A Golfers Guide To The Algarve Region – Golf Holidays Portugal Style

When it comes to care free golf holidays Portugal has been constructing resorts and courses over the past two decades to rival those of their Mediterranean neighbors. In this article the southern Portuguese region known as the Algarve is showcased for some of the excellent golf clubs that draw in visitors and locals alike.

When most golfers think of Portugal and the Algarve they most likely associate this with Vilamoura town. Thanks to the towns proximity to dozens of courses and resorts it has become the unofficial golfing capital of the Algarve.

Of the championship courses near town the Vale Do Lobo Royal & Ocean (alongside the coast) are the standout courses due to their range of holes and quality of greens and fairways. Closer to town the Oceanico Old Course has the most mature landscaping and greens of any course in the region which has been nurtured over decades to its current picture perfect condition.

If you prefer a more relaxing round of golf then the Vila Sol is a wonderful sheltered course with few over-long par 4s. Instead, accurate drives and pitches are required and the placement of fairway traps/rough on several holes is the main challenge to contend with.

Heading west along the Algarve and the Atlantic wind starts playing more of a factor on most courses. The scenic hillside views of Boavista and Parque Da Floresta are breathe-taking and don’t detract from both courses difficulty which requires the ability to play the ball when it is above/below the feet as fairways criss-cross the slopes.

Of the newer courses the stand-out Faldo desert style course was architected with the terrain and sea-breeze in mind. The undulations in the fairway and fast greens cause many an errant shot with gaping bunkers awaiting on most holes.

In terms of European golf holidays Portugal has done a great deal to deliver a high-standard of course design and landscaping to rival the British Isles and Spain as a year round golf destination. And certainly as the courses along the Algarve bed in over the coming years many will exceed other European courses to become the new classics.

Image courtesy of flickr.com.

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