Federation President Sets a Bold Direction

Pedro Nunes Pedro — A New Era for Portuguese Golf

When Pedro Nunes Pedro was elected president of the Portuguese Golf Federation (FPG) in November 2024, the announcement came with a clear message: Portuguese golf would grow not just from the top, but from the grassroots up. Now, just a few months into his tenure, that philosophy is already taking shape.

Nunes Pedro inherits a sport with growing momentum. Portuguese players are appearing more frequently in international leaderboards. Interest in Portugal’s golf travel scene continues to surge. But behind the scenes, there’s still work to be done to expand access, improve training infrastructure, and engage the next generation of players, not only in the Algarve or Lisbon, but nationwide.

As of March 2025, his administration is moving ahead with a programme that balances practical investment with long-term development. It’s not a flash-and-fanfare approach. It’s foundational, and that might be exactly what Portuguese golf needs.

What’s on the Agenda

Shortly after taking office, Portuguese Golf Federation president Pedro Nunes Pedro outlined several immediate goals for the 2024–2028 term. These include:

  • Finalising the 2025 operating budget to align with national development priorities

  • Expanding training programmes for golf coaches to ensure consistent, high-quality instruction

  • Investing in new public golf infrastructure, including pitch & putt areas, 9-hole courses, and driving ranges

  • Strengthening school sports programmes to introduce golf to younger audiences

The emphasis? Scale. Not in headline-grabbing events, but in the number of people, especially youth, who touch a golf club for the first time.

Vision for Portuguese Golf

While Portugal is best known abroad for its golf resorts and championship-level experiences, Nunes Pedro’s vision is focused inward. His strategy centres on growing participation, creating access in underserved regions, and supporting players throughout their development, not just the elite few.

It’s a bet on sustainability: the idea that building a deeper national talent pool, supported by better coaching and community-level facilities, will lead to broader success over time.

Explore Portugal’s golf landscape

Competitive Ambitions Still in Focus

Despite the grassroots-first approach, Nunes Pedro hasn’t lost sight of elite competition. Among his stated goals:

  • Continuing to host the Portuguese Open at Royal Óbidos in 2025, with ambitions to eventually restore its place on the DP World Tour

  • Introducing a Ladies Access Series event in Portugal, expected in spring 2025, to strengthen opportunities for female players and build visibility in the women’s game

These aren’t distractions from development, they’re part of a broader strategy to elevate Portuguese golf across all levels.

A President with a Development Mandate

Pedro Nunes Pedro’s presidency may be in its early stages, but the direction is clear. If successful, his legacy won’t just be in tournaments or titles, but in the number of children introduced to golf, the number of coaches empowered to teach, and the number of regions with new facilities.

His term is a chance to turn momentum into infrastructure, and enthusiasm into access. And for Portuguese golf, that might prove more transformative than any single trophy.

Source: This article includes information originally reported by The Portugal News.

Pedro Figueiredo Delhi Challenge

Pedro Figueiredo Strong Finish at the Delhi Challenge

Pedro Figueiredo has kicked off the 2025 season with a strong statement. Competing in the Delhi Challenge, part of the European Challenge Tour, the Portuguese professional secured an impressive 6th-place finish, his best result on international soil in nearly two years.

Played in India, the event brought together a highly competitive field and a course that demands not just power, but discipline and smart decision-making. Figueiredo kept his composure across all four rounds, stringing together consistent scoring while avoiding the mistakes that derailed others. It was a performance marked by maturity, both in strategy and temperament.

This finish isn’t just a solid result, it’s a signal that Figueiredo is ready to compete again on a broader stage. His game appears sharp, his confidence restored, and his name, once a quiet presence on the leaderboard, is now climbing once more. For Portugal, it’s another reminder that its golfing ambitions don’t stop at tourism; they extend onto the global professional circuit.

A Result That Resets the Season

Pedro Figueiredo isn’t new to professional golf. With multiple national titles and prior European Tour experience, he’s long been considered one of Portugal’s top contenders. But after a quiet stretch of form, this finish in Delhi feels like more than just another result.

It shows that Figueiredo remains a force on the Challenge Tour, a player capable of going deep in international fields and representing Portuguese golf at a high level. For young golfers watching back home, it’s a reminder that reaching the upper tiers of the sport is not only possible but sustainable with persistence and quality play.

Portugal’s Growing Footprint on the Pro Circuit

In recent years, Portugal’s role in professional golf has expanded. While best known for its scenic courses and thriving tourism scene, the country is now consistently producing players capable of competing abroad, both at junior and senior levels.

Figueiredo’s result in India follows a pattern of Portuguese professionals earning results across Europe and beyond. With support structures like the Portuguese Golf Federation and national training circuits in place, performances like these feel less like one-offs and more like a trend.

Explore Portugal’s golf scene to learn more about where the country’s top players sharpen their skills.

A Player to Watch in 2025

If this result is anything to go by, Pedro Figueiredo’s 2025 season may be one of his most compelling yet. A solid finish early in the year means better seeding, more starts, and, perhaps most importantly, confidence when it matters.

Consistency will be key, but the signs are there: sharp ball striking, patient course management, and mental resilience. And with the Challenge Tour offering direct paths to the DP World Tour, a few more finishes like this could push him right back into the top tier of European golf.

GEO Certified for Vilamoura Golf: Leading the Sustainable Way

Big cheers to Vilamoura Golf! Four of its iconic courses—The Old Course, Pinhal, Millennium, and Laguna—have just bagged two of the top sustainability awards in the game: GEO Certified® and Biosphere Certified. That’s right: Vilamoura Golf fairways are officially recognised for doing good by nature while still delivering world-class golf experiences.

These aren’t just fancy titles. GEO Certified® is the gold standard in sustainable golf, given to courses that seriously walk the talk when it comes to environmental care, community support, and resource conservation. The Biosphere Certification, on the other hand, shows real commitment to the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals—so yeah, it’s a pretty big deal.

Vilamoura Golf sets the bar high, from upgraded irrigation systems to cutting back on chemicals and giving local ecosystems the love they deserve. For example, the Old Course was praised for a new energy-efficient pump station and a pine tree management program that’s helping biodiversity thrive. Millennium stood out for its water-saving efforts, and Laguna was impressed with a 20% drop in water use thanks to a smart irrigation makeover. And let’s not forget Pinhal, who was recognised for supporting youth golf education and collaborating with local groups to boost community impact.

Vilamoura Golf and Sustainability: a Guiding Principle

The Vilamoura Golf courses are managed by the platform DETAILS, where sustainability isn’t just a goal—it’s a guiding principle. Co-CEO Nuno Sepúlveda emphasised how deeply the team values protecting the region’s natural beauty.

“Vilamoura has some of nature’s most stunning settings, and we feel a great weight of responsibility to make sure it not only is maintained but flourishes for generations to come”, said Sepúlveda.

“Understanding the importance of sustainability and avoiding waste of any sort is a key part of our business strategy and also increasingly important for our customers and visitors. We are grateful to receive these very prestigious accolades and are determined to ensure we continue to be the leader when it comes to setting a strong environmental agenda”, he added.

At Tee Times Golf Holidays, we’ve always been proud to offer the best golf packages in the Algarve and across Portugal—but we’re even prouder to work with destinations like Vilamoura that are investing in a greener future. Sustainability matters to us and the golfers we serve, and it’s great to see it becoming a core part of the game we love.

Ready to tee off on courses that care as much about the environment as they do about your experience? Let’s plan your next Portugal golf holiday with us.