Golf Holidays in Portugal

I first visited Portugal as a very young boy (complete with cut-down ladies clubs!) with my parents.  We would travel to Vilamoura, rent a villa or book a hotel and my father and I would play golf very early each morning.   The Club Secretaries would  usually allow me to play for free and we would play 18 holes in time for lunch on the clubhouse terrace.  My favourite course was The Old Course at Vilamoura and it’s still a treat to play. 

Since those easy days, golf in Portugal has become a little more accomplished – there are a total of 71 golf courses of which 10 are listed in Europe’s Top 100.   Given that about half of Portugal’s border is on the coast, the Portuguese do links golf very well with seven that would grace any golf itinerary: West Cliffs and Praia d’El Rey north of Lisbon, Oitavos on the Lisbon Coast, Troia,  Comporta Dunas and Torre south of Lisbon, and Palmares on the Western Algarve.   There are countless parkland and manicured gems like Penha Longa, the three Quinta do Lago courses, Vilamoura Old, San Lorenzo and Monte Rei.  Take away these gems and you’ve still got a brilliant golf offering.   Green-fees are keen for most of the year (although some of the courses in/around Vilamoura are getting pricey), it’s easy to get to and the quality of welcome and hotels in Portugal impress me on every visit.   You can take your pick between smart golf resorts, boutique hotels, resort-centre convenience or classy city joints. 

Above anything else, it is the people that make a holiday special and the Portuguese are perfect hosts – they are professional, have a great eye-for-detail and possess a genuinely warm and unassuming nature.  I’ve enjoyed working with them for over three decades.  They’re also great fun on the course and in the bar too! 

Click on the link below and read the most comprehensive guide to golf holidays, golf courses and hotels in Portugal or click on any of the regions below to discover where you want to go.  As always, we’re just a phone call away and happy and ready to offer impartial and expert advice  to  best fit your holiday wishes.

The Insider’s Guide To Portugal