Golfing in Portugal
You know it as a sunny destination just to the west of Spain, where the grand architecture of Lisbon and the sweeping coastlines of the Algarve bask under constant sunshine all year round. Yet for the discerning golfer, Portugal offers brilliant experiences for fans of the sport, with dozens of plush resorts and masterfully crafted courses.
Whether you’re a high profile player, a beginner, or are just looking to hone your game, a trip to Portugal will give you a superb selection of places where you can swing, putt and enjoy the sun.
We’ve gathered a few of our favourites together for you below – although rest assured that it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Portugal’s golfing community is very vibrant, with championships held throughout the country time and again.
Portugal Golfing Holidays
Porto Santo Golfe
Over on the tiny island of Porto Santo, a golf course has been designed that weaves into the fabric of its natural surroundings idyllically.
What results is a course that blends clifftop precision and long lakeside drives with sensational greenery and superb sunshine. It also boasts a nine-hole pitch & putt course, designed to help you perfect your accuracy.
Portugal is full to bursting with golf courses for every skill level, so it’s clear why passionate players drive in droves along its fantastic fairways. What’s your dream golfing experience in Portugal?
Palheiro Golf, Madeira
With grand views of the Bay of Funchal, Palheiro Golf is another Madeira course well worth your time and attention. The layout of the trees, plant life and bunkers consistently gain this course awards, and you’re going to find it altogether satisfying to perfect your drive among such stunning surroundings.
Clube de Golf Santa da Serra, Madeira
Much of the best golfing action takes place on the Portuguese mainland, but if you’re heading to Madeira, don’t think you’re going to be left wanting for a satisfying course.
Clube de Golfe Santa da Serra, located near Machico Bay, is dramatically perched high at 700 feet above sea level. Don’t let those views and vistas distract you from your game though, because this course winds around trees, lakes and rolling hills and will challenge as much as it inspires.
The South Course, Quinta do Lago
Tear yourself away from the sublime beaches of Quinta do Lago for long enough and you’ll find that both the North Course and South Course of the region’s most appealing golf club offer a great game.
However, it’s the South Course that consistently draws players in, not least for its well-known 15th hole, which requires a drive across a large lake that demands precision and power in equal measure.
Pine Cliffs Golf Course, Albufeira
It’s only right that the golf courses of Albufeira take advantage of the region’s abundant natural beauty, and that’s especially true of the Pine Cliffs Golf Course.
With each hole meticulously planned by renowned golf course architect Martin Hawtree, the course offers a fair balance of challenges and rewards. This is particularly true with respect to the ‘Devil’s Parlour’, a tricky three-par hole that requires golfers to send the ball soaring over beaches and cliffs to the awaiting hills.
Ocean Golf Course, Vale do Lobo
Among the rich countryside and seaside towns of the Algarve is characterful Vale do Lobo, where some of the best golf courses in the country can be found.
One of those, Ocean Golf Course, lives up to its name by offering stupendous views of the sea as you tee off and strike your way across 18 holes of rolling hills, compelling links and splendid fairways.