10 Best Golf Courses in Portugal

The vision of iconic American golf architect Arthur Hills, Oitavos Dunes Natural Links Golf is widely considered one of Portugal’s finest courses thanks to its spectacular views of the Sintra Mountains, Cabo da Roca and the glittering Atlantic Ocean. A game here will see you navigating undulating fairways, impeccable greens fringed by imposing umbrella pines and a host of manmade and natural bunkers.

After the game, hit the modern glass and steel clubhouse to compare scorecards at the U-shaped bar, or grab a seat in Verbasco Restaurant for delectable fare by renowned chefs. Enjoy dishes like bucatini pasta with royal rock lobster, juicy beef tenderloin with golden French fries and airy sponge cake with sweet egg cream.

Dom Pedro Victoria Golf is billed as one of Europe’s most challenging courses – the single-minded vision of American pro golfer Arnold Palmer. This par 72 championship layout stuns with its wide undulating fairways, glistening lakes and array of strategically placed sand bunkers that threaten balls at every turn.

Part of the luxurious Anantra Vilamoura Resort, Dom Pedro Victoria is equipped with a range of outstanding amenities including a valet service, free hotel shuttle and a full-service clubhouse with a chic bar and restaurant. For those keen to improve their game, the golf course offers a driving range and putting green, so you can brush up on your skills before you take to the fairways.

Vale do Lobo Golf boasts a duo of distinctly different 18-hole championship courses (Ocean and Royal) that draw visitors from far and wide with their year-round tournaments and must-play competitions. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned pro or an amateur player, the club warmly welcomes all kinds of members of the golfing community.

If you’d like to improve your game, book a lesson at Vale do Lobo’s top-tier Golf Academy which features a grassy short-game practice area with bunkers, a challenging putting green and bespoke tuition from Senior PGA professional Steve Watkins. Spikes Restaurant and Bar offers al fresco dining on its gorgeous garden terrace as well as signature cocktails in its Shisha Lounge.

Nestled within scenic foothills, Monte Rei is an award-winning country club with a golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus – the “Golden Bear” of American golf. Situated between the Serra do Caldeirão mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, this 18-hole gem has hosted players with all kinds of handicaps and stuns with its expansive and forgiving fairways that cut through verdant tree-lined valleys.

The wider resort showcases an eclectic range of restaurants where you can satiate your hunger after the game. The Michelin-starred Vistas Rui Silvestre delivers a dynamite gastronomic experience with a heavy focus on seafood that’ll see you dining on bluefin tuna, langoustine and freshly shucked razor clams.

West Cliffs is a 5-star Casal da Lagoa Seca golf resort situated only moments from the rugged beauty of Rei do Cortico Beach. Boasting a magnificent vista of the Atlantic Ocean, the venue’s award-winning courses and clubhouse restaurant offer a unique, ultra-luxe experience. 

The 18-hole West Cliffs Course won a ‘Golf Development of the Year’ title in 2019 thanks to its classic links design that dares you to take on Mother Nature with her groves of pine trees, rolling sand dunes and unpredictable coastal winds. The Praia D'El Rey Course is a championship beauty that woos players with its Cabell B. Robinson layout, deep sand bunkers and dramatic dunes that contrast sharply against the sloping greens and verdant fairways.

Conveniently situated just 20 minutes from Faro Airport, the 18-hole Dom Pedro Old Course Golf in Vilamoura was envisioned by British golfing legend Frank Pennink and is famed for its gently undulating fairways, contoured greens flanked by hazardous sand traps, scenic pond and towering umbrella pines. It’s also home to an array of first-class facilities including a driving range, pro shop, buggies, trolleys and a valet service.

A fabulous clubhouse serves international and Portugese cuisine inside a swanky restaurant interior (alternately, grab a table on the al fresco patio where you can enjoy a round of beers in the Iberian sunshine). The onsite Golf Academy offers lessons from a dedicated team of PGA professionals, enhanced with cutting-edge TrackMan 4 technology.

Amendoeira Golf Resort is set within 270 hectares of glorious Algarve landscapes and is celebrated for its award-winning Faldo Course, designed by Sir Nick Faldo, an icon of British golf. This par 72 championship course is peppered with exotic botanical species such as cacti, wild herbs and olive trees, while the bunkers have swapped traditional sand with tons of crushed limestone. 

In 2016, Faldo was awarded the “Portugal’s Best Golf Course” title at the World Golf Awards thanks to its unique design and variety of hazards including gnarled carob trees, desert bunkers, rocky outcrops, imposing lakes and 2-tiered greens. After the game, reward yourself at Amendoeira’s trendy clubhouse with a drink on the terrace and an à la carte meal.

Troia Golf was voted one of Continental Europe’s “10 Best Resorts” in 2019 by the prestigious Golf World magazine. It’s easy to see why – this 6-hectare, 18-hole championship course delivers unbeatable views of the Arrábida Mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the stunning Sado Estuary which is home to over 30 bottlenose dolphins.

The brainchild of British-American golf architect Robert Trent Jones Sr., Troia is a challenging and rewarding course that tests golfers of all aptitudes with its narrow fairways, sandy dunes and intimidating pine trees. What’s more, the resort’s João Paciência designed clubhouse allows players to unwind in style after the game. Enjoy a tasty bite and a cheeky cocktail on its panoramic balcony.

Praia D'El Rey Golf & Beach Resort is a deluxe seaside sanctuary that features miles of gold sand beach, 5-star Marriott hotel accommodations and a superlative championship golf course. Set on the shores of the scenic Silver Coast, Praia D'El Rey is enhanced by expansive pine forests, undulating sand dunes and enthralling views of the Berlengas Islands.

Designed by esteemed American golf architect Cabell B.Robinson, this 18-hole, par 73 must-play is a fabulous fusion of parkland holes and seaside links with the glittering Atlantic acting as a backdrop. To play here, golfers must have a valid golf handicap certificate with a 36 minimum. So, hit the driving range and improve your shot.

The award-winning San Lorenzo Golf Course in Quinta do Lago is one of the Algarve’s most celebrated. Located in the Ria Formosa Estuary and Nature Reserve, this Joseph Lee designed jewel is distinguished by its wide range of water hazards including freshwater lagoons and saltwater marshes.

Awarded a “Top 15 Golf Resorts in Continental Europe” nod by Golf World magazine, San Lorenzo’s first 5 holes are encompassed by heavy pine forest before the course opens up to lush Bermuda grass fairways, undulating sandy terrain and a spectacular semi-island green. San Lorenzo’s clubhouse restaurant dishes up delicious fare in contemporary surrounds, paired with a fine selection of refreshing beverages.