Golf Algarve is now renowned for its beautifully tended golf courses with spectacular scenery along a fabulous coastline. The main Algarve golf season is from late autumn to late spring as most northern European countries suffer from cold and wet conditions. Winters are mild in southern Portugal and golfers can enjoy warm, sunny days and keep their swings smooth at a time when their home courses are unplayable.

It was the legendary Sir Henry Cotton who put the Algarve on the golf globe. In 1966, at Penina, he designed the first proper grass course from a rice field after the necessary earthworks and planting 300,000 trees. Tourism was becoming more popular in the Algarve and immediately after the Penina course was inaugurated, the courses at Vale do Lobo and Vilamoura appeared. A few years later, another emblem of world golf was built - the first golf course at Quinta do Lago.

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.

The Importance of international golf in the Algarve is so evident that, by tacit agreement , the Open de Portugal is held there at least every other year.

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.

Below is a course guide for your information-click on course name for more information of each course