Central Algarve Courses
2007/2008 Green Fees Please call 0800 915 1804 for details
Oceanico Old Course
The oldest and most popular of the five Oceanico courses, the Old Course's international reputation is well deserved. The region's trademark umbrella pine trees surround the fairways and provide a beautiful backdrop to an excellent test of golf. They also force you to put the emphasis on accuracy and course management ahead of length. Great scores are made by playing the four par 3 holes well - they're visually stunning but very tough. The course is rated No. 50 in Europe by Golf World magazine and we highly recommend it.
Designer: Frank Pennink/Martin Hawtree
Fairways: Bermuda Tifton 419
Greens: Penncross bent
Par: 73
Length: 6924 yards
Green fees Nov 07 to Oct 08: March, April & October (high season) £73; November, February, May, June & September (medium season) £65; December, January, July & August (low season) £54
Great value 3, 4 and 5 round Oceanico golf packages available, please call 0800 915 1804 for more details
Oceanico Pinhal Originally designed by Frank Pennink and remodelled by Robert Trent Jones Jnr, Pinhal has an exciting mixture of British and American style holes. The front 9 meanders through an exclusive residential complex, while the back 9 is built on more open and undulating land with occasional glimpses of the sea. The fairways are lined with pine trees and the greens are tight and fast, so accuracy is the key to success here. Like all the Oceanico courses, Pinhal is a superb challenge and is well worth a visit.
Designer: Frank Pennink/Robert Trent Jones Jnr
Fairways: Bermuda Tifton 419 and lollium mix
Greens: Penncross bent
Par: 72
Length: 6842 yards
Green fees Nov 07 - Oct 08: March, April & October (high season) £47; November, February, May, June & September (medium season) £44; December, January, July August (low season) £37
Great value 3, 4 and 5 round Oceanico golf packages available, please call 0800 915 1804 for more details
Oceanico Laguna
Although Laguna is probably the least popular of Oceanico five excellent courses, it's also the most affordable and we think it provides a really good test of golf. Designed by Joseph Lee, who created the wonderful San Lorenzo course, it provides a stark contrast to its neighbours, in that it's a lot more open and has plenty of water hazards, as well as 88 shrewdly placed bunkers. While the sand and water make the course quite visually intimidating, in reality it can be enjoyed by golfers of all abilities. Give it a try.
Designer: Joseph Lee
Fairways: Bermuda Tifton 328
Greens: Penncross bent
Par: 72
Length: 6707 yards
Green fees Nov 07 - Oct 08: March, April & October (high season) £44; November, February, May, June & September (medium season) £40; December, January, July August (low season) £33
Great value 3, 4 and 5 round Oceanico golf packages available, please call 0800 915 1804 for more details
Oceanico Millennium
Opened in 2000, Millennium is Oceanico's fourth course and has proved to be an exciting and popular addition. The new front 9, which mostly runs through a pine forest, is a perfect compliment to the reshaped loop of the old Laguna course that makes up the back 9. Wide fairways, large greens and four different sets of tees make this course enjoyable for all levels of player, with the emphasis on precision rather than power. Like its Oceanico neighbours, Millennium is a classy championship layout and comes highly recommended.
Designer: Martin Hawtree
Fairways: Bermuda Tifton 419
Greens: Penn A4 bentgrass
Par: 72
Length: 6820 yards
Green fees Nov 07 - Oct 08: March, April & October (high season) £49; November, February, May, June & September (medium season) £45; December, January, July August (low season) £39
Great value 3, 4 and 5 round Oceanico golf packages available, please call 0870 609 0995 for more details
Oceanico Victoria
The new and exclusive Victoria course is the latest addition to the fabulous Oceanico resort. Designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer, no expense has been spared in creating a course to challenge Europe's best. According to Palmer, the links style layout encourages an exciting 'risk and reward' strategy - so be prepared to lose a few balls! With 22 lakes and lightning fast greens, Victoria is a great test and may even come to rival the Old Course as Vilamoura's flagship golfing venue. A bit expensive, but a real 'must play'.
Designer: Arnold Palmer
Fairways: Bermuda 419
Greens: Bentgrass L93
Par: 72
Length: 7100 yards
Green fees Nov 07 to Oct 08: March, April & October (high season) £96; November, February, May, June & September (medium season) £82; December, January, July & August (low season) £70
Great value 3, 4 and 5 round Oceanico golf packages available, please call 0800 915 1804 for more details
Vila Sol
Vila Sol has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best courses in Portugal, and Vila Sol hotel guests can take advantage of significantly reduced green fees and fantastic free golf offers. Opened in 1991, Vila Sol gained international acclaim by hosting the Portuguese Open for the next two years and is now rated No. 88 in Europe by Golf World magazine. The 27-hole course operates as three 9-hole loops that can be played in any combination. The narrow fairways demand accurate tee shots and the many water hazards make club selection a real challenge. The course is always perfectly manicured and the greens are superb.
Designer: Donald Steel
Fairways: Bermuda Tifton 419
Greens: Penncross bent
Par: 72
Length: 6762 yards
Green fees Nov 07 - Oct 08: March, April & October (high season) £63 for 18 holes, £111 for 2 rounds; November, February, May & September (medium season) £58 for 18 holes, £104 for 2 rounds; December, Januray, June & August (low season) £46 for 18 holes, £80 for 2 rounds
Preferential green fees for all Vila Sol Hotel guests: £42 for 18 holes
Quinta do Lago North
Though not held in as high esteem as the magnificent South course, Quinta do Lago North still offers a truly great game of golf. Set on the beautiful Ria Formosa nature reserve, it's always in immaculate condition and is a real joy to play. There's an abundance of doglegs, shots across water and tricky par 3s, with accuracy more important than length. The course runs in an anti-clockwise loop and players who can draw the ball will score well. The 18th is a wonderful closing hole, demanding a precise drive over a lake and a tough approach to a slick, two-tiered green.
Designer: Joseph Lee/Rocky Roquemore
Fairways: Bermuda Tifton 419
Greens: Penncross bent
Par: 72
Length: 6488 yards
Green fees Nov 07 - Oct 08: 1 - 14 November, 15 February - 31 May (high season) £57;
15 November - 14 February & June-August (low season) £46
Quinta do Lago South
The magnificent Quinta do Lago South is the Algarve's original championship course and is still one of its best. It has been a regular host to the Portuguese Open - it was here in 1989 that Colin Montgomerie won his first European Tour event. It's a great course in a beautiful natural setting with everything you could want for an enjoyable game - testing par 4s, generous fairways on the par 5s, short holes across water (including the spectacular par 3 15th), tricky doglegs, cleverly placed bunkers and super-fast greens. Always in top condition and a real 'must play'.
Designer: William Mitchell/Joseph Lee
Fairways: Bermuda Tifton 419
Greens: Penncross bent
Par: 72
Length: 6205 yards
Green fees Nov 07 - Oct 08: 1 - 14 November, 15 February - 31 May (high season) £57;
15 November - 14 February & June-August (low season) £46
Vale do Lobo Ocean
Though perhaps not quite in the same class as the neighbouring Royal course, the Ocean course at Vale do Lobo is still one of the best in the Algarve. Both courses enjoy an unparalleled natural setting with stunning views over the Atlantic. The Ocean course meanders through a pine forest before arriving at the ocean holes, which are an absolute delight but become very difficult in windy conditions. This is an excellent layout that provides a real challenge. Be warned though, prices at Vale do Lobo are among the most expensive in the area - if you really want to play here, it's a good idea to stay at the Quinta do Lago or Ria Park hotels, which offer unbeatable green fee packages on a range of championship courses.
Designer: Henry Cotton
Fairways: Ray grass
Greens: Crenshaw
Par: 72
Length: 6010 yards
Green fees Nov 07 - Oct 08 : 01 November - 15 November, 01 March - 31 May, October £70: February, September £65: 16 November - 31 January, 01 June - 31 August £59
Vale do Lobo Royal
The immaculately manicured Royal course offers players of all abilities unrivalled variety and quality. Along with the neighbouring Ocean course, it enjoys an unparalleled natural setting with stunning views over the Atlantic, and it features some of the most spectacular holes on the Algarve. The cliff top par 3 16th is the most photographed hole in Europe. Buggies are compulsory before 10:30am and recommended at all other times. Prices at Vale do Lobo are among the most expensive in the area - if you really want to play here, it's a good idea to stay at the Quinta do Lago or Ria Park hotels, which offer unbeatable green fee packages on a range of championship courses.
Designer: Henry Cotton/Rocky Roquemore
Fairways: Crenshaw
Greens: Crenshaw
Par: 72
Length: 6753 yards
Green fees Nov 07 - Oct 08 : 01 November - 15 November, 01 March - 31 May, October £76: February, September £70: 16 November - 31 January, 01 June - 31 August £65
San Lorenzo
Only guests at the Dona Filipa hotel (and, subject to availability, guests at the Penina hotel) have the exclusive privilege of playing San Lorenzo, ranked 8th in Europe by Golf World magazine. Not only that, but they receive some fantastic free golf offers and reduced green fees. San Lorenzo is an outstanding championship course set in the spectacular Ria Formosa Nature Reserve. After a fairly gentle start, it winds its way to the estuary holes (5, where you look directly out to sea from an elevated tee, 6 and 7) before the par 5 8th introduces you to the course's hallmark - a large inland lake. The lake comes into play again on the closing two holes, where the semi-island greens ensure your nerve is tested right to the last. Quite simply, this is one of the most memorable courses you'll ever play.
Designer: Joseph Lee
Fairways: Bermuda Tifton 419
Greens: Penncross bent
Par: 72
Length: 6420 yards
Preferential green fees for Dona Filipa guests Nov 07 - Oct 08: 1-23 November, 26 January -29 February £35; 24 Nov-25 Jan & 28 June - 31 August £30;1 March -23 May, September & October £42
Pinheiros Altos
The Formosa Hotel owns this excellent and exclusive course. Hotel guests are the only people assured of a game here and they also benefit from preferential green fees and fabulous free golf offers. Pinheiros Altos offers a warm welcome but a stiff test. The front 9 undulates through rolling countryside and is lined by tall umbrella pine trees, while the back 9 drops down to a valley bottom where the many lakes provide a real test of accuracy and nerve. The 17th hole has a spectacular island green reminiscent of the 17th at TPC Sawgrass in the USA. Increasingly popular and well worth a visit.
Designer: Ronald Fream
Fairways: Bermuda Tifton 419
Greens: Penncross bent
Par: 72
Length: 6615 yards
Green fees Nov 07 - Oct 08: 1-15 November, March, May, October (high season) £69; 11-29 February & September (medium season) £55; 16 November - 10 February & June, August (low season) £48
Formosa Hotel guests only
Free golf for Formosa Hotel guests: 7 night stays get 2 free rounds; 3-6 night stays get 1 free round
Preferential green fees for Formosa Hotel guests: high season £51; medium season £37; low season £30
Pine Cliffs (9 holes)
Pine Cliffs is a delightful 9-hole course with spectacular views over the coastline and out to sea. It's only minutes from the Sheraton Algarve hotel and is perfect if you want a quick game, or you can play it twice for a thoroughly enjoyable 18 holes. The par 3 6th (nicknamed 'Devil's Parlour') is particularly memorable, with a sheer 200 ft drop down a red stone ravine greeting your arrival on the tee.
Designer: Martin Hawtree
Fairways: Bermuda
Greens: Penncross
Par: 33
Length: 2540 yards
Sheraton Algarve hotel guests only
Free golf for Sheraton Algarve guests Nov 07 - Oct 08: guests get 1 free 9- hole round per 3-night stay
Preferential green fees for Sheraton Algarve guests November 07-March 08: 9 holes £16, 18-holes £23; April - October : 9-holes £21, 18-holes £30