May 19th, 2010 | Author: Travel Poster
Golf holidays in Portugal are synonymous with picturesque countryside, year round warm weather and no end to choice of courses to play. This post focuses on everything that the Algarve has to offer the holidaying golfer.
In terms of finding the perfect golf holiday Algarve, in the south of Portugal, has been attracting European golfers for decades. The eastern Algarve region bordering Spain has mild weather all year round so proves popular even in winter. The Monte Rei golf resort is the jewel of the area with its perfect landscaping and design (by Jack Nicklaus).
Other courses such as the Benamor and Castro Marim are enjoyable to play for their great views (especially from the higher tee-boxes). The Quinta Do Vale is a young course (2008) that is starting to mature nicely. Designed by Seve Balasteros the course has some tough long par-4s and the placement of traps/rough will punish errant shots.
Western Algarve is defined by the prevailing ocean breezes that can really alter how any of the coastal courses play. The Oceanico O’Connor parkland course and its sister course (the Faldo desert-style course) were each designed to make use of the ocean breeze, as well as the locations topography. The Nick Faldo course has a wonderful mix of undulating fairways, dunes and rolling greens. The nearby Parque Da Floresta is a great hillside course with challenging holes playing across the slopes that is made all the more difficult when the wind is gusting (low trajectory ball flight becomes a necessity).
The central Algarve area around Vilamoura is the real hub for golfing in the region with its glut of golf resorts and courses all within a short car drive. While the 10+ Oceanico courses are all very enjoyable, the real standout course has got to be the Old Course for its mature landscaping and consistently fast greens. Years of careful management have made each hole a challenge and every vista picture perfect.
The locals will also recommend playing Quinta do Lago Laranjal and Vila Sol which perfectly suit amateur golfers. And for a real challenge then follow in the footsteps of the professionals with a round at Vale Do Lobo Royal, host on several occasions to the Portugal Open.