A well-known hotspot for golfing in Europe, Vilamoura in Portugal has become a very popular destination for golfers in recent years with the number of visiting golfers ever-increasing. Close to Faro airport, everything you need for the perfect golf holiday is easily accessible, with around 20 golf courses (including some world-class championship courses) situated in the area. The warm year-round climate and welcoming culture both help attract old and new visitors to Vilamoura.
For those thinking of tying in their next travel adventure with some golf, exploring dedicated golf holidays in Vilamoura is an excellent place to start. There are plenty of golf holidays available to suit a wide range of budgets, from cost-effective to luxury stay and play packages. Most packages include overnight stays, meals and as many rounds of golf as you wish to add on.
Dom Pedro Victoria
The Dom Pedro Victoria is an American-style championship course that has proudly hosted both the Portuguese Open (since 2007) and the World Golf Championships. Covering 90 hectares and featuring 13 hectares of glistening lakes, the 18-hole, par-72 course offers a challenging layout and was designed by Arnold Palmer – incorporating as much of the natural surroundings as possible.
The Victoria course also features an excellent driving range and practice putting green, and each hole has up to six teeing options to vary the challenge presented to golfers. Golfers can also enjoy a free shuttle to and from local hotels in Vilamoura, a clubhouse, golf shop, an on-site bar/restaurant, buggy bar, valet service and free wi-fi.
Dom Pedro Old Course
The Dom Pedro Old Course is situated around 20 minutes away from Portugal’s Faro airport and is known for being one of the oldest courses in the area. This classic course was designed by Frannk Pennink in 1969 and has a positive reputation all over the world. The course was completely renovated in 1997 to give it a more modern feel while keeping the original layout. The fairways run through surrounding pine trees and the terrain naturally rises and falls to provide an additional challenge for golfers.
It also features a new clubhouse which provides the perfect setting for unwinding after a rewarding round of golf. When visiting the Dom Pedro Old Course, golfers can create customisable golf packages to suit their needs. The course also strives to be economically friendly, complying with ISO 14001 standards, Green Globe and Committed to Green programmes.
Pestana Vila Sol
Last but not least, the world-class Pestana Vila Sol golf course in Vilamoura is a 27-hole, 150-hectare course situated within the picturesque Vilamoura Nature Reserve. The course was carefully designed by Donald Steel and also staged the Portuguese Open in both 1992 and 1993.
The course itself features three 9-hole courses, split out into the Prime, Challenge and Prestige courses, with each course starting at the clubhouse and heading off into a separate direction – east, west and south. Prime has a reputation for being the toughest course of the three thanks to its narrow width. It’s also known for having the Algarve’s “most difficult starting hole” which is more than enough to entice keen golfers who are looking to test their skill. The Challenge course requires a certain level of accuracy due to the unbalanced terrain and challenging par 3 and par 4 holes that make up the course. Hole 18 is particularly memorable as it faces the terrace and gives golfers the chance to impress a watching audience.
Lastly, the Prestige course is slightly shorter than the first two but requires accuracy and gets significantly harder at hole 23 as the fairway narrows.
For practice before tackling the main courses, there’s a 300-metre driving range next to the clubhouse for golfers to perfect their swing.
