Anyone have any suggestions or recommondations for golf in the Algarve? Planning a trip in April/May and looking for any info that might be helpful.

Thanks in advance.

ickii

I played at the Quinta de Marinha course there - the conditioning was not the best, but....it was VERY enjoyable, and the scenery was outstanding.

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I've been going there every year for 10years +.......

:- Quinta De Lago (both courses) have hosted Euro Tour Events
San Lorenzo, usually voted in top 10 in European courses(breathtaking)
Villa Sol - original 18 is pretty tough
Vale de Lobo - bit overrated though
Pinos Altos (game of 2 halves)

Pennina - Henry Cotton's base, nicknamed 'the goat track'amongst our party

Most Portuguese golf courses are of a v.high standard as it is a main source of income/attraction in
the Algarve

Have fun!

Thanks for the info.

Did either of you use a booking service or just make times during your stay?

ickii

you'll need to book...... if you stay at the donna filipo hotel you will get preferntial tee times &rates at San Lorenzo, but everywhere else you'll need to book. Its a Hugely popular destination for Brits betwwen Feb & June(before it gets too hot).

We always use a Uk travel Co. to arrange the whole trip....

Agree with most of that.
Quinta South is a really good course, Quinta North (Ria Formosa) slightly shorter, easier, still good
San Lorenzo has 5 spectacular holes and 13 decent ones
Royal at Vale do Lobo needs to be played once for the 16th, but some of it is over-rated
Pinheiros Altos has 3 nines now and bits of it are as hard as it gets on the Algarve. Well worth playing though, and very good practice facilities.
I enjoyed Vilamoura Old too.

Iain

Thanks again, I'll look into all of those. I think we'll be in Portugal for 12-15 days so I'm going to try to play as many different courses as possible.

ickii

I agree with the above and would also add Vilamoura Victoria, which has hosted Euro tour events, too. I also love the "Old", it's rather short for today's standards but still tricky. By the way, the Vilamoura group (5 courses) was recently renamed to Oceanico. If you're located more in the west Algarve, try Gramacho (Pestana Resort). My favorite 5, though, are Vila Sol, Oceanico Old & Victoria Courses, Quinta do Lago South Course and Quinta da Ria/Quinta da Cima (2x18 holes, alternate play) in the far east, near the Spanish border. San Lorenzo is pretty nice, but rather expensive. Speaking of prices, I also use a booking service (except for Quinta da Ria/Cima, I have a personal contact there), but make sure to check prices locally, too! Q. do Lago, for example, give you a reducted fee for booking online directly. Also, I recommend going in april, not as hot and some courses are still cheaper. Although Easter is pretty early this year... usually that's when the high season starts.

Good luck and enjoy it.
OB