Along the road towards Lagos, high on the hills over-looking the wide blue Atlantic, is Boavista, a 6,300 yard championship course, with rolling fairways and the trademark Algarvian olives, almonds and umbrella pines.
Certainly the most beautiful of the golf courses in this part of Algarve and arguably the most challenging is Palmares, just the other side of Lagos. This was laid out by the renowned golf architect Frank Pennink in 1976, and offers glorious views across the bay of Lagos, not least from the first tee. Five of the holes are on the sand dunes alongside the enormous Meia Praia beach, of which the par 5 fifth is a real classic.
Not much further away is the golf resort which started it all, Penina, designed by Henry Cotton in 1966. There are three courses here, including the Sir Henry Cotton championship course, which is a must for every golfer visiting Algarve.
To the north of Portimao are two of the newest courses in Algarve – Alamos and the 7,000 yard championship course of Morgado, opened in 2003. Both have been attracting excellent reviews.
Finally, there is excellent golf to be had at the two courses – Pinta, which is longer and more difficult of the two, and Gramacho – at the Pestana golf complex near Lagoa.