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There are currently more than twenty-five courses in the space of 100 miles of coastline, with more opening soon. All Algarve courses are within one hour’s drive of Faro International Airport. Over the last few years the Portuguese Open has been hosted variously at Penina, Vila Sol and São Lourenzo, all of which may be included in the list of top European championship courses.

Warm playing conditions and immaculately manicured fairways and greens are the norm in the Algarve.

N/A means not applicable for handicap certificates

Subjective star rating 1-5 for difficulty and challenge

Palmares 1975

Regarded by many as the region’s most scenic course, with five links holes on the front nine next to Lagos Bay and the back nine sloping through almond groves. Best known for its "Almond Blossom" tournament in February when the countryside is particularly colorful and pleasant.

Architect ; Frank Pennink

5,961 meters

Par 72

Handicap ; Men 28 Women 36

Rating ***

Pinheiros Altos 1992

A course of two very different halves. The first nine undulate through the tall pines from which the course takes its name. The second nine feature spectacular water hazards. Try not to be too distracted by the abundant bird and plant life. Buggy is included.

Architect : Ronald Fream

5,766 metres

Par 72

Handicap ; Men 28 Women 36

Rating ****

Pine Cliffs

Owned by the Sheraton Hotel, this course sits spectacularly on the cliff top overlooking Falesia, one the Algarve’s loveliest beaches. Tehere are stunning ocean views through the umbrella pines along the fairways. Only nine holes but still a real test of golfing skill.

Archirtect : Martin Hawtree

2,274 meters

Par 67

Handicap ; Men 28 Women 36

Rating ***

Quinta do Lago 1974

At the heart of this 2,000 acre golf and leisure complex, the course offers 36 pine fringed holes which are a true test for golfers of all levels. A venue for major tournaments situated next to an important wetland nature reserve from which the Ria Formosa Course takes its name.

Architects : William Mitchell, William Roquemore and Joseph Lee

6,488 meters

Par 74

Handicap ; Men 27 Women 34

Rating *****

Salgados

A compact course situated behind a long stretch of dune-backed beach. It has the feel of a Scottish links course – except the sun shines more often here! There are a lot of testing lakes. Most of the holes are surrounded by water hazards.

Architects : Pedro de Vasconcellos & Tobert Muir-Graves

6,080 metres

Par 72

Handicap ; Men N/A Women N/A

Rating ***

San Lorenzo

Currently rated number 2 course in continental Europe by Golf World Magazine. The variety of holes and the way they blend in with the natural environment of the Ria Formosa nature reserve gives added pleasure to playing this immaculately maintained course.

Architect . Joseph Lee

6,238 meters

Par 73

Handicap ; Men 24 Women 28

Rating *****

The Old Course, Vilamoura 1969

A major renovation in 1966 has not altered the basic characteristics of what used to be known as Vilamoura 1. Accuracy is essential on the narrow fairways. With its lovely umbrella pines it remains a favorite with many of the Algarve’s most seasoned golfers

Architect : Frank Pennink

6,254 meters

Par 73

Handicap ; Men 24 Women 28

Rating *****

Pinhal 1976

Situated in typical Algarvian countryside, this is more open course than the Old Course but the greens are smaller and require greater accuracy. Probably the most difficult hole comes at the very end. So don’t relax until you are back in the clubhouse.

Architect : Frank Pennink

6,300 metres

Par 72

Handicap ; Men 28 Women 36

Rating ***

Laguna 1990

Laguna, in contrast to the other Vilamoura courses, has no pines, but has plenty of water hazards in its fairly flat layout. This is a challenging course which demands accurate placing of tee and fairway shots.

Architect : Joseph Lee

6,133 metres

Par 72

Handicap ; Men 28 Women 36

Rating **

Millenium

Opened in 2000 and is a perfect blend of nine extensively reshaped holes on the 27-hole Laguna course, and a completely new nine. A few of the holes are over rolling parkland, but most are set between umbrella pines. Although different in style to the other three Vilamoura courses, it shares their technical and aesthetic excellence.

Architect : Martin Hawtree

6,200 metres

Par 72

Handicap ; Men 24 Women 28

Rating ***

Vila Sol

At your doorstep is one of the best and best cared golf courses with 18 holes, with excellent and fast fairways, and waved greens.
Designed to give you unique moments of pleasure and challenge.

Vila Sol was the first Golf Course in Portugal partly designed by English architect Donald Steel. It was open in 1991 and has been used for two editions of the Portugal Open, in 1992 and 1993. Water hazards throughout.

Architect . Donald Steel

6,189 metres

Par 72

Handicap ; Men 21 Women 35

Rating *****

Vale do Lobo Ocean Course

As its name implies, the Ocean Course provides attractive links-style holes adjacent to the Atlantic. There are parkland holes, too, meandering through the Vale do Lobo estate. The front nine meanders gently inland with views to the distant Loulé hills. It is followed by the more difficult back nine, with greens set against the backdrop of white sand and blue sea. The combination provides a challenging course for golfers of all handicaps.

Architect : Sir Henry Cotton and William Roquemore

5,493 meters

Par 71

Rating ****

Handicap ; Men 28 Women 36

Vale do Lobo Royal Course

Originally designed by Sir Henry Cotton and containing the famous seventh hole, 'Rocky' Roquemore subsequently elaborated the original plans and laid out a wonderful test of golf. 'Rocky Roquemore has fashioned a course out of the unique Vale do Lobo land using the natural pine and eucalyptus trees, incorporating three man-made lakes to test the skills of the finest golfers. Attention to detail and concern for the natural environment play a major part in the course design, preserving as much of the natural forest as possible.

Architect : Sir Henry Cotton and William Roquefort

6,174 metres, buggy compulsory

Handicap ; Men 27 Women 35

Rating ****

Alto Club

Located near Alvor, a picturesque fishing village in the western Algarve. Beautiful vies of both the sea and Monchique range of hills. This course is set in rolling countryside with views out to the Atlantic and to the busy provincial town of Portimão. Features the longest par 5 in Europe of 604 metres " the Henry Cotton challenge"!

Architect : Sir Henry Cotton

6,125 Meters

Par 73

Rating ****

Handicap ; Men 28 Women 36

Penina 1966

The Championship Course is the masterpiece of Sir Henry Cotton and that by which he wished to be remembered. The Penina' as it is reverentially known, was originally laid out on land used for growing rice. Eucalyptus trees are now here in abundance. The course has carefully been upgraded over recent years. If recognition were needed, the decision to hold the Portuguese Open here in 1998, 1999 and again in 2000, must surely be recognition enough.

Architect : Sir Henry Cotton

6,343 metres (Resort course 2,987 metres. Academy course 2,035 metres)

Par 73 (Resort : 35, Academy : 30)

Handicap ; Men 28 Women 32

Rating *****

Parque da Floresta

Just fifteen minutes beyond the historic town of Lagos, this is the most westerly of Algarve courses. The land here is totally different: hilly and with cistus bushes as far as the eye can see. In early spring the area is blanketed with white flowers. The course is crafted through valleys and over hills to the interior to the north. The shimmering Atlantic is to the south.

Architect : Pepe Gancedo

5,670 metres

Par 72

Handicap ; Men 28 Women 36

Rating ***

Vale do Milho

When Dave Thomas designed Vale de Milho he deliberately set out to provide a golf facility which did not necessarily require using woods. The result is a course which is excellent for beginners, but also gives more experienced golfers the chance to concentrate on their short game. This has nine holes but for those wishing 18 each hole has two sets of tees.

Architect : David Thomas

926 metres

Par 54

Rating *

Handicap ; Men N/A Women N/A

Vale da Pinta

Set in a area of undulating land not far from the popular seaside village of Carvoeiro, Pinta and Gramacho are the work of a master of course design, Ronald Fream. Indeed, as soon as Fream saw the land, he declared it to be 'God Given' for golf. Scattered with almond, carob and olive trees - many centuries old - and with natural rocky outcrops, he envisaged the construction of two courses with the minimum of environmental disruption: Pinta - a conventional layout of 18 holes; Gramacho - unique in Europe with its 18 tees, 18 greens, but only 9 fairways. Pinta, rated one of the best courses in Europe.

Architect : Ronald Fearn

6,152 metres

Par 72

Rating ****

Handicap ; Men 27 Women 35

Gramacho

For many people, the only true golf course is the conventional 18 hole layout. At Gramacho, Fream created this unique concept which has 18 tees and greens, but only 9 fairways. However, the design skill which went into creating the green positions and the protective bunkering is such that an 18-hole round genuinely produces 18 different golf challenges. Varying the tee boxes and pin positions obviously further increases the options. As with Pinta, the condition of this 'sister' course is highly maintained, year-round. Pinta, rated one of the best courses in Europe.

Architect : Ronald Fream

5,919 metres

Par 72

Rating ***

Handicap ; Men 28 Women 36

Benamor

The first course to open east of the Capital, Faro. Benamor lies between the coastline at Tavira and the Serra. Built from an original concept by Sir Henry Cotton and providing a course on undulating ground with stunning views on all sides.

Handicap ; Men 28 Women 36

New course, please request further up to date information. Probably rated ***