Algarve, Portugal
Quinta do Lago
Three championship courses on Portugal's Algarve coast — year-round sunshine, exceptional value, and Europe's best golf academy.
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- Courses
- 3 (54 holes)
- Tournaments
- 1 hosted
- Green fee
- From $240
- Stay & play
- From $750
- Best months
- Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov
- Walking
- Allowed
- Caddies
- Not available
- Dress code
- Smart casual; no denim
Europe's most reliable golf destination
The Algarve is the most-played golf destination in continental Europe, and Quinta do Lago is its anchor. Three full courses — South, North and Laranjal — sit within a single private estate of umbrella pines and saltwater lagoons, a 25-minute drive from Faro airport.
The South Course has hosted multiple Portuguese Opens; its par-3 15th, played across a lake, is the resort's signature shot. The North Course was rebuilt in 2014 by Beau Welling (Tiger Woods's design partner) and is the most modern. Laranjal, set inland among orange groves, is the value play.
Why golfers choose the Algarve
Three reasons: weather, value, and infrastructure. The Algarve gets roughly 300 sunny days a year, peak season green fees are a fraction of US/Caribbean equivalents, and a single estate like Quinta do Lago bundles courses, villas, the Paul McGinley Golf Academy, restaurants and beach access into one walkable footprint.
This makes it one of the rare destinations that genuinely works for mixed groups — a couple where one partner doesn't golf, a family with mixed-skill players, or a beginner who wants to take a week of lessons while their partner plays 36. The academy is widely regarded as one of Europe's best.
Best months
March–May and September–November are ideal. July and August are hot and crowded with European holidaymakers — playable but not the best time. December–February is the cheapest, with daytime temperatures usually 14–18°C.
