Golf

There are an incredible 42 9-hole or 18-hole layouts across 25 golf clubs within the Algarve. More than half the courses strung out along the southern-facing coast feature in the ranking list of top courses in the country. Both courses at Quinta do Lago have benefitted from substantial upgrade investment. The Old, Victoria and Pinhal courses at Vilamoura also feature in national listings, while the Laguna course closed in 2021 to undergo a complete renovation of every hole from tee to green. The Millennium course also operates from the same clubhouse as the Laguna. Other courses meriting closer examination include the Jack Nicklaus signature design at Monte Rei (North) and Joe Lee’s late 1980s layout at San Lorenzo. Further west along the coast, the Praia and Lagos nines at Palmares appear prominently in listings, as do the eighteen holes from the Amendoeira (Faldo) layout.

There are three excellent golf courses near Lagos. The 27-hole Palmares Golf Course lies to the east overlooking the Bay of Lagos. The 18-hole Boavista Golf Course is within a few minutes drive. Further north is the 18-hole Espiche Golf Course which is the newest addition to the golfing scene in the Algarve.