Golf Courses
Europe's premier golf area. There are currently thirty courses in the space of 100 miles of coastline, with more under construction.
All Algarve courses are within one and a half hours' drive of Faro International Airport. Over the last few years the Portuguese Open has been hosted variously at Penina, Vila Sol, Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo, all of which may be included in the list of top European championship courses.
Warm playing conditions and immaculately manicured fairways and greens are the norm in the Algarve.

If you would like to know more about "golfing in Algarve", please Click Here to find a directory to the various courses in the Algarve, some of which feature links to pages of fuller information on the individual courses.

ALBUFEIRA:

Balaia Golf Village
Balaia Golf Village is the perfect place for those who appreciate the quality of good design that is evident in the construction of its apartments and villas, which are set in beautifully landscaped gardens. The combination of sports and leisure facilities in such an attractive setting adds the final touch to this paradise on earth. Set in mature parkland surroundings, the village has many sports and leisure facilities, including 6 swimming pools, 4 tennis courts, a Health Club with indoor pool and a 9-hole golf course with a golf academy.
Visitors can enjoy the "A Varanda" and "Le Club" restaurants and their various pool bars.
The nearest shops are within walking distance, golden beaches are a mere 300 meters away, and there are eight golf courses within a 20-minute drive.
Balaia Golf Village is just 25 minutes by car from Faro International Airport, and is ideally located in the central Algarve between Vilamoura and Albufeira, with golden beaches, extensive shopping, leisure facilities and a lively, cosmopolitan nightlife.
Address:
Balaia Golf Village
Sitio da Balaia, Apartado 917, 8200-912 Albufeira
Tel. +351 289 570 200
Fax +351 289 501 265

Herdade dos Salgados Golf
Located near the sea and dotted with lakes, the Herdade dos Salgados Golf Club presents golfers of all levels with a chance to test their technique. Its proximity to the sea and the enormous diversity of its lakes give water a constant presence throughout the course, making it very interesting and different from other Algarvian golf courses. The course, full of water hazards, is not very long but getting close to the greens requires a lot of short-iron skill. Good driver handling is also essential in order to get good results, making the course pleasant, especially for players with some level of technical skill. In addition, the 18 holes are quite balanced and are distributed very fairly: each one of the two parts of the course has two nearly 500 metre par 5 holes and two 170 metre par 3 holes.
Characteristics and Facilities:
Opened in: 1994
Designer/architect: Pedro Vasconcelos
Length: 6080 m
Number of holes: 18
Par: 72
Putting green
Buggies
Trolleys
One-on-one classes 
Group classes 
Address:
Apartado 2362, 8200-917 Albufeira
Phone Number: +351 289 583 030
Fax: +351 289 591 112
E-mail: geral@salgadosgolf.com 
Web: www.salgadosgolf.com

Pine Cliffs Golf & Country Club
Opened in 1990, Pine Cliffs is one of the most original golf courses in the country, set amidst spectacular cliffs that tower above the beautiful beaches of the Algarvian coast. 
With 9 holes and due to its not being very long, as only 2 holes are longer than 360 metres, the course represents an interesting challenge for any golfer regardless of his handicap. 
Designed by Martin Hawtree and set in a pine grove near cliffs towering over a beach, the course opens with two relatively straightforward holes, but the challenge picks up starting from the third; after the fifth hole, the only par 5 on the course, visitors will find the "jewel in the crown": a par 3 hole that, from the tee to the finish point right on top of a cliff, calls for a shot with 205 metres of carry over the beach on a green that is deep but narrow.
The Pine Cliffs course hosted Portuguese Ladies’ Open in 1988. The famous English Formula One driver Nigel Mansell has the singular honour of having been president of the club. Nigel is the former Formula One World Champion and a great fan of both golf and the Algarve. 
Characteristics and Facilities:
Opened in: 1991
Designer/Architect: Martin Hawtree
Length: 2227 m
Number of holes: 9
Par: 33
Driving Range
Golf club rental
Trolleys
One-on-one classes
Group classes
Golf Clinic 
Main competitions hosted: Pro-Ams
Address:
Praia da Falésia, Apartado 644, 8200-909 Albufeira
Phone Number: +351 289 500 113
Fax: +351 289 500 117
E-mail: info@pinecliffs.com
Web: www.pinecliffs.com

ALVOR:

Alto Golf
A course for golfers of all levels, with gorgeous views over the bay of Lagos and one of the longest holes on the European continent, aptly named "O Gigante".
The course embodies the philosophy of Sir Henry Cotton, according to which a golf course should provide not only a good challenge for players with a low handicap, but also a pleasant game for players at a more advanced level. Due to his death, the project was transferred to Peter Dobereiner. The course spreads over two valleys and is made up of winding fairways and rolling greens. Whilst playing the first nine holes players can enjoy a magnificent view over the bay of Lagos. The last nine holes are set amidst sloping ground and include the longest hole in Europe – the 16th, a 604-metre par 5 hole baptised “O Gigante”. Golfers who can make a birdie on this hole receive a certificate and have their names placed in the club’s Book of Fame.
The Alto Golf course is located near the picturesque village of Alvor, and it is set off to perfection by fabulous white sand beaches, clear blue seawater and fabulous cliffs.
Characteristics and Facilities:
Opened in: 1991
Designer/architect: Henry Cotton 
Length: 5812 m
Number of holes: 18
Par: 70
Driving Range
Buggies
Trolleys
Electric Trolleys
One-on-one classes 
Group classes 
Main competitions hosted: Open TAP
Address:
Quinta do Alto Poço - Apartado nº 100 
8501-906 Alvor
Phone Number: +351 282 410 820 - 282 460 770
Fax: +351 282 460 879
E-mail: golf@altoclub.com
Web: www.altoclub.com

PORTIMAO:

Sir Henry Cotton Championship Course
Characteristics and Facilities
Opened in: 1966
Designer/architect: Sir Henry Cotton
Length: 6273 m
Number of holes: 18
Par: 73
Putting green
Chipping area
Buggies
Trolleys
One-on-one classes 
Group classes 
Address:
P.O. Box 146 – Penina, 8501-952 Portimão
Phone Number : +351 282 420 200
Fax : +351 282 420 300
E-mail: golf.penina@starwoodhotels.com
Web: www.lemeridien.com

Penina Resort & Academy
The Penina Championship Course is Sir Henry Cotton’s most brilliant golf course.  It launched golf in the Algarve and has hosted the Portuguese Open several times.
The three-time British Open champion turned golf course architect recognised the region’s enormous potential as a golf destination. It was the quality and the success of Penina that caused other courses to spring up around the Algarve.
Whilst he lived, Sir Henry Cotton was known to play golf in Penina using a donkey as a caddie, who he called “Pacífico”. The Championship Course was totally renovated in 1995, although its original character was maintained.
The course is very flat, studded with trees and features innumerable bunkers, almost four hundred thousand trees, several lakes, wide greens and a panoramic set of tees, making the course a true test for champions. In addition to its two nine-hole courses designed by Sir Henry Cotton, Penina also features the par 35 Resort Course (2,987 metres) and the par 30 Academy Course (1,851 metres).
Characteristics and Facilities:
Opened in: 1966
Designer/architect: Sir Henry Cotton
Length for professionals: 6273 m
Number of holes: 18
Par: 73
Driving Range
Putting green
Chipping area
Buggies
Trolleys
One-on-one classes 
Group classes
Main competitions: Portuguese Open (5 times), Algarve Open, Juniors World Championship
Address: P.O. Box 146, 8501-952 Portimão
Phone Number: +351 282 420 223
Fax: +351 282 420 252
E-mail: golf.penina@starwoodhotels.com
Web: www.penina.lemeridien.com

Golfe dos Álamos
Characteristics and Facilities
Designer/architect: Russel Talley (European Golf Design)
Length: 5641 m
Number of holes: 18
Par: 71
Driving Range
Putting green
Chipping area
Buggies
Trolleys
Address:
Morgado do Reguengo
8500-000 Portimão
Phone Number: +351 282 402 150
Fax: +351 282 402 153
E-mail: playgolf@golfedomorgado.com

Golfe do Morgado
Nearest golf courses: Penina at 10 km away, Palmares at 20km away.
Characteristics and Facilities:
Opened in: 2003
Designer/architect: Russell Talley
Length: 6399 m
Number of holes: 18
Par: 73
Driving Range
Putting green
Chipping area
Buggies
Trolleys
One-on-one classes 
Group classes 
Address:
Herdade do Morgado do Reguengo, Morgado do Reguengo Golf Course, 8500 Portimão
Phone Number: +351 282 402 150
Fax: +351 282 402 153
E-mail: playgolf@golfedomorgado.com