Algarve Golf Courses - Tivoli Marina Vilamoura

The Quinta do Lago South championship course, set in undulating hills and pine forest, has hosted the Portuguese Open eight times.

A truly wonderful course, ideally designed to test the scratch golfer but can also be enjoyed by the handicap golfer, the layout favours the long hitter but correct placement of shots is needed to score well.

Strategic bunkering, occasional water hazards and large, contoured greens are the main challenges. The signature hole is the beautiful par-3 15th with a long carry (190 metres) over a large lake to a well-guarded green set amongst pine trees.

Laranjal was originally an orangery but today is the third top class golf course at Quinta do Lago.

The fairways are rolling and narrow with mature orange trees, cork and umbrella pines lining the edges. There are 5 lakes on the layout and the greens are planted with Penn A4 grass type to ensure excellent putting surfaces all year round.

Situated within the fantastic Vale do Lobo resort, the Sir Henry Cotton-designed Vale do Lobo Ocean Course is a lush layout of pine and fig tree-lined fairways that sweeps down to the Atlantic.

The course has been altered by renowned US architect Rocky Roquemore and has previously played host to the European Tour’s Portuguese Open.

The Vale do Lobo Royal Course is rated as one of the best in Europe and sits dramatically on the cliff’s edge over the Atlantic.

The famous 16th is one of the most photographed holes in Europe and requires a shot of more than 180 metres over three spectacular cliffs. The wind plays an important role and even long hitters frequently require a good one-iron.

The Royal is a very enjoyable course, with attractive holes lined with umbrella pines and fig trees. A buggy is recommended, though, as there is a lot of walking between greens and tees.

Pestana Vilasol Golf is set within a beautiful valley of lakes and lush vegetation. It features 27-holes comprising of three nine-hole courses, the Prime, Challenge and Prestige.

The Prime loop is the most difficult of Pestana Vilasol Golf. The long and narrow fairways of the first four holes are renowned as “the most difficult start” on the Algarve.

The Challenge loop is better known as the back nine of Vila Sol. The challenge of this loop is that its greens are more hilly than either Prime or Prestige, demanding accurate approach play.

The Prestige loop is a shorter loop, but narrower. Accuracy and not length is by far the deciding factor on this nine.

Vila Sol was designed by Donald Steel, an English architect who above all likes to preserve nature and native vegetation, minimising earthmoving where possible.

The resort twice played host to the Portuguese Open in the 1990s and regularly hosts other professional events.

The Old Course, Vilamoura, is a beautifully maintained, challenging par 73 set in a in a lush green landscape of umbrella pines. The course has recently been redesigned with its varied par threes particularly challenging.

The Old Course is, however, best known for its four back-nine par-five holes, of which the 16th is the best.