Introducing Algarve...
The Algarve is well known for sunshine and beach villa holidays but it also offers some of the best facilities for golfing holidays in Portugal, if not Europe.
Golfing holidays in the Algarve started with the creation of world class resorts such as Penina, Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and Vilamoura before the ‘Carnation’ Revolution in 1974 whilst the addition of newer resorts like San Lorenzo (voted No. 2 in Europe), Vila Sol (venue for the Portugese Open), Vale da Pinta, the fantastic Amendoeira Golf Resort and the Jack Nicklaus designed Monte Rei Golf & Country Club have done much to reinforce the Algarve`s reputation as being the place for golfing holidays in Portugal.
And, being a holiday destination in its own right, off the course there are plenty of leisure activities, numerous bars, a wealth of restaurants serving excellent fish food and good local wines, Moorish ruins and castles to explore, and numerous secluded coves and beaches that dot the length of the coastline.
Eastern, Central, Western?
Although only 100 miles long the Algarve is generally thought of as being three areas with differing characteristics but all offering fantastic golfing holidays - the Eastern Algarve (Spanish border to Faro); the Central Algarve (Faro to Lagoa) and the Western Algarve (Lagoa to Sagres).
Golf Holidays Algarve really started in 1966 when the late, great Sir Henry Cotton turned what was an area of rice paddy fields in the Western Algarve into the fantastic golf holidays resort of Penina.
Then, in the 1970’s and 80’s development of new golfing holiday resorts mainly took place in the Central Algarve where the huge purpose built resorts of Vilamoura, Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago were created with their multiple golf courses, thousands of golf villas, apartments, swimming pools, beaches, bars and restaurants providing fantastic environments for golfing holidays and holidays in general.
More recently new developments have been spread between the Eastern Algarve with the development of resorts such as Quinta da Ria, Castro Marim, Benamor and Monte Rei or the Western Algarve where resorts such as Parque da Floresta, Vale da Pinta and the luxury Amendoeira Golf Resort all offer a superb alternative to the, generally busier and more expensive, resorts in the Central Algarve.
So where to go?
The Central Algarve, generally busier and more expensive than its siblings, offers Vilamoura (a big favourite for golfing holidays) with its town, marina, beaches, bars, restaurants, nightlife and 5 great golf courses; Albufeira, originally a small fishing village, now a popular holiday resort with an abundance of bars, restaurants, nightlife and within 15 minutes drive from numerous golf courses; Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago estates both offering a range of top class villas and apartments set in a beautiful area surrounded by six of the finest golf courses in the Algarve.
The Western Algarve, certainly quieter than its neighbour and not dominated quite so much by tourism, offers small beaches often in quiet rocky coves, historic town, still working villages plus some fantastic golfing holiday resorts – Parque da Floresta Golf Resort, Vale da Pinta Golf Resort, the new Amendoeira Golf Resort with its courses designed by Sir Nick Faldo and Christy Connor Jnr are all superb destinations for golfing holidays whilst resort such as Baia da Luz allow the combination of a beach holiday with easy access to excellent local golf courses.
The Eastern Algarve, with its fantastic beach running to the Spanish border, quieter, more laid back feel and with everything noticeably cheaper its sisters is historically more of a general holiday area than a destination for golfing holidays. However, this is changing and the development of first class golfing holidays resorts like Quinta da Ria, Quinta de Cima, Castro Marim, Benamor and the Jack Nicklaus designed Monte Rei Golf & Country Club mean that this area is fast rising in popularity as a destination for golfing holidays. An added bonus is that it is easy to cross over into Spain and play the excellent Islantilla course, as well as the two great new Costa Esuri golf courses.