WHERE ELSE TO PLAY

You could easily base yourself at Vale do Lobo and play just the two courses more than once. But if you wanted to leave the resort there are some great courses close by. These are our favourites...

Dom Pedro (Old) Vilamoura

The Grand Old Lady of the Algarve has plenty of life in her yet. To go to the Algarve and not play here is a grave mistake; it charms as few can. A stellar front half is backed up by a cool par 3 over a valley to a plateau green, then one of its highs, the classy par-4 14th.

San Lorenzo Almancil

Its legendary beauty is first glimpsed on the 5th tee, which o ers a majestic view of the beach and Atlantic. Your journey to the seaside continues from the elevated tee of the 6th, from which you take in the sights, sounds and smells of the seaside, and then on the 7th. One of Portugal’s best stretches.

Quinta do Lago (North) Almancil The North was previously a distant second to the South and had Laranjal hot on its heels, but the revamp by Paul Mcginley and Beau Welling has enhanced it markedly. It is now one of the bestconditioned Algarve courses and is marked by width o the tee and some superb green complexes – with lots of emphasis on angle of approach.

Quinta do Lago (South)

Designed by William Mitchell in 1974 and host of the Portuguese Open eight times between 1976 and 2001, the South sits among umbrella pines, natural vegetation and lakes, with the Ria Formosa a frequent sight. Laid out in a rough figure of eight, it is a very fine examination.

Amendoeira (O’connor) Alcantarilha

We rank it higher than its sister course (the Faldo) at this resort. We think more will prefer its more gentle challenge. Built on more low-lying land and with very clean sight lines, it o ers just the right test.