A golf holiday to Portugal may be something that a great many foreign visitors won’t initially consider. In terms of European golf, the country is competing against the golfing super-powers of the British Isles, with its golfing heritage, and neighboring Spain, with its range of courses.
In the past thirty years the Portuguese golfing industry has really taken off and is finally maturing with a number of regions containing excellent golf resorts and a high caliber of courses to play.
To get your bearings, Portugal is the westernmost country in Europe sitting alongside Spain. The principal golfing regions are the Algarve (in the south), Lisbon and the Estoril Coast (in the south-west), the Oeste Region (west coast) and the island of Madeira.
Lisbon and the Estoril coast region offers the fullest range of accommodation price-wise, combined with the wonderful backdrop of the Sintra mountain range. Combine this with an array of dining options that you’d expect from a modern European capital.
The Algarve region, on the south coast of Portugal, offers the broadest range of courses to play and for many is the ideal base for a golf vacation. The western part faces onto the Atlantic Ocean so provides some great links courses to challenge any golfer (such as the Boavista golf club and the scenic hillside Parque Da Floresta course).
Vilamoura, in the central Algarve, hosts an abundance of golf resorts and world class courses including the Quinta do Lago Laranjal and several clubs in the Oceanico resort. The eastern Algarve climate is a little cooler and green fees become a little pricier the more east you travel. Highlights of the area are the Seve Balasteros designed Quinta do Vale golf course and the Jack Nicklaus designed Monte Rei.
Getting to the island of Madeiramay discourage some visitors due to the need to get connecting flights from mainland Europe (a five hundred kilometer flight off the south west coast of Portugal). However, this picturesque paradise island can provide a golfing holiday with a difference.
For the avid golfer, this island provides 3 exceptional courses to play. So, while it doesn’t have the breadth of course choices to offer, it can definitely provide for an idyllic golf location for those seeking something different.
The one region that is lagging behind the others is the Oeste region which doesn’t have the championship clubs and plush resorts found elsewhere. But if you are seeking some tranquility then the pleasant golf clubs, scenic drives and charming villages could make for a relaxing golfing break.
On the subject of green fees, the cost can vary widely across the country. Expect to pay a minimum of 50 Euro for a regular quality course in low season and around 80 to 90 Euro during the high season (July & August).
All courses can be booked online and its generally good practice to make advance bookings in the summer season. Remember to bring your PGA handicap proof as some championship courses have a maximum-handicap rule for all visitors (confirm via their websites).
Looking for European golfing breaks? For the perfect golf holiday Algarve, Estoril and the other Portuguese regions have it all. Visit the Golf Holidays In Portugal Guide to learn more.
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