Golf Holidays in Portugal

One of the great golf holiday resorts in Europe, Vale Do Lobo offers the perfect blend of quality, challenging golf and off-course facilities and entertainment. And, just a short drive from Faro airport and less than 20 minutes from the popular holiday resort, Vilamoura, it couldn’t be in a better location.

As for the golf itself, Vale De Lobo offers 2 courses both of which rank among Portugal’s finest: Vale De Lobo Royal and Vale De Lobo Ocean. Perfectly manicured, both courses typify the best of Portuguese golf, offering a test of skill and the chance to savour some special surroundings.

The resort and courses of Quinta Do Lago is another example of the stunning quality on offer for those venturing to Portugal for their next golf break.

With a string of awards and nominations for the best golf resort in Europe over the past decade, Quinta Do Lago boasts 3 courses all of which are simply a joy to play. Testing your skills from tee to green, the courses are immaculate in condition and epic in design, providing a thrill for golfers of all handicaps.

And, with a recent upgrade, a golf academy and luxury resort facilities, it’s a genuine golfing paradise in the sun.

Head an hour north of Lisbon to the spectacular Silver Coast and you’ll find the relatively new, yet simply breath-taking West Cliffs golf course.

Using the natural terrain of the area, the course offers a traditional seaside test that simply has to be experienced when visiting this part of Portugal on your golf break. Spread over a huge 200-hectares and offering sensational views out over the Atlantic, West Cliffs plays like an Iberian version of links golf, replete with rolling dunes and the chance of a stiff breeze coming into play on almost every hole.

Lisbon has long been a favourite for lovers of the European city break. Add in local courses such as West Cliffs and the scenic charm of Troia, and you soon realise what a destination it can be for your next golf holiday.

This Robert Trent Jones Snr designed course sits on the Troia peninsula on the coast south of Lisbon. Accessed via a ferry from Setubal, this is a unique golfing experience. A blend of parkland design with a hint of links play, the course nudges against the Atlantic Ocean, offering challenging and undulating greens with a spectacular oceanic backdrop.

Another course that takes spectacular advantage of its Atlantic coastal location, Estela offers a challenging alternative for those who embrace traditional links layouts. While blessed by a moderate year-round climate, the course offers similar thrills to that you may find along the British coastline.

The fairways are narrow and reward accuracy, with dunes and long grass awaiting errant tee shots. Like other courses on the list, Estela is beautifully maintained, a fair and true test for the game and a lot of fun for golfers heading to Portugal.

Sat upon the smallest of the Madeiran Archipelago’s inhabited islands, Porto Santo is a must-play course for those visiting the region. Another ocean-inspired experience, the course is set among a spectacular backdrop of a beach, tropical vegetation and a dormant volcano.

From its scenic charm to the exquisite layout of the course that rewards skill and imagination, Porto Santo has the spirit and sense of golfing thrill that’s redolent of its architect, the legendary Seve Ballesteros, whose influence can be felt on every hole.