Dom Pedro Golf: Portugal’s leading light

Since the first golf course at Penina opened in 1966, Portugal’s Algarve led the charge of being the main hub for golfers seeking sun on a golf break.

The region, which has more than 40 golf courses at its disposal, comfortably sees more than one million rounds a year, helped in part by over 300 days of sunshine.

It’s an award-winning golf destination in every right, and it keeps getting better.

The central meeting point of almost every golfer who comes to this area is Vilamoura, where the party invariably starts and finishes – and where the golf courses, and hotels, are mostly within a 20-minute drive of each other.

For a neat collection of the very best of the Algarve in one, Dom Pedro Golf is your first port of call – and it just happens to be slap bang in the middle of Vilamoura. The company owns and operates five championship courses in the Vilamoura area, and all of them are open to the public.

Whilst there are countless excellent courses throughout the Algarve, the Dom Pedro Golf collection has been around for a while and have routinely served the incoming faction of sun-hungry golfers with aplomb for many years.

Part of the attraction is the accessibility of the courses in Vilamoura, the quality of the venues – throughout any part of the season – and the value offered in terms of pricing.

The courses

Of the five venues, our favourite is undoubtedly the Old Course, above, which is set high up in the hills above the centre of Vilamoura.

It is an exceptional inland test that offers one of the classiest representation of old school championship golf in mainland Europe. It’s not especially long by modern standards, but it is a beautiful settings for a round.

Many of the fairways are lined by tall pine trees and a number of the holes throw up superb dog-legs, plus there are a couple of superb short-ish but tricky par-3s.

It is most definitely not a ‘stand up and hit it’ course. It requires thought and some precision to shoot a low number. The outside seating area is ideal for a few post-round drinks in the sun.

The Victoria, above, is an Arnold Palmer design that spreads out of 90 hectares and takes in a number of water features throughout, not to mention lays claim to a thrilling back nine, which you’ll absolutely love regardless of where you spill countless balls into the drink.

It’s a proper championship test – as it has to be in order to host the Portugal Masters every year on the European Tour – but one that is lots of fun to play due to the sheer variety of holes on offer. The front nine has its moments and gives you a little breather to shoot a number, before the back nine bites back.

The nearby Pinhal, above, was designed by Frank Pennink, who also designed the aforementioned Old Course, and shares many of the same traits. It, too, has tall pine trees bordering its fairways and is kept in wonderful year-round condition.

Also worth checking out is the Millennium course, where some holes on the front stretch meander through majestic pinewoods, playing into large greens. Accuracy is paramount off the tee on this half before the landing areas get a bit more generous in the second nine.

For an altogether different challenge, try the Laguna course, below. It stands out thanks to its flatter and more open layout, thanks to the lack of trees.

It enjoys a more coastal terrain – the only course on the Dom Pedro list that does so – and so offers a test that’s a touch unique, even though it sits adjacent to the Millennium. It’s got some large sand traps to contend with and a few water hazards – there are 11 in total – which will swallow your ball if you’re offline.

Relax

Like the other Dom Pedro Golf courses, it offers the full complement of post-round amenities and is aided by knowledgeable staff who will go out their way to lend a hand to your party, be it booking shuttle busses, taxis, or further rounds during your
stay.

Another box ticked for your holiday is that you can book direct with Dom Pedro via its website and take advantage of various special offers, including Twilight Golf, perfect for golfers who want to spend quality time with the family during the day before sneaking off late afternoon for a round, or even nine holes. There are offers available for various times during the season, so no stone is left unturned.

Experience the finest golf in the Algarve

Head to Dom Pedro Golf with Strike Golf Travel with these exceptional offers:

3 nights B&B + 3 rounds – From £329

• Return golf course transfers
• Rounds on Laguna, Pinhal and Millennium
• Free access to the Aquae Spa

5 nights B&B + 5 rounds – From £539

• Return golf course transfers
• Rounds on Laguna, Pinhal and Millennium
• Free access to the Aquae Spa

7 nights B&B + 7 rounds – From £749

• Return golf course transfers
• Rounds on Laguna, Pinhal and Millennium
• Free access to the Aquae Spa

For more information, call 0800 2461 737, email [email protected] or visit strikegolftravel.com/dom-pedro-golf-resort.