Tee Times

A Perfect Morning at Pine Cliffs Golf Course

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A review by our CEO, Mr. Carlos Ferreira — sharing his morning on one of the Algarve’s most celebrated coastal layouts.

This morning I had the pleasure of playing at the beautiful Pine Cliffs Resort golf course, and it truly reminded me why golf in the Algarve is considered among the best in Europe. From the moment the sun rose over the Atlantic coastline, the conditions were simply spectacular. Clear blue skies, warm sunshine, and a light ocean breeze created the perfect setting for an unforgettable round.

Tee Times CEO Carlos Ferreira

The course itself was presented in excellent condition. The fairways were immaculate, offering consistent lies throughout the round, while the greens were particularly impressive — fast, firm, and extremely true. Players had to be fully focused on every putt and approach shot, as the pace of the greens demanded precision and good course management. It was the kind of setup that rewards quality golf while still remaining enjoyable for players of all levels.

One of the most striking things this morning was the atmosphere around the course. There was a tremendous turnout, with close to 200 golfers enjoying the magnificent conditions throughout the day. Despite the high number of players, the pace of play remained surprisingly smooth and efficient. Our group completed the front nine in under two hours, which is excellent considering how busy the course was. Credit must go to both the players and the course management for maintaining such a good rhythm during peak conditions.

On the Green Pine Cliffs

Of course, no visit to Pine Cliffs would be complete without mentioning its breathtaking scenery. The dramatic red cliffs, the panoramic ocean views, and the beautifully maintained landscape make every hole memorable. Even between shots, it is impossible not to stop for a moment and appreciate the natural beauty surrounding the course. Few places combine championship golf and coastal scenery quite as effortlessly as Pine Cliffs. For anyone planning a golf break along this stretch of coast, Pine Cliffs is reason enough on its own.

Pine Cliffs Resort Aerial View

The signature par-3 sixth hole, famously played across the cliffs, continues to be one of the most iconic golf holes in Portugal. Standing on the tee box with the Atlantic Ocean stretching endlessly behind the green is an experience that never gets old. It is one of those rare holes where every golfer instinctively reaches for their phone or camera before taking the shot.

Today’s round perfectly captured what makes golf in the Algarve so special: outstanding weather, exceptional course conditions, stunning scenery, and a relaxed but vibrant atmosphere. Whether you are visiting Portugal for a golf holiday or simply looking for a memorable round by the ocean, Pine Cliffs continues to deliver a first-class experience.

After mornings like this, it is easy to understand why so many golfers return to Pine Cliffs year after year.

Golf Tourism’s Biggest European Gathering Returns to Málaga

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A thousand professionals, 42 countries, and over 11,000 business meetings. The IAGTO European Convention came back to the Costa del Sol — and made its mark.

Every year, the people who sell golf holidays to the world gather in one place to do business, share intelligence, and — because they are golfers — play a few rounds while they’re at it. This year, that place was Málaga. The 4th annual IAGTO European Convention ran from 18–20 May at the FYCMA Exhibition Centre, and by any measure it was the largest and most productive edition yet. Tee Times was represented by founder Carlos Ferreira, director Jorge Diogo, and director Telma Santos. (IAGTO)

Tee Time Directors Sponsor Wall

What the IEC Is — and Who It Brings Together

The IAGTO European Convention — IEC for short — is the golf tourism industry’s most important annual trade event in Europe, organised by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators for its member companies. It is, at its core, two intensive days of pre-scheduled business meetings: tour operators from across the globe sitting down with golf courses, hotels, destination management companies, and suppliers to plan the next season’s holidays. There is no cold-calling, no wandering the floor hoping to find someone useful. Every meeting is requested in advance and confirmed before anyone books their flight to Málaga. (Golf Circus)

This year’s edition attracted close to 1,000 professionals from 54 countries — among them 348 buyer delegates representing golf tour operators from 42 markets, a 31% increase on the previous Málaga edition. The UK accounts for around 20% of those buyers, with Germany and the Nordic markets close behind. Some 70 North American operators attended alongside 20 from Asia and the Pacific. In total, more than 11,000 business meetings took place across the two days.

FYMCA Conference Centre

Record Numbers, Real Impact

The figures speak for themselves. IAGTO projects a €30 million increase in Andalucía golf tourism sales over the next three years as a direct result of the connections made at IEC 2026 — on top of a direct economic impact of approximately €2 million from the event itself. The Costa del Sol was voted Golf Destination of the Year by IAGTO’s tour operator members at the previous edition, and the interest in the region shows no sign of cooling.

IAGTO Chief Executive Peter Walton called the convention “the most important golf travel trade event in Europe” and confirmed the organisation’s long-term commitment to Andalucía, with the IEC scheduled to return to the region in 2028, 2030, and 2032. The 2027 edition will take place on the Costa Blanca. Alongside the business programme, a familiarisation trip took around 40 international operators across golf courses and destinations in the provinces of Málaga and Cádiz — a reminder that the best way to sell a place is still to put people in it.

The IEC Golf Tournament — Business Done. Leaderboard Topped

The convention closes with a golf tournament — played simultaneously across four Costa del Sol courses, with delegates competing at Golf Torrequebrada, La Cala Resort, Baviera Golf, and Chaparral Golf Club in the Mijas Golf Valley. Chaparral is a Pepe Gancedo design set within a Mediterranean pine forest, with a balanced layout of six par 5s, six par 4s, and six par 3s, and sea views that make a bogey feel almost forgivable.

Tee Times Directors Win Tournament

Carlos and Jorge played there. They also won. After two days of back-to-back meetings, the Tee Times directors stepped onto the course at Chaparral and finished at the top of the leaderboard. It lit up more than a few proud smiles across our two Vilamoura offices. Well done, gentlemen. (Chaparral Golf Club)

Why the Costa del Sol Keeps Hosting This

Málaga is not an accidental choice for the golf tourism industry’s flagship European event. More than 70 courses within an hour of the airport, reliable sunshine across the calendar, and a concentration of hotels and resorts that makes a three-day convention straightforward to organise and genuinely enjoyable to attend. The region has spent decades building its reputation as a world-class golf destination — and the fact that the people who sell golf holidays to the rest of the world keep coming back to do business here is as good an endorsement as any. If Chaparral has caught your eye, it’s one of many Costa del Sol golf courses we know inside out.

If this week’s events in Mijas have you thinking about a Costa del Sol golf trip of your own, we know these courses rather well. Explore Costa del Sol golf holidays with Tee Times and see what’s waiting for you.

Double Glory at Vidago Palace — AQUAPOR Circuit Finds Its Round Three Champions

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Luciana Reis’ 142-stroke aggregate topped every single competitor, while João Miguel Pereira is making a habit of winning.

For a tournament hosting 73 golfers in the hills of northern Portugal, the 3rd AQUAPOR Circuit 2026 produced remarkably clear outcomes. At Vidago Palace on 16–17 May, Luciana Reis (Arquitectos) and João Miguel Pereira (Aroeira) claimed the titles in the Women’s and Men’s competitions respectively — and both had to earn them. (Federação Portuguesa de Golfe)

Aquapor 3rd Round Winners

Reis Sets the Standard for Everyone

Luciana Reis led after day one, returning a 70 (-2) featuring seven birdies, three bogeys, and a double bogey — a scoreboard that tells a story, not a fairytale. She closed with a composed 72 (par) on day two to finish at 142 (-2). Not just the best Women’s score. The best aggregate across all 73 competitors — fourteen women and 59 men. None of them scored lower. Francisca Rocha (Oporto Golf Club) took second in the Women’s category with 151 (+7), a margin that reflects just how controlled Reis was over two days. (FPG — Round 1 Report)

Pereira Holds Firm as the Field Slips

João Miguel Pereira entered day two level with Diogo Rocha (Oporto Golf Club), both having shot 71 (-1) on the opening round. Pereira’s second-round 74 (+2) wasn’t vintage form — but Rocha’s 79 (+7) made the arithmetic straightforward. Pereira won by a single stroke over João Maria Ivo de Carvalho (Estoril Golf Club), who closed with a tidy 71 to finish at 146 (+2). Rocha, so dangerous after day one, slipped to joint sixth. Golf, as ever, reserves the right to change the conversation overnight. (Federação Portuguesa de Golfe)

The Venue: Vidago Palace

Vidago Palace Golf Course

Vidago Palace is no ordinary backdrop for a national circuit event. Originally laid out by Scottish architect Mackenzie Ross in 1936 as a nine-hole course, it was reimagined by Cameron & Powell and reopened as a full par-72 championship layout in 2010. Set in the Oura Valley in northern Portugal — roughly an hour south of Chaves, near the Spanish border — the course winds through a centenary park before opening out into dramatic hillside terrain. The 17th, a par five played from the highest to the lowest point on the course, is the signature hole and one of the more theatrical finishes in Portuguese golf. The clubhouse was designed by architect Álvaro Siza Vieira. (Vidago Palace)

A Season Taking Shape

Three events into the 2026 AQUAPOR Circuit, and Pereira already has two wins — a fact the rest of the field will be tracking with increasing attention. The circuit opened in January at Morgado do Reguengo, where Amélia Gabin (ADCQL) and José Miguel Franco de Sousa (Estoril Golf Club) took the honours. March brought Quinta do Perú and a first circuit win for Pereira alongside Francisca Salgado (Vale de Janelas). Vidago makes it a double for the Aroeira golfer in 2026. Five champions across three events; five different stories.

What’s Next on the Circuit

The AQUAPOR Circuit resumes at Palmares on 18–19 July — a course that trades northern mountain drama for Algarve coastline, with the beach at Meia Praia stretching out below its fairways. Estela follows in October, and the season concludes at Belas Clube de Campo in November.

If the circuit’s next stop has you thinking about a Portugal golf trip of your own, explore the Algarve’s finest courses — including Palmares — with Tee Times.