A golf holiday to Portugal may be something that a great many foreign visitors won’t initially consider. In terms of European golf, the country is competing against the golfing super-powers of the British Isles, with its golfing heritage, and neighboring Spain, with its range of courses.

In the past thirty years the Portuguese golfing industry has really taken off and is finally maturing with a number of regions containing excellent golf resorts and a high caliber of courses to play.

The principal regions for golf holidays in Portugal are the Algarve, the environs of Lisbon (the capital city of Portugal) and the island of Madeira. Each offers a different golfing experience and courses to suit all budgets.

For those wishing to combine their golf holidays in Portugal with sight-seeing and culture, then a stay in Portugal’s capital Lisbon and the Estoril Coast could make the ideal solution. Given that the IAGTO organization voted the region as the Best European Golf Destination in 2007 you can be sure that the services, facilities and range of clubs are going to be enough for the most demanding tastes. The Estoril coast has over 10 quality golf resorts. To the west there are some challenging and windswept (by Atlantic breezes) clubs – most notably, Praia d’El Rey, which would have to be the most famous in the region and really is one to savor.

The Algarve, in the south of Portugal offers the largest range of clubs to play, and for every type of budget. The southern Portuguese coast benefits from a balmy Mediterranean climate that ensures all year round golfing is possible.

Vilamoura, in the central Algarve, hosts an abundance of golf resorts and world class courses including the Quinta do Lago Laranjal and several clubs in the Oceanico resort. The eastern Algarve climate is a little cooler and green fees become a little pricier the more east you travel. Highlights of the area are the Seve Balasteros designed Quinta do Vale golf course and the Jack Nicklaus designed Monte Rei.

Getting to the island of Madeiramay discourage some visitors due to the need to get connecting flights from mainland Europe (a five hundred kilometer flight off the south west coast of Portugal). However, this picturesque paradise island can provide a golfing holiday with a difference.

The Santo da Serra is a 27-hole course that can be played in 3 combinations which does offer some variation in the courses played. For most golfers though, it is the wonderful scenery that is a backdrop to the golf clubs that offers a unique golfing experience. Steep mountains cliffs surround the island and its isolation makes for a unique laid back atmosphere.

The Oeste region is the final region in Portuguese golf to note. Unfortunately, it is playing catch up with the other more commercialized areas in Portugal. Some golfers will welcome the tranquility of the region and the relative exclusivity it therefore has to offer.

The majority of Portuguese golf clubs have green fees ranging from 50 Euro in winter to 85 Euro in the high season. Championship courses and more mature clubs (mostly in the Algarve) are generally over the 120 Euro mark.

Generally, a round of golf can be booked online with many courses and there are now various service providers online offering this tee times booking service, sometimes at a discount to the ‘turn-up’ fee (cost if you just walked in for a round).

Looking for European golfing breaks? For the perfect golf holiday Algarve, Estoril and the other Portuguese regions have it all. Visit the Golf Holidays Portugal Guide to learn more.


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