Night golf in the Algarve: where to play under floodlights

Night golf in the Algarve comes down to one place: the floodlit Academy course at Amendoeira Golf Resort, in the countryside between Albufeira and Silves. It is a nine-hole par-3 course with lights around every hole, and the resort says it is the only floodlit nine-hole course in Portugal. We could not find another floodlit course, driving range or pitch and putt anywhere in the region.

This guide covers how night golf at Amendoeira works, roughly what it costs, how to book a floodlit round (you cannot do it online), what to know before you go and where to stay nearby.

Where can you play night golf in the Algarve?

Only at Amendoeira. The Algarve has around forty golf courses, but the rest close at dusk. Driving ranges follow daylight too: Vilamoura's Old Course range, for example, lists opening hours to 4pm in winter and 7pm in summer.

So if you search for night golf in Albufeira or Vilamoura, Amendoeira is the answer. It is about 26 minutes by car from the centre of Albufeira, 16 minutes from Armação de Pêra and around 40 minutes from Vilamoura.

The floodlit Academy course at Amendoeira

The Academy course sits between Amendoeira's two 18-hole championship courses, the Faldo and the O'Connor Jnr. It was designed by Steve Richardson and opened around 2008 as part of the resort's golf academy.

All nine holes are par 3s, which makes it a par 27, and the course measures about 700 metres in total. Each hole has three sets of tees that change the line into the green, so it plays differently each time you go round. The signature hole is the 7th, where two of the three tees play over water.

The resort pitches it at beginners and at anyone who wants to sharpen their short game, and says it suits the whole family. Under the lights it is also a fun group outing: golf travel writers describe groups finishing 18 holes on the Faldo or O'Connor during the day, having dinner at the clubhouse, then heading out for a floodlit nine. In the resort's online booking system the course appears as the "António Parreira Afonso Pitch & Putt", so don't be confused if you see that name.

If you are still choosing between the two big courses for your daytime round, read Amendoeira Faldo vs O'Connor: which should you play?. For more short courses across the region, see the Algarve's best par-3 golf courses.

How much does night golf at Amendoeira cost?

Amendoeira doesn't publish a price for floodlit play, so the figures below are approximate. Check them with the resort before you go.

Nine holes in daylight: €16. This is the visitor rate in the resort's online booking system, and it was the same on every date we checked between November 2026 and August 2027.

The floodlights: roughly €100 an hour (approximate). You pay to have the lights switched on. A 2024 National Club Golfer review says golfers pay for the electricity, "and not necessarily a green fee", and a guest reported paying 100 euros an hour for the lights in 2019. We could not find a more recent figure, so treat it as a rough guide.

Because the lighting is charged per session rather than per player, night golf makes most sense for a group. As an approximate example, if eight friends share an hour under the lights at around €100, that is about €12 to €13 each. For a couple, the same hour costs the full amount, so it is worth asking the resort when you book.

How to book a floodlit round

Night golf at Amendoeira can't be booked online. The resort's booking system only shows daytime tee times on the Academy course, with the last start at about 3.50pm in winter and 5.30pm in summer. To play under the floodlights, contact the resort directly:

Phone: +351 282 320 800 (resort) or +351 282 320 671 (reservations).

Email: reservations@amendoeiraresort.com. Address: Morgado da Lameira, 8365-006 Alcantarilha.

When you get in touch, ask what the lights cost, the latest time you can play (a golf guide puts the limit at 11pm) and whether you can hire clubs in the evening.

What to know before you play

Dress code. Amendoeira's dress code applies on all its courses: collared shirts with sleeves, tucked in, and golf shoes. T-shirts, denim, sportswear and very short shorts are not allowed. The resort warns that players who don't meet the dress code won't be allowed to play and their green fee won't be refunded.

Handicap. The resort doesn't publish a handicap requirement for the Academy course, and it is aimed at beginners, but check when you book if you have never played. For the rest of the region, see our guide on whether you need a handicap to play golf in the Algarve.

Getting there and back. Amendoeira is inland, off the main roads, and a night round finishes late. If you plan to have a drink at the clubhouse, stay at the resort or book a taxi for the return.

Lessons. The Amendoeira academy is one of the best equipped in Portugal, with TrackMan and video analysis. If you want to combine a lesson with your night round, see golf lessons in the Algarve.

Where to stay near Amendoeira for night golf

For night golf, staying close matters more than usual. You finish late, the course is in the countryside, and nobody wants a long drive back. The obvious choice is the resort itself, but there are two excellent rural guesthouses within 15 minutes and two golf resorts on the coast a little further away.

We include hotels rated at least 8 out of 10 on Booking.com, within about 15 minutes of the course by road. We made two exceptions: Vila Vita Parc and the Algarve Marriott Salgados are 18 minutes away, but each has golf of its own. Drive times are calculated by road. Prices are the lowest nightly rates we could reliably find in October 2026, and where we couldn't find a trustworthy figure we have left the price out rather than guess.

Night golf in the Algarve: quick answers

Is there night golf in Albufeira or Vilamoura?

No. The nearest floodlit course is the Academy course at Amendoeira, about 26 minutes by car from Albufeira centre and around 40 minutes from Vilamoura.

Can you book night golf online?

No. Online booking on the Academy course only covers daytime tee times. For a floodlit round, phone or email the resort.

How late can you play?

A golf guide puts the limit at 11pm. Amendoeira doesn't publish evening hours, so confirm when you book.

Is Amendoeira the only floodlit golf course in Portugal?

That is what the resort says, and we couldn't find another one. To plan the rest of your trip, explore every course on our Algarve golf map.

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