

Quinta do Lago North

The course has four great par-5 Holes requiring power and accuracy to play them well, also providing superb views. The par-3 Holes are well influenced by the wind. Hole 14 is outstanding. The par-4s are all doglegs except for for Holes 10 and 13. Precision driving is vital to set up the chance of a low score. The lakes on Holes 13 and 18 claim many victims. The course favours the player who can draw the ball.

Quinta do Lago South

This is the course that has been used several times for the Portuguese Open. The course favours the long hitter, but requires the player to pick a particular route to score well. Although both anti-clockwise loops, the first nine suggests a draw, whilst the second favours a fade from the tee. Holes 3, 15 and 17, feature lakes that must be negotiated. Holes 8, 10,15 and 18, are the most testing for the scratch player while Holes 2,3,5,12, 13 and 17, offer the best ´possibilities of birdies. An enjoyable experience for players of all standards.

San Lorenzo

Located in the Quinta do Lago estate enjoys a reputation for the condition of its course and its attractive views around the lake formed by Ria Formosa. It has been ranked in the past as the second best course in Europe. The outward first five holes are through the pine tree forest. Water and good hole layouts provides the hazards that play a big part in players having to select clubs and hit with care. The eighteenth is a tricky par-4 mainly involving a lake that is waiting for the inaccurate shot.

Golf events in Portugal - 2007