Both sit in the Golden Triangle and cost a similar green fee, but Laranjal and Pinheiros Altos have taken very different paths in recent years. Here's an honest comparison, backed by real player reviews.
Both courses sit in the Golden Triangle around Almancil, both cost a similar green fee, and both get overshadowed by the bigger names next door — Quinta do Lago's own South and North courses, and San Lorenzo across the road. But Laranjal and Pinheiros Altos have taken very different paths in recent years, and it shows.
A newer course and an older, layered one
Laranjal is the youngest of Quinta do Lago's three courses, designed by Jorge Santana da Silva and opened in 2009 on what was once a working orange grove — hence the name. Pinheiros Altos has a longer, more complicated history: Ronald Fream designed the original two nines in 1992, Peter McEvoy and Howard Swan later reworked and modernised the layout, and Santana da Silva added a third nine in 2007 to make it the 27-hole course it is today.
Laranjal: the pick of the Golden Triangle right now
At 6,480 metres par 72, Laranjal routes five par-5s, eight par-4s and five par-3s through cork oaks, umbrella pines, the original orange trees and five lakes, with Penn A4 bentgrass greens that hold their pace year-round. It's consistently one of the best-reviewed courses on our map.
Pinheiros Altos: a strong layout that needs investment
Pinheiros Altos plays as three interchangeable nine-hole loops — Pines, Corks and Olives — each par 36, giving a genuinely varied combination depending on which two you play. Worth knowing before you book: player reviews over the past couple of years have consistently flagged scorched fairways, patchy greens and worn cart paths, a noticeable step down from how the course used to be rated. The layout itself and the setting inside the Ria Formosa are still genuinely good — it's the upkeep that's fallen behind, and it's fair to go in with tempered expectations until that changes.
Which one should you play?
If you want the more reliably well-maintained round in this part of the Golden Triangle, play Laranjal — it's the safer bet by a clear margin right now. Pinheiros Altos is still worth playing for the variety of its three nines and the price, from €99 against Laranjal's €163, but temper your expectations on conditioning rather than the resort-glossy version you might see in older photos.
Want the numbers side by side instead? Open the course comparator to see Laranjal and Pinheiros Altos' price, handicap limits and facilities pulled straight from our live course data.
