The Best Golf Courses in Portugal

Are you looking for the top golf courses in Portugal? Our expert team have carefully selected a list of the top hidden gems & championship courses that allow you to play golf on some of the best golf courses in Europe.

A perfect climate, over 70 courses to choose from and only 3 hours from the UK, no wonder customers return for Portugal’s golf resorts every year. Our team have visited the region extensively over the years and have agreed upon their top 5. It wasn’t easy due to the concentration of high-quality courses, and it could easily have been a top 20! Here are our top 5 Portugal golf courses starting with the spectacular Monte Rei.

Monte Rei North Course

Monte Rei golf course was the brainchild and design of the great Jack Nicklaus; this 18 Hole signature golf course was the first of two on-site. In 2010 Monte Rei received the accolade as the Best Course in Portugal, and it has remained at the top ever since.

This course ticks all the boxes for golfers. To start with the service is second to none; based on service levels of an American golf club, each golfer is greeted at the clubhouse and allocated a buggy (with the latest state-of-the-art GPS). There are five tee boxes to choose from, with each golfer free to make their choice. The course is relatively long and winds its way through the natural terrain, including many well-placed trees and bunkers to keep you on your toes at every shot. The condition is immaculate as you expect a Nicklaus great to be, so if given a choice, take the opportunity and experience Monte Rei for yourself. Discover why this course remains at the top of the tree year after year.

West Cliffs Golf Course

Travel just one hour north of Lisbon to the Oeste region, on the outskirts of the walled city of Obidos; you will find the latest in Links Golf. The West Cliffs golf course is truly a Portugal links in the sun! Cynthia Dye (Niece of Pete) has taken a strip of prime land located deep into the dunes and running adjacent to Praia D’El Rey Beach and created a masterpiece. This 18 Hole championship gem is one of the best Portugal golf courses. It is running along through the dunes and natural coastal vegetation, on to the Obidos Lagoon, with outstanding Atlantic Ocean coastal views. When initially opened, it was seen as a potential European Tour venue. Only two years after completing, the course stands as Number 2 in Portugal and deservedly so. An excellent test of golf by the Atlantic Ocean, and worth the time it takes to drive and play it.

San Lorenzo Golf Course

Golf Courses in Algarve account for over 50% of those in Portugal, so it’s no surprise that all of our remaining choices are based in the region. The Algarve coast is packed with top-quality choices, and our team debated long and hard over some of the Algarve’s classics. Located on the Ria Formosa Nature Reserve next to the exclusive Quinta do Lago Estate, you will find San Lorenzo, which is regarded as one of the best Algarve golf courses. Designed by Joseph Lee and Rocky Roquemore, it opened in 1988 and took full use of the natural terrain. Their design strategically winds its way through the undulating pine woodland in an unusual figure of 8 design, with the clubhouse at the centre.

The golf course at San Lorenzo has skillfully placed water hazards that come into play on several holes, including the 10th and 18th holes. Tee times at San Lorenzo is a privilege and one bestowed upon by those guests staying at the Dona Filipa Hotel. It is a beautiful golf course, one recognised across the whole of Europe, however, surprisingly it is only ranked number 9 in Portugal. Nevertheless, it makes our top 5 due to the stunning views, natural beauty, and proximity to Quinta do Lago and nearby Vale do Lobo.

Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course

With a selection of 6 golf courses in Vilamoura, the course that regularly hosts the Portugal Masters each year is the Dom Pedro Victoria. The Victoria is an Arnold Palmer design, one hailed as the most ambitious of golf projects in Portugal. Spread over 90 hectares of natural terrain between the carob and olive trees the fairways weave around the unspoiled wetlands and measures an imposing 7,273 yards from the Palmer Tees. There are six tee positions to choose from allowing golfers of all abilities to enjoy and experience precisely what the European Tour professional golfers do. In terms of cost, Dom Pedro Victoria is on the higher end in the Algarve, although we think it’s worth every penny. The service and surroundings are among the best.

Quinta do Lago North Course

With an impressive three Championship golf courses to choose from, our favourite is the Quinta do Lago North. It’s the highest-ranked of the Quinta courses and is currently No. 10 in Portugal’s top golf courses. This 18-hole Championship course was re-designed by golf architect Beau Welling and former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley. Incredibly it now has four tees to choose from, making it more accessible for golfers of differing abilities. The condition is continuously improving with the introduction of new generation irrigation systems, essential for near-perfect growing conditions in the Algarve. If this course is busy, don’t forget there is the Quinta do Lago South course to play.

Other golf courses in Portugal to note include Oitavos Dunes, Quinta da Marinha, Palmares Golf and Troia Golf.

In summary, there’s a wide selection of great courses to play during a golf holiday to Portugal https://www.360golfholidays.com/portugal/ and we hope that this guide inspires you to choose the best for your group.

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