Central Algarve Courses
Vilamoura Old Course
The oldest and most popular of the five
Vilamoura courses, the Old Course's international reputation is well deserved.
The region's trademark umbrella pine trees surround the fairways and provide
a beautiful backdrop to an excellent test of golf. They also force you to
put the emphasis on accuracy and course management ahead of length. Great
scores are made by playing the four par 3 holes well - they're visually
stunning but very tough. The course is rated No. 50 in Europe by Golf World
magazine and we highly recommend it.
Designer: Frank Pennink/Martin Hawtree
Fairways: Bermuda Tifton 419
Greens: Penncross bent
Par: 73
Length: 6924 yards
Green fees Nov 07 to Oct 08: March, April & October (high season) £73; November, February,
May, June & September (medium season) £65; December, January, July & August
(low season) £54
Great value 3, 4 and 5 round Vilamoura golf packages available, please call
0808 156 5927
for more details
Vilamoura Pinhal Originally designed by Frank Pennink and remodelled
by Robert Trent Jones Jnr, Pinhal has an exciting mixture of British and
American style holes. The front 9 meanders through an exclusive residential
complex, while the back 9 is built on more open and undulating land with
occasional glimpses of the sea. The fairways are lined with pine trees and
the greens are tight and fast, so accuracy is the key to success here. Like
all the Vilamoura courses, Pinhal is a superb challenge and is well worth
a visit.
Designer: Frank Pennink/Robert Trent Jones Jnr
Fairways: Bermuda Tifton 419 and lollium mix
Greens: Penncross bent
Par: 72
Length: 6842 yards
Green fees Nov 07 - Oct 08: March, April & October (high season) £47; November, February,
May, June & September (medium season) £45; December, January, July & Augustt (low season) £37
Great value 3, 4 and 5 round Vilamoura golf packages available, please call 0808 156 5927 for more details
Vilamoura Laguna
Although Laguna is probably the least popular
of Vilamoura's five excellent courses, it's also the most affordable and we
think it provides a really good test of golf. Designed by Joseph Lee, who
created the wonderful San Lorenzo course, it provides a stark contrast to
its neighbours, in that it's a lot more open and has plenty of water hazards,
as well as 88 shrewdly placed bunkers. While the sand and water make the course
quite visually intimidating, in reality it can be enjoyed by golfers of all
abilities. Give it a try.
Designer: Joseph Lee
Fairways: Bermuda Tifton 328
Greens: Penncross bent
Par: 72
Length: 6707 yards
Green fees Nov 07 - Oct 08: March, April & October (high season) £44; November, February, May, June & September (medium season) £40; December, January, July & Augustt (low season) £33
Great value 3, 4 and 5 round Vilamoura golf packages available, please call 0808 156 5927 for more details
Vilamoura Millennium Opened in 2000, Millennium
is Vilamoura's fourth course and has proved to be an exciting and popular
addition. The new front 9, which mostly runs through a pine forest, is a perfect
compliment to the reshaped loop of the old Laguna course that makes up the
back 9. Wide fairways, large greens and four different sets of tees make this
course enjoyable for all levels of player, with the emphasis on precision
rather than power. Like its Vilamoura neighbours, Millennium is a classy championship
layout and comes highly recommended.
Designer: Martin Hawtree
Fairways: Bermuda Tifton 419
Greens: Penn A4 bentgrass
Par: 72
Length: 6820 yards
Green fees Nov 07 - Oct 08: March, April & October (high season) £49; November, February, May, June & September (medium season) £45; December, January, July & Augustt (low season) £39
Great value 3, 4 and 5 round Vilamoura golf packages available, please call 0808 156 5927 for more details
Vilamoura Victoria The new and exclusive Victoria course is the
latest addition to the fabulous Vilamoura resort. Designed by the legendary
Arnold Palmer, no expense has been spared in creating a course to challenge
Europe's best. According to Palmer, the links style layout encourages an exciting
'risk and reward' strategy - so be prepared to lose a few balls! With 22 lakes
and lightning fast greens, Victoria is a great test and may even come to rival
the Old Course as Vilamoura's flagship golfing venue. A bit expensive, but
a real 'must play'.
Designer: Arnold Palmer
Fairways: Bermuda 419
Greens: Bentgrass L93
Par: 72
Length: 7100 yards
Green fees Nov 07 to Oct 08: March, April & October (high season) £96; November, February, May, June & September (medium season) £82; December, January, July & August (low season) £70
Great value 3, 4 and 5 round Vilamoura golf packages available, please call 0808 156 5927 for more details
Vila Sol Vila Sol has a well-deserved reputation
as one of the best courses in Portugal, and Vila Sol hotel guests can take
advantage of significantly reduced green fees and fantastic free golf offers.
Opened in 1991, Vila Sol gained international acclaim by hosting the Portuguese
Open for the next two years and is now rated No. 88 in Europe by Golf World
magazine. The 27-hole course operates as three 9-hole loops that can be played
in any combination. The narrow fairways demand accurate tee shots and the
many water hazards make club selection a real challenge. The course is always
perfectly manicured and the greens are superb.
Designer: Donald Steel
Fairways: Bermuda Tifton 419
Greens: Penncross bent
Par: 72
Length: 6762 yards
Green fees Nov 07 - Oct 08: March, April & October (high season)
£63 for 18 holes, £111 for 2 rounds, November, February, May & September (medium season) £58 for 18 holes, £104 for 2 rounds; December, January, June & August (low season) £46 for 18 holes, £80 for 2 rounds,
Preferential green fees for all Vila Sol Hotel guests: £42 for 18
holes
Quinta do Lago North (formerly Ria Formosa) Though
not held in as high esteem as the magnificent South course, Quinta do Lago
North still offers a truly great game of golf. Set on the beautiful Ria
Formosa nature reserve, it's always in immaculate condition and is a real
joy to play. There's an abundance of doglegs, shots across water and tricky
par 3s, with accuracy more important than length. The course runs in an
anti-clockwise loop and players who can draw the ball will score well. The
18th is a wonderful closing hole, demanding a precise drive over a lake
and a tough approach to a slick, two-tiered green.
Designer: Joseph Lee/Rocky Roquemore
Fairways: Bermuda Tifton 419
Greens: Penncross bent
Par: 72
Length: 6488 yards
Green fees Nov 07 - Oct 08: 1 - 14 November, 15 February - 31 May (medium season)
£57; 15 November - 14 February & June-August (low season) £46, September & October (high season) 61
Quinta do Lago South
The magnificent Quinta do Lago South is the
Algarve's original championship course and is still one of its best. It has
been a regular host to the Portuguese Open - it was here in 1989 that Colin
Montgomerie won his first European Tour event. It's a great course in a beautiful
natural setting with everything you could want for an enjoyable game - testing
par 4s, generous fairways on the par 5s, short holes across water (including
the spectacular par 3 15th), tricky doglegs, cleverly placed bunkers and super-fast
greens. Always in top condition and a real 'must play'.
Designer: William Mitchell/Joseph Lee
Fairways: Bermuda Tifton 419
Greens: Penncross bent
Par: 72
Length: 6205 yards
Green fees Nov 07 - Oct 08: 1 - 14 November, 15 February - 31 May (medium season) £57; 15 November - 14 February & June-August (low season) £46, September & October (high season) 61
Vale do Lobo Ocean
Though perhaps not quite
in the same class as the neighbouring Royal course, the Ocean course at Vale
do Lobo is still one of the best in the Algarve. Both courses enjoy an unparalleled
natural setting with stunning views over the Atlantic. The Ocean course meanders
through a pine forest before arriving at the ocean holes, which are an absolute
delight but become very difficult in windy conditions. This is an excellent
layout that provides a real challenge. Be warned though, prices at Vale do
Lobo are among the most expensive in the area - if you really want to play
here, it's a good idea to stay at the Quinta do Lago or Ria Park hotels, which
offer unbeatable green fee packages on a range of championship courses.
Designer: Henry Cotton
Fairways: Ray grass
Greens: Crenshaw
Par: 72
Length: 6010 yards
Green fees Nov 07 - Oct 08: 1 - 15 November, 1 March - 31 May & October
(high season) £70; February & September (medium season) £65, 16 November - 31 January, June & August (low season)
£59
Vale do Lobo Royal The immaculately manicured Royal course offers
players of all abilities unrivalled variety and quality. Along with the neighbouring
Ocean course, it enjoys an unparalleled natural setting with stunning views
over the Atlantic, and it features some of the most spectacular holes on the
Algarve. The cliff top par 3 16th is the most photographed hole in Europe.
Buggies are compulsory before 10:30am and recommended at all other times.
Prices at Vale do Lobo are among the most expensive in the area - if you really
want to play here, it's a good idea to stay at the Quinta do Lago or Ria Park
hotels, which offer unbeatable green fee packages on a range of championship
courses.
Designer: Henry Cotton/Rocky Roquemore
Fairways: Crenshaw
Greens: Crenshaw
Par: 72
Length: 6753 yards
Green fees Nov 07 - Oct 08: 1 - 15 November, 1 March - 31 May & October (high season) £76; February & September (medium season) £70, 16 November - 31 January, June & August (low season) £65
San Lorenzo Only guests at the Dona
Filipa hotel (and, subject to availability, guests at the Penina hotel)
have the exclusive privilege of playing San Lorenzo, ranked 8th in Europe
by Golf World magazine. Not only that, but they receive some fantastic free
golf offers and reduced green fees. San Lorenzo is an outstanding championship
course set in the spectacular Ria Formosa Nature Reserve. After a fairly
gentle start, it winds its way to the estuary holes (5, where you look directly
out to sea from an elevated tee, 6 and 7) before the par 5 8th introduces
you to the course's hallmark - a large inland lake. The lake comes into
play again on the closing two holes, where the semi-island greens ensure
your nerve is tested right to the last. Quite simply, this is one of the
most memorable courses you'll ever play.
Designer: Joseph Lee
Fairways: Bermuda Tifton 419
Greens: Penncross bent
Par: 72
Length: 6420 yards
Preferential green fees for Dona Filipa guests Nov 07 - Oct 08: 1-23 November, 26 January -29 February £35; 24 November-25 January & 28 June-31 August £30; 1 March -23 May, September & October £42
Pinheiros Altos The Formosa Hotel owns this
excellent and exclusive course. Hotel guests are the only people assured of
a game here and they also benefit from preferential green fees and fabulous
free golf offers. Pinheiros Altos offers a warm welcome but a stiff test.
The front 9 undulates through rolling countryside and is lined by tall umbrella
pine trees, while the back 9 drops down to a valley bottom where the many
lakes provide a real test of accuracy and nerve. The 17th hole has a spectacular
island green reminiscent of the 17th at TPC Sawgrass in the USA. Increasingly
popular and well worth a visit.
Designer: Ronald Fream
Fairways: Bermuda Tifton 419
Greens: Penncross bent
Par: 72
Length: 6615 yards
Green fees Nov 07- Oct 08: 1-15 November, March-May & October (high season) £69;
11-29 February & September (medium season) £55; 16 November-10 February
& June-August (low season) £48
Formosa Hotel guests only
Free golf for Formosa Hotel guests: 7 night stays get 2 free rounds;
3-6 night stays get 1 free round
Preferential green fees for Formosa Hotel guests: high season £48;
medium season £34; low season £26
Pine Cliffs (9 holes) Pine Cliffs is a
delightful 9-hole course with spectacular views over the coastline and out
to sea. It's only minutes from the Sheraton Algarve hotel and is perfect
if you want a quick game, or you can play it twice for a thoroughly enjoyable
18 holes. The par 3 6th (nicknamed 'Devil's Parlour') is particularly memorable,
with a sheer 200 ft drop down a red stone ravine greeting your arrival on
the tee.
Designer: Martin Hawtree
Fairways: Bermuda
Greens: Penncross
Par: 33
Length: 2540 yards
Sheraton Algarve hotel guests only
Free golf for Sheraton Algarve guests Nov 07 - Oct 08: guests get 1 free 9- hole
round per 3-night stay
Preferential green fees for Sheraton Algarve guests Nov 07-Oct 08: November - March :£23, April - October: £30