Portugal

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The Algarve is Portugal's most southerly region and stretches from the west coast to the Spanish border in the east. This region is synonymous with golf holidays due to the number of championship courses available, namely; Quinta Do Lago, San Lorenzo and Vale Do Lobo.

This region is serviced by Faro airport which is at most an hour’s drive from the main resorts of the area. The resorts of Vilamoura and Albufeira are the most popular and well known, however the east and west of the region are fast becoming popular amongst golfers across the globe, gaining positive mentions from a number of top golfers.In the PGA top 7­ ‘must try’ courses in Portugal, 5 of them werein the Algarve area. It boasts a magnificent climate all year round with average summer temperatures of 25°C and winter temperatures of 14°C. Particular mention should be made about Vilamoura, this area is ideal for golf group travel as the busy town has a number of courses in close proximity and also a lively night life to suit all travel groups.

The mild climate and idyllic setting are quickly making this one of the up and coming, least exploited golf holiday destinations in the Europe and the world, particularly the islands of Sao Miguel and Terceira. Sao Miguel boasts two golf courses; Campo de Golfe de Batalha and the Furnas Golf Course, both of which are of very high quality and year on year are gaining in popularity. The island of Terceira only has the one course, the Terceira Golf Club which dates back to 1954 although has recently underwent extensive refurbishments and course updates, it is now certified and recognised on an international scale.  

An archipelago comprising of 9 volcanic islands situated in the Atlantic Ocean roughly 900 miles off the west coast of Portugal. The Azores has a year round mild climate thanks to the Gulf Stream, with temperatures averaging 24-26°C during the summer month and in the winter months a mild average of around 15°C.

Portugal's capital city which is easily accessed from across the UK, with daily direct flights. The Lisbon coast lends itself to a number of established courses and resorts, however more recently new courses such as Campo Real and Praia D’El Rey have gained a lot of praise for golf holidays, putting the area on the golfing map. On the PGA list of the top seven 'must try' golf courses in Portugal the top two are In the Lisbon region; Penha Longa - Atlantic Course and the Oitavos Dunes.

Not only are there many great golf courses, this area is the perfect place to get a taste of true Portuguese culture with traditional fishing villages only a short drive from the bustling capital city.

Madeira has an array of accommodation which will cater for the most discerning traveller. There are luxurious 5 star hotels some of which are built on the cliffs and overlook the sea. There are also wonderful Quintas and Chateaux’s that would make the ideal romantic base for a honeymoon couple. The golf course of Santo da Serra has over the past few years held the Madeira open, this annually attracts the top golfers from the PGA European Tour. The islands other course the Palheiro Golf Club offers up some of the most breath-taking views of any Portuguese golf club. The volcanic landscape of Madeira leads it to be one of the most picturesque locations for a golf holiday in Europe.

Despite the fact the island is very mountainous it remains a very 'green' region due to the rainfall levels, which are on average, marginally higher than mainland Portugal. Temperatures here are good all year around, with similar summer temperatures to mainland Portugal of 24-26°C however the winter temperatures are higher than the mainland with temperatures averaging 17-18°C.

Access too many coastal and inland villages is being improved with extensive tunnelling through the mountainous terrain. Whether you are looking for a superb golfing holiday, an unforgettable and indulgent break or a very special place for that once in a lifetime celebration, Madeira will deliver on that entire front. Madeira is a superb place for families, honeymooners, couples, groups and golfers alike. Madeira is an Island and is situated 600km from the coast of Morocco in Africa. The flight time from the UK and Ireland is between 3-4 hours depending on which airport you depart from. Madeira has another Island with sandy beaches, ‘Porto Santo’ which can be accessed by ferry or air. The capital of Madeira is Funchal and transfer time from the airport is around 15 minutes.

Madeira Golf Review: Gerard Watson - Our Madeira Specialist.

“I spent 5 days on the island in mid-September and I was totally blown away by it. The flight time was just over 3 ½ hours from Dublin and before I knew it we had arrived at Funchal airport. A quick 20 minute transfer and I arrived at our hotel for the next 5 days. The 5* Madeira Melia Mare. It was a beautiful hotel in the heart of the Lido district and right next to the famous Lido pools.

Over the next few days I played golf at both Palheiro and Santo da Serra courses and both did not disappoint. Palheiro is a stern challenge for any level of golfer and I remember thinking to myself as we were driving up to the course, “how on earth is there a golf course up here?” The location of the course only adds to the magnificent setting, which is high above Madeira’s capital Funchal and as you can imagine the views are breathtaking.

Santo da Serra the home of the Madeira open was my next challenge and again it was truly awesome. Santo da Serra is in the Machico district where explorers first discovered Madeira. The course itself sprawls over 27 holes and rolls invitingly into Machico bay and the Atlantic Ocean. It’s easy to see why it has been home to the Open for 17 years!

The rest of trip was spent visiting various hotels, quintas and of course the other wonderful attractions Madeira had to offer. Definitely worth the trip is the full day excursion to Porto Moniz located in the North West of the island. An excellent scenic drive followed by a wonderful place to chill out and have lunch. Another must is the cable car up to Monte followed by the famous Madeira Toboggan!

I could literally talk all about Madeira all day and I would love to share my experience with our customers. So if you are reading this and wanting to know more please do not hesitate to contact me.”

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards

Gerard Watson: Madeira Specialist

The second largest city in Portugal, located in the North of the country.  The Northerly location is close to the mountains of Vidago but also the Porto coastline, this varied landscape allows golf courses here to have a spectacular backdrop. Courses of note in this region are the Vidago Palace, Amarante Golf Club, Oporto and Estela, these tend to have a much longer history than the 'newer' courses of the Algarve. Despite not being household names, the previously mentioned courses are some of the best and highly rated in the country and are ideal for that European golf break. 

Despite the location the climate, like the rest of Portugal is perfect for golfing year round with temperatures in the 20°Cs all summer and in the winter around the 15°C mark.

Away from golf the city and the surrounding areas are steeped in history, from fine wines and foods to the architecture of the buildings overlooking the River Douro.