Seven minutes apart near Vilamoura: the 1969 Old Course, named Portugal's best in 2025, against Pestana's 27-hole Vila Sol at a noticeably lower green fee. Here's how they compare.
If you are staying in Vilamoura and want one standout round, the choice often comes down to the Old Course and Vila Sol. They are only about seven minutes apart by car, both are long-established courses that have hosted the Portuguese Open, and both ask for a handicap of 28 for men and 36 for ladies. The big differences are price, layout and where you sleep.
The Old Course: Vilamoura's 1969 classic
The Old Course was designed by Frank Pennink and opened in 1969, which makes it one of the oldest courses in the Algarve. It plays through mature umbrella pines at par 73 and 6,254 metres from the white tees (5,913 m from the yellows). In 2025 it was named Portugal's Best Golf Course at the World Golf Awards.
Today it is part of Vilamoura Golf, alongside Pinhal, Laguna and Millennium. Its clubhouse reopened in December 2024 after a refurbishment. You need a valid handicap certificate (maximum 28 for men and 36 for ladies), and only the club's own buggies are allowed. Green fees on the club's online booking run from about €215 to €301 (current Old Course green fees).
Vila Sol: 27 holes and a hotel on the course
Vila Sol was designed by Donald Steel and opened in 1991. It hosted the Portuguese Open in 1992 and 1993. It has 27 holes in three nines, Prime, Challenge and Prestige, each par 36, so any 18-hole round is par 72. From the white tees the combinations measure 6,274 to 6,393 metres, with slope ratings of 133 to 134 on the official scorecard. That makes it a proper test, not an easy alternative.
Pestana runs the course and the five-star Pestana Vila Sol Golf - Vilamoura hotel right next to it, which scores 8.3 on Booking.com. The official 2026 rates are €130 in December, January and June to August, €182 in most spring and autumn months and €200 at peak. A twilight round costs €60 (current Vila Sol green fees). The handicap limit on the official scorecard is 28 for men and 36 for ladies.
Price: the clearest difference
In every season the Old Course costs more than Vila Sol, often by €80 or more for a single round. You are paying for the history, the setting and the 2025 award. If you plan to play several rounds, Vila Sol's twilight rate and its three nines make it the better value option.
Which one should you play?
Play the Old Course if this is your one big round in Vilamoura and you want a classic: a 1969 parkland course under the pines, with five decades of reputation behind it. Play Vila Sol if you would rather keep the budget for a second round, want a hotel on the course, or are staying several days and fancy trying different nine-hole combinations. Since they are so close, plenty of golfers play both.
Where to stay
The Pestana Vila Sol hotel is the only one of the two with a hotel on the course. The Old Course has no hotel of its own, but the hotels around Vilamoura marina are around 10 minutes away by car. See our guide to golf hotels near Vilamoura for options at every price.
Both courses are around 25 to 30 km from Faro Airport by road, and a pre-booked transfer gets you there with your clubs without hiring a car.
Want the numbers side by side? Open the course comparator to compare price, handicap limits and facilities, or see every course in the area on our Vilamoura golf courses page.
