Golf in Portugal

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Espiche Golf – A Course evolved.

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Our CEO, Carlos Ferreira, returned to Espiche Golf Course and was delighted to see the course’s progress.

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This week we returned to Espiche Golf, a course I had not played for quite some time. It was a very pleasant surprise to see how much the course has evolved over the last few years while still retaining the character and challenge that have always made it a respected venue in the Algarve. 

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One of the most noticeable improvements was the adjustment to several fairways, which now feel slightly more open. The course remains a strategic and technical test, requiring thoughtful shot selection and good course management, but the added width makes it more playable and enjoyable for a wider range of golfers. Importantly, this has been achieved without compromising the original design intent or identity of the course. 

The standout feature of the day was the excellent overall conditioning. The greens were in superb shape—smooth, true, and consistent throughout the round. They demanded attention and rewarded confident putting. The fairways were equally impressive, with well-maintained turf and clearly defined playing lines. Tee boxes were also presented to a very high standard, contributing to a consistently high-quality playing experience from start to finish.

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We also played under quite strong wind conditions, which added an extra layer of challenge to the round. However, rather than taking away from the experience, it made the game even more engaging and, at times, highly entertaining. The wind forced creative shot-making and careful club selection, and as expected, it also led to a few lost balls along the way. For anyone planning a round here on a breezy day, we would definitely recommend bringing extra golf balls. 

Beyond the playing surfaces, the entire property was extremely well presented. Surrounding areas were clean and tidy, and the buggy paths were in excellent condition and clearly signposted, making navigation around the course simple and enjoyable. 

After the round, the clubhouse provided a very welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. It is a comfortable space to unwind, enjoy a drink, and reflect on the round, with friendly service and a laid-back setting that fits perfectly with the natural character of the course. 

espiche-golf-club-clubhouse

Espiche continues to stand out for its natural integration into the Algarve landscape, offering a peaceful and scenic golfing environment that enhances the overall experience. It feels mature, well managed, and clearly maintained with great attention to detail. 

Importantly, Espiche Golf is now firmly established as a relevant asset within the wider Algarve Golf Courses Portfolio. In a region known for its exceptional concentration of high-quality golf courses, Espiche contributes a distinctive offering—combining sustainability, strategy, and consistently strong conditioning. 

After some time away, it was rewarding to see the progress that has been made. Espiche has successfully improved both its presentation and playability while preserving the strategic essence that golfers appreciate. 

For anyone who has not played the course recently, it is certainly worth a return visit. 

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If Espiche Golf has slipped off your radar, this is a good moment to change that. The course is playing well, the setting is as scenic as it gets in the Western Algarve, and a round here makes for a very enjoyable afternoon. Browse course details and check availability on our Espiche Golf Course page.


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Portugal Opens Its First Municipal Golf Course

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Oeiras Green Valley is not just another venue. It is a statement about who golf is for.

On 7 June, the Câmara Municipal de Oeiras inaugurated the Oeiras Green Valley – Academia Municipal de Golfe, on the site of the former Cabanas Golf course in Barcarena.

Inauguration of Oeiras Green Valley – Academia Municipal de Golfe at the former Cabanas Golf site in Barcarena, Oeiras, June 2026

The ceremony was presided over by Isaltino Morais, President of the Câmara Municipal, and Pedro Nunes Pedro, President of the Federação Portuguesa de Golfe. Ambassadors Jorge Gabriel and Isabel Silva were among the hundreds in attendance.

From Derelict to Open

The site had stood idle since July 2024. The Câmara Municipal de Oeiras acquired two plots at the former Cabanas Golf complex, totalling 43 hectares — 22 of which now form the course.

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The project, developed in partnership with the Federação Portuguesa de Golfe, transformed a dormant facility into what is described as the first municipal golf course of significant scale in Portugal. (Jornal Económico)

A Course for Everyone

The Oeiras Green Valley is not designed for a members-only clientele. It will be open to schools, universities, sports clubs, companies, and the general public. Isaltino Morais was direct about the aim — to offer the sport to anyone, regardless of social or economic background.

Aerial view of the Oeiras Green Valley golf course in Barcarena, near Lisbon, Portugal

Pedro Nunes Pedro, President of the FPG, put it plainly: “The recovery of this space represents excellent news for the development of golf in Portugal and for the democratisation of access to the sport.” (FPG)

A New Chapter for Lisbon Golf

The Lisbon area already holds some of the most compelling golf in the country. The two championship layouts at PGA Aroeira sit within pine forests south of the city. The Penha Longa Atlantic Championship course unfolds across the foothills of the Serra de Sintra. And Oitavos Dunes at Cascais remains one of the most distinctive links-style layouts in Europe.

Oeiras Green Valley does not compete with any of them. It serves a different moment in a golfer’s journey — the beginning of one.

The Lisbon region offers some of the most varied golf in Portugal. From Atlantic linksland to mature parkland, the range is broad and the quality is consistent. Explore our Lisbon golf holidays and plan your next round.


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June and July Golf in the Algarve: A Golfing Secret

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The crowds have gone. The mornings and evenings have not.

The Algarve’s peak golf season belongs to spring — April and May bring mild temperatures, green fairways, and full tee sheets. What follows in June and July is a different proposition entirely. Fewer golfers. Longer days. A pace that feels closer to what the region actually is, rather than what the calendar tells most visitors to expect.

The Early Tee Time Is Your Friend

The Algarve coastline bathed in evening light during summer, Portugal
Summer in the Algarve means sunrise before 6:30am. An early tee time — 7am, or earlier at some courses — puts you on the fairway in conditions the midday golfer never sees. The light in those first hours is something particular: low and warm across the fairways, with a stillness to the air that belongs entirely to early morning. The cork oaks hold the shadow a little longer. The dew is still on the rough. By the time the sun is fully overhead, the round is done and the terrace is waiting.

The Long Evening Is an Underrated Asset

The Algarve in late June sees the sun set at around 9:15pm (timeanddate.com). That is not a minor detail. It means a back nine after dinner without the feeling of racing the clock. It means the kind of long, golden-hour light that does things to a links-style layout that a noon round cannot replicate. The western Algarve, in particular — where the Atlantic horizon sits just beyond the last fairway — earns that final hour of daylight more than most places. Summer evenings here are not a consolation. They are the whole point.

Green Fees in Summer: A Different Equation

Palmares Golf Course overlooking Meia Praia bay and the Alvor estuary, Lagos, Algarve
Peak spring green fees at the region’s flagship courses can be significant. Summer rates — particularly in June, before the school holiday surge — offer considerably better value without a corresponding drop in course quality. The greens have been through a full season of careful preparation. The price is lower because demand is lower. That gap is wider than most golfers realise, and it is one of the better-kept secrets on the European golf travel calendar.

The Courses That Reward a Summer Visit

Not every course in the Algarve plays identically in summer. Layouts with Atlantic exposure — set above the western coastline, or at elevation — benefit from the prevailing coastal breeze throughout the morning hours. Palmares, rising above Lagos and the long sweep of Meia Praia bay, is one of those courses: the views across the Alvor estuary alone justify the drive west. Boavista — designed by Howard Swan and chronically underappreciated — sits on the same western stretch, its two distinct sections climbing and descending through landscaped valleys in a way that rewards patience and repeat visits. Further east, the umbrella pines of Vilamoura Old Course offer shade and quiet that the busier spring months rarely allow.

The Region in Summer

The Algarve coastline bathed in evening light during summer, Portugal
The Algarve does not slow down in summer so much as settle into itself. The limestone cliffs along the coast turn amber in the late afternoon light. The fishing boats sit low in Ferragudo harbour. The market stalls in Loulé carry the smell of fresh bread and dried herbs, and the restaurants fill gradually rather than all at once. Evenings stretch long enough to make dinner feel genuinely unhurried. A cold Sagres on a terrace facing west, with the light still in the sky at nine in the evening, is one of those small, specific pleasures that cannot really be argued with. Golf brings you here in June and July. The region is the reason you book again.

Browse our Algarve golf holidays and start planning your summer.


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