32 golf courses with a driving range across 11 towns in the Algarve, Portugal
A good warm-up makes a real difference on an unfamiliar course, and most golf clubs in the Algarve have a driving range for exactly that. 32of the region's courses have practice facilities, usually alongside a putting green and short-game area, and the majority also run a golf academy for lessons and club fitting.
Ranges are grouped below by town — from Vilamoura and Almancil on the central coast to Lagos in the west and Tavira in the east. Most ranges are aimed at green-fee players warming up before a round, though many clubs sell buckets of balls to visitors — check with each club. If you are flying in without clubs, see our golf club rental guide.
Designed by William Mitchell alongside the South Course and opened in 1974, the North Course offers generous fairways and sweeping Ria Formosa views in the heart of the Golden Triangle. A complete par-72 experience that suits golfers of all handicap levels.
27 holes of parkland golf beneath umbrella pines in the prestigious Golden Triangle, opened in 1992. Three interchangeable nine-hole loops offer flexible combinations and a consistently scenic round through natural Algarve woodland.
The newest of Quinta do Lago's trio of courses, Laranjal was designed by Jorge Santana da Silva on what was once an orange grove — hence the name. Its par-72 layout from 2009 features undulating terrain and creative bunkering that give it a distinct character within the estate.
Host to the Portuguese Open nine times, the South Course at Quinta do Lago is one of Portugal's most iconic layouts. William Mitchell's par-72 design from 1974 follows the edge of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, blending championship challenge with an outstanding natural setting.
Regularly listed among the best courses in Continental Europe, San Lorenzo borders the Ria Formosa lagoon and blends parkland and coastal golf in a remarkable natural setting. Designed by Joseph Lee and opened in 1988, access is typically reserved for guests of partner hotels.
Donald Steel's par-72 design from 1991 sits just outside Vilamoura and is known for its characterful bunkering and mature Mediterranean vegetation. A testing round that rewards thoughtful play on a course with a strong tournament history.
Joseph Lee's par-72 design from 1990 brings open fairways and water features to the typically tree-lined Vilamoura landscape. Laguna's flatter terrain and lakeside holes make it one of the most approachable courses in the resort for mid-handicap visitors.
Opened to mark the turn of the millennium, this 18-hole par-72 course offers wide fairways and gentle undulations through the Vilamoura estate. A solid, scenic round that complements the resort's more demanding layouts.
Sharing the same pine-forested setting as its famous neighbour, Pinhal offers a par-71 Frank Pennink layout that rewards accuracy and local knowledge. A quieter option within the Vilamoura complex, popular with golfers returning to the resort year after year.
One of the Algarve's most celebrated layouts, Frank Pennink's 1969 design winds through a canopy of stone pines that has defined Vilamoura golf for over five decades. A par-73 classic that consistently ranks among Portugal's finest courses.
Ronald Fream's par-73 layout from 2003 sits on gently undulating ground in the foothills above Portimão, with strategic water features and well-conditioned fairways. The clubhouse looks out over the western Algarve hills, making it a pleasant all-day destination.
The Academy Course at Penina is a 9-hole par-35 layout designed by Sir Henry Cotton as a companion to the Championship Course. Situated within the Penina Hotel & Golf Resort, it serves as an accessible warm-up or beginner option on the same historic grounds.
Set in the hills above Portimão, Alamos Golf is a Ronald Fream par-71 design with a quieter, more secluded atmosphere than the larger resort courses nearby. Its natural vegetation and rural setting provide a different kind of Algarve golf experience.
Designed by Sir Henry Cotton in 1966, Penina was Portugal's first purpose-built golf course and has hosted the Portuguese Open multiple times over the decades. The par-73 parkland layout is attached to the Penina Hotel & Golf Resort and retains the classical character of its era.
The companion course to Quinta da Ria on the same Tavira estate, Quinta de Cima explores slightly more elevated terrain and offers a complementary par-72 experience. Also designed by Rocky Roquemore and opened in 2002, it forms part of one of the east Algarve's best 36-hole complexes.
Set along the Ria Formosa natural park near Tavira, Quinta da Ria is a par-72 coastal layout designed by Rocky Roquemore and opened in 2002. Several holes run directly alongside the lagoon, making for one of the most scenic rounds in the eastern Algarve.
An 18-hole par-71 course in the eastern Algarve near Tavira, Benamor is a well-regarded and accessible layout opened in 2000. Tree-lined fairways and a relaxed club atmosphere make it a popular choice for golfers exploring the quieter eastern end of the region.
Designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 2007, Monte Rei is widely considered the finest golf course in Portugal and a consistent fixture in European top-10 rankings. The par-72 layout in the eastern Algarve near Vila Nova de Cacela is crafted from natural terrain with meticulous attention to every detail.
A 9-hole, par-27 course of all par-3 holes set around the Balaia resort near Albufeira, ideal for beginners, families, and golfers wanting a relaxed afternoon round. The compact layout from 1974 is a low-pressure introduction to Algarve golf.
Perched atop the ochre sandstone cliffs of Olhos de Água, this nine-hole par-33 course delivers dramatic Atlantic views on every hole. Designed by Sir Henry Cotton and attached to the Pine Cliffs Resort, it is best known for the Devil's Parlour — a par-3 played over the clifftop edge.
Laid across a coastal wetland reserve between Albufeira and Armação de Pêra, Salgados is one of the Algarve's most ecologically distinctive courses. Pedro de Vasconcelos's par-72 design from 1997 features open links-style fairways where birdlife from the adjacent lagoon is a constant presence.
An 18-hole par-71 course opened in 2009 on rolling countryside east of Lagos, with views towards the Serra de Monchique hills. Espiche offers a quieter and more affordable alternative to the larger resort courses in the western Algarve.
One of the Algarve's most scenic layouts, Palmares spreads across 27 holes of clifftop and lakeside terrain above Meia Praia beach near Lagos. Robert Trent Jones Jr. redesigned and extended the original 1975 course, adding sweeping Atlantic views and memorable holes above the bay.
Carved into the hillside above Lagos, Boavista delivers 18 holes of par-71 golf with some of the most striking sea views in the western Algarve. Howard Swan's design from 2000 combines rocky Algarvian terrain, cork-oak woodland, and Atlantic panoramas into a varied and visually rewarding round.
One of two Ronald Fream designs at the Pestana Carvoeiro resort, Gramacho is a par-72 inland layout that weaves through natural valleys and rocky Algarve terrain. Opened in 1991, it offers an approachable and varied round well suited to resort golfers.
Named after a natural rock formation on the site, Vale da Pinta is widely considered the stronger of the two Pestana Carvoeiro layouts. Ronald Fream's par-71 design incorporates ancient olive and carob trees, giving it a wilder and more dramatic feel than many Algarve courses.
Nick Faldo's 2008 design at Amendoeira Golf Resort is widely regarded as one of Portugal's finest modern courses. The par-72 layout combines strategic risk-and-reward holes with exceptional conditioning and open views across the Silves countryside.
Christy O'Connor Jr.'s 2008 par-72 design at Amendoeira offers a slightly more open and forgiving round alongside the Faldo Course. Both courses share the same immaculate facilities and rural Algarve setting inland from Carvoeiro.
The Royal Course is Vale do Lobo's flagship layout and home to the resort's famous clifftop finishing stretch with sweeping views over the Atlantic. Henry Cotton's original design was later refined by Rocky Roquemore and reopened in 1997 with a more sculpted par-72 challenge.
Opened in 1968, the Ocean Course covers 18 holes through Vale do Lobo's mature woodland with strategic lakes and bunkers that reward precise course management. Together with the Royal, it completes 36 holes of complementary parkland golf on the central Algarve coast.
If you have an early tee time on a course you don't know, it is worth arriving 45 minutes early to hit the range, roll a few putts and get a feel for the greens. Ranges at the bigger resorts — Vilamoura, Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and Amendoeira — tend to have the most practice space, covered bays and short-game areas.
For structured lessons or a playing lesson before a big round, the golf academies attached to these courses take visitor bookings. And if you would rather not travel with your own set, our club rental guide covers hire at Faro Airport and delivery to your course or hotel. More trip planning advice is in the Algarve golf guide.
