Book With Trust & Confidence
Award Winning Service
Contact Our Team
01992 763660
The Western Algarve in Portugal provides a great alternative to Vilamoura, with lively nightlife in Alvor, Portimão and further west in Lagos. For those that think they have experienced playing on a golf holiday to the Algarve and have not travelled down as far as Lagos, then you are missing a trick.
Firstly, although no official boundaries in what is categorised as “Western Algarve” we will be focusing on the Region from Potimão and west of the Arade River.
"For those that want comparable trips to the most popular region of the Algarve Vilamoura, then Portimão, Alvor and Lagos are the three destinations to make base, with plenty of local bars and restaurants for all needs can be found. The liveliest of the three destinations would be Lagos,
Lagos, a lively town brimming with hustle and bustle, partying, and contemporary landmarks, one of the most famous tourist spots in the Algarve and undoubtedly a personal favourite of mine. On the other hand, Lagos is a town rich in history, with historical sites and structures that remind us of the various peoples who have lived here and the numerous nautical adventures that have begun in the city's magnificent natural harbour. Because of the vast travelling history of Lagos, as you would expect, you will find an ecliptic range of cultures and a fantastic food scene. The Moors were highly influential in bringing Spices, coffee, figs and citrus fruits to the Algarve and without their influence and Portugal’s nautical culture we would probably have never heard of “Piri Piri”.
I couldn’t recommend Lagos as a destination for those that not only enjoy great golf but are searching for more adventurous cuisines and great nightlife. If you can get yourself booked in for dinner at the infamous Casinha do Petisco, Then I highly recommend."
Written by our Golf Holiday Specialist, Tom Hall
Although the Western Algarve doesn’t have as many courses in a small concentration as the central regions, Golf here is actually superb with varied courses to match all golfing abilities. In the region you have stay and play options such as Penina Golf Resort, the Algarve’s original golf hotel, Palmares Beach house and Apartments as well as Boavista golf Resort & Spa. Although a central location is more suited for the masses and golf courses are very easy to get to.
Penina is the original golf course in the Algarve, and without its existence, a vision from an at the time local – Sir Henry Cotton, perhaps the Algarve would have never been a golfing mecca. I don't know if the former champion golfer had any idea the magnitude of the footprint he was leaving behind when he began developing his course on the Algarve rice fields, but what is certain is the immense legacy he left behind. Henry was invited to the Algarve in 1961 by an Englishman who was born in Lisbon, John Stilwell. John had family dotted all over Portugal and when he discovered that a wealthy distant cousin had a property just outside of Alvor which had plenty of Land, John a keen golfer had his vision.
In 1966 the vison become a reality when the first tee shot was hit on the Penina Championship course. Designed by Cotton, who had been a well-travelled golfer. Henry Cotton loved the course so much as well as life in the Algarve he stayed. Building his home on Penina Golf Course named Casa Branca (the White House). Cotton went on to develop three further courses in the Algarve. These courses are Alto Golf, which is located near to Vau, once again with his friend John Stilwell, Vale do Lobo Royal, and Benamor, which is in Tavira region. Penina is still in my opinion one of the finest designed golf courses in the Algarve.
I agree with many plaudits that the course does need a little TLC in places, The Cart paths certainly need rebuilding, and a good clear up under some of the shrubbery would be welcomed by many, and perhaps some investment is needed for the golf course to compete with the more newly constructed manicured golf courses the Algarve has to offer. However, in terms of design and layout, call me old fashioned but it really is a cleaver golf course. As with many of the course architects of the golden era, Sir Henry Cotton served in the second world war in the RAF and as with many of the period’s golf course architects, he understood the art of camouflage and how to master deception. Penina’s Championship course is a perfect example of this.
Although very generous with fairway footprint, you will encounter hazards throughout the golf course in almost the perfect places. Square up and bomb a tee shot down the fairways at your peril. A combination of excellently placed bunkers, water hazards and contours await at Penina and I do think is a golf course you have to learn to master. The greens are cleaver and fair but need reading, the run off’s front, back and sides of the greens can turn a simple par into double digits.
Penina might not be the most picturesque golf course in the Algarve and actually can often resemble a traditional Surrey Parkland, but it will always hold a very found memory within me, and I try to play at least a couple of times a year. Penina has had glory days however, the resort has hosted the European Tour for the Portuguese Open on numerous occasions but was last seen on tour in 2004, when Miguel Angel Jiminez scored a -16 Par four round total to win the event by two-shots. In former years Howard Clarke, Manuel Ramos, Sam Torrance, and Peter Mitchell have claimed Tour Victories here.
If you are a bit of a golf romantic such as I, I would highly encourage you to include a round on Penina if doing a Tour of the West Algarve.
Possibly the finest of the Western Algarve’s Golf Courses. Originally a very eclectic Frank Pennink designed 18-hole golf course which opened for play back in 1975, Palmares has since been elevated and remastered by Robert Trent Jones Jnr. The course is now made up of three loops of 9 holes, “Lagos, Alvor and Praia” And as the name suggests at least 9 of the holes (Praia) could be designed as a links golf experience. In contrast to the old course, which only offered breath-taking views of the ocean from the first and seventeenth tees, the new Palmares Golf course offers breath-taking vistas of the ocean from ninety percent of the tee blocks. Robert Trent Jones really did evolve Palmares to one of the very finest golf courses in Portugal.
The course has become a combination of parkland and traditional links, which is something that is not seen anywhere else in the Algarve. During the more elevated portion of the course, there are stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Alvor estuary throughout. A combination of links dunes, tall grasses, and the sound of the ocean can be found at the bottom holes that are located closest the shore.
Palmares will see further development in 2024 with big funds being available to upgrade further. The Resort now has a 20-room boutique hotel called Palmares Beach resort, which is located next to the brand-new clubhouse, which potentially is the best in the Algarve and working towards a Michelin Star. A recent addition is the Palmares Beach Villas which will further enhance the resort offering one-, two- and three-bedroom dwellings and also offering unlimited golf.
If you play golf in the Western Algarve – Palmares is a must play golf course.
As an eco-friendly course that has been flawlessly incorporated into the natural surroundings around it, Espiche Golf Course provides a one-of-a-kind and genuine experience in the western Algarve. It is located inside a nature reserve and is just five minutes away from Lagos.
Creating the 18-hole, par-72 Espiche Golf Course with creative thinking, preservation, and sustainability in mind was a top priority.
The staff and service are both outstanding, and the value for the money is extremely good. Attempting to play from the tips when the wind was blowing in the late afternoon makes it an exceedingly difficult task. Your ability to hit a straight ball off the tee and the capacity to maintain control of the ball are both very important. The greens are larger than the width of the fairways on some holes, making them some of the most gorgeous and spectacular greens I have ever seen.
Espiche is a truly excellent golf course, but make no excuses it is pretty tough, so make sure to pick the tees to suit your ability best. For any young budding Tiger Wood’s out there, play from the tips and I promise you will be in for a challenge.
The course was opened in 2002, and its design considered the unique contours of the ground. It also made magnificent use of the surrounding nature, which provided views of extraordinary beauty over the Bay of Lagos (to the east) and the Serra de Monchique (to the north).
Golfers will enjoy an amazing experience at Boavista Golf & Spa due to the exceptional conditions for course maintenance, the wide diversity of golf holes, and the breath-taking beauty of the surrounding area. There are two distinct portions of the course, and the first one begins with a meandering hill on the first, par 4. This slope is bordered by subtropical flora and features qualities that are both beautiful and harmonic.
The opening nine holes of the course carry players to the highest point of the resort, where the 9th Tee is an absolute must-stop for those who wish to soak in the stunning panoramic scenery.
Boavista is a very playable golf course, and you can score well if you hit the right shots, which makes a perfect destination for golfers of all levels.
I have been lucky enough to spend lots of time over in the Algarve and the western areas are perhaps the less known within the golfing community. I do honestly think that is one of my favourite places to holiday and can offer everything you could want from a golf holiday. There are many options for hotels in the West, I have three standout favourites however in Cascades Spa and Wellness Resort in Lagos, Tivoli Lagos (Better for walking distance to bars and restaurants) and Penina Golf Resort which has always felt like a second home to me. Good value options though I would recommend Vila Gale Lagos and The Pestana Dom Joao II in Alvor.
The Best Golf Courses in the Algarve
Customer Service Expertise
All client money is held by an authorised independent trust operated by Protected Trust Services (we are member no. 5041) ensuring we comply with UK Package Travel Regulations. We are also member no. 5762 of the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO).
Useful Resources
