The Algarve, a mere two to three hours flight from most European capitals, has been a magnet to many discerning golfers for almost three decades. Portugal’s southernmost province is justly famous for its spectacular scenery along a fabulous coastline. The main golf season is from late autumn to late spring. Winters are mild and golfers from northern European countries can enjoy warm, sunny days and keep their swings smooth at a time when their home courses are unplayable. Be warned, however, that despite southern Portugal’s appealing sunshine statistics, rain does fall from time to time and nearly all of it during the main golfing season. Take a look at our course guide and choose from the 29 beautifully tended golf courses.

It was the legendary Henry Cotton who put the Algarve on the golf globe. In the mid-sixties, at Penina, he designed the first proper grass course. It was the first of three he designed in the Algarve, a place he loved and made his home for almost 30 years.

During the 1970’s and 1980’s and on into the first half of the 1990’s, golf courses mushroomed all along Portugal’s southern coast. Although none of the existing courses are more than 15km from the coast, the terrain varies from the steep hillsides of Parque da Floresta to the near sea-level flatlands of Vilamoura III and Salgados, which in common with Palmares, includes links holes.

The mainly arid Algarve countryside, familiar to summer visitors, gives way to verdant oasis at each of the golf complexes thanks to large, state-funded water catchments and distribution schemes, as well as private boreholes which tap into subterranean water sources for irrigation. Holes made tricky by water hazards are, therefore, not an infrequent feature on the Algarve courses.

In general, you will find that the Algarve, with its mild climate, reasonably priced restaurants, breathtaking scenery, friendly people and excellent golf courses, all combine to make it a memorable holiday.