Minty Clinch tries out courses in the southwestern region of Portugal, popular with tourists and golf enthusiasts alike
1 PENINA GOLF AND RESORT HOTEL Where is it? 60km west of Faro airport What’s it like? When the grandfather of Algarve golf courses opened in 1966, no one knew how big the game would become here. Henry Cotton was appointed to turn former rice paddies into a hotel course, a task he completed with panache by planting 500,000 trees and shrubs. He also liked his bunkers, though these are numerous rather than threatening. Beautifully mature after 45 years, the trees provide welcome shade over three courses and the flat terrain makes walking a pleasure. Penina has been outstripped by ambitious rivals, but it is still a great day out, especially with a pause at the Spikes Bar by the ninth green. Contact Penina, Portimao; tel +351 282 420 200; www. lemeridien-penina.com Price US$ 195 Championship, US$81 Resort, US$57 Academy (peak time – Feb-May, Oct-Nov; off-peak reductions) Club hire Taylor Made, US$41 Club Hours 7am-8pm Minimum handicap 28 men, 36 women (championship only) Facilities 18 holes (6,273m, par 73). Two nine-hole courses. Covered and grass driving range, practice area, putting green. After the golf The on-site hotel, Le Méridien Penina, has 196 rooms, five restaurants and four bars. Sir Henry Cotton’s Club (10am-8pm) is a home from home for Brits abroad, while L’Arlecchino is intimately Italian (summer only). Make time for at least one fresh catch dinner in the small fishing town of Alvor, 5km away. 2 VALE DO LOBO GOLF CLUB Where is it? 24km west of Faro airport What’s it like? In its early days in the 1970s, the Royal course was celebrated for its signature 16th, played over stunning red-gold cliffs. The other 26 holes in three loops of nine were deemed less impressive and led to the construction of nine more. When completed, they were rearranged in the existing form. The Royal weaves through pretty forests of umbrella pine, fig and orange trees, though the sound of ball striking timber is less attractive. The Ocean is more open, shorter and easier, a good place for high handicappers looking for a relaxing round. Contact Vale do Lobo, Almancil; tel +351 289 353 535; www.valedolobo.com Price Royal US$268, Ocean US$251.5 CLUB Hire Taylor Made, £38 Club hours 7am-6pm Minimum handicap 27 men, 35 women Facilities Royal (18 holes, 6,059m, par 72), Ocean (18 holes, 6,137m, par 73). Covered and grass driving range, practice area, putting greens. After the golf The Parque do Golfe complex in the heart of the massive Vale do Lobo estate has everything any golfer could need, including Nevada Bob’s, the biggest golf chain in Europe, and a fitness centre with a sports physiotherapist. The club bar and restaurant are open throughout the day. The bar at the ninth on the Royal is a popular pit stop. 3 QUINTA Do LAGO GOLF CLUB Where is it? 15km west of Faro airport What’s it like? Four nine-hole layouts – three of which were designed by US architect William Mitchell in the 1970s and the fourth added in the ‘80s – provide flexibility but South, composed of B and C, is the most challenging combination. Together, the two loops form a typical American target course, with wide fairways and minimal water hazards. The sandy soil provides gratifying roll and the flat terrain makes for easy walking. North, made up of A and D, is less cohesive, but the quirky diversity provides its own reward and higher handicappers with the intelligence to plan ahead can expect to score well. The 18-hole Laranjal course was added two years ago. Most golfers stay at the nearby 141-room, super-chic Quinta do Lago (www.hotelquintadolago.com), a member of the Leading Hotels of the World. Contact Quinta do Lago, Almancil; tel +351 289 390 705/700; www.quintadolagogolf.com Price North and South US$289, US$159 online; Laranjal US$188, US$170 online (peak time – Feb-May, Sept-Nov; off-peak reductions) Club hire Cobra, US$60 Club hours 7am–6pm Minimum handicap 36 (men and women) Facilities South (18 holes, 6,500m, par 72), North (18 holes, 6,205m, par 72), Laranjal (18 holes, 6,061m, par 72). Driving range (mats only), putting green. After the golf The clubhouse QDL bar is open from 8am for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For seafood, try Casa do Lago (www.casadolagoqdl.com). 4 SAN LORENZO GOLF COURSE Where is it? 19km west of Faro airport What’s it like? Opened in 1988, San Lorenzo is a perennial favourite among Algarve regulars. The best of the courses on the Quinta do Lago estate, it is part forest, part seaside. The forest sector is undulating pine and the whole course borders the Ria Formosa Estuary and National Park; bird watchers find it hard to concentrate in the face of very varied plumage. Likewise, foodies are drawn to the long wooden walkway that leads to Gigi’s, a stand-out fish and seafood restaurant that is only open for lunch. Those who concentrate on their game will enjoy a lovely course in the form of a figure of eight, with the clubhouse at its heart. Expect to use every shot in the book to keep a clean scorecard. Contact Quinta do Lago; tel +351 289 396 522; www.sanlorenzogolfcourse.com Price US$268 (Jan-Oct), reductions for hotel guests Club hire Callaway, US$73 Club hours 7am-8pm in summer; until 6pm in winter Minimum handicap 28 men, 36 women; certificate required Facilities 18 holes (6,238m, par 72). Driving range and putting green. After the golf The clubhouse bar and restaurant are open throughout the day. Or bask in luxury at the 154-room Dona Filipa (www.donafilipahotel.com), one of the best hotels in the area and a 10-minute bus ride from the course. 5 MONTE REI GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB Where is it? 60km east of Faro airport What’s it like? The Eastern Algarve was relatively golf poor until Jack Nicklaus turned up with a brief to build two of his prized Signature courses. Opening in 2007, the Monte Rei North course was almost immediately rated as one of Portugal’s finest. The terrain, set in 400 hectares of picturesque foothills, offers outstanding views over the countryside and Atlantic. The course represents Nicklaus at the top of his game, its visible hazards a challenge rather than a trap – think before you hit is the mantra here. Monte Rei is essentially a posh US real-estate project, with villas to buy or rent. Expect excellent service, both in terms of meet and greet and outstanding course preparation. Work is scheduled to begin on the South course in 2013. Contact Sesmarias, Vila Nova de Cacela; tel +351 281 950 950; www.monte-rei.com Price US$308 Mar 15-Nov 14, US$243 Nov 15-Mar 14 Club hire Titleist, US$73 Club hours 7am-6pm Minimum handicap 24 men, 32 women Facilities Monte Rei North (18 holes, 6,567m, par 72). Covered and grass driving range, practice area, putting green. After the golf The clubhouse has three restaurants masterminded by leading chef Jaime Perez, formerly a leading chef at El Bulli and the Ritz, both in Catalonia. Vistas is Portuguese gourmet (dinner only) while the Grill does burgers and snacks all day. The Academy Café is a casual stop for cool drinks opposite the driving range.
How to get there
Faro Airport is well connected to major cities in Europe. International airlines that serve this airport include British Airways (from Gatwick), Lufthansa (from Frankfurt and Munich) and Finnair (from Helsinki).
