Golf in Portugal

Amendoeira Golf Resort: A luxury retreat in the Algarve for golf lovers

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Located in the heart of the central Algarve, the Amendoeira Golf Resort offers an unrivalled experience for golf and nature lovers looking for the best Portugal golf breaks. Just 15 minutes from the picturesque beaches of Armação de Pêra and 35 minutes from Faro Airport, this resort is home to two award-winning golf courses: the Faldo Course and the challenging O’Connor Jnr. Course. The resort also has an artificial lighting par 3 course, the only one in Portugal.

With elegant self-catering apartments and villas, vast sporting facilities and on-site dining alternatives, Amendoeira Golf Resort is the ideal destination for individual golfers, professional groups, and families looking for an unforgettable vacation in Portugal.

 

Amendoeira Golf Resort and two unique courses

Amendoeira Faldo, designed by Sir Nick Faldo in 2008, is an undulating golf course with elevated greens and strategically placed bunkers. Ideal for players with a medium-low handicap, it offers beautiful views of the Algarve countryside and a challenging experience that invites you to return. Faldo Design worked creatively with a decisive premise: to build a strategic Mediterranean desert-style golf course. And they got it.

On the other hand, the Amendoeira O’Connor Jnr, designed by Christy O’Connor Jnr. and also inaugurated in 2008, features a slightly undulating and longer course, with numerous water hazards and wide fairways. It is a jewel of Portuguese golf suitable for players with a medium or medium-low handicap, with stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

Both the Faldo Course and the O’Connor Jnr. course are very popular destinations for the best Portugal golf breaks, and Tee Times Golf Agency offers packages including accommodation and unlimited golf at the Amendoeira Golf Resort. With its world-class courses and unparalleled natural environment, Amendoeira is a standout choice for golfers seeking a unique Algarve experience. Visit Portugal and discover the magic of golf in Amendoeira!

The road to 125 years of golf in Portugal: a journey through time

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Golf in Portugal has a rich history that dates back almost 125 years. The story began in 1890 when the Oporto Niblicks Golf Club, now Oporto Golf Club, emerged as the first course on the Iberian Peninsula and the fifth in continental Europe. 24 members gave life to the founding golf club in Portugal.

Initially enjoyed by Britons who had left their country, golf found its home near the mouth of the Douro River in Porto. By 1900, the golf course had expanded from 9 holes to 18. As the 20th century progressed, Lisbon also embraced golf, and the Lisbon Sports Club and Estoril Club created their courses, expanding the niche.

Today, the Oporto Golf Club honours its history. Its undulating holes wind through the Portuguese geography with the same charm as the holes on the best courses in the United Kingdom. Philip Mackenzie Ross remodelled the course in the late 1950s and was responsible for maintaining the original imprint.

 

Sir Henry Cotton’s vision to transform golf in Portugal

In the 1960s, Sir Henry Cotton’s vision transformed the Algarve by introducing the Penina Resort Championship course. At this crucial moment, it integrated golf into the region’s tourism offering, laying the foundation for future developments. Cotton also designed Vale do Lobo and one of the golf jewels in the south of the Algarve: Quinta de Benamor. A par 71 of 6,100 yards that shines among hills and leafy trees.

The late 1970s and 1980s saw a boom in golf courses in the Algarve, with iconic designs such as Palmares, Vilamoura Old Course, and San Lorenzo enriching the landscape. At the end of the 1980s, Portugal had 23 courses.

The 1990s saw a golf boom, which doubled the number of courses, surpassing 50 in the millennium. The Algarve remained a hotspot, but other regions, including the north, the central continent, Madeira and the Azores, joined the golf scene. In that decade, we founded Tee Times Golf Agency, offering Portugal golf breaks to worldwide golfers who began hiring our services.

As The Clubhouse Algarve Magazine explains, Oporto Golf Club proudly claims the Skeffington Cup, created in 1891, to be one of the world’s oldest continuously contested golf trophies. This rich history illustrates the development of the sport, becoming an integral part of Portugal’s culture and sport.

In 2024, we commemorate 75 years of the Portuguese Golf Federation as we approach the celebration of the 125 years of the Oporto Golf Club. Golf in Portugal is an example of a harmonious coexistence between sport and nature, with spectacular golf courses that serve as a perfect transition between land and sea. The century we live in promises to add more colour and personality to Portugal’s golf legacy. And we will be there, providing the best service for those who choose to enjoy their Portugal golf holidays with us.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, Portugal’s golf courses offer something for everyone. From the Algarve’s stunning coastal courses to the Oporto’s historical courses, Portugal is a golfing paradise that should be on every golfer’s bucket list. So, why not book your next trip to play golf in Portugal today and experience the country’s rich golfing history for yourself?

Golf in Madeira is preparing to fulfil a dream with Sir Nick Faldo’s support

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Thanks to multiple champion Sir Nick Faldo, golf in Madeira has been reinvented once again with the resurgence of the Ponta do Pargo Golf Course. Fifteen years after the project fell victim to the global financial crisis in 2009, this masterpiece will materialise on the “Hawaii of Europe” in 2026.

The site of Sir Nick Faldo’s new European project is located on the western cliffs of the famous Portuguese island. With more than 200 meters of elevation change, from the green of the 16th hole, hidden next to the famous lighthouse that guards the coast, to the tee of the 7th hole that rises above 400-foot cliffs towards the Atlantic. The 7th, 8th and 9th greens are at the world’s edge, clinging to the cliff’s border.

 

Golf in Madeira is special

Faldo commented in an interview published by Destination Golf: “We have something special in Madeira; being able to sculpt the course on the site itself is exciting. We believe this will be a dream course that every golfer will want to play. The scale of the place is difficult to explain; the cliffs are massive.”

Faldo Design has worked closely with local authorities to reactivate this golf project in Madeira fully. They are currently selecting the design team, which is expected to be on-site in early 2024, as the major groundwork on the front nine holes is almost complete.

Sustainable golf course design has been a core principle for Faldo Design for decades. After reviewing the original 2007 design, they have adjusted some holes and reduced the irrigated areas, using a local grass (Kikuya) that will reduce water requirements and allow a smooth transition between the field and the native flora that overlooks Ponta do Pargo its majestic beauty.

For a long time, at Tee Times Golf Agency, we have been offering the best golf packages in Madeira with a high-level offer. When Ponta do Pargo is completed, it will join a list that includes Santo Da Serra Golf, the Palheiro Golf Course, and Porto Santo Golfe for those looking for the best Madeira golf breaks and relaxing experiences.

The project promises to be the best golf in Madeira experience and is expected to be playable even in challenging weather conditions. Fans are already preparing to enjoy the best golf in Portugal on the Atlantic Ocean.