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| Pestana Vale da Pinta Golf
Course, Carvoeiro Portugal Western Algarve Region, Par 71, 6115 metres, 1992 Green Fee Guide: €€ Overview: Located between Lagoa and Carvoeiro about 45 minutes from Faro airport, Vale da Pinta is part of the Pestana resort which also includes the very pleasant Gramacho golf course. Pinta undulates over typical Algarve olive tree countryside, as shown in the photo. It is regularly used for seniors qualifying on the European Tour. Reasons to play Pinta Golf: It is easy to like Pinta, with its lovely variety of holes. It has become a firm favourite with both golfers on holiday and golfers resident in the Algarve. Factors to consider at Pinta Golf: If you had played Pinta a few years ago and returned today, you would be surprised by the amount of villa development that has gone on around the course. This has impacted on play. For example, the tee shot at the 3rd, which used to be one of the Algarve's best risk and reward tees, has been tamed by high netting to protect villas. But on the plus side, Pinta has a fine new clubhouse to show for all this development. We would recommend a buggy in hot weather. Degree of difficulty of Pinta Golf: The yellow and red tees are well forward and unless you play off a high handicap, we would recommend most men go off the whites, and ladies go off the yellows rather than the reds. Low handicappers might consider playing off the pro tees, from where it is a real challenge Our overall verdict: A reasonable green fee for a good course, and despite the new villas Pinta is still an old favourite with a lot of charm and remains Recommended |
Vale da Pinta Golf Course Review, Algarve Portugal
Penha Longa Atlantic Golf Course Review, Lisbon Portugal
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| Penha Longa Atlantc Golf Course, Sintra near Lisbon, Portugal 5994 metres, 1992. Green Fee Guide: €€€ Overview: Located near the world heritage site of Sintra, west of Lisbon, Penha Longa resort is home to the famous Atlantico championship course, the Monastery 9-hole course and a 5-star hotel. Penha Longa Atlantico sweeps through the foothills of the Sintra mountains, with many great features, including a roman aqueduct, shown in the photo. Reasons to play Penha Longa: A classic championship course, Penha Longa has hosted the Portuguese Open 3 times, including 2010. It is rated as 31st best course in Europe by Golf World. Factors to consider at Penha Longa: It's worth factoring in the price of a buggy at Penha Longa, as it's quite a demanding walk. Degree of difficulty of Penha Longa: It's certainly a challenging course. Penha Longa's sloping fairways demand good shot-making Our overall verdict: A classic course that most golfers visiting the west of Lisbon want to play. Highly Recommended |
Monte Rei Golf Course Review, Algarve Portugal
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| Monte Rei Golf Course, Algarve Portugal East Algarve Region, Par 72, 6558 metres, 2007.Green Fee Guide: €€€€€€ Buggies Included Overview: Monte Rei is a Jack Nicklaus signature course located between Tavira and the Spanish border, about 50 minutes from Faro airport. Monte Rei is a 5-star development with a marvellous clubhouse and the course is extremely high quality. It weaves through rolling countryside past and many lakes. As you can see from the photo, there is no shortage of sand also. Reasons to play Monte Rei Golf: This is golf on a grand scale. Every hole is set in its own individual valley, tee times are at 15 minute intervals and only 80 golfers per day are allowed on, so you feel as though you have the place to yourself. Stunning tee shots abound. Quality throughout. Factors to consider at Monte Rei Golf: All this comes at a price. At the time of writing, Monte Rei's official green fee is an eye-watering €210. But you can get get tee times a bit cheaper through the tee times agencies advertising on this website, and off-peak deals are also available. But even so, Monte Rei is the most expensive green fee in Portugal. Nicklous has had much praise heaped on him for Monte Rei, one British magazine said it was his best course anywhere, We feel Monte Rei has one shortcoming: the index-1 and index-2 holes are almost twins. However, despite this, we think there is an argument for calling Monte Rei the best course in the Algarve. Buggies are included.
Degree of difficulty of
Monte Rei
Golf: As you would expect
from a Nicklaus course, Monte Rei is a serious test of golf, with water and
uncultivated native areas awaiting errant shots, and the bunkering is lavish.
But it is a fair course, you can see what needs to be done, so a decent score is
possible.
Our overall verdict: If you can affort it, you should play Monte Rei, it is special. Highly Recommended |
Praia del Rey Golf Course Review, Lisbon Portugal
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| Praia del Rey Golf Course, Silver Coast, Lisbon, Portugal. Par 72, 6158 metres, 1997 Green Fee Guide: €€ Overview: Located on Portugal's Silver Coast, about 50 minutes north of Lisbon airport, Praia del Rey can lay claim to being a world-class golf course. It is part of a resort that offers many apartments, villas and a 5-star hotel. Praia del Rey has some superb parkland holes which make up a third of the course, but is best-known for it's spectacular links holes and sea views. The photo shows the view from the 10th tee. The building with the white spire is the Marriott Hotel. Reasons to play Praia del Rey Golf: Golf really doesn't get much better than Praia del Rey. The green fee is really reasonable for a course of international-standing. You can expect to pay around €70 in high season for tee times if you pre-book through one of the discount tee times suppliers that advertise of this website. Factors to consider at Praia del Rey Golf: The best time to play is May to November, as the weather can be quite cool and windy in this part of Portugal in the winter and early spring. But be careful of booking around the start of July, as this is when they usually treat the greens. The course is undulating but not too difficult to walk. Degree of difficulty of Praia del Rey Golf: A lot depends on the wind, as much of Praia del Rey is exposed to the Atlantic Ocean. Without the wind, it is testing but not too hard. On a windy day, the links holes will test your club selection and shot control to the limit. Our overall verdict: We give Praia del Rey our highest rating: Outstanding |
Vale do Lobo Royal Golf Course Review, Algarve Portugal
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Oitavos Dunes Golf Course Review, Lisbon Portugal
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| Oitavos Dunes Golf
Course, Lisbon Coast, Portugal Par 71, 6303 metres, 2001 Green Fee Guide: €€€ Overview: Located west of Lisbon near the classy resort of Cascais, Oitavos Dunes quickly shot to fame almost as soon as it opened. It is now rated among the top 100 courses in the world and has already hosted the Portuguese Open on several occasions. The links layout has distant mountain and sea views from most holes. The photo shows the view from the tee on the awesome par-3, 14th hole, one of many highlights at Oitavos. Reasons to play Oitavos Dunes Golf: A strong layout from start to finish, marvellous location, and a reasonable green fee for a top-class course, Oitavos is a must-play if you are in the area. Course designer Arthur Hills was a lucky man to be given such a fantastic piece of land on which to create a golf course. Factors to consider at Oitavos Dunes Golf: If you pre-book green fees, you can expect to pay about €90 in spring and autumn (at the time of writing this article), but in the winter and summer this drops to about €50, a bargain for a fabulous course. Prices are higher at the weekend. Reasonably easy to walk. Degree of difficulty of Oitavos Dunes Golf: As you would expect, Oitavos is challenging, but it is fair to all levels of golfer. However, this part of Portugal can be windy, and the wind can considerably increase the difficulty. Our overall verdict: On this website, we only give praise where it is really deserved, but Oitavos is special, and one of only two golf courses in all Portugal that we give our top rating to. Outstanding | ||||||
Quinta do Lago Golf Course Review, Algarve Portugal
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| Quinta do Lago Golf
Course, Algarve Portugal Central Algarve Region, 2 x Par 72. North 6125 metres, 1989. South 6488 metres, 1974 Green Fee Guide: €€€ Overview: The resort of Quinta do Lago lies 20 minutes from Faro airport. It is a highly manicured resort, with some of the most expensive real estate in Portugal. Quinta do Lago Golf Club boasts 36 holes of high quality parkland golf, and has hosted the Portuguese Open on a number of occasions. The course is now divided into the North and South courses. A third course, Laranjal, was also opened recently by the club. Reasons to play Quina do Lago Golf: Put simply, it is a high quality golfing experience, and any golfer would enjoy playing there. There are a wide variety of holes offering a compelling days golf. Factors to consider at Quinta do Lago Golf: If you don't want to have buggies, play the South course, as the North is a strenuous walk. The course does offer packages of 2 or 3 rounds which include a buggy on the North course. You can book these with the advertisers on our web site. Dress codes, good conduct and handicaps are strictly enforced. Degree of difficulty of Quinta do Lago Golf: As you would expect from a Portuguese Open venue, Quinta do Lago is no push-over. But it is very playable for all but the highest handicappers.. Our overall verdict: We have no hesitation in rating Quinta do Lago as: Highly Recommended |
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