One put the Algarve on the golfing map in 1966; the other is a relaxed nine-hole loop across the road. Here's how Penina's two very different courses actually compare, honestly.
Both courses sit on the same Penina estate near Portimão and share the same hotel, but they're not really rivals — they're two completely different scales of golf. One is the course that put the Algarve on the golfing map. The other is a relaxed nine-hole loop across the road from it. Here's what each one actually offers.
The estate Sir Henry Cotton built
Three-time Open Champion Sir Henry Cotton transformed rice paddies into this 360-acre parkland estate, and the Championship Course he opened in 1966 was the first 18-hole golf course built in the Algarve — a genuinely historic claim, not a marketing one. The Resort Course came later as a shorter companion loop on the same grounds.
Championship: real history, mixed recent form
At 6,273 metres par 73, the Championship Course has hosted the Portuguese Open on multiple occasions, most recently in 2006, and its flat-but-deceptive routing through former rice paddies remains one of the most recognisable rounds in the region. Worth knowing before you book: player reviews over the past few years have flagged inconsistent fairway and green conditioning, alongside signs of renewed investment and improved upkeep more recently. It's still a course worth playing for the history alone — just go in with realistic expectations on turf condition rather than assuming five-star polish throughout.
Resort: a relaxed nine, playable as eighteen
The Resort Course plays nine holes at par 35 over 2,987 metres, or a full par-71 round of 5,964 metres by playing the same nine twice from different tees — the way most visitors actually play it. Bermuda 419 fairways and Creeping Bent greens keep it in decent shape, no handicap certificate is required, and the course holds Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary status for its wildlife management. It's a genuinely good option for beginners, families, or a fast evening round rather than a lesser version of the Championship course next door.
Which one should you play?
If you want the history, the tournament pedigree and a proper 18-hole test, play the Championship Course — just don't expect flawless conditioning on every visit. If you want a relaxed, inexpensive round with no handicap requirement, or you're introducing someone to golf, play the Resort Course. Green fees start from €77 on the Championship and just €28 on the Resort, and since they sit across the road from each other on the same estate, playing both is easy to arrange.
Where to stay
Both courses share the same on-site hotel, Penina Hotel & Golf Resort, the Algarve's original five-star property, with six dining venues and direct access to both courses. You can book it directly on Booking.com.
Want the numbers side by side instead? Open the course comparator to see the Championship and Resort courses' price, length, handicap limits and facilities pulled straight from our live course data.
